Mobile UV sterilization device and method

• US 9,827,340 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Jim Chih-Min, Pei, Cheng-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M
• Application Number:
  US14/745,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20160184467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/002 using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3224 Units using UV-light guiding optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

A mobile sterilization assembly, a mobile sterilization device, and method for sterilization using a mobile sterilization device are described for providing a low-cost and compact sterilization system using an ultraviolet light-emitting diode for sterilization. In an implementation, a mobile sterilization assembly includes a sterilization assembly couplable to a mobile device with a controller, the sterilization assembly including at least one light dispersive element; and an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to a mobile device; where the at least one light dispersive element at least one of transmits and disperses light from at least one light-emitting diode or transmits light to a photodiode, where the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode are configured to be communicatively coupled to the controller.

Claims

1. A mobile sterilization assembly, comprising:

a sterilization assembly configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an ultraviolet light-emitting diode, the sterilization assembly including

at least one light dispersive element comprising an optical fiber configured to diffuse ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode through an end and sides of the optical fiber to sterilize a material; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to the mobile device to transmit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to the optical fiber;

wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting diode comprises a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode that emits light between 250 nm and 285 nm.

2. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly is a disposable sterilization assembly.

3. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the mobile device or the sterilization assembly comprises a red light-emitting diode.

4. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises at least one visible light-emitting diode and at least one photodiode, and wherein light from the at least one visible light-emitting diode is transmitted through the optical fiber via the optical coupler to the material, and wherein light reflected from the material is transmitted through the optical fiber to the at least one photodiode.

5. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one light dispersive element comprises cladding.

6. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet shield configured to be disposed between the at least one light dispersive element and the mobile device.

7. A mobile sterilization assembly, comprising:

a sterilization assembly configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an ultraviolet light-emitting diode, the sterilization assembly including

at least one light dispersive element comprising an optical fiber configured to diffuse ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode through an end and sides of the optical fiber to sterilize a material; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to the mobile device to transmit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to the optical fiber; and

an ultraviolet shield configured to be disposed between the at least one light-dispersive element and the mobile device.

8. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 7, wherein the sterilization assembly comprises a disposable sterilization assembly.

9. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting diode includes a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode that emits light between 250 nm and 285 nm.

10. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of the mobile device or the sterilization assembly comprises a red light-emitting diode.

11. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of the mobile device or the sterilization assembly comprises a red light-emitting diode, and wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting diode comprises a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode.

12. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 7, wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises at least one visible light-emitting diode and at least one photodiode, wherein light from the visible light-emitting diode is transmitted through the optical fiber via the optical coupler to the material, and wherein light reflected from the material is transmitted through the optical fiber to the at least one photodiode.

13. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 7, where the at least one light dispersive element comprises cladding.

14. A mobile sterilization assembly, comprising:

a sterilization assembly configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an ultraviolet light-emitting diode, at least one visible light emitting diode, and at least one photodiode, the sterilization assembly including;

at least one light dispersive element comprising an optical fiber configured to diffuse ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode through an end and sides of the optical fiber to sterilize a material; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to the mobile device to transmit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to the optical fiber;

wherein light from the visible light-emitting diode is transmitted through the optical fiber via the optical coupler to the material, and wherein light reflected from the material is transmitted through the optical fiber to the at least one photodiode.

15. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 14, wherein the sterilization assembly comprises a disposable sterilization assembly.

16. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 14, wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting diode includes a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode that emits light between 250 nm and 285 nm.

17. The mobile sterilization assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one of the mobile device or the sterilization assembly.

18. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 14, where the at least one light dispersive element comprises cladding.

19. The mobile sterilization assembly in claim 14, further comprising an ultraviolet shield configured to be disposed between the at least one light-dispersive element and the mobile device.

20. A mobile sterilization device, comprising:

a mobile device having a controller and an ultraviolet light-emitting diode; and

a sterilization assembly configured to be coupled to the mobile device, the sterilization assembly including

at least one light dispersive element comprising an optical fiber configured to diffuse ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode through an end and sides of the optical fiber to sterilize a material; and

an optical coupler configured to couple the at least one light dispersive element to the mobile device to transmit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to the optical fiber

wherein the mobile device further comprises at least one visible light-emitting diode and at least one photodiode, and wherein light from the at least one visible light-emitting diode is transmitted through the optical fiber via the optical coupler to the material, and wherein light reflected from the material is transmitted through the optical fiber to the at least one photodiode.

21. The mobile sterilization device as recited in claim 20, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a wearable computer.

22. The mobile sterilization device as recited in claim 20, wherein the sterilization assembly comprises a disposable sterilization assembly.

23. The mobile sterilization device in claim 20, wherein at least one of the mobile device or the sterilization assembly comprises a red light-emitting diode, and wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting diode comprises a short wave ultraviolet light-emitting diode.

24. The mobile sterilization device as recited in claim 20, wherein the sterilization assembly comprises at least one of the at least one light-emitting diode or the photodiode.

25. The mobile sterilization device in claim 20, wherein the sterilization assembly includes a mobile device case.

26. The mobile sterilization device as recited in claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to determine, from light received by the at least one photodiode, whether a safety parameter has been met.

27. The mobile sterilization device as recited in claim 26, wherein the safety parameter comprises a refraction index indicating a liquid.