Environmental cleaning and antimicrobial lighting component and fixture

• US 9,724,440 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Magnan, Sebastien, Turgeon, Francois, Cai, Dengke, Richard, Jean-Francois, Wong, Angela, Bugenske, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan
• Application Number:
  US14/081,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20150151015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/088 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/232 layered or coated
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/18 Radiation A61L9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/205 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/026 of layered or coated substantially flat surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00 Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms grinding or polishing of optical elements B24B; constructional form of optical elements G02B; optical parts of spectacles G02C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2509/00 Use of inorganic materials not provided for in groups B29K2503/00 - B29K2507/00, as filler

Abstract

A system and method according to various embodiments combines three separate technologies to form a unique lighting system with enhanced antimicrobial properties and air cleaning capabilities. The combination of the three technologies also produces a lighting system that extends the required maintenance period for lighting fixtures. The first technology is based on anatase type TiO₂. The second and third technologies are based on the use of micro-sized surface structures to generate light scattering effects and, at the same time, reduce bacterial colonization and inhibit bacterial migration even during the absence of light or in dark environments.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a light fixture configured to emit light including a region between a wavelength of 250 nm and 450 nm and comprising an outer surface having a minimum accumulated intensity of light of 0.1 μ

W/cm² for the region;

a micro-sized surface pattern on surfaces of the lighting system configured to inhibit bacterial growth without requiring the use of light, and configured to scatter light; and

a titanium oxide film formed on the micro-sized surface pattern.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the micro-sized surface pattern has a feature size greater than 500 nm.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the titanium oxide film comprises at least one of anatase type TiO₂ (titanium dioxide), metal doped anatase TiO₂ and anatase TiO_x composed derivatives.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the titanium oxide film is between 10-1000 nm.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the titanium oxide film comprises a crystal film.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the titanium oxide film is suspended with different binders.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the anatase TiO_x composed derivatives are side attached with altering functional groups and with different polarities.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further comprises an organic or inorganic buffer or a protection layer between the titanium oxide film and the micro-sized surface pattern.

9. A lighting system comprising:

a light fixture configured to emit light including a region between a wavelength of 250 nm and 450 nm, and comprising an outer surface having a minimum accumulated intensity of light of 0.1 μ

W/cm² for the region;

a micro-sized surface pattern on surfaces of the lighting system configured to inhibit bacterial growth without requiring the use of light, and configured to scatter light; and

a titanium oxide film formed on the micro-sized structure surface pattern, wherein the lighting system further comprises an organic or inorganic buffer or a protection layer between the titanium oxide film and the micro-sized surface pattern.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the micro-sized surface pattern has a feature size greater than 500 nm.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the titanium oxide film comprises at least one of anatase type TiO₂ (titanium dioxide), metal doped anatase TiO₂ and anatase TiO_x composed derivatives.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the thickness of the titanium oxide film is between 10-1000 nm.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the titanium oxide film comprises a crystal film.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the anatase TiOx composed derivatives are attached with functional groups.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the organic or inorganic buffer or the protection layer is less than 100 nm.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the organic or inorganic buffer or the protection layer comprises fluoropolymer, amorphous TiO₂, ZnO, and SiO₂.