Storage device including ultraviolet illumination

• US 9,919,068 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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, Smetona, Saulius, Dobrinsky, Alexander, Gaska, Remigijus, Agafonov, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar, Kishor
• Application Number:
  US14/629,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• 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

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. Items located within the area and/or one or more conditions of the area are monitored over a period of time. Based on the monitoring, ultraviolet radiation sources are controlled by adjusting a direction, an intensity, a pattern, and/or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source. Adjustments to the ultraviolet radiation source(s) can correspond to one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a storage device including a storage area for containing at least one item, wherein the storage area is at least partially defined by;

a transparent region fixed in the storage device, wherein the transparent region is configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation; and

a reflecting region located in proximity to the transparent region, wherein the reflecting region is configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation within the storage area;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation into the storage area, wherein at least one of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources is adjacent to the transparent region;

a feedback component including a set of sensing devices configured to sense a set of current conditions, the set of current conditions including a visual attribute for the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and

a control system for controlling the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations for the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of current conditions, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area based on the set of current conditions and a set of target conditions for the at least one of;

the storage area or the at least one item located in the storage area corresponding to a currently selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, wherein the plurality of selectable operating configurations include;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources is located between the transparent region and the reflecting region.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources is mounted to the reflecting region in a structure separate from the storage device, the system further comprising means for removably attaching the structure to cover the transparent region.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a sensor for generating data indicating the structure is securely attached to cover the transparent region, wherein the control system controls the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using data received from the sensor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the structure further comprises a set of reflecting mirrors located below the set of ultraviolet radiation sources, wherein the set of reflecting mirrors are configured to diffuse ultraviolet radiation emitted by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring system for acquiring data corresponding to the set of current conditions and providing the data to the control system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of visible and infrared radiation sources, wherein the control system controls the set of visible and infrared radiation sources based on the visual attribute and the set of chemical attributes, and wherein the set of chemical attributes include a presence of ethylene gas.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources includes a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources arranged in a honeycomb configuration.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for removably mounting the at least one of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources to an interior of the storage area.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for removably mounting includes a rail system attached to the interior surface of the storage area.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an enclosure for the set of ultraviolet radiation sources, wherein the enclosure comprises:

a reflector and a partially transparent region.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transparent regions fixed in the storage device, wherein each ultraviolet radiation source in the set of ultraviolet radiation sources is adjacent to each transparent region.

13. A storage device comprising:

a storage area for containing at least one item;

means for removably mounting an ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed into the storage area, wherein the means for removably mounting includes;

a reflecting region adjacent to the ultraviolet radiation source, the reflecting region configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation into the storage area; and

a transparent region isolating the ultraviolet radiation source from an interior of the storage area, the transparent region configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation into the storage area;

a feedback component including a set of sensing devices configured to sense a set of current conditions, the set of current conditions including a visual attribute of the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and

a monitoring and control system for monitoring a set of current conditions for at least one of;

the storage area and the at least one item, and for controlling the ultraviolet radiation source based on one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations for the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of current conditions, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area based on the set of current conditions and a set of target conditions for the at least one of;

the storage area or the at least one item located in the storage area corresponding to a currently selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, wherein the plurality of selectable operating configurations include;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the transparent region is embedded in a portion of the storage device, wherein the device further includes a sensor for generating data indicating the ultraviolet radiation source is covering the transparent region, wherein the monitoring and control system further controls the ultraviolet radiation source based on the data.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the reflecting region comprises a reflector and the ultraviolet radiation source is mounted on the reflector.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for removably mounting further includes a rail system mounted within the storage area, wherein the reflector is configured to be removably mounted to the rail system.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the transparent region is removably mounted to the reflector.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the controlling the ultraviolet radiation source includes rotating at least one of:

the transparent enclosure and the reflector.

19. A storage device comprising:

a storage area for containing at least one item;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the storage device and configured to generate ultraviolet radiation into the storage area, wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are located in a hollow region defined by a reflecting surface configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation into the storage area and a transparent surface configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation;

a set of visible and infrared radiation sources configured to generate radiation into the storage area;

a feedback component including a set of sensing devices configured to sense a set of current conditions, the set of current conditions including a visual attribute of the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and

a monitoring and control system for monitoring a set of current conditions of the storage area and controlling the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of visible and infrared radiation sources using one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations for the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of current conditions, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of;

a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area based on the set of current conditions and a set of target conditions for the at least one of;

the storage area or the at least one item located in the storage area corresponding to a currently selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, wherein the plurality of selectable operating configurations include;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the storage device includes:

a first structure for defining the storage area, the first structure including the transparent surface;

a second structure including the set of ultraviolet radiation sources;

means for removably attaching the second structure to the first structure to cover the transparent region; and

a sensor for generating data corresponding to whether the second structure is covering the transparent region, wherein the monitoring and control system further controls the ultraviolet radiation source based on the data.