Wall-Mounted UV Light Activation With Motion-Based Occupancy Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV lighting systems for sanitization are inefficient, costly, and pose safety risks due to manual control and unsuitable power systems, failing to address airborne pathogens and potentially harming occupants.
Innovation Solution
A lighting fixture with integrated visible and UV light sources, controlled by a motion sensor and activation button, automatically activates UV light when a room is unoccupied, ensuring safe and efficient sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is activated continuously for sanitation, then pathogen destruction effectiveness is improved, but safety risk to occupants worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a motion sensor that continuously monitors the room for occupancy and provides feedback to the control circuitry. When motion is detected, the system automatically shuts off the UV light source, preventing harmful exposure to occupants. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by dynamically adjusting UV light operation based on real-time occupancy detection, ensuring both sanitation effectiveness during unoccupied periods and safety during occupancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV lighting system transitions from static continuous operation to dynamic conditional operation. The control circuitry enables the UV light source to switch between active and inactive states based on motion sensor input, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to changing occupancy conditions. This dynamic operation maintains sanitation effectiveness while eliminating safety risks associated with continuous UV exposure during occupancy.
2Device complexity
If manual switching is used for UV light control, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and sanitation efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the motion sensor and control circuitry automatically manage UV light activation and deactivation without requiring manual user intervention. The system independently monitors occupancy, determines appropriate UV lighting timing, and executes control actions, thereby significantly improving sanitation efficiency while adding only moderate complexity through the integration of motion sensing and automated control logic.
3Ease of operation
If UV light activation is automated based on motion detection, then safety and efficiency are improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a motion sensor module for occupancy detection, a control circuitry module for logic processing, and a UV light source module for sanitation. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system design and maintenance while achieving automated safe operation. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable, functionally-separated units that work together to improve safety and efficiency.
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 sanitizes environments by automatically disabling UV light when motion is detected, preventing occupant exposure and ensuring safe operation during occupancy.
Implementation Method 1
a motion sensor to detect motion within the room
Implementation Method 2
UV light can sanitize/disinfect the surrounding environment... viruses, germs, bacteria, mold, and the like can be destroyed to clean the air and/or surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting fixture containing both visible light sources and UV light sources is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the fixture is an overhead fixture. UV light can sanitize/disinfect the surrounding environment over a period of about 30-45 minutes. In this way, viruses, germs, bacteria, mold, and the like can be destroyed to clean the air and/or surfaces (e.g., furniture) of the room exposed to UV light. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention include a physical input device, such as a wall-mounted button, switch, or wireless device, that can safely and efficiently activate a lighting assembly to produce UV light in a way that protects occupants from unintentional exposure to UV light. This configuration is especially useful in situations where the use of UV light is regulated, such as in a hospital setting.