BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY MONITORING AND/OR SUPPRESSION

• US 20090280035A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Koudymov, Alexei, Shur, Michael, Gaska, Remigijus
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/108
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/12 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is shone within an area and detected. The detected ultraviolet radiation is monitored over a period of time to determine a set of biological activity dynamics for the area. Ultraviolet radiation detected during a calibration period can be used to provide a baseline with which analysis of subsequently detected ultraviolet radiation is compared and analyzed. When the presence of biological activity is determined within the area, ultraviolet radiation and/or one or more other approaches can be utilized to suppress the biological activity.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation shone within an area;

an ultraviolet radiation detector configured to sense ultraviolet radiation within the area; and

a component configured to monitor the ultraviolet radiation sensed by the ultraviolet radiation detector over a period of time and to determine a set of biological activity dynamics for the area based on the sensed ultraviolet radiation and the period of time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component configured to control the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the component configured to control adjusts at least one of:

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component configured to adjust at least one environmental condition of the area in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of:

a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a refrigeration device, wherein the area is a storage area of the refrigeration device.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component configured to present an indication of at least one of:

an operating state of the ultraviolet radiation source or the set of biological activity dynamics for use by a user.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component configured to suppress biological activity in the area in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the component configured to suppress includes a microwave radiation source configured to emit microwave radiation within the area.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the component configured to suppress includes a second ultraviolet radiation source configured to emit a higher intensity of ultraviolet radiation than the ultraviolet radiation source.

11. A storage device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one item;

an ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation shone within the storage area;

an ultraviolet radiation detector configured to sense ultraviolet radiation within the storage area; and

a component configured to monitor the ultraviolet radiation sensed by the ultraviolet radiation detector over a period of time and to determine a set of biological activity dynamics for the storage area based on the monitored ultraviolet radiation and the period of time.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a component configured to present an indication of at least one of:

an operating state of the ultraviolet radiation source or the set of biological activity dynamics for use by a user.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a component configured to control the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source, wherein the component configured to control adjusts at least one of:

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of:

a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a component configured to suppress biological activity in the storage area in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the component configured to suppress includes at least one of:

a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, a microwave radiation source, or a second ultraviolet radiation source.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the component configured to suppress includes a plurality of operating modes, wherein a user can select a desired operating mode for use in suppressing the biological activity.

18. A refrigeration device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one refrigerated item;

a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of;

a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection;

an ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation shone within the storage area;

an ultraviolet radiation detector configured to sense ultraviolet radiation within the storage area; and

a component configured to monitor the ultraviolet radiation sensed by the ultraviolet radiation detector over a period of time and to determine a set of biological activity dynamics for the storage area based on the monitored ultraviolet radiation and the period of time.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a component configured to suppress biological activity in the storage area in response to the set of biological activity dynamics.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a component configured to control the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source, wherein the component configured to control adjusts at least one of:

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation.