Touch screen display surface sanitization using antimicrobial light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021000991-A1
Application number	US-202016918644-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2020
Priority date	Jul 3, 2019
Publication date	Jan 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments, each light segments including one or more antimicrobial light sources, is configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms on a touch screen display surface. The lighting array may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on user presence information, time of day information, and/or touch screen display usage information. A touch screen display assembly includes a housing, a touch screen display and a lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments.

First claim

1 . A lighting array comprising:
a fixture; and one or more antimicrobial lighting segments mounted on the lighting fixture, each antimicrobial lighting segment including one or more elements, wherein each element emits light at a wavelength, irradiance, and direction sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms on a target area of a touch screen display surface.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lighting array controls each antimicrobial light segment is controlled based on touch screen display surface usage information.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lighting array deactivates at least some of the antimicrobial lighting segments when the touch screen display surface usage information is indicative of presence of a user.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more antimicrobial lighting segments are individually controllable by the lighting array such that each lighting segment may be activated at a first, high setting, a second, modified setting, or a third, deactivated setting independently of the other one or more antimicrobial lighting segments.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a presence sensor that detects presence of a user near the touch screen display surface.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lighting array further controls the one or more antimicrobial lighting segments based on the time of day.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the touch screen display surface includes a plurality of target zones, and wherein the one or more antimicrobial lighting segments are individually controllable to direct light at the wavelength and irradiance sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms within one or more of the target zones.

8 . The lighting system of claim 1 wherein each antimicrobial lighting segment includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) elements, and wherein each LED element emits light including wavelengths in a range of about 405±15 nanometers.

9 . The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the lighting array further includes one or more lighting elements that emit light having a wavelength range in the visible spectrum.

10 . The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein each antimicrobial lighting segment includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) elements, wherein one or more of the LED elements emit light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range of about 380-420 nanometers, and one or more of the LED elements emit light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range of about 200-280 nanometers.

11 . The lighting system of claim 1 , wherein each antimicrobial lighting segment includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) elements, wherein one or more of the LED elements emit light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range of about 380-420 nanometers and one or more of the LED elements emit light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range, wherein the second antimicrobial wavelength range includes at least one of ultraviolet A (UVA) light within a wavelength range of 315-400 nm, ultraviolet B (UVB) light within a wavelength range of 280-315 nm or ultraviolet C (UVC) light within a wavelength range of 200-280 nm.

12 . The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the one or more microorganisms include at least one of Listeria monocytogenes, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus.

13 . An antimicrobial lighting assembly comprising:
a frame assembly configured for mounting around at least a portion of the perimeter of a touch screen display surface; and one or more antimicrobial lighting segments mounted on the frame assembly, each antimicrobial lighting segment including one or more antimicrobial lighting elements, wherein each antimicrobial lighting element emits light at a wavelength, irradiance, and direction sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms on a target area of the touch screen display surface.

14 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 wherein the frame assembly is mounted around the entire perimeter of the touch screen display surface.

15 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 further comprising a sensor that detects presence of a user near the touch screen display, and wherein power to the antimicrobial lighting segments is deactivated upon detection of presence of the user.

16 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 15 wherein, subsequent to detection of presence of a user near the touch screen display, the sensor detects that the user is no longer present near the touch screen display, and wherein power to the antimicrobial lighting segments is activated.

17 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 wherein the frame assembly is configured to mount on a bezel of the touch screen display.

18 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 wherein the frame assembly is configured for retrofittable mounting around the perimeter of a touch screen display surface.

19 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 , wherein each antimicrobial lighting segment includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) elements, wherein one or more of the LED elements emit light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range of about 380-420 nanometers, and one or more of the LED elements emit light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range of about 200-280 nanometers.

20 . The antimicrobial lighting assembly of claim 13 , wherein each antimicrobial lighting segment includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) elements, wherein one or more of the LED elements emit light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range of about 380-420 nanometers and one or more of the LED elements emit light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range, wherein the second antimicrobial wavelength range includes at least one of ultraviolet A (UVA) light within a wavelength range of 315-400 nm, ultraviolet B (UVB) light within a wavelength range of 280-315 nm or ultraviolet C (UVC) light within a wavelength range of 200-280 nm.

21 . A touch screen display assembly comprising:
a touch screen display configured for interaction with one or more users; a housing configured to receive the touch screen display; an antimicrobial lighting assembly mounted within the housing and comprising one or more antimicrobial lighting segments, each antimicrobial lighting segment including one or more antimicrobial lighting elements, wherein each antimicrobial lighting element emits light at a wavelength, irradiance, and direction sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms on a target area of the touch screen display surface, each of the one or more antimicrobial lighting segments mounted along at least a portion of an edge of the touch screen display so as to emit antimicrobial light in a direction to inactivate microorganisms on a target area of the touch screen display surface.

22 . The touch screen display assembly of claim 21 wherein the housing comprises one of a kiosk, a touch screen display monitor housing, or a video wall rack.

23 . The touch screen display assembly of claim 21 wherein each of the one or more antimicrobial lighting elements has a beam angle in the range of 12° to 60°.

24 . The touch screen display assembly of claim 21 wherein a first subset of the at least one or more antimicrobial lighting elements have a first beam

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Kraus Paul R
• Babekir Amani
• Mcdowell Gina
• Podtburg Teresa C

Classifications

• G06F3/0421

  by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

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

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title