STERILIZATION SYSTEM WITH ULTRAVIOLET EMITTER FOR ERADICATING BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
First Claim
1. A self-propelled system for sterilizing surfaces, the system including:
- a. a robotic mobile platform having an ultraviolet light source, the robotic mobile platform being configured to eradicate biological contaminants by using the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light on a surface; and
b. a controller interfaced with the ultraviolet light source,i. the controller being configured to control the ultraviolet source so as to change a level of eradication effected by the ultraviolet source,ii. the level of eradication being a percentage of biological contaminants sterilized on the surface on which the ultraviolet light is emitted.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary sterilization system includes a self-propelled robotic mobile platform for locating and eradicating infectious bacterial and virus strains on floors (and objects thereon), walls, cabinets, angled structures, etc., using one or more ultraviolet light sources. A controller allows the system to adjust the quantity of ultraviolet light received by a surface by, for example, changing the intensity of energy input to a ultraviolet light source, changing a distance between a ultraviolet light source and a surface being irradiated, changing the speed/movement of the mobile platform to affect time of exposure, and/or by returning to contaminated areas for additional passes. The mobile platform may include a sensor capable of detecting fluorescence of biological contaminants irradiated with ultraviolet light to locate contaminated areas. The system is thus capable of “seek and destroy” functionality by navigating towards contaminated areas and irradiating those areas with ultraviolet light accordingly.
94 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A self-propelled system for sterilizing surfaces, the system including:
-
a. a robotic mobile platform having an ultraviolet light source, the robotic mobile platform being configured to eradicate biological contaminants by using the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light on a surface; and b. a controller interfaced with the ultraviolet light source, i. the controller being configured to control the ultraviolet source so as to change a level of eradication effected by the ultraviolet source, ii. the level of eradication being a percentage of biological contaminants sterilized on the surface on which the ultraviolet light is emitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A self-propelled system for sterilizing surfaces, the system including:
-
a. a robotic mobile platform having an ultraviolet light source, the robotic mobile platform being configured to eradicate biological contaminants by using the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light on a surface; and b. a controller configured to change level of exposure of the surface to ultraviolet light by changing one or more of; i. an energy intensity of the ultraviolet light source; ii. a physical separation distance between the ultraviolet light source and the surface; and iii. a time of exposure of the surface to ultraviolet light. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
19. A self-propelled system for sterilizing surfaces, the system including:
-
a. a robotic mobile platform configured to travel over surfaces to be irradiated with ultraviolet light; b. an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light on a surface to eradicate biological contaminants; c. a light sensor configured to detect fluorescence of biological contaminants irradiated with ultraviolet light; and d. a controller configured to control the robotic mobile platform to irradiate surfaces using the ultraviolet light source based on fluorescence detected by the light sensor by adjusting one or both of; i. a path travelled by the robotic mobile platform; and ii. a speed at which the robotic mobile platform travels.
-
-
20. The system of 19 wherein:
-
a. the light sensor detects the fluorescence of biological contaminants in the wake of the robotic mobile platform as the robotic mobile platform travels over a portion of a surface; and b. the controller is configured to travel over the portion of the surface a second time if the detected fluorescence exceeds a threshold level of fluorescence.
-
Specification