CONTROLLER FOR UV LIGHT PURIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100044319A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanuvox Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sanuvox Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: ENGEL, Stuart, BRAIS, Normand
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/746
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/39 continuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light

Abstract

A controller for an ultraviolet (UV) purification system having UV lamps includes a sensor in communication with a given UV lamp as well as a processor in communication the sensor. The sensor provides the UV light intensity rate of the UV lamp (sensed rate) and transmits this information to the processor which compares the sensed rate with a memory stored desired UV light intensity rate (desired rate). An indicator in communication with the processor indicates when the UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below the desired rate. Current is provided to the UV lamp by a ballast. The processor includes a memory stored predetermined UV light intensity rate (predetermined rate) that is greater than the desired rate. When the sensed rate is lesser than the predetermined rate, the current provided by the ballast is increased such that the UV lamp produces a UV light intensity at least equal to the predetermined rate.

Claims

1. A control unit for an ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising at least one UV lamp, said control unit comprising:

at least one sensor in communication with the at least one UV lamp for sensing the UV light intensity rate thereof (sensed rate);

a processor in communication with said sensor for receiving said sensed rate therefrom, said processor having in its memory a stored desired UV light intensity rate (desired rate) and providing for comparing said sensed rate with said desired rate; and

an indicator being in communication with said processor for indicating when the at least one UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below said desired rate,

wherein when said sensed rate is lesser than said desired rate, said processor signals said indicator to indicate that the at least one UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below said desired rate.

2. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted to the at least one lamp.

3. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is in wireless communication with said processor.

4. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is in cable communication with said processor.

5. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises an alarm.

6. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a display screen.

7. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a signal sent to an interface.

8. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein a ballast is in communication with the at least one UV lamp for providing current thereto and with said control unit for being controlled thereby, said processor having in its memory a stored predetermined UV light intensity rate (predetermined rate) that is greater than said desired rate, said processor providing for comparing said sensed rate with said predetermined rate, wherein when said sensed rate is lesser than said predetermined rate said control unit causes the ballast to increase its current output to the at least one UV lamp so as to produce a UV light intensity at least equal to said predetermined rate.

9. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprises a plurality of UV lamps, a respective said sensor being in communication with each of the UV lamps.

10. A control unit according to claim 9, wherein the UV lamps of the plurality are remote from one another.

11. A control system for an ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising UV lamps, said control system comprising:

a plurality of the control units of claim 1, each said control unit being in communication with a plurality of UV lamps via a plurality of respective said sensors; and

a controller being in communication with each said control unit for receiving data therefrom and for control thereof, said controller comprising an interface for displaying whether or not a given one of the UV lamps is functioning below said desired rate.

12. A control system according to claim 11, wherein said control units are remote from one another.

13. An ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising:

at least one UV lamp,

a control unit comprising;

at least one sensor in communication with said at least one UV lamp for sensing the UV light intensity rate thereof (sensed rate);

a processor in communication with said sensor for receiving said sensed rate therefrom, said processor having in its memory a stored desired UV light intensity rate (desired rate) and providing for comparing said sensed rate with said desired rate; and

an indicator being in communication with said processor for indicating when said at least one UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below said desired rate,

wherein when said sensed rate is lesser than said desired rate, said processor signals said indicator to indicate that said at least one UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below said desired rate.

14. An ultraviolet (UV) purification system according to claim 13 further comprising a ballast in communication with said at least one UV lamp for providing current thereto and with said control unit for being controlled thereby, said processor having in its memory a stored predetermined UV light intensity rate (predetermined rate) that is greater than said desired rate, said processor providing for comparing said sensed rate with said predetermined rate, wherein when said sensed rate is lesser than said predetermined rate said control unit causes said ballast to increase its current output to said at least one UV lamp so as to produce a UV light intensity at least equal to said predetermined rate.

15. An ultraviolet (UV) purification system according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of UV lamps, a respective said sensor being in communication with each said UV lamp.

16. An ultraviolet (UV) purification system according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of control units in communication with respective pluralities of said UV lamps.

17. A control unit for an ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising at least one UV lamp, said control unit comprising:

a sensor in communication the UV lamp so as to read the operation thereof;

a processor in communication with said sensor so as to receive information therefrom regarding the operation of the UV lamp;

a display screen in communication with said processor for displaying said information related to the operation of the lamp.

18. A method of monitoring the operation of an ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising at least one UV lamp, said method comprising:

sensing the UV light intensity rate (sensed rate) of the at least one UV lamp;

providing a desired UV light intensity rate (desired rate) being the desired rate of UV light intensity that the UV lamp should be producing;

comparing the sensed rate with the desired rate; and

signaling when the sensed rate is lesser than the desired rate thereby indicating that the at least one UV lamp is producing a UV light intensity below the desired rate.

19. A method of controlling the operation of an ultraviolet (UV) purification system comprising at least one UV lamp and one ballast in communication therewith for providing a current thereto, said method comprising:

sensing the UV light intensity rate (sensed rate) of the at least one UV lamp;

providing a desired UV light intensity rate (desired rate) being the desired rate of UV light intensity that the UV lamp should be producing;

providing a predetermined UV light intensity rate (predetermined rate) that is greater than the desired rate;

comparing the sensed rate with the predetermined rate;

increasing the current output of the ballast to the UV lamp when the increase its current output to the UV lamp when the sensed rate is lesser than the predetermined rate to a current output level which causes the UV lamp to produce a UV light intensity at least at the predetermined rate.