UV Room Sanitization Control With Occupancy Sensing and Door Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitization systems for rooms, particularly public restrooms, face challenges in maintaining a clean and disinfected environment, leading to public health concerns due to the presence of illness-causing germs and bacteria, and require consistent and efficient sanitization methods to prevent the spread of diseases.
Innovation Solution
A sanitization system comprising a control system electrically connected to a sensor assembly, a door-locking mechanism, and a sanitation-light source, which automatically sanitizes the room by locking the door when unoccupied and using UV light to disinfect, ensuring consistent and efficient cleaning without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cleaning methods are used, then flexibility and adaptability to different situations are maintained, but labor costs increase and consistency of sanitization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sanitization system operates autonomously by detecting occupancy through sensors and automatically initiating UV-C sanitization cycles without human intervention. The system monitors itself and performs cleaning tasks independently, eliminating the need for manual labor while maintaining consistent sanitization standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning actions with an automated UV-C light-based sanitization system. The mechanical system of manual wiping and cleaning is substituted with an optical/electromagnetic system that uses UV-C radiation to disinfect surfaces, achieving higher efficiency and consistency.
2Reliability
If frequent manual cleaning is performed, then sanitization quality is improved, but labor time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C sanitization system operates continuously or on scheduled cycles without interruption, maintaining constant disinfection capability. Unlike manual cleaning which occurs intermittently based on schedules, the automated system ensures continuous sanitization coverage, improving reliability while eliminating labor time requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-sanitization by automatically activating UV-C lights during unoccupied periods, ensuring consistent disinfection without requiring external human intervention or labor time investment.
3Productivity
If automated door-locking is implemented, then sanitization effectiveness is improved by ensuring unoccupied status, but accessibility and user convenience may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door-locking mechanism is activated in advance during scheduled sanitization cycles before UV-C lights are fully operational. This preliminary locking action ensures the room remains secure and unoccupied throughout the entire sanitization process, guaranteeing complete disinfection without interruption while maintaining user convenience through automated timing.
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
The system reduces labor costs, maintains a consistently clean environment, and effectively reduces the presence of harmful microorganisms, enhancing public health by ensuring regular disinfection even when the room is unoccupied.
Implementation Method 1
a sanitation-light source configured to be positionable in the interior space of the room
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a sanitization system configured to sanitize, at least in part, an interior space of a room. The sanitization system includes a control system configured to be positioned relative to the interior space of the room. The control system is also configured to be in electrical communication with: (A) a sensor assembly configured to be positioned in the interior space of the room, (B) a door-locking mechanism configured to be operatively connected to a door, in which the door is an entrance to the interior space of the room, and (C) a sanitation-light source configured to be positionable in the interior space of the room.