Event-triggered ultraviolet light sterilization of surfaces

• US 20090117001A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,114,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant

Abstract

Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact regions on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing article structure, in response to a contact event, allows sterilizing UV energy to controllably flow from a UV generator within the article to a portion of the contact region.

Claims

1. A self-sterilizing article, comprising:

an article body;

a contact region disposed thereon; and

a UV generator disposed in the article body and arranged to controllably provide sterilizing UV energy to the contact region through the article body.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises a high bandgap semiconductor device.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises a plasmon-enhanced extreme ultraviolet light source.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises electron-excitable UV-emitting material.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises UV-emitting nanostructures.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises light up-converting material.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the UV generator comprises a germicidal lamp.

8. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a light-guiding structure to transport light from the UV generator to the contact region.

12. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a plasmon-supporting structure for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region via plasmons.

13. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a total internal reflection device for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region.

14. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a photonic crystal device for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region.

15. The article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the UV generator is embedded in the contact region.

16. The article of claim 1, configured as any one of a handle, a knob, a seat, a key board, a switch, a button, a computer mouse or control device, a desktop, a kitchen or bathroom surface, a working surface, a bus seat, a gymnasium equipment, a restaurant booth, a toy, a headphone, a telephone, an automatic teller machine, a vending machine, a shopping cart, a household device or fixture, a building device or fixture, an industrial device or fixture, a transportation vehicle device or fixture, or a medical device or fixture.

17. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a contact sensor configured to determine if a contact has been made to the contact region and to accordingly activate the UV generator to provide sterilizing UV energy to the contact region through the article body.

19. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a proximity sensor configured to determine if a contact to the contact region is imminent and to accordingly activate the UV generator to provide sterilizing UV energy to the contact region through the article body.

21. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a sensor configured to determine a presence of biological materials on the contact region and to accordingly activate the UV generator to provide sterilizing UV energy to the contact region through the article body.

23. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a programmable mechanism configured to control provision of the sterilizing UV energy to the contact region.

27. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a timer configured to time a provision of the sterilizing UV energy to the contact region.

28. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to provide sterilizing UV energy to the contact region a predetermined time interval after a previous provision.

30. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to begin providing sterilizing UV energy to the contact region before a contact is made.

31. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to begin providing sterilizing UV energy to the contact region during a contact.

33. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a contact-actuated power-generating mechanism configured to provide energy for operation of the UV generator.

38. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a status indicator configured to indicate a sterilization state of the contact region.

39. The article of claim 38, wherein the status indicator is further configured to provide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the sterilization state of the contact region.

9-11. -11. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24-26. -26. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34-37. -37. (canceled)

40. A method of sterilizing an exterior contact region disposed on an article body, the method comprising:

providing a UV generator in the article body; and

in response to an event, controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region through a portion of the article body contiguous to the exterior contact region.

47. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a light-guiding structure to transport light from the UV generator to the contact region.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein providing a light-guiding structure comprises providing a structure configured to transport light from the UV generator to the contact region through an underlying surface region.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein providing a light-guiding structure comprises providing a structure configured to laterally transport light from the UV generator to the contact region along a surface of the article body.

51. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a plasmon-supporting structure for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region via plasmons.

52. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a total internal reflection device for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region.

53. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a photonic crystal device for coupling UV energy generated by the UV generator to the contact region.

54. The method of claim 40, wherein providing a UV generator comprises providing a UV generator with at least a portion thereof embedded in the contact region.

62. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a programmable mechanism configured to control provision of the sterilizing UV energy to the contact region.

63. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a user-activated switch configured to control provision of the sterilizing UV energy to the contact region according to a user command.

68. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing sterilizing UV energy to the contact region a predetermined time interval after a contact has been made.

69. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing sterilizing UV energy to the contact region before a contact is made.

70. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing sterilizing UV energy to the contact region during a contact.

77. The method of claim 40, further comprising, providing a status indicator configured to indicate a sterilization state of the contact region.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the status indicator is further configured to provide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the sterilization state of the contact region.

79. The method of claim 40, wherein the event is a signal from at least one of a contact sensor, a proximity sensor, or a timing sensor.

41-46. -46. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

55-61. -61. (canceled)

64-67. -67. (canceled)

71-76. -76. (canceled)

80. A method of sterilizing an article which has an article body and an exterior contact region disposed thereon, comprising:

determining a state of the contact region; and

in response to determining a state of the contact region, controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region through a portion of the article contiguous to the exterior contact region, whereby at least a portion of the contact region is sterilized by action of the sterilizing chemical agent.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein determining a state of the contact region comprises determining if a contact has been made to the contact region.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein determining a state of the contact region comprises determining if a contact is proximate.

85. The method of claim 80, wherein determining a state of the contact region comprises determining if biological materials are present on the contact region.

87. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy according to a programmed routine.

91. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy according to a predetermined schedule.

94. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy a predetermined time interval after a contact is made.

95. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy before a contact is made.

96. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy during a contact.

98. The method of claim 80, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises generating the sterilizing UV energy internally in the article.

122. The method of claim 80, further comprising, providing a status indicator configured to indicate a sterilization state of the contact region.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein the status indicator is further configured to provide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the sterilization state of the contact region.

82. (canceled)

84. (canceled)

86. (canceled)

88-90. -90. (canceled)

92-93. -93. (canceled)

97. (canceled)

99-121. -121. (canceled)