Movable ultraviolet radiation beam

• US 10,588,335 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dobrinsky, Alexander, Shur, Michael, Gaska, Remigijus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ippolito, Nicole M
• Application Number:
  US16/025,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 25045311, 25045411, 25045511, 2504921, 250504 R, 250504 H, 422 22, 422 24
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/24 Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with thermal insulation B65D81/38

Abstract

A solution for irradiating a surface with ultraviolet radiation is provided. A movable optical element is utilized to form a beam of ultraviolet radiation having a characteristic cross-sectional area smaller than an area of the surface to be irradiated. The movable optical element can be moved as necessary to directly irradiate any portion of the surface with radiation within the characteristic cross-sectional area of the beam of ultraviolet radiation. The movement can include, for example, rotational movement and/or repositioning the movable ultraviolet source with respect to the surface.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light; and

a movable optical element located adjacent to the ultraviolet light source, wherein the movable optical element is configured direct at least a portion of the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source to form a beam of ultraviolet radiation having a characteristic cross-sectional area smaller than an area of a surface of an object targeted for irradiation in each direction;

means for moving the movable optical element to irradiate any portion of the surface with radiation within the characteristic cross-sectional area of the beam of ultraviolet radiation;

a computer system configured to operate the means for moving and the ultraviolet light source to irradiate the area of the surface with ultraviolet radiation; and

means for acquiring feedback data corresponding to at least one of;

a location of the area of the surface to be irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation or a location of a current area of the surface being irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation, wherein the computer system adjusts operation of the means for moving based on the feedback data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable optical element includes an ultraviolet transparent light guiding structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for moving includes means for rotating the movable optical element about an axis to change an angular orientation of the beam with respect to the surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for moving includes means for repositioning the movable optical element with respect to the surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a distance between the surface and the movable optical element changes over time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for moving concurrently moves the movable optical element and the ultraviolet light source.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable optical element comprises a lens.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a body defining an interior area within which the object is located, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the body is formed of an ultraviolet reflective material.

9. A system comprising:

an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light; and

a movable optical element located adjacent to the ultraviolet light source, wherein the movable optical element includes an ultraviolet transparent light guiding structure configured to redirect at least a portion of the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source to form a beam of ultraviolet radiation having a characteristic cross-sectional area smaller than an area of a surface of an object targeted for irradiation in each direction; and

means for moving the movable optical element to irradiate any portion of the surface with radiation within the characteristic cross-sectional area of the beam of ultraviolet radiation.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a container within which the object is located, wherein the ultraviolet light source, the movable optical element, and the means for moving are mounted to a removable cover of the container.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the container is formed of an ultraviolet reflective material.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a computer system configured to operate the means for moving and the ultraviolet light source to irradiate the area of the surface with ultraviolet radiation.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for acquiring feedback data corresponding to at least one of:

a location of the area of the surface to be irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation or a location of a current area of the surface being irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation, wherein the computer system adjusts operation of the means for moving based on the feedback data.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for moving is configured for at least two of:

rotating the movable optical element about an axis to change an angular orientation of the beam with respect to the surface, repositioning the movable optical element within a lateral plane mostly parallel with respect to the surface, or repositioning the movable optical element within a plane mostly perpendicular with respect to the surface.

15. A system comprising:

a plurality of ultraviolet light sources configured to emit ultraviolet light; and

a movable optical element located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources, wherein the movable optical element is configured to direct at least a portion of the ultraviolet light emitted by the at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources to form a beam of ultraviolet radiation having a characteristic cross-sectional area smaller than an area of a surface of an object targeted for irradiation in each direction;

means for moving the movable optical element to selectively irradiate a portion of the surface with radiation within the characteristic cross-sectional area of the beam of ultraviolet radiation; and

a computer system configured to independently operate each of the plurality of ultraviolet light sources and operate the means for moving to irradiate at least a portion of the surface with ultraviolet radiation.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for acquiring feedback data corresponding to at least one of:

a location of the area of the surface to be irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation or a location of a current area of the surface being irradiated by the beam of ultraviolet radiation, wherein the computer system adjusts operation of the means for moving based on the feedback data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for moving is configured for at least two of:

rotating the movable optical element about an axis to change an angular orientation of the beam with respect to the surface, repositioning the movable optical element within a lateral plane mostly parallel with respect to the surface, or repositioning the movable optical element within a plane mostly perpendicular with respect to the surface.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the movable optical element includes an ultraviolet transparent light guiding structure.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the ultraviolet transparent light guiding structure comprises a plurality of regions formed by a plurality of layers of an ultraviolet transparent material, wherein at least two of the plurality of regions are filled with different fluids.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer system is configured to treat the area of the surface with ultraviolet radiation of a target dose.