Vacuum Cleaner Docking Station with Violet Light Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floor care devices, such as vacuum cleaners, accumulate microbial contamination during use, posing a health risk to users due to direct contact with dirty surfaces and potential release of microbes during filter replacement or cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with a light source emitting violet visible light is used to decontaminate susceptible parts of the floor care device while docked, utilizing a docking sensor and controller to initiate a decontamination program, optionally with contamination detection and selective illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decontamination is performed using a light source integrated in the floor care device, then decontamination can be performed during operation, but battery power is consumed during cleaning sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The light source for decontamination is extracted from the floor care device and placed in the docking station instead. This allows the decontamination function to be separated from the battery-powered cleaning operations, eliminating the need to consume battery power during cleaning sessions while maintaining decontamination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Decontamination is performed in advance during docking/charging periods before the next cleaning session. The light source illuminates contaminated parts during these idle periods, ensuring parts are decontaminated before use without interfering with cleaning operations.
2Reliability
If decontamination is performed during cleaning sessions, then parts are kept clean, but cleaning time is reduced and battery power is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
Decontamination is performed in advance during docking periods before cleaning sessions begin. This preliminary action ensures parts are clean before use without consuming time during actual cleaning operations, maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs decontamination automatically during docking without requiring user intervention or time allocation during cleaning sessions. The docking station autonomously handles decontamination while the device is stationary for charging.
3Reliability
If UV light is used for decontamination, then microbial killing effectiveness is high, but device materials may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength parameter of the light source is changed from UV range to violet visible spectrum (380-450 nm). This parameter change maintains the antimicrobial effectiveness while eliminating the harmful material degradation effects associated with UV radiation, as confirmed by material compatibility testing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the light source is integrated in the floor care device, then decontamination can be performed anywhere, but the device complexity and battery requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from the floor care device and relocated to the docking station. This reduces the complexity of the portable device while maintaining decontamination capability through the docking station infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station is designed to perform multiple functions: charging the battery, storing the device, and providing decontamination through the light source. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate portable light source in the device.
5Reliability
If existing floor care systems are upgraded with decontamination functionality, then health risks are reduced, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station is designed to perform multiple functions including charging, storage, and decontamination. By combining these functions in a single unit, the incremental cost of adding decontamination functionality to existing systems is minimized while maximizing health protection benefits.
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
Effective microbial decontamination without draining battery power, ensuring parts are clean for subsequent use, reducing health risks by using violet light that does not damage device materials and does not require direct line of sight.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source for emitting light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum
Implementation Method 2
The at least one light source is arranged in such a way as to illuminate the at least one part of the floor care device by emitting the light while the floor care device is being held in the docking bay
Data Source
AI summary
A docking station is provided for allowing decontaminating parts of a floor care device. The floor care device includes at least one part that is susceptible to contamination when the floor care device is used in a floor care mode. The method may include detecting a transition of the floor care device to a park mode, and in response thereto, executing a decontamination program, the decontamination program including emitting light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum and thereby illuminating the at least one part for the decontamination thereof.