UV Light Shield Layout for Passenger-Safe Cabin Sanitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sanitization methods in vehicles like aircraft require significant manual effort and may expose passengers to harmful UV radiation, posing a risk of harm while attempting to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A UV light shield system that uses UV lamps mounted on either side of passenger seats to create a virtual shield or side curtain of UV light, emitting a safe wavelength (222 nm) that sanitizes air and surfaces without direct exposure to passengers, controlled by sensors and power management to ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV radiation is used to sanitize surfaces and air in the cabin, then pathogen neutralization is improved, but passenger safety deteriorates due to harmful UV exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The UV irradiation system is divided into multiple independent UV modules, each responsible for specific zones (aisle, seat back, armrest). This segmentation allows selective activation of only the modules needed for current sanitization tasks, reducing overall UV exposure while maintaining pathogen neutralization effectiveness in targeted areas.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the UV modules and the sanitization process. The control system receives inputs from sensors detecting passenger presence and manually selected sanitization options, then intelligently activates or deactivates specific UV modules. This intermediary function ensures UV radiation is applied only when and where needed, preventing harmful exposure to passengers while maintaining reliable pathogen neutralization.
2Reliability
If manual sanitization methods are used by crew members, then pathogen control is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to significant manual effort required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service sanitization by allowing passengers to manually select sanitization options for their immediate surroundings (aisle, seat back, armrest) through a user interface. The UV modules then automatically execute the sanitization process without requiring crew member intervention, transforming the manual service into an automated self-service process that maintains pathogen control while dramatically improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical sanitization process performed by crew members (spraying, wiping, waving wands) is replaced by an automated UV irradiation system controlled by electronic sensors and a control unit. This substitution eliminates the need for significant manual effort while maintaining effective pathogen control through automated UV module activation based on sensor inputs and passenger selections.
3Reliability
If UV lamps are positioned close to passengers for effective sanitization, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but passenger safety deteriorates due to direct UV exposure risk
Solution Approach 1:
Different UV modules are positioned at different locations (aisle, seat back, armrest) with varying UV intensities and activation conditions appropriate to each location. The control system applies UV radiation with local quality - higher intensity when passengers are absent, lower or no intensity when passengers are present - ensuring sanitization effectiveness in each zone while preventing harmful direct exposure to passengers in that same zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV module activation state is dynamic rather than static. The control system continuously monitors sensor inputs detecting passenger presence and automatically adjusts UV module activation - activating modules when passengers are absent for effective sanitization, and deactivating or reducing intensity when passengers are present to prevent harmful exposure. This dynamic adjustment maintains sanitization effectiveness while ensuring passenger safety.
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 kills or neutralizes pathogens in the air and on surfaces adjacent to passengers, preventing their spread while ensuring passenger safety by avoiding direct UV exposure and integrating with existing cabin infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
UV lamps mounted on either side of passenger seats to create a virtual shield or side curtain of UV light, emitting a safe wavelength (222 nm) that sanitizes air and surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
An ultraviolet (UV) light shield system (100) includes multiple UV lamps (124) mounted within an internal cabin (122) of a vehicle. The UV lamps (124) are positioned to emit UV light in fields of illumination (128) that extend along sides (118, 120) of passenger seats (110) disposed within the internal cabin (122). Two adjacent fields of illumination (128) are spaced apart to define a protection zone (130) for a passenger (140) sitting on one of the passenger seats (110).