UV Fluorescence Mold Detection on Building Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting mold on building material surfaces are time-consuming, destructive, and inadequate for real-time, qualitative, and quantitative analysis, especially when it comes to determining mold presence and type without damaging the surface.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with ultraviolet (UV) light sources and spectrally resolving optics that allows for on-site, non-destructive detection of mold by identifying fluorescent properties and quantifying mold presence through statistical extrapolation from sampled areas, using UV light to stimulate fluorescence and visible light to confirm mold presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mold cultures are cultivated on nutrient media in the laboratory, then qualitative detection and mold type determination are achieved, but the detection process becomes time-consuming (taking several days to weeks)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the biological cultivation process with an optical detection system. Instead of waiting for mold cultures to grow on nutrient media, the invention uses UV light sources to excite fluorescent markers associated with mold, allowing rapid detection through fluorescence emission measurement. This substitutes a mechanical/biological process with an optical one, achieving immediate results without cultivation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the detection parameter from observing mold growth morphology (which requires time) to measuring fluorescence intensity and spectral characteristics (which provides immediate results). By monitoring the fluorescence emission spectrum and intensity ratios at different wavelengths, the system can identify mold presence and type without waiting for cultural development.
2Measurement precision
If mold samples are removed from building material surfaces for laboratory examination, then mold detection is achieved, but the building material surface is destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sampling (scraping, cutting, or removing material) with non-contact optical measurement. The UV light source and detector system can examine the building material surface through transparent or translucent materials without physical contact, eliminating damage while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a detection system that can examine building material surfaces in situ without requiring sample removal. The same optical system that detects mold fluorescence can potentially examine various types of building materials (walls, floors, ceilings) without adapting the sampling method, providing universal non-destructive examination capability.
3Productivity
If real-time mold spore counting in room air is performed, then detection speed is improved, but quantitative determination of mold on building material surfaces is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air sampling methods with direct optical examination of the building material surface. Instead of collecting and analyzing airborne spores, the system uses UV excitation to induce fluorescence from mold on the surface, allowing direct visualization and quantification of mold colonies, spores, and mycelium embedded in or on the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits the fluorescence emission (color change) of mold when excited by UV light. Different mold types exhibit characteristic fluorescence spectra and intensity ratios at specific wavelengths, enabling both qualitative identification and quantitative measurement of surface mold loads based on the emitted light characteristics rather than spore counting in air.
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
Enables rapid, qualitative, and quantitative detection of mold on building material surfaces without damaging them, providing real-time results and identifying mold type through fluorescence and spectral analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Some types of mold are stimulated to fluoresce by this UV light. Such types of mold emit fluorescent light when irradiated with UV light.
Implementation Method 2
the light receiver receives these fluorescent light components emitted by the mold and possibly other light components reflected from the building material surface
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device (100, 500) for detecting and determining an amount of mould, which becomes fluorescent under irradiation with ultraviolet light (104, 504), on construction material surfaces (101, 501) on site. The device has a light source (103, 503) which is designed to emit ultraviolet light (104, 504) onto a region (102, 502) to be evaluated of the construction material surface (101, 501). The device also has a light receiver (105, 505) which is designed to receive light (106, 506) from the region (102, 502) to be evaluated. The device further has a control unit (107, 507) which is designed to assess the light (106, 506) received by the light receiver (105, 505) to determine whether the received light (106, 506) at least partially contains fluorescent light. The control unit (107, 507) is designed such that, in the event that a proportion of fluorescent light is detected, same quantitively determines the amount of mould on at least one part of the construction material surface (101, 501), based on a qualitative detection of mould previously carried out in at least one region (102, 502) to be evaluated of the construction material surface (101, 501).