Lighting device that deactivates dangerous pathogens while providing visually appealing light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deactivating pathogens in environments, such as healthcare settings and food processing facilities, are either labor-intensive, temporarily effective, or involve toxic substances like UV-light and ozone, which pose risks to humans and limit usage.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device equipped with LEDs emitting disinfecting light across specific wavelength ranges (380-420 nm, 460-480 nm, 530-580 nm, and 600-650 nm) that combines to form visible light, ensuring effective pathogen deactivation while maintaining a safe and aesthetically pleasing illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-light is used to deactivate pathogens, then pathogen deactivation effectiveness is improved, but human safety deteriorates due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameters of the light source from traditional UV-C (200-280 nm) to visible light wavelengths (400-700 nm), specifically using blue light (450-480 nm) and other visible wavelengths that are effective against pathogens but safe for human exposure. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining pathogen deactivation effectiveness while eliminating the harmful effects of UV radiation on human skin and eyes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful UV radiation into beneficial visible light that serves dual purposes: effective pathogen deactivation and human-safe illumination. By using visible light wavelengths that naturally occur in sunlight and are familiar to human eyes, the invention transforms a harmful disinfection method into a beneficial one that can be used continuously without requiring environment sealing or special protective measures.
2Reliability
If ozone and chemical fumigation are used for pathogen control, then decontamination effectiveness is improved, but human safety deteriorates due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical-based pathogen control methods (ozone and chemical fumigation) with a physical light-based system. By using visible light wavelengths to achieve pathogen deactivation, the invention eliminates the need for toxic chemicals while maintaining effective decontamination, thus resolving the contradiction between decontamination effectiveness and human safety.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional lighting is used to provide illumination, then visual appeal is improved, but pathogen deactivation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the lighting device universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing visually appealing illumination and deactivating pathogens. By incorporating specific visible light wavelengths (particularly blue light at 450-480 nm) that have both aesthetic value and pathogen-killing properties, the invention resolves the contradiction between visual appeal and pathogen deactivation capability, allowing the same light source to serve both purposes effectively.
4Reliability
If UV-light decontamination is performed, then pathogen deactivation is improved, but operational continuity deteriorates due to environment sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters from UV-C wavelength (which requires sealing) to visible light wavelengths that are safe for continuous operation in occupied spaces. This allows the decontamination process to occur continuously without interrupting normal activities, resolving the contradiction between pathogen deactivation effectiveness and operational continuity.
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 device provides a continuous and effective deactivation of pathogens without disrupting normal activities, ensuring a safe and non-toxic environment by delivering sufficient disinfecting doses while producing visually appealing light.
Implementation Method 1
one or more first light-emitting elements including one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a first range of wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
disinfecting light produced by the LEDs and the disinfecting light produced by the second light-emitting elements mix to form a combined light, the combined light being visible light other than white light
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device configured to deactivate pathogens in an environment. The lighting device includes a housing, means for mounting the housing to a surface in the environment, one or more first light-emitting elements arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a first range of wavelengths, and one or more second light-emitting elements arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a second range of wavelengths different from the first range of wavelengths. The disinfecting light produced by the first light-emitting elements and the disinfecting light produced by the second light-emitting elements mix to form a combined light, the combined light being visible light other than white light.