Systems and methods for emitting radiant energy
First Claim
1. A system for irradiating an area with ultraviolet light, comprising:
- a mobile housing;
a receiver associated with the housing;
at least one power source;
at least one radiant-energy emitter for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the system for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter associated with the housing and powered by the at least one power source, wherein ultraviolet light emitted from the at least one radiant-energy emitter is capable of being varied based on power received from the power source;
at least one radiant-energy sensor assembly, the sensor assembly including a first radiant-energy sensor, a second radiant-energy sensor, and a transmitter, the at least one radiant-energy sensor assembly detecting an amount of ultraviolet light from the first and second radiant-energy sensors during operation of the system and transmitting information regarding the amount to the receiver;
wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the first radiant-energy sensor includes both ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter and ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area; and
wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the second radiant-energy sensor includes ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area, but does not include ultraviolet light received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter; and
control logic configured to terminate the emitting of ultraviolet light by the at least one radiant-energy emitter based on the information transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver, wherein the information includes data relating to disinfection of the area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Field balancing may be performed with an irradiation system including a plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters. The irradiation system powers the radiant-energy emitters from a power source and radiant energy is emitted from the radiant-energy emitters, where an amount of radiant energy emitted from each emitter is capable of being varied based on power received from the power source. A plurality of radiant-energy sensors detects an amount of radiant energy which includes radiant energy created directly by at least one of the radiant-energy emitters. The amount of radiant energy detected at at least two of the radiant-energy sensors is compared, and at least one of the radiant-energy emitters is adjusted by varying the power received from the power source so that the amount of radiant energy detected at each of the radiant-energy sensors tends towards becoming approximately equal. The emitting of radiant energy from each radiant-energy emitter is terminated when a total amount of radiant energy emitted from the plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters exceeds a predetermined threshold value, where the threshold value is sufficient to allow the total amount of radiant energy emitted from the plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters to sanitize a particular area in which the emitters are located.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for irradiating an area with ultraviolet light, comprising:
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a mobile housing; a receiver associated with the housing; at least one power source; at least one radiant-energy emitter for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the system for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter associated with the housing and powered by the at least one power source, wherein ultraviolet light emitted from the at least one radiant-energy emitter is capable of being varied based on power received from the power source; at least one radiant-energy sensor assembly, the sensor assembly including a first radiant-energy sensor, a second radiant-energy sensor, and a transmitter, the at least one radiant-energy sensor assembly detecting an amount of ultraviolet light from the first and second radiant-energy sensors during operation of the system and transmitting information regarding the amount to the receiver; wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the first radiant-energy sensor includes both ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter and ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area; and wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the second radiant-energy sensor includes ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area, but does not include ultraviolet light received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter; and control logic configured to terminate the emitting of ultraviolet light by the at least one radiant-energy emitter based on the information transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver, wherein the information includes data relating to disinfection of the area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for irradiating an area with ultraviolet light, comprising:
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at least one power source; a housing having at least one radiant-energy emitter for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the system for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter associated with the housing and powered by the at least one power source, wherein the at least one radiant-energy emitter emits an adjustable flux of ultraviolet light during operation of the system dependent on the power received from the at least one power source; at least one wireless sensor assembly, the wireless sensor assembly including a first radiant-energy sensor, a second radiant energy sensor, and a transmitter, the at least one wireless sensor assembly detecting an amount of ultraviolet light during operation of the system and transmitting information regarding the amount to a receiver that is capable of communicating with the at least one radiant-energy emitter; wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the first radiant-energy sensor includes both ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter and ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area; and wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the second radiant-energy sensor includes ultraviolet light created by the at least one radiant-energy emitter that is received after reflection off items in the area, but does not include ultraviolet light received directly from the at least one radiant-energy emitter; and control logic configured to vary the power received by the at least one radiant-energy emitter and configured to terminate the emitting of ultraviolet light by the at least one radiant-energy emitter based on the information transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver, wherein the information includes data relating to disinfection of the area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for disinfecting an area, comprising:
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a base assembly including a housing; at least one power source; at least one radiant-energy emitter mounted to the housing for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the device for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter powered by the at least one power source; a reflector mounted to the housing and movable with respect to the housing, the reflector operable to direct the ultraviolet light from the at least one radiant-energy emitter onto the area to be disinfected; a plurality of radiant-energy sensors adapted to detect the ultraviolet light emitted from the at least one radiant-energy emitter;
an actuator associated with the reflector which when driven causes the reflector to change position with respect to the housing to allow the reflector to direct the ultraviolet light from the emitter within the area to be disinfected; andcontrol logic adapted to control the actuator and the at least one power source such that an amount of radiant energy detected at each of the plurality of radiant-energy sensors approaches equality. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for disinfecting an area, comprising:
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a mobile base assembly including a housing; at least one power source; at least one radiant-energy emitter mounted to the housing for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the device for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter powered by the at least one power source; a reflector mounted to the housing and movable with respect to the housing, the reflector operable to direct the ultraviolet light from the at least one radiant-energy emitter onto the area to be disinfected; a plurality of radiant-energy sensors adapted to detect the ultraviolet light emitted from the at least one radiant-energy emitter; a drive mechanism including at least one gear operably connected to the reflector which causes the reflector to rotate about an axis and change position with respect to the housing; and control logic adapted to control the drive mechanism and the at least one power source such that an amount of radiant energy detected at each of the plurality of radiant-energy sensors approaches equality. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A device for disinfecting an area, comprising:
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a base assembly including a housing; at least one power source; at least one radiant-energy emitter attached to the housing for continuously emitting ultraviolet light during operation of the device for disinfection of the area, the at least one radiant-energy emitter powered by the at least one power source; a plurality of radiant-energy sensors adapted to detect the ultraviolet light emitted from the at least one radiant-energy emitter; a reflector mounted to the housing and movable with respect to the housing, the reflector configured to direct the ultraviolet light from the at least one radiant-energy emitter onto the area to be disinfected; a motor configured to rotate the reflector relative to the housing; and control logic adapted to control the motor and the at least one power source such that an amount of radiant energy detected at each of the plurality of radiant-energy sensors approaches equality.
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22. A device comprising:
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a moveable base assembly; a power component for supplying electrical power coupled to the base assembly; a plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters which receive power from the power component, the plurality of emitters mounted to the base assembly in a generally vertical orientation and configured to emit ultraviolet light into an area, the ultraviolet (UV) light having wavelengths in a range from about 100 nanometers to about 280 nanometers (UV-C), wherein an amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters varies; a first radiant-energy sensor mounted to the base assembly and detecting an amount of ultraviolet light, wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the first radiant-energy sensor includes both ultraviolet light created by the plurality of radiant-energy emitters that is received directly from a first one of the plurality of radiant-energy emitters and ultraviolet light created by a second one of the plurality of radiant-energy emitters that is received after reflection off of a structure in the area; a second radiant-energy sensor mounted to the base assembly and detecting an amount of ultraviolet light, wherein the amount of ultraviolet light detected by the second radiant-energy sensor includes ultraviolet light created by the plurality of radiant-energy emitters that is received directly from the second one of the plurality of radiant-energy emitters and ultraviolet light created by the first one of the plurality of radiant-energy emitters that is received after reflection off of a structure in the area; and control logic in communication with the plurality of adjustable radiant-energy emitters and the first and second radiant-energy sensors, wherein the control logic terminates the emitting of ultraviolet light from the plurality of radiant-energy emitters when a total amount of ultraviolet light received by the first and second radiant-energy sensors exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the threshold value is sufficient to allow the ultraviolet light to sanitize the area in which the plurality of radiant-energy emitters are located. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification