Sterilization apparatus for portable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11980694-B2
Application number	US-202117319094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2021
Priority date	May 18, 2020
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device including a cabinet and a carrier is provided. The carrier includes a base slidably disposed on the cabinet, multiple first positioning elements and multiple second positioning elements disposed in parallel on the base, multiple sterilization light sources corresponding to the second positioning elements and multiple pressure sensors disposed in parallel in the base. The base is configured to carry at least one portable electronic device. One second positioning element is disposed between any two adjacent first positioning elements, and any first positioning element and any second positioning element adjacent to each other are separated by a positioning space. The pressure sensors are respectively located in the positioning spaces. One sterilization light source is disposed between any two adjacent pressure sensors, and the pressure sensors are configured to sense a pressure from the portable electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:
a cabinet; and
at least one carrier, wherein the carrier comprises:
a base slidably disposed on the cabinet and configured to carry at least one portable electronic device;
a plurality of first positioning elements disposed in parallel on the base;
a plurality of second positioning elements disposed in parallel on the base, wherein one of the second positioning elements is disposed between any two of the first positioning elements adjacent to each other, and any one of the first positioning elements is separated from any one of the second positioning elements by a positioning space;
a plurality of sterilization light sources disposed correspondingly to the second positioning elements; and
a plurality of pressure sensors disposed in parallel in the base, wherein the pressure sensors are respectively located in the positioning spaces, and one of the sterilization light sources is disposed between any two of the pressure sensors adjacent to each other,
wherein when the portable electronic device is put into any one of the positioning spaces, and the pressure sensor located in the positioning space senses a pressure from the portable electronic device, the sterilization light source adjacent to the pressure sensor switches to a preparatory starting status.

2. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a height of each of the first positioning elements is lower than a height of each of the second positioning elements.

3. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second positioning elements comprises a substrate connected to the base and a light transmitting cover disposed on the substrate, and the sterilization light sources are respectively disposed on the substrates and are respectively covered by the light transmitting covers.

4. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to in claim 1 , wherein each of the second positioning elements comprises a substrate connected to the base and a light transmitting plate disposed on the substrate, and the sterilization light sources are respectively disposed on the substrates and are respectively clamped between the light transmitting plates and the substrates.

5. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the substrate of the each of the second positioning elements has a groove, and the sterilization light source and the light transmitting plate are disposed in the groove.

6. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein a top end of the light transmitting plate of the each of the second positioning elements is lower than or a same height as a top end of the substrate.

7. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein a top end of the light transmitting plate of the each of the second positioning elements is higher than a top end of the substrate and a top end of the sterilization light source.

8. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second positioning elements comprises a substrate connected to the base and a light transmitting plate disposed on the substrate, and the sterilization light source is disposed on a top end of the light transmitting plate.

9. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the sterilization light sources is disposed on a side of a corresponding second positioning element far away from the base, and a top end of the each of the sterilization light sources is a same height as or higher than a top end of the corresponding second positioning element.

10. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second positioning elements comprises a connecting portion connected to the base and a positioning portion connected to the connecting portion, and the positioning portion of the each of the second positioning elements is suspended on the base, wherein the sterilization light sources are disposed on the base, and orthographic projection of the positioning portions of the second positioning elements on the base respectively overlaps the sterilization light sources.

11. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a main body portion and a light transmitting portion disposed on the main body portion, the connecting portion of the each of the second positioning elements is connected to the main body portion, the first positioning elements are disposed in parallel on the light transmitting portion, and the sterilization light sources are disposed in the main body portion and covered by the light transmitting portion.

12. The sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising a door panel, wherein the door panel is movably connected to the cabinet, and when the carrier is moved into the cabinet and the door panel is locked in the cabinet, the sterilization light source in the preparatory starting status is activated to emit a sterilization light.

Assignees

• Chen Yi Hung
• Chiang Chih Wen
• Pai Yun Tung
• Hsiao Yen Hua
• Su Yao Kuang
• Lin Yi Hsuan
• Siao Han Sheng
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chen Yi-Hung
• Chiang Chih-Wen
• Pai Yun-Tung
• Hsiao Yen-Hua
• Su Yao-Kuang
• Lin Yi-Hsuan
• Siao Han-Sheng

Classifications

• A61L2103/00

  Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2/084 Primary

  Visible light · CPC title

• A61L2/24 Primary

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title

• A61L2202/121

  Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title