Self-sterilizing Touch Screen Using UV-LED Backlight Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touchscreen devices accumulate bacteria and viruses due to frequent user interactions, and existing sterilization solutions are either cumbersome, unaesthetic, or require covering the screen, compromising device design and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
Integration of UV-LEDs behind the touchscreen's outer glass surface, utilizing reflectors and transparent materials to guide UV rays to the outer surface for sterilization, allowing for scheduled and controlled UV exposure without altering the device's aesthetics or requiring a sterilization chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterilization chamber is used to sterilize mobile devices, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device portability and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization system is nested within the mobile device itself, with UV-LEDs integrated into the device housing. The reflector is positioned inside the device to direct UV rays onto the touchscreen surface, eliminating the need for external sterilization chambers while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization function is extracted from a separate bulky chamber and integrated directly into the mobile device structure. Only the essential sterilization components (UV-LEDs and reflector) are retained within the device, removing unnecessary bulk while preserving the core sterilization capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If UV-LEDs are placed on the flip cover or front side of the device, then sterilization function is added, but device aesthetics and design integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization components (UV-LEDs and reflector) are merged with the existing device structure, specifically utilizing the backlight assembly cavity and housing. This integration allows the sterilization function to be added without creating separate external structures that would compromise device aesthetics
Solution Approach 2:
The device housing and internal structures serve multiple functions: structural support, aesthetic enclosure, and UV ray guidance for sterilization. The reflector both directs UV rays and maintains a sleek device profile, combining functional and aesthetic requirements
3Illumination intensity
If the outer screen is made transparent to UV rays, then UV penetration is improved, but screen visibility and display quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer screen exhibits different optical properties for different wavelengths: it is transparent to UV rays (allowing sterilization) while remaining opaque or translucent to visible light (maintaining display quality). This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between UV penetration and visual appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The outer screen is made of a composite or specially formulated material that selectively transmits UV radiation while blocking or diffusing visible light. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of sterilization effectiveness and aesthetic display quality
4Reliability
If reflectors protrude from the outer surface, then UV ray guidance is improved, but device sleekness and compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is positioned in the internal depth dimension of the device rather than protruding outward. By utilizing the Z-axis (depth) instead of the X-Y plane (width/height), the reflector achieves effective UV ray guidance while maintaining a sleek, compact external profile
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively sterilizes the touchscreen surface while maintaining the device's original design and user convenience, ensuring protection against pathogens through UV-C rays without exposing users to UV radiation during normal use.
Implementation Method 1
UV-LEDs, which are LEDs emitting UV-C rays, known to sterilize surfaces
Implementation Method 2
Guiding means comprise at least one reflector, located in one or more sides of the touch screen, the at least one reflector protruding from the outer surface of the touch screen in order to reflect the UV rays emitted by the at least one UV-LED towards the outer surface of the touch screen
Implementation Method 3
at least one portion of the outer screen made of a material transparent to UV rays
Data Source
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AI summary
It is disclosed a device (1) provided with a touch screen (2) comprising an outer screen (3) for the touch by an user, a LCD screen (5), and a plurality of LEDs (4) located below said outer screen (3) for the backlighting of said LCD screen (5) characterized in that at least one of said backlight LEDs (4) is an UV-LED (4a) and in comprising guiding means (8) to guide UV rays (7), emitted by said at least one UV-LED (4a), towards the outer surface (3a) of said outer screen (3) to sterilize said outer surface (3a) of said touch screen (2). It is further disclosed a Method for sterilizing the outer surface (3a) of a touch screen (2) provided with an outer screen (3) for the touch by an user, comprising the step of: a) emitting UV rays (7), b) irradiate said outer surface (3a) of said touch screen (2) with said UV rays (7) emitted during said step a), characterized in that said UV rays (7) are emitted from behind said outer surface (3a) of said outer screen (3), and in comprising a step c) of guiding said UV rays (7) emitted during said step a), towards the outer surface (3a) of said touch screen (2).