Violet Light Nozzle Decontamination for Head Wearable Air Purifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head wearable air purifiers face challenges in decontaminating nozzles from microbial growth due to space constraints and the risk of re-contamination during cleaning, which can lead to increased exposure to harmful air pollutants.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light source emitting in the violet portion of the visual spectrum within the ear assembly to illuminate and decontaminate the nozzle, using a light guide to direct the light effectively across the nozzle's surface, ensuring safe and efficient decontamination without direct line of sight and minimizing material damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wet cloth is used to clean the nozzle, then the nozzle surface can be wiped, but microbial contamination increases and internal parts cannot be accessed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cleaning system (wet cloth) with a light-based decontamination system. Violet light sources (405nm wavelength) are positioned to illuminate the nozzle interior, using photonic energy instead of mechanical contact to eliminate microbes. This substitution allows decontamination of internal surfaces that are inaccessible to physical cleaning tools while avoiding the contamination risk introduced by cloth-based cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces violet light as an intermediary medium to transfer decontamination energy to the nozzle surfaces. The light acts as a non-contact mediator that can penetrate and illuminate internal nozzle passages, delivering antimicrobial effects without requiring physical access or contact with the surfaces being cleaned.
2Reliability
If the nozzle is cleaned frequently, then microbial growth is reduced, but the risk of re-contamination during cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical cleaning with optical decontamination, the system eliminates the re-contamination risk inherent in manual cleaning processes. The violet light sources sterilize the nozzle without introducing external contaminants, as the light itself does not carry microbes unlike cleaning cloths or tools that must be handled and stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle decontamination system operates autonomously within the air purifier, continuously or periodically sterilizing the nozzle without requiring user intervention. This self-service capability maintains consistent hygiene levels without the variability and contamination risks associated with manual cleaning operations.
3Ease of operation
If space for physical decontamination devices is increased, then cleaning capability is improved, but the nozzle size and user comfort are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical decontamination devices with compact violet light sources that can be integrated into the existing nozzle structure. The optical system requires minimal space compared to mechanical cleaning mechanisms, maintaining nozzle compactness and user comfort while providing effective decontamination capability.
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 solution allows for continuous, intermittent, or periodic decontamination of the nozzle during use, reducing bacterial growth and ensuring effective filtration without compromising the air purifier's functionality or user safety.
Implementation Method 1
the use of light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum to decontaminate at least part of a nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A head wearable air purifier including a filter assembly, a motor-driven impeller for creating an airflow through the filter assembly to obtain a filtered airflow downstream of the filter assembly, and an ear assembly arranged to be worn over an ear of a user, the ear assembly including at least one light source for emitting light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum. The air purifier also includes a nozzle attached to the ear assembly, the nozzle including a nozzle inlet arranged to receive the filtered airflow downstream of the filter assembly, and a nozzle outlet for emitting the received filtered airflow from the head wearable air purifier. The at least one light source is arranged to illuminate at least part of the nozzle for the decontamination thereof.