Ultraviolet light germicidal sanitizing system ulitilizing various room sanitizing modes
First Claim
1. An ultraviolet (UV) light generating unit for use in an enclosed space, the UV light generating unit comprising:
- a housing including a base plate and a shell, the base plate having opposing edges, the shell having a curved semi-cylindrical portion, planar sidewalls attached to the opposing edges of the base plate, and an aperture along the curved semi-cylindrical portion, the housing being configured to be mounted above a doorway of the enclosed space;
a shutter having a semi-cylindrical shape and being rotatable between a first position in which the shutter covers the aperture and a second position in which the shutter exposes a majority of the aperture;
a motor configured to rotate the shutter between the first and second positions;
a UV light source positioned within the housing and configured to generate radiation in the UVC band of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and transmit the radiation through the aperture when the shutter is in the second position;
a fan positioned within the housing and configured to move air from outside of the housing in and through a first opening in the housing, past the UV light source, and out of a second opening in the housing;
a memory element configured to store electronic data; and
a processing element electronically coupled with the memory element and configured tooperate the UV light generating unit in one of four modes;
i) air and surface disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the second position such that radiation emanates towards a ceiling and towards a floor of the enclosed space;
ii) air and upper enclosed space disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is between the first position and the second position such that the UV radiation emanates towards a ceiling and upper portion of walls of the enclosed space from above the doorway;
iii) air disinfection only mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the first position such that UV light sterilizes air blown through the unit by the fan; and
iv) air and entry-way disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is positioned such that the UV light generating unit creates a narrow beam of radiation aimed downward from the UV light generating unit along the doorway towards the floor of the enclosed space.
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Abstract
An ultraviolet (UV) light germicidal sanitizing system for use in an enclosed space comprises a room occupancy sensor, a door sensor, a UV light generating unit, and a control software application. The room occupancy sensor is positioned in the enclosed space and generates a first signal indicating that the enclosed space is either occupied or unoccupied. The room occupancy sensor is implemented with a door providing access to the enclosed space and generates a second signal indicating that the door is either open or closed. The UV light generating unit receives the first and second signals and generates UV light into the enclosed space if the first signal indicates that the enclosed space is unoccupied and the second signal indicates that the door is closed. The control software application generates commands for the UV light generating unit to start generating UV light and to stop generating UV light.
87 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An ultraviolet (UV) light generating unit for use in an enclosed space, the UV light generating unit comprising:
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a housing including a base plate and a shell, the base plate having opposing edges, the shell having a curved semi-cylindrical portion, planar sidewalls attached to the opposing edges of the base plate, and an aperture along the curved semi-cylindrical portion, the housing being configured to be mounted above a doorway of the enclosed space; a shutter having a semi-cylindrical shape and being rotatable between a first position in which the shutter covers the aperture and a second position in which the shutter exposes a majority of the aperture; a motor configured to rotate the shutter between the first and second positions; a UV light source positioned within the housing and configured to generate radiation in the UVC band of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and transmit the radiation through the aperture when the shutter is in the second position; a fan positioned within the housing and configured to move air from outside of the housing in and through a first opening in the housing, past the UV light source, and out of a second opening in the housing; a memory element configured to store electronic data; and a processing element electronically coupled with the memory element and configured to operate the UV light generating unit in one of four modes; i) air and surface disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the second position such that radiation emanates towards a ceiling and towards a floor of the enclosed space; ii) air and upper enclosed space disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is between the first position and the second position such that the UV radiation emanates towards a ceiling and upper portion of walls of the enclosed space from above the doorway; iii) air disinfection only mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the first position such that UV light sterilizes air blown through the unit by the fan; and iv) air and entry-way disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is positioned such that the UV light generating unit creates a narrow beam of radiation aimed downward from the UV light generating unit along the doorway towards the floor of the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10, 11)
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4. An ultraviolet (UV) light germicidal sanitizing system for use in an enclosed space, the system comprising:
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a plurality of room occupancy pressure sensors configured to detect weight of a room occupant and to generate a first signal indicating that the enclosed space is either occupied or unoccupied; a motion detector sensor configured to detect motion of the room occupant and to generate a second signal indicating that the enclosed space is either occupied or unoccupied; a door sensor configured to be implemented with a door providing access to the enclosed space and to generate a third signal indicating that the door is either open or closed; a UV light generating unit configured to be mounted above a doorway of the enclosed space, the UV light generating unit including; a housing including a shell with an aperture; a shutter movable between a first position in which the shutter covers the aperture and a second position in which the shutter exposes a majority of the aperture; a fan positioned within the housing and configured to move air from outside of the housing in and through a first opening in the housing, past the UV light source, and out of a second opening in the housing; a UV light source positioned within the housing and configured to generate radiation in the UVC band of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum through the aperture when the shutter is in the second position, the UV light generating unit being configured to operate in one of four modes; i) air and surface disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the second position such that radiation emanates towards a ceiling and towards a floor of the enclosed space; ii) air and upper enclosed space disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is between the first position and the second position such that the UV radiation emanates towards a ceiling and upper portion of walls of the enclosed space from above the doorway; iii) air disinfection only mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is in the first position such that UV light sterilizes air blown through the unit by the fan; and iv) air and entry-way disinfection mode, wherein the fan is on, the UV light source is generating radiation, and the shutter is positioned such that the UV light generating unit creates a narrow beam of radiation aimed downward from the UV light generating unit along the doorway towards the floor of the enclosed space; a memory element configured to store electronic data; and a processing element electronically coupled with the memory element and configured to; receive the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal, and generate a fourth signal to be used to move the shutter to the first position when the first signal or the second signal indicates that the enclosed space is occupied or the third signal indicates that the door is open and to the second position when the first signal and the second signal indicate that the enclosed space is unoccupied and the third signal indicates that the door is closed such that the UV light generating unit operates in the air and surface disinfection mode if the first signal and the second signal indicate that the enclosed space is unoccupied and the third signal indicates that the door is closed; a base station transceiver configured to provide wireless communication with the UV light generating unit; and a control software application configured to execute on a computing device that is coupled with the base station transceiver and to generate a first operating command for the UV light generating unit to start generating UV light and a second operating command for the UV light generating unit to stop generating UV light. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification