Ultraviolet system for disinfection

• US 9,179,703 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shur, Michael, Shatalov, Maxim, Bettles, Timothy James, Bilenko, Yuri, Smetona, Saulius, Dobrinsky, Alexander, Gaska, Remigijus
• Primary Examiner(s): Logie, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOFFA, WYATT A
• Application Number:
  US14/012,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11, 422/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/003 Control or safety devices for sterilisation or pasteurisation systems
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. The target wavelength ranges and/or target intensity ranges of the ultraviolet radiation sources can correspond to at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a sterilization operating configuration and a preservation operating configuration.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within a storage area;

a chamber located within the storage area and configured to store a gas; and

a monitoring and control system configured to;

monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area;

calibrate exposure of at least one of;

the storage area or the set of items, to the gas based on the set of current conditions by circulating air from the storage area to the chamber; and

control ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a sterilization operating configuration, a preservation operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein the sterilization operating configuration is configured to disinfect the storage area, the preservation operating configuration is configured to provide a particular level of repression for microorganism growth, and the condition monitoring operating configuration is configured to detect microorganisms within the storage area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a target wavelength range for the sterilization operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 310 nanometers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the sterilization operating configuration includes a burst of radiation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation source for the sterilization operating configuration includes at least one of:

a high intensity mercury lamp and a high intensity ultraviolet light emitting diode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a target wavelength range for the preservation operating configuration is approximately 190 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the preservation operating configuration is continuous.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation source for the preservation operating configuration includes at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and control system further performs the following:

controlling at least one of;

a target time scheduling and a target radiation direction for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein monitoring the set of current conditions of the storage area includes sensing ultraviolet radiation within the area.

10. A food storage device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one perishable food item;

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;

a chamber located within the storage area and configured to store a gas; and

a monitoring and control system configured to;

monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area;

calibrate exposure of at least one of;

the storage area or the set of items, to the gas based on the set of current conditions by circulating air from the storage area to the chamber; and

control ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a sterilization operating configuration, a preservation operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein the sterilization operating configuration is configured to disinfect the storage area, the preservation operating configuration is configured to provide a particular level of repression for microorganism growth, and the condition monitoring operating configuration is configured to detect microorganisms within the storage area.

11. The storage device of claim 10, wherein a target wavelength range for the sterilization operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 310 nanometers.

12. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the sterilization operating configuration includes a burst of radiation.

13. The storage device of claim 12, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation source for the sterilization operating configuration includes at least one of:

a high intensity mercury lamp and a high intensity ultraviolet light emitting diode.

14. The storage device of claim 10, wherein a target wavelength range for the preservation operating configuration is approximately 190 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers.

15. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the preservation operating configuration is continuous.

16. The storage device of claim 15, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation source for the preservation operating configuration includes at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode.

17. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the monitoring and control system further performs the following:

controlling at least one of;

a target time scheduling and a target radiation direction for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source.

18. The storage device of claim 10, wherein monitoring the set of current conditions of the storage area includes sensing ultraviolet radiation within the area.

19. 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;

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;

a chamber located within the storage area and configured to store a gas; and

a monitoring and control system configured to;

monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area;

calibrate exposure of at least one of;

the storage area or the set of items, to the gas based on the set of current conditions by circulating air from the storage area to the chamber; and

control ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a sterilization operating configuration, a preservation operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein the sterilization operating configuration is configured to disinfect the storage area, the preservation operating configuration is configured to provide a particular level of repression for microorganism growth, and the condition monitoring operating configuration is configured to detect microorganisms within the storage area.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the sterilization operating configuration includes a burst of radiation, and wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated in the preservation operating configuration is continuous.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein a target wavelength range for the sterilization operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 310 nanometers, and a target wavelength range for the preservation operating configuration is approximately 190 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers.