Disinfecting lighting device

• US 10,357,582 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VYV Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vital Vio LLC
• Inventors: Barron, Robert, Lalicki, Jorel, Peterson, James W, Jones, Nicholas, Winslow, Cori J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raabe, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US15/886,366
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 313501
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/084 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/504 Elements with two or more wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/52 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device which inactivates microorganisms. The device includes a light emitter and at least one light-converting material arranged to convert at least a portion of light from the light emitter. Any light emitted from the light emitter and converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mixes to form a combined light, the combined light having a proportion of spectral energy measured in an approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm range of greater than approximately 10 percent. In another embodiment, the device includes a light emitter configured to emit light with wavelengths in a range of 380 to 420 nm, and at least one light-converting material including at least one optical brightener and configured to emit a second light. The first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white.

Claims

1. A light emitting device that inactivates microorganisms on a surface, the light emitting device comprising:

at least two light emitters configured to emit light having a first wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm and having an intensity sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms on the surface;

a first light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of light emitted from a first light emitter of the at least two light emitters and configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from the first light emitter of the at least two light emitters to a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and

a second light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of light emitted from a second light emitter of the at least two light emitters and configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from the second light emitter of the at least two light emitters to a third wavelength different from the first wavelength, such that light emitted from the first light-converting material and the second light-converting material combine to form white light.

2. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the first light-converting material or the second light-converting material comprises one or more-of a phosphor, an optical brightener, a quantum dot, a phosphorescent material, a fluorophore, a fluorescent dye, or a conductive polymer.

3. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the white light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) value within a range of 1000 K to 8000 K.

4. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the white light has a color rendering index (CRI) value within a range of 55 to 100.

5. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the white light has a color fidelity (Rf) value within a range of 60 to 100 and a color gamut (Rg) value within a range of 60 to 140.

6. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the white light has a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range of greater than 10%.

7. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the white light has a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 440 nm to 495 nm wavelength range of 10% or less.

8. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the first light emitter or the second light emitter comprises one of a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a semiconductor die, or a laser.

9. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the intensity is at least 0.01 milliwatts per centimeter squared (mW/cm²).

10. A light emitting device that inactivates microorganisms on a surface, the light emitting device comprising:

at least two light emitters, wherein;

the at least two light emitters are configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm and having an intensity sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms;

a first light emitter of the at least two light emitters includes a first light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of light emitted from the first light emitter and configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from the first light emitter to a second light with a second wavelength different from the first wavelength;

a second light emitter of the at least two light emitters includes a second light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of light emitted from the second light emitter and configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from the second light emitter to a third light with a third wavelength different from the first wavelength; and

the first light combines with the second light and the third light to form white light.

11. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the first light-converting material or the second light-converting material comprises one or more of a phosphor, an optical brightener, a quantum dot, a phosphorescent material, a fluorophore, a fluorescent dye, or a conductive polymer.

12. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the white light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) value within a range of 1000 K to 8000 K.

13. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the white light has a color rendering index (CRI) value within a range of 55 to 100.

14. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the white light has a color fidelity (Rf) value within a range of 60 to 100 and a color gamut (Rg) value within a range of 60 to 140.

15. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the white light has a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range of greater than 10%.

16. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the white light has a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 440 nm to 495 nm wavelength range of 10% or less.

17. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the first light emitter or the second light emitter comprises one or more of a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a semiconductor die, or a laser.

18. The light emitting device of claim 10, wherein the intensity is at least 0.01 milliwatts per centimeter squared (mW/cm²).

19. A light emitting device that inactivates microorganisms on a surface, the light emitting device comprising:

at least two light emitters configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm and having an intensity sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms, and

at least two light-converting materials arranged to convert a portion of light emitted from a first light emitter of the at least two light emitters to a second light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength and convert a portion of light emitted from a second light emitter of the at least two light emitters to a third light having a third wavelength different from the first wavelength,

wherein the first light, the second light, and the third light mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white, having a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70, and having correlated color temperature (CCT) between 1,000 K to 8,000 K.

20. The light emitting device of claim 19, wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range of greater than 10%.