Integrated White-Light LED Structure for Safe Continuous Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection lighting technologies using UV sources are harmful to humans and not suitable for general lighting due to their bactericidal effects, and known LED solutions with bactericidal capabilities are either uncomfortable or not visually appealing as white light sources.
Innovation Solution
An integrated LED structure with a substrate, a cavity for light emission, a bactericidal semiconductor source, and a wavelength conversion material to generate white light, allowing for adjustable bactericidal emission intensity based on human presence, ensuring safety and comfort while providing continuous disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV sources are used for disinfection, then bactericidal effectiveness is improved, but harm to humans increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light source from UV range (260-290nm) to blue/violet range (405nm), maintaining bactericidal effectiveness through a different mechanism (ROS generation instead of DNA cracking) while eliminating harm to humans
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful short-wavelength radiation into a beneficial disinfection tool by using 405nm light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to suppress bacterial growth, transforming a harmful physical effect into a controlled beneficial outcome
2Reliability
If individually packaged LEDs are used, then bactericidal function is achieved, but light field uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple LED types (405nm blue/violet LEDs and white light LEDs) into a single integrated LED structure with shared substrate and cavity, creating a unified light source that produces smooth and uniform light field without distinct point sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different LED types to specific locations within the integrated structure (405nm LEDs for disinfection, white light LEDs for illumination) while maintaining overall uniformity through careful spatial arrangement and optical design
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 enables a continuous disinfection process that is visually appealing as white light, safe for humans, and suitable for general illumination, maintaining white light quality parameters and avoiding discomfort from short-wavelength emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a second type of light emitting semiconductor source mounted in the cavity with ability to excite a wavelength conversion material to generate white light
Implementation Method 2
a first type of light emitting semiconductor source with bactericidal and germicidal characteristics mounted in the cavity
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A light emitting diode (LED) structure, a lighting fixture and a method of providing white light illumination. The LED structure comprises: a substrate (200); a light emitting area defined on the substrate as a cavity (201); a first type of light emitting semiconductor source (203) with bactericidal characteristics mounted in the cavity; a second type of light emitting semiconductor source (204) mounted in the cavity with ability to excite a wavelength conversion material (202) to generate white light; and the wavelength conversion material layer formed on top of the light emitting semiconductor sources (203, 204). The invention enables disinfection by a lighting source or a luminaire visibly apparent to human as a white light source that is neither harmful to a human nor creates discomfort.