Ultraviolet illuminator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124081-B2
Application number	US-201715830274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2017
Priority date	Feb 25, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A solution for disinfecting an area using ultraviolet radiation is provided. The solution can include an enclosure including at least one ultraviolet transparent window and a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located adjacent to the at least one ultraviolet transparent window. The set of ultraviolet radiation sources can be configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed through the at least one ultraviolet transparent window. An input unit can be located on the enclosure and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to pressure applied to the enclosure. A control unit can be configured to manage the ultraviolet radiation by monitoring the electrical signal generated by the input unit and controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: an enclosure including at least one ultraviolet transparent window forming a part of a surface of the enclosure; a set of sensors located within the enclosure; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located adjacent to the at least one ultraviolet transparent window, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed through the at least one ultraviolet transparent window and out of the enclosure; an input unit located within the enclosure and configured to generate a set of electrical signals corresponding to a pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors, and wherein the pattern of pressure is a series of two or more applied pressures of a minimum amount with a pause between each applied pressures, wherein the applied pressures and the pauses have a corresponding target time duration; and a control unit configured to manage the ultraviolet radiation by performing a method comprising: monitoring the set of electrical signals generated by the input unit; and controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources, wherein the pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors indicates a set of parameters for the ultraviolet radiation, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one of: a direction, an intensity, or a pattern, of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input unit includes a logic unit configured to convert mechanical energy of the pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors into the set of electrical signals.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet transparent window comprises an ultraviolet transparent polymer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors further comprises at least one capacitive sensor configured to convert a capacitive touch applied to the at least one capacitive sensor into an electrical signal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors further comprises a set of ultraviolet detectors configured to detect an amount of ultraviolet radiation and provide data corresponding to the amount of ultraviolet radiation to the control unit.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control unit further monitors the amount of detected ultraviolet radiation and adjusts, in response to the monitoring of the detected ultraviolet radiation, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a chemical dispenser located within the enclosure, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured to release an antibacterial chemical out of the enclosure, and wherein fluid is prevented from entering an interior of the enclosure by a waterproof seal.

8. An enclosure, comprising: at least one ultraviolet transparent region forming a part of a surface of the enclosure; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the enclosure, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed through the at least one ultraviolet transparent region; a set of sensors located within the enclosure; an input unit located within the enclosure and configured to generate a set of electrical signals corresponding to a pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors, and wherein the pattern of pressure is a series of two or more applied pressures of a minimum amount with a pause between each applied pressures, wherein the applied pressures and the pauses have a corresponding target time duration; and a control unit configured to manage the ultraviolet radiation by performing a method comprising: monitoring the set of electrical signals generated by the input unit; and controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources, wherein the pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors indicates a set of parameters for the ultraviolet radiation, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one of: a direction, an intensity, or a pattern, of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure has a prolate spheroid shape.

10. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the input unit is configured to generate the set of electrical signals in response to pressure applied substantially concurrently to both a first end and a second end of the prolate spheroid shape.

11. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet transparent region forms substantially all of a side extending between a first end and a second end of the enclosure.

12. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the enclosure is covered by titanium oxide (TiO 2 ).

13. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the set of sensors further comprises a set of ultraviolet detectors located within the enclosure and configured to detect an amount of ultraviolet radiation entering the enclosure through the at least one ultraviolet transparent region, and provide data corresponding to the amount of ultraviolet radiation to the control unit.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 , wherein the control unit monitors the amount of detected ultraviolet radiation and adjusts, in response to the monitoring of the detected ultraviolet radiation, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

15. The enclosure of claim 8 , further comprising a chemical dispenser located within the enclosure, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured to release an antibacterial chemical out of the enclosure, and wherein fluid is prevented from entering an interior of the enclosure by a waterproof seal.

16. A system comprising: an area including a fluid for disinfection; and at least one enclosure submerged within the fluid, the at least one enclosure, comprising: a first end and a second end that provide a waterproof seal for an interior of the at least one enclosure, wherein the waterproof seal prevents the fluid from entering the enclosure; at least one ultraviolet transparent window forming a part of an exterior surface of the at least one enclosure; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the at least one enclosure, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed through the at least one ultraviolet transparent window and out of the at least one enclosure into the fluid; a set of sensors located within the at least one enclosure; an input unit located within the enclosure and configured to generate a set of electrical signals corresponding to a pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors, and wherein the pattern of pressure is a series of two or more applied pressures of a minimum amount with a pause between each applied pressures, wherein the applied pressures and the pauses have a corresponding target time duration; and a control unit configured to manage the ultraviolet radiation by performing a method comprising: monitoring the set of electrical signals generated by the input unit; and controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources, wherein the pattern of pressure applied to the set of sensors indicates a set of parameters for the ultraviolet radiation, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one of: a direction, an intensity, or a pattern, of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

17. The sys

Assignees

• Sensor Electronic Tech Inc

Inventors

• Agafonov Igor
• Dobrinsky Alexander
• Shur Michael
• Gaska Remigijus
• Smetona Saulius

Classifications

• A23L3/28

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A23B2/53

  with ultraviolet light · CPC title