UV Sanitization Control via Action Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to efficiently operate ultraviolet (UV) light emitters in environments with limited resources, such as commercial aircraft, where persistent UV light emitters consume excessive power and generate heat, making them impractical for continuous use.
Innovation Solution
A system with sensors and a control unit that detects actions like coughs or sneezes within an enclosed space, triggering UV lamps to activate or increase intensity only when necessary, reducing power consumption and optimizing resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If persistent UV light emitters are used for continuous sanitization, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV light emitter operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The control system activates the UV lamp for specific durations based on detected contamination levels, then deactivates it. This periodic operation maintains sanitization effectiveness while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to persistent continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the enclosed space for contamination indicators. When contamination is detected, the control system receives feedback and activates the UV light emitter accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures sanitization is applied only when needed, optimizing both effectiveness and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If persistent UV light emitters are used for continuous sanitization, then sanitization coverage is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By operating the UV light emitter in periodic cycles rather than continuously, the system maintains adequate sanitization coverage through targeted activation while allowing cooling periods between cycles. This reduces cumulative heat generation in the enclosed space while preserving sanitization effectiveness.
3Use of energy by moving object
If UV lamps are activated only when triggering events are detected, then power consumption is reduced, but sanitization reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor for triggering events such as coughs, sneezes, or other contamination indicators. When such events are detected, the control system receives feedback and activates the UV lamps in the affected area. This feedback-driven approach ensures that sanitization is reliably applied when contamination risk is present while maintaining energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates UV lamps in specific localized areas where triggering events are detected, rather than uniformly across the entire enclosed space. This local quality approach concentrates sanitization resources where they are most needed, maintaining reliability in high-risk zones while reducing overall power consumption.
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 approach reduces overall power consumption, minimizes ozone generation, and allows for automated sanitization, adapting to different contagions and area configurations, while ensuring efficient sanitization without constant UV light emission.
Implementation Method 1
One or more ultraviolet (UV) lamps are also within the enclosed space. The one or more UV lamps are configured to emit UV light in relation to one or more portions of the enclosed space.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (100) for sanitizing an enclosed space (104) includes one or more sensors (120) within the enclosed space (104). The one or more sensors (120) are configured to detect one or more actions within the enclosed space (104) and output one or more action detection signals (130) indicative of the one or more actions. One or more ultraviolet (UV) lamps (110) are within the enclosed space (104). The one or more UV lamps (110) are configured to emit UV light (112) in relation to one or more portions of the enclosed space (104). A sanitizing control unit (116) is in communication with the one or more sensors (120) and the one or more UV lamps (110). The sanitizing control unit (116) is configured to receive the one or more action detection signals (130) from the one or more sensors (120). The sanitizing control unit (116) is configured to modify operation of the one or more UV lamps (110) in response to the one or more actions being a triggering event. Additionally, or optionally, a resource allocation control unit (132) is configured to generate resource recommendations regarding the one or more ultraviolet (UV) lamps (110) for the enclosed space (104) based on one or more triggering events of the one or more actions.