MOBILE UV STERILIZATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20160184467A1
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Jim Chih-Min, Pei, Cheng-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/002 using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3224 Units using UV-light guiding optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

A mobile sterilization assembly, a mobile sterilization device, and method for sterilization using a mobile sterilization device are described for providing a low-cost and compact sterilization system using an ultraviolet light-emitting diode for sterilization. In an implementation, a mobile sterilization assembly includes a sterilization assembly couplable to a mobile device with a controller, the sterilization assembly including at least one light dispersive element; and an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to a mobile device; where the at least one light dispersive element at least one of transmits and disperses light from at least one light-emitting diode or transmits light to a photodiode, where the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode are configured to be communicatively coupled to the controller.

Claims

1. A mobile sterilization assembly, comprising:

a sterilization assembly couplable to a mobile device with a controller, the sterilization assembly including

at least one light dispersive element; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to a mobile device;

where the at least one light dispersive element at least one of transmits and disperses light from at least one light-emitting diode or transmits light to a photodiode,

where the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode are configured to be communicatively coupled to the controller.

2. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the sterilization assembly is disposable.

3. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the at least one light dispersive element includes at least one of an optical fiber or a glass sheet.

4. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the at least one light-emitting diode includes an ultraviolet light-emitting diode.

5. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 4, where the ultraviolet light-emitting diode includes a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode that emits light between 250 nm and 285 nm.

6. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the at least one light-emitting diode includes a red light-emitting diode.

7. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the at least one light-emitting diode includes a red light-emitting diode and a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode.

8. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the sterilization assembly includes at least one of the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode.

9. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, where the at least one light dispersive element includes cladding.

10. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 1, further including an ultraviolet shield configured to be disposed between the light-dispersive element and the mobile device.

11. A mobile sterilization device, comprising:

a mobile device with a controller; and

a sterilization assembly couplable to the mobile device, the sterilization assembly including

at least one light dispersive element; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to a mobile device;

where the at least one light dispersive element at least one of transmits and disperses light from at least one light-emitting diode or transmits light to a photodiode,

where the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode are configured to be communicatively coupled to the controller.

12. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the mobile device includes at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a wearable computer.

13. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the sterilization assembly is disposable.

14. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the at least one light dispersive element includes an optical fiber.

15. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the at least one light-emitting diode includes a red light-emitting diode and a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode.

16. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the mobile device includes at least one of the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode.

17. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the sterilization assembly includes at least one of the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode.

18. The mobile sterilization device in claim 11, where the sterilization assembly includes a mobile device case.

19. A method for sterilization using a mobile sterilization device, comprising:

activating a light-emitting diode for obtaining an index of refraction for a material;

receiving an indication of the index of refraction of the material using a photodiode;

determining an indication of a safety threshold using the index of refraction; and

activating an ultraviolet light emitting diode when the safety threshold is indicated,

where the light-emitting diode, the photodiode, and the ultraviolet light emitting diode are included in a mobile sterilization device.

20. The process for sterilization in claim 19, wherein activating the ultraviolet light emitting diode includes activating a short-wavelength ultraviolet light emitting diode.