Ultraviolet system for disinfection

• US 9,878,061 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shur, Michael, Shatalov, Maxim S., Bettles, Timothy James, Bilenko, Yuri, Dobrinsky, Alexander, Gaska, Remigijus
• Primary Examiner(s): STOFFA, WYATT A
• Application Number:
  US15/388,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20170100496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/003 Control or safety devices for sterilisation or pasteurisation systems
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• 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 2202/18 Aseptic storing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/23 Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0417 using an UV-lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. The target wavelength ranges and/or target intensity ranges of the ultraviolet radiation sources can correspond to at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a sterilization operating configuration and a preservation operating configuration.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within a storage area; and

means for monitoring and controlling the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the storage area, the means including;

monitoring, using data received from a camera, a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a change in a surface of at least one of the set of items located in the storage area, wherein the change includes at least one of;

a change in color, a presence of mold, and a change in temperature;

receiving an input from a user via an external interface; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using the set of current conditions monitored by the camera and the input from the user, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a location within the storage area to which the ultraviolet radiation is directed, a direction of the ultraviolet radiation, a time scheduling of the ultraviolet radiation, a radiation wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation, an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation, or a pattern of the ultraviolet radiation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes detecting each item in the set of items located in the storage area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controlling includes adjusting the ultraviolet radiation based on the detection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring and controlling further includes displaying information to the user, and wherein the information includes at least one of:

a name for each item in the set of items, a location of each item located in the storage area, a history of ultraviolet radiation treatment for each item, and a status of each item.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information includes a visual representation of each item located in the storage area.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the visual representation of each item is in real-time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage area is divided into a plurality of regions, each region including a set of ultraviolet radiation sources that are separately controlled.

8. A food storage device comprising:

a storage area configured to store a set of items;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area; and

means for monitoring and controlling the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the storage area, the means including;

monitoring, using data received from a camera, a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or the set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a change in a surface of at least one of the set of items located in the storage area, wherein the change includes at least one of;

a change in color, a presence of mold, and a change in temperature;

receiving an input from a user via an external interface; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using the set of current conditions monitored by the camera and the input from the user, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a location within the storage area to which the ultraviolet radiation is directed, a direction of the ultraviolet radiation, a time scheduling of the ultraviolet radiation, a radiation wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation, an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation, or a pattern of the ultraviolet radiation.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the monitoring includes detecting each item in the set of items located in the storage area.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the controlling includes adjusting the ultraviolet radiation based on the detection.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the means for monitoring and controlling further includes displaying information to the user, and wherein the information includes at least one of:

a name for each item in the set of items, a location of each item located in the storage area, a history of ultraviolet radiation treatment for each item, and a status of each item.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the information includes a visual representation of each item located in the storage area.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the visual representation of each item is in real-time.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the storage area is divided into a plurality of regions, each region including a set of ultraviolet radiation sources that are separately controlled.

15. A refrigeration device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one refrigerated item;

a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of;

a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area; and

means for monitoring and controlling the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the storage area, the means including;

monitoring, using data received from a camera, a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or the at least one refrigerated item located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a change in a surface of the at least one refrigerated item located in the storage area, wherein the change includes at least one of;

a change in color, a presence of mold, and a change in temperature;

receiving an input from a user via an external interface; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using the set of current conditions monitored by the camera and the input from the user, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a location within the storage area to which the ultraviolet radiation is directed, a direction of the ultraviolet radiation, a time scheduling of the ultraviolet radiation, a radiation wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation, an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation, or a pattern of the ultraviolet radiation.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the monitoring includes detecting each item in the at least one refrigerated item located in the storage area.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the controlling includes adjusting the ultraviolet radiation based on the detection.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for monitoring and controlling further includes displaying information to the user, and wherein the information includes at least one of:

a name for the at least one refrigerated item, a location of the at least one refrigerated item located in the storage area, a history of ultraviolet radiation treatment for the at least one refrigerated item, and a status of the at least one refrigerated item.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the information includes a visual representation of the at least one refrigerated item located in the storage area.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the visual representation of the at least one refrigerated item is in real-time.