UVC LED Air Disinfection with Occupancy-Sensing Baffle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UVC light sanitization systems are inefficient, time-consuming, and pose health hazards due to lack of safety measures and inefficient air disinfection, especially in areas lacking line-of-sight vision and when individuals enter the room.
Innovation Solution
A UVC unit with a controllable baffle and sensors that directs UVC light emission based on occupancy, using a series of UVC LEDs, a lens, and a baffle to focus light upward or downward, ensuring safe and efficient disinfection by avoiding direct exposure to occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UVC light is used for disinfection, then pathogen destruction is effective, but health hazards to exposed individuals occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directs UVC light upward toward the ceiling rather than horizontally or downward into the occupied zone. This dimensional change in light emission direction allows the UVC to disinfect the upper air space and ceiling surfaces while avoiding exposure to occupants in the lower occupied zone, thus maintaining disinfection effectiveness while eliminating health hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates different functional zones within the room: an upper disinfection zone receiving UVC exposure and a lower safe occupied zone free from UVC exposure. The UVC light is localized to specific areas (ceiling and upper air) that do not overlap with the occupied space, allowing simultaneous disinfection and occupant safety
2Reliability
If portable UVC machines are transported into rooms for sanitization, then disinfection can be performed, but time consumption and operational inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UVC light fixture is pre-installed in a fixed location (ceiling or wall) before operation is needed. This preliminary installation eliminates the need for repeated transportation, setup, and evacuation procedures each time disinfection is required. The system is ready for immediate operation, significantly reducing time loss while maintaining full disinfection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed UVC system automatically detects when the occupied zone is clear and initiates disinfection operations without requiring human intervention for setup or monitoring. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the disinfection process, eliminating the manual labor and time associated with transporting and operating portable units
3Object-affected harmful factors
If UVC light is emitted into the upper air zone only, then occupant safety is maintained, but disinfection efficiency in lower areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple disinfection approaches: upper air zone disinfection via direct UVC emission, ceiling surface disinfection via reflected UVC, and indirect air disinfection through ceiling contact. This merging of multiple disinfection pathways maintains occupant safety while significantly improving overall disinfection efficiency compared to upper-zone-only approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling acts as an intermediary surface that receives UVC exposure and transfers disinfection benefits to both the upper air zone and lower occupied zone. UVC light disinfects the ceiling directly, and the disinfected ceiling then serves as a barrier and secondary source, indirectly disinfecting air and surfaces in lower areas without requiring direct UVC exposure to occupants
4Productivity
If fixed UVC light fixtures are installed, then operational efficiency improves, but safety risks increase if position shifts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the occupied zone for presence of individuals. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to detect when occupants are present and automatically adjust or inhibit UVC emission, providing real-time safety assurance while maintaining operational efficiency. The feedback loop ensures safety without compromising the disinfection capability when the zone is clear
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 provides safe and efficient disinfection of air and surfaces by controlling UVC light emission to avoid direct exposure to occupants, maximizing disinfection efficiency while minimizing health risks.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet C (UVC) unit, contains a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module having a series of UVC LEDs that provide UVC emission
Implementation Method 2
The effectiveness of UVC light comes from the ability of the light to destroy the genetic information in the DNA, thereby causing micro-organisms to lose their reproductive capability
Implementation Method 3
a lens that linearly focuses the UVC emission of the LED module
Implementation Method 4
UVC light emitted from the LED module is directed toward the lens for linearly focusing the emission of the LED module in order to propagate the light throughout a top portion of a room
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet C (UVC) unit, comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module containing a series of UVC LEDs that provide UVC emission, a lens that linearly focuses the UVC emission of the LED module and a controllable baffle that directs UVC light that passes from the LED module through the lens. The UVC light emitted from the LED module is directed toward the lens for linearly focusing the emission of the LED module in order to propagate the light throughout a top portion of a room in which the UVC unit is positioned, when the baffle is in a first position, and wherein the light is propagated downward from the UVC unit when the baffle is in a second position.