Method and apparatus for sterilizing a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000951-A1
Application number	US-201414322682-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various devices for sterilizing a surface are disclosed. For example, a first device includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit, a processor and a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include detecting a proximity of a surface to the ultraviolet light emitting unit and activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface in response to the detecting. Another device includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit, a processor and a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include storing a location parameter, determining whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter and activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device for sterilizing a surface, comprising:
an ultraviolet light emitting unit; a processor; and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
detecting a proximity of the surface to the ultraviolet light emitting unit; and
activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface in response to the detecting.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a portion of a human body.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit comprises a light emitting diode.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit emits light at a wavelength of 207 nanometers.

5 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sensor for detecting the proximity of the surface to the device.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse or a touch screen.

7 . A device for sterilizing a surface, comprising:
an ultraviolet light emitting unit; a processor; and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a location parameter;
determining whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter; and
activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the surface comprises a portion of a human body.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the surface comprises a portion of the device.

10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit comprises a light emitting diode.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit emits light at a wavelength of 207 nanometers.

12 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the location parameter is received wirelessly.

13 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
storing the location parameter in the computer readable medium.

14 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the location parameter is associated with a disease event.

15 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the location parameter comprises:
a condition that specifies a presence at a specified location.

16 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the location parameter comprises:
a condition that specifies a connection to a particular wireless beacon.

17 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the activating comprises:
turning on the ultraviolet light emitting unit.

18 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the activating comprises:
increasing a duration of use of the ultraviolet light emitting unit in a predefined time period.

19 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the activating comprises:
increasing an intensity of an output of the ultraviolet light emitting unit.

20 . A method for sterilizing a surface, comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a device, a location parameter; determining, by the processor, whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter; and activating, by the processor, an ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Kreiner Barrett M
• Reeves Jonathan L

Classifications

• A61L2103/00

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

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A61L2/24

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title

• H04M1/17

  Hygienic or sanitary devices on telephone equipment (for mouthpieces or earpieces H04R1/12) · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

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