Method and apparatus for sterilizing a surface

• US 9,511,159 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett M., Reeves, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MASKELL, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US14/322,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160000951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11, 250/504.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/20 Targets to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/17 Hygienic or sanitary devices on telephone equipment for mouthpieces or earpieces H04R1/12

Abstract

Various devices for sterilizing a surface are disclosed. For example, a first device includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit, a processor and a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include detecting a proximity of a surface to the ultraviolet light emitting unit and activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface in response to the detecting. Another device includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit, a processor and a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include storing a location parameter, determining whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter and activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter.

Claims

1. A device for sterilizing a surface, comprising:

an ultraviolet light emitting unit;

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

detecting a proximity of the surface to the ultraviolet light emitting unit, wherein the proximity of the surface is detected without contacting the surface; and

activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface in response to the detecting.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a portion of a human body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit emits light at a wavelength of 207 nanometers.

5. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

a sensor for detecting the proximity of the surface to the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse or a touch screen.

7. A device for sterilizing a surface, comprising:

an ultraviolet light emitting unit;

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a location parameter;

determining whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter; and

activating the ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter and the location information indicates the device is not contacting the surface.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the surface comprises a portion of a human body.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting unit emits light at a wavelength of 207 nanometers.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the location parameter is received wirelessly.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the location parameter in the computer-readable medium.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the location parameter is associated with a disease event.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the location parameter comprises:

a condition that specifies a presence at a specified location.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the location parameter comprises:

a condition that specifies a connection to a particular wireless beacon.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the activating comprises:

turning on the ultraviolet light emitting unit.

17. The device of claim 7, wherein the activating comprises:

increasing a duration of use of the ultraviolet light emitting unit in a predefined time period.

18. The device of claim 7, wherein the activating comprises:

increasing an intensity of an output of the ultraviolet light emitting unit.

19. A method for sterilizing a surface, comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a device, a location parameter;

determining, by the processor, whether location information of the device satisfies the location parameter; and

activating, by the processor, an ultraviolet light emitting unit to sterilize the surface when it is determined that the location information of the device satisfies the location parameter and the location information indicates the device is not contacting the surface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface comprises a portion of a human body.