Electronic gadget disinfection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9138499-B2
Application number	US-201314144053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Dec 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 22, 2015
Grant date	Sep 22, 2015

Abstract

A solution for disinfecting electronic devices is provided. An ultraviolet radiation source is embedded within an ultraviolet absorbent case. While the electronic device is within the ultraviolet absorbent case, ultraviolent radiation is directed at the electronic device. A monitoring and control system monitors a plurality of attributes for the electronic device, which can include: a frequency of usage for the device, a biological activity at a surface of the device, and a disinfection schedule history for the device. Furthermore, the monitoring and control system can detect whether the device is being used. Based on the monitoring, the monitoring and control system controls the ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an ultraviolet absorbent case for containing an electronic device;
at least one ultraviolet radiation source embedded within the ultraviolet absorbent case, the at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device;
a set of partially reflective, partially transmitting layers located between the ultraviolet absorbent case and the electronic device, wherein the set of partially transmitting layers is configured to evenly distribute the ultraviolet radiation within the ultraviolet absorbent case; and
a monitoring and control system for managing the ultraviolet radiation by performing a method comprising:
monitoring a plurality of attributes for the electronic device; and
controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring comprises at least one of:
determining a frequency of usage for the electronic device;
determining a usage of the electronic device;
monitoring biological activity at a surface of the electronic device; and
determining a disinfection schedule history for the electronic device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein, in response to the monitoring detecting a presence of biological activity at an area of the surface of the electronic device, the controlling comprises directing a higher dose of ultraviolet radiation to the area including the biological activity, wherein the higher dose includes at least one of: an increased intensity level or an increased exposure time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises at least one of:
turning on the at least one ultraviolet radiation source;
turning off the at least one ultraviolet radiation source; and
determining a time scheduling for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective layer located between the ultraviolet absorbent case and the partially reflective, partially transmitting layer, wherein the reflective layer is configured to reflect the ultraviolet radiation back to the electronic device.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a diffusing interface located between the partially reflective, partially transmitting layer and the electronic device, wherein the diffusing interface is configured to diffuse the ultraviolet radiation.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising an antibacterial layer located between the diffusing interface and the electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet absorbent case includes a switch to turn off the ultraviolet radiation when the electronic device is not located within the ultraviolet absorbent case.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet absorbent case further provides mechanical protection for the electronic device for a one meter drop test.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet absorbent case further provides water protection for the electronic device for a timed submersion test.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of partially transmitting, partially reflective layers includes:
a first partially reflective, partially transmitting layer;
a second partially reflective, partially transmitting layer; and
a layer located between the first and second partially reflective, partially transmitting layers, the layer including a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index for the first and second partially reflective, partially transmitting layers.

12. An apparatus, comprising:
an electronic device;
an ultraviolet absorbent case for containing the electronic device;
at least one ultraviolet radiation source embedded within the ultraviolet absorbent case, the at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device;
a set of partially reflective, partially transmitting layers located between the ultraviolet absorbent case and the electronic device, wherein the set of partially transmitting layers is configured to evenly distribute the ultraviolet radiation within the ultraviolet absorbent case; and
a monitoring and control system for managing the ultraviolet radiation by performing a method comprising:
monitoring a plurality of attributes for the electronic device; and
controlling, based on the monitoring, the ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the monitoring comprises at least one of:
determining a frequency of usage for the electronic device;
determining a usage of the electronic device;
monitoring biological activity at a surface of the electronic device; and
determining a disinfection schedule history for the electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, in response to the monitoring detecting a presence of biological activity at an area of the surface of the electronic device, the controlling comprises directing a higher dose of ultraviolet radiation to the area including the biological activity, wherein the higher dose includes at least one of: an increased intensity level or an increased exposure time.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controlling comprises at least one of:
turning on the at least one ultraviolet radiation source;
turning off the at least one ultraviolet radiation source; and
determining a time scheduling for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a reflective layer located between the ultraviolet absorbent case and the partially reflective, partially transmitting layer, wherein the reflective layer is configured to reflect the ultraviolet radiation back to the electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a diffusing interface located between the partially reflective, partially transmitting layer and the electronic device, wherein the diffusing interface is configured to diffuse the ultraviolet radiation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising an antibacterial layer located between the diffusing interface and the electronic device.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the ultraviolet absorbent case includes a switch to turn off the ultraviolet radiation when the electronic device is not located within the ultraviolet absorbent case.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the ultraviolet absorbent case further provides at least one of: mechanical protection for the electronic device for a one meter drop test or water protection for the electronic device for a timed submersion test.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the set of partially transmitting, partially reflective layers includes:
a first partially reflective, partially transmitting layer;
a second partially reflective, partially transmitting layer; and
a layer located between the first and second partially reflective, partially transmitting layers, the layer including a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index for the first and second partially reflective, partially transmitting layers.

22. An apparatus, comprising:
an electronic device;
an ultraviolet absorbent case for containing the electronic device;
at least one ultraviolet radiation source embedded within the ultraviolet absorbent case, the at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed at the electronic device;
a set of parti

Assignees

• Sensor Electronic Tech Inc

Inventors

• Bettles Timothy James
• Bilenko Yuri
• Smetona Saulius
• Dobrinsky Alexander
• Shur Michael
• Gaska Remigijus

Classifications

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A61L2/00

  Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• A61L2/24

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title