Hard-surface disinfection system

• US 9,592,312 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surfacide, LLC
• Original Assignee: Surfacide, LLC
• Inventors: Lyslo, Waldemar John, Schwartz, Mark Howard, Pettis, Stephen Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnston, Phillip A
• Application Number:
  US15/018,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20160151524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

UV hard-surface disinfection system that is able to disinfect the hard surfaces in a room, while minimizing missed areas due to shadows by providing multiple UV light towers that can be placed in several areas of a room such that shadowed areas are eliminated and that can be transported by a cart that is low to the ground such that the towers may be loaded and unloaded easily by a single operator. The system is able to be controlled remotely, such that during activation of the system, no operator is present, and to automatically cut power to all towers in the event that a person enters the room.

Claims

1. A disinfection system comprising:

a plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies, each of the assemblies including;

an energy emitter;

a communications module;

a variable output transformer capable of controlling an output power of the energy emitter ; and

,

a sensor capable of monitoring the power output of the energy emitter, said sensor operably coupled to said transformer to ensure output of said energy emitter remains above a threshold;

a controller in data communication with each of the communications modules of the plurality of energy emitter assemblies;

wherein said control station is capable of remotely controlling activation and deactivation of said plurality of energy emitter assemblies.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said threshold comprises a range within a set power output.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of each of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises an ultraviolet LED light source.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is in data communication with said controller via said communications module and capable of sending a power output status signal to the controller.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies supplies energy to another independently placeable energy emitter assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises a motion detector.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies is in data communication with each of the other independently placeable energy emitter assemblies.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises a downward-facing energy emitter under said assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises an audible element.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a user interface.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the plurality of placeable energy emitter assemblies.

13. A method for disinfecting an enclosed space comprising:

positioning a plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies throughout an enclosed space;

supplying power to the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies;

establishing data communication between a control station and the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies; and

controlling remotely with a controller, the plurality of placeable energy emitter assemblies using the data communication;

wherein each of said energy emitter assemblies monitors its own energy emitter output and sends a signal to said controller if a measured output is less than a threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of positioning a plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies throughout the enclosed space comprises determining a positioning of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies that maximizes effectivity of emitted energy.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of supplying energy to the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises at least one of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies supplying energy to another of the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of establishing data communication between a control station and the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies comprises employing a wireless network.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling remotely the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies using the data communication comprises placing said control station outside of said enclosed space and activating the plurality of independently placeable energy emitter assemblies with said control station.

18. The method system of claim 13 wherein said threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said threshold comprises a range within a set power output.

20. A hard-surface disinfection system comprising:

a plurality of energy emitter assemblies, each of the assemblies including;

a energy emitter;

a power source

a communications module;

a monitoring system that measures an output of the energy emitter and compares it against threshold value;

a controller in data communication with each of the communications modules of the plurality of energy emitter assemblies;

wherein said controller is capable of remotely controlling activation and deactivation of said plurality of energy emitter assemblies, as well as receiving status updates from said monitoring system of each of said plurality of energy emitter assemblies.