UV Light Power Buffer for Limited Electrical Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with limited power sources, ultraviolet (UV) light sources often lack sufficient power to achieve the target level of antimicrobial efficacy due to insufficient electrical infrastructure, making it challenging to effectively disinfect against pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A light control system that includes a power converter and a UV light source, where input power is stored in a power buffer during a first time interval and combined with additional power from the buffer during a second interval to activate the UV light source at the required intensity, along with a light sensor and control device to optimize power conversion and resonance for enhanced efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UV light source is activated to achieve target level of antimicrobial efficacy, then the disinfection effectiveness is improved, but the power consumption exceeds the capacity of the electrical infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing energy in a power buffer during a first time interval before the UV light source is activated. This stored energy is then combined with input power during the second time interval to provide sufficient power for high-intensity UV disinfection, enabling the system to achieve target antimicrobial efficacy without requiring continuous high-power electrical infrastructure.
2Power
If a power buffer is used to store and combine power, then sufficient power for UV light activation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by operating in alternating time intervals: during the first time interval, power is stored in the buffer while the UV light source remains inactive; during the second time interval, the stored power is discharged and combined with input power to activate the UV light source. This periodic charging and discharging cycle enables sufficient power delivery without requiring continuously complex power management hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control where a light sensor measures the optical parameter of UV light, and a control device adjusts the power converter based on this feedback to tune the power converter to the resonant frequency of the UV light source. This feedback mechanism optimizes power transfer efficiency and reduces the size requirements of the power buffer, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If resonance tuning is implemented to optimize power use, then power efficiency is improved, but the measurement and control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automatic resonance tuning where the control device autonomously measures the optical parameter of UV light using a light sensor and automatically adjusts the power converter frequency to match the resonant frequency of the UV light source. This self-tuning mechanism eliminates the need for manual calibration and reduces the complexity of resonance optimization, achieving high power efficiency without proportionally increasing measurement and control difficulty.
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
This solution enables the UV light source to emit UV light at a target level of antimicrobial efficacy, effectively disinfecting environments by combining stored and input power, while also optimizing power use through resonance tuning, thus reducing the size and weight of the power buffer.
Implementation Method 1
store power in a power buffer
Implementation Method 2
activating the UV light source to emit UV light at an intensity providing a target level of antimicrobial efficacy
Implementation Method 3
The light sensor is configured to measure an optical parameter of the UV light emitted by the UV light source
Implementation Method 4
based on the optical parameter indicated by the sensor signal, provide a feedback signal to the power converter to tune the power converter to a frequency of the UV light source
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a light control system includes a power converter and a UV light source. The power converter includes an input for receiving an input power from a power source during a time interval, a power buffer for storing power using the input power received at the input during a first portion of the time interval, and an output for outputting a supply power during a second portion of the time interval. The supply power includes a combination of power from (i) the input power received at the input during the second portion of the time interval and (ii) the power stored in the power buffer during the first portion of the time interval. The UV light source is configured to, using the supply power during the second portion of the time interval, emit UV light at an intensity providing a target level of antimicrobial efficacy.