Automated UV Sterilization System with Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV sterilization systems are inefficient in sterilizing hard-to-reach areas, have unattended operation risks, and lack feedback mechanisms to ensure effective UV exposure, leading to incomplete sterilization and reduced lamp lifespan.
Innovation Solution
An automated UV sterilization system with sensors to measure UV exposure, determine target area dimensions, and adjust UV exposure duration, including multi-level UVC configurations to enhance coverage and safety features like strobe warning lights for user notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional UV sterilization products are left unattended during sterilization, then sterilization coverage can be improved, but user safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor UV exposure levels and provide feedback to the controller. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust operation duration and intensity, eliminating the need for unattended operation while ensuring complete sterilization coverage through real-time monitoring and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated control system with integrated sensors enables the UV sterilization device to monitor and regulate its own operation. The system independently determines when sterilization is complete based on sensor data, eliminating the need for user supervision while maintaining safety by preventing over-exposure and automatic shutdown when targets are reached.
2Reliability
If UV exposure duration is extended to ensure complete sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness improves, but UV lamp lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors provide real-time feedback on UV exposure levels, allowing the controller to precisely determine when the required sterilization dose has been achieved. This prevents both under-sterilization and excessive exposure, optimizing the balance between sterilization effectiveness and lamp lifespan by stopping operation exactly when the target is reached.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts UV exposure parameters based on sensor feedback and target characteristics. By changing exposure duration and intensity parameters in real-time based on actual conditions, the system achieves complete sterilization with minimal exposure time, thereby extending lamp lifespan while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If automated sensors and control systems are added to UV sterilization devices, then sterilization precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple functions into a single unified platform: sensors perform both measurement and control functions, the controller manages both timing and intensity regulation, and the system provides both sterilization and monitoring capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
4Area of stationary object
If multi-level UVC configurations are used to sterilize hard-to-reach areas, then sterilization coverage improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV sterilization system is divided into multiple independent UVC units arranged at different levels. Each unit can be independently controlled and monitored, allowing the system to cover complex geometries and hard-to-reach areas through segmented deployment rather than requiring a single complex configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-level to multi-level configuration, adding vertical dimensionality to the sterilization coverage. By distributing UVC units across multiple height levels, the system achieves comprehensive coverage of three-dimensional spaces including hard-to-reach areas without requiring overly complex individual unit designs.
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 efficiently sterilizes hard-to-reach areas, reduces unattended operation risks, and ensures complete UV exposure through automated control and feedback mechanisms, extending UV exposure time as UV lamp lifespan decreases.
Implementation Method 1
UV radiation—which is divided into three bands: UVA (315 - 400 nm), UVB (280 - 315 nm), and UVC (200- 280 nm), VUV (100-200 nm) is present in sunlight
Implementation Method 2
short-wave UV light (e.g., UVC light) deactivates the DNA and RNA of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, and disrupts their ability to multiply and cause diseases
Implementation Method 3
a first sensor coupled to the first UV sterilization unit, the first sensor configured to measure the UV exposure
Data Source
AI summary
An automated UV sterilization system is provided. In some embodiments, the automated UV sterilization system includes a first UV sterilization unit including a first UV lamp, the first UV sterilization unit configured to provide UV exposure. The automated UV sterilization system includes a first sensor coupled to the first UV sterilization unit, the first sensor configured to measure the UV exposure. The automated UV sterilization system is configured to: determine dimensions of a target area surrounding UV sterilization units, determine the UV exposure to be provided based on the determined dimensions, activate the UV exposure to be provided by UV sterilization units, determine a current UV exposure within the target area, and determine whether the current UV exposure meets a target criteria to complete sterilization for the target area surrounding UV sterilization units.