Sterilization apparatus for portable electronic device

• US 9,855,351 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Rack
• Primary Examiner(s): STOFFA, WYATT A
• Application Number:
  US14/838,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20160074545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/12 Sanitary or hygienic devices for mouthpieces or earpieces, e.g. for protecting against infection

Abstract

A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device may include: a case having an opening receiving a portable electronic device; an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation unit arranged in the case, and configured to sterilize the portable electronic device by irradiating UV light onto the portable electronic device; a door connected to the case for opening and closing the opening of the case; and a display unit connected to the portable electronic device, and configured to display an image outputted from the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a case having an opening receiving a portable electronic device and including a housing groove formed on one side of the case;

an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation unit arranged in the case, and configured to sterilize the portable electronic device by irradiating UV light onto the portable electronic device;

a door connected to the case for opening and closing the opening of the case; and

a display unit connected to the portable electronic device, and including a screen configured to display an image outputted from the portable electronic device, wherein the screen is shaped like a plate and is installed to be movable upward or downward via a linear movement along the housing groove along a plane that comprises the screen.

2. The sterilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first connector installed in the case and connected to a connector of the portable electronic device; and

a second connector installed in the door and connected to the first connector and the display unit.

3. The sterilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the door is closed, the first and second connectors are connected to each other.

4. The sterilization apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a third connector installed in the case to connect the portable electronic device to an external electronic device.

5. The sterilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display unit comprises:

a beam projector installed on the door, connected to the second connector, and configured to project an image outputted from the portable electronic device; and

a screen installed in the case and displaying the image projected from the beam projector.

6. The sterilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UV irradiation unit is installed on the bottom of the case.

7. The sterilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising additional UV irradiation unit arranged on the door to provide UV radiation to the portable electronic device.

8. The sterilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the UV irradiation unit comprises:

a printed circuit board; and

UV LEDs mounted on the printed circuit board to irradiate UV light onto the portable electronic device.

9. The sterilization apparatus of claim 8, wherein a housing groove has a stepped part formed at the top of the housing groove with greater width than that of the housing groove, and

the stepped part is configured to support the bottom of the screen such that the screen is prevented from descending from the housing groove.

10. A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a case having a bottom portion with sidewalls extending up from the bottom portion and configured to provide a space inside the case for mounting a portable electronic device, wherein the case provides a first connector connected with the portable electronic device;

a UV LED arranged in the case and configured to provide UV radiation to the portable electronic device; and

a cover arranged around a top portion of the case and providing a second connector connected with the first connector, wherein the connection between the first and second connectors allows the UV LED irradiating UV light,

wherein the sterilization apparatus further includes a screen inserted into a groove formed at one sidewall of the case to be movable upward or downward in a linear translation motion along the groove along a plane that comprises the screen and displaying information of the portable electronic device during the sterilization.

11. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a third connector provided in the case and connected to an external electronic device.

12. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the screen is movable along the sidewall of the case.

13. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, information of the portable electronic device includes receiving a phone call or exchanging data with another device.

14. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a beam projector provided in the cover and connected to the portable electronic device and the screen, the beam projector projecting a screen of the portable electronic device onto the screen of the sterilization apparatus.

15. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the case provides a stepped part formed at a top portion of the groove with a greater width than the groove.

16. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover is configured to selectively cover the top portion.

17. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an additional UV LED arranged in the cover to provide UV radiation to the portable electronic device.

18. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a speaker provided in the case or the cover.

19. The sterilization apparatus of claim 10, wherein the screen has protrusions protruding to outside and formed at both sides of the screen.

20. A sterilization apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a case having an opening receiving a portable electronic device;

an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation unit arranged in the case, and configured to sterilize the portable electronic device by irradiating UV light onto the portable electronic device;

a door connected to the case for opening and closing the opening of the case;

a display unit connected to the portable electronic device, and configured to display an image outputted from the portable electronic device;

a first connector installed in the case and connected to a connector of the portable electronic device; and

a second connector installed in the door and connected to the first connector and the display unit;

wherein the display unit comprises;

a beam projector installed on the door, connected to the second connector, and configured to project an image outputted from the portable electronic device; and

a screen installed in the case and displaying the image projected from the beam projector,

wherein the case includes a housing groove formed at one side of the case and housing the screen, and the screen is installed to be movable upward or downward along the housing groove along a plane of the screen.

21. The sterilization apparatus of claim 20, wherein the screen moves along the side of the case.

22. The sterilization apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display unit operates to display the image only when the opening of the case is closed.