Lighting Device

• US 20100246169A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Original Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Inventors: Woolsey, Gerald Alexander, MacLean, Michelle, MacGregor, Scott John, Anderson, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/084 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/18 Radiation A61L9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0642 Irradiating part of the body at a certain distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and irradiance sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species, and at least one second element that emits light of one or more longer wave-lengths to that of the first-element. The at least one second element has a higher illuminance than that of the at least one inactivating element or component.

Claims

1. A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and irradiance sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species, and at least one second element that emits light of one or more longer wavelengths to that of the first-element, wherein the at least one second element has a higher illuminance than that of the at least one first element.

2. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second element has an illuminance that is at least two times the illuminance of the at least one first element, preferably at least two times the illuminance.

3. A light device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined output is white or a shade of white.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first bacteria-inactivating element is operable in a first mode to emit light having an irradiance in a first range, and in a second mode to emit light having an irradiance in a second, different range.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each element is a light emitting diode (LED).

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated into existing lighting systems, as for example, in ward, room and office lighting, in table, bench and desk lighting, in refrigerator lighting.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first-element emits bacteria-inactivating light at a wavelength in the range 380 nm to 420 nm.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the wavelength of the bacteria-inactivating light is centred on 405 nm.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second-element emits white light or light of any wavelength within the visible spectrum.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a lens for directing light onto a particular region.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a diffuser for blending light from the first-element and the second-element.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of first, bacteria-inactivating elements.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of second-elements.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each second-element emits white light.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first bacteria-inactivating element is operable to emit light that irradiates surrounding surfaces with an irradiance in the range up to 0.50 mW/cm².

18. A device as claimed in any of claim 5, wherein the light emitted in the second mode has an irradiance that is greater than that in the first mode.

19. A device as claimed in any of claim 5, wherein light emitted in the first mode has an irradiance in the range up to 0.50 mW/cm².

20. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitted in the second mode has an irradiance in a range that is greater than that in the first mode.

21. A device as claimed in any of claim 5, comprising means for switching between the first and second modes.

22. A device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the means for switching is responsive to detection of a person.

23. A device as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein the means for switching is responsive to detection of movement.

24. A device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the means for switching is responsive to detection of a change in an environment, such as to the opening or closure of a door.

25. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for varying the level of irradiance.

26. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for switching between different fixed levels of irradiance.

27. A device as claimed in claim 1, adapted for use as a wall or roof light.

28. A device as claimed in claim 1, adapted for use as lighting for an enclosure, such as a refrigerator light or storage light or cabinet light.

29. A device as claimed in claim 1, adapted for use for environmental lighting.

4. A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and intensity sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species, and at least one second-element that emits light of one or more different wavelengths to that of the first-element, wherein the at least one first, bacteria inactivating, element and at least one second element are such that the combined output of the light source is white or a shade of white.

6. A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and intensity sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species in the air and on contact surfaces and materials, and at least one second-element that emits light of different wavelengths to that of the first-element, wherein the at least one first bacteria-inactivating element is operable in a first mode to emit light having an irradiance in a first range, and in a second mode to emit light having an irradiance in a second, different range.

30. A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and intensity sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species, and at least one second-element that emits light of different wavelengths to that of the first-element, wherein the at least one second element is operable to provide environmental illumination.