UV Sterilization Control for Water Purifier Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water purifiers using ultraviolet sterilization expose users, especially children, to excessive UV radiation due to continuous emission during sterilization, exceeding safe daily exposure limits and risking skin damage.
Innovation Solution
A method to control UV emission in water purifiers by turning on the UV light emitting element for a set time and then turning it off for a longer period, ensuring the cumulative UV exposure remains below safe limits, with a cycle that starts when the device is powered on, and adjusting the on and off times to prevent skin damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light emitting element is continuously turned on during sterilization mode, then the sterilization effect is maximized, but the cumulative ultraviolet exposure to users exceeds the safe daily limit of 3 mJ/cm2 causing skin damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by dividing the sterilization process into alternating on-periods and off-periods. The light emitting element is turned on for a first set time to emit ultraviolet rays for sterilization, then turned off for a second set time to stop emission. This periodic cycling ensures that the cumulative ultraviolet exposure remains below the safe daily limit of 3 mJ/cm2 while still achieving effective sterilization over the course of a day.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the sterilization process adaptive rather than static. The control method dynamically adjusts the operation state of the light emitting element based on accumulated exposure time, transitioning between on and off states. This dynamic control allows the system to maximize sterilization effectiveness while preventing excessive ultraviolet exposure to users throughout the day.
2Ease of operation
If the sterilization mode is performed without considering daily ultraviolet ray exposure allowance, then the sterilization process is simple and continuous, but the user may be injured by ultraviolet rays when holding finger on the water tap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a control method that monitors and tracks the cumulative operation time of the light emitting element. The controller receives feedback regarding the accumulated on-time and uses this information to regulate future operation cycles. This feedback mechanism ensures that the total ultraviolet exposure remains within safe limits while maintaining automated control that does not complicate user interaction with the water purifier.
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 method prevents skin damage from UV radiation by reducing the exposure time to UV emission, ensuring the cumulative exposure does not exceed safe limits, even when users interact with the water outflow part for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting element which is mounted inside the water chute corresponding to an upper end of the water outflow part and emits ultraviolet rays for sterilization
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling sterilization of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing and includes a water outflow part extending downward; and a light emitting element which is mounted inside the water chute corresponding to an upper end of the water outflow part and emits ultraviolet rays for sterilization, and the method includes when a sterilization mode is started, turning on the light emitting element for a first set time and to emit ultraviolet rays through the water outflow part; and after the lapse of the first set time, turning off the light emitting element for a second set time to stop emission of ultraviolet rays, in which a sterilization cycle is defined as a sum of the first set time and the second set time, in which the sterilization mode is started at the same time when the water purifier is powered on, and in which the first set time is set such that the sterilization mode is performed for one day so that the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted to the outside of the water outflow part is less than 3 mJ/cm2 during the accumulated on time of the light emitting element.