Heat-sanitization of surfaces
First Claim
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1. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and
an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure,wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion,wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses,wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region, andwherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is substantially transparent to a viewer of the outer surface region of the self-sanitizing article.
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Abstract
Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve heat-sanitization of contact regions on articles or fixtures by flowing selected electromagnetic radiation energy through underlying waveguide structures substantially parallel to the contact regions.
144 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is substantially transparent to a viewer of the outer surface region of the self-sanitizing article.
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2. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, and wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion includes discrete absorbers distributed over a portion of the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region, and wherein the outer surface region forms the exterior of at least one of an electronic display screen or an electronic touch screen.
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6. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and a status indicator configured to indicate a sanitization state of the outer surface region, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, and wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and a radiation source configured to provide the selected electromagnetic radiation energy to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure, wherein the radiation source is an ultraviolet light source, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, and wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region.
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16. A self-sanitizing article, comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; an outer surface region disposed proximate to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; a radiation source configured to provide the selected electromagnetic radiation energy to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure; and a contact sensor configured to determine if a contact has been made to an exposed portion of the outer surface region and to accordingly activate the radiation source to provide the selected electromagnetic radiation energy to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure for heat-sanitization of the exposed portion of the outer surface region, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is underneath the outer surface region and is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses, and wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region.
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17. A system, comprising:
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an article having an outer surface region; an electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure underlying the outer surface region, wherein the outer surface region has a selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion, wherein the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure is configured to flow selected electromagnetic radiation energy internally therethrough substantially parallel to the outer surface region, and wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation absorber portion is disposed relative to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure so that it is coupled to and heated by the selected electromagnetic radiation energy flow to a positive temperature to heat-sanitize an exposed portion of the outer surface region; a radiation source configured to provide the selected electromagnetic radiation energy to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure, wherein the selected electromagnetic radiation energy comprises short duration electromagnetic pulses; and a contact sensor configured to determine if a contact has been made to an exposed portion of the outer surface region and to accordingly activate the radiation source to provide the selected electromagnetic radiation energy to the electromagnetic radiation waveguide structure for heat-sanitization of the exposed portion of the outer surface region.
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Specification