Single-emitter lighting device that outputs a minimum amount of power to produce integrated radiance values sufficient for deactivating pathogens

• US 11,054,110 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2018
• Issued: 07/06/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Hawkins, James W., Heiking, Nathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US16/027,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20180311387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/084 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• 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 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• 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: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 : Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0068 : Medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 : of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 : Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 : Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 : Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 : comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 : Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 : comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 : Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/505 : characterised by the shape, e.g. plate or foil
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 : involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 : Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 : in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 : by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 : following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 : Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting device configured to deactivate dangerous microorganisms in an environment. The lighting device includes at least one lighting element with a single light source configured to provide disinfecting light. At least a first component of the light has a wavelength of about 405 nm, and at least a second component of the light has a wavelength of greater than 500 nm. The first component of light has a minimum integrated irradiance of 0.01 mW/cm² measured from any unshielded point in the environment that is 1.5 m from any point on any external-most luminous surface of the lighting device.

Claims

1. A lighting device configured to deactivate microorganisms in an environment, the lighting device comprising:

at least one lighting element with a single light source configured to provide disinfecting light, at least a first component of the light having a wavelength of greater than 400 nm, and at least a second component of the light having a wavelength of greater than 500 nm,

wherein the first component of light has a minimum integrated irradiance of at least .01 mW/cm² measured from any unshielded point in the environment that is 1.5 m from any point on any external-most luminous surface of the lighting device.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the minimum integrated irradiance is equal to 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, or 0.30 mW/cm².

3. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

4. The lighting device of claim 3, further comprising a means for maintaining a junction temperature of the at least one LED below a maximum operating temperature of the at least one LED.

5. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second component of the light has a wavelength of between 530 nm and 580 nm or between 600 nm and 650 nm.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second component of the light has a wavelength of between 530 nm and 580 nm, and at least a third component of the light has a wavelength of between 600 nm and 650 nm.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) and at least one light-converting element covering or arranged proximate to the at least one LED, the at least one light-converting element configured to produce the second component of the light emitted by the at least one lighting element.

8. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the at least one light-converting element comprises at least one phosphor coating the at least one LED.

9. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the at least one light-converting element comprises a red phosphor and a green phosphor.

10. A lighting device configured to deactivate microorganisms, the lighting device comprising:

one or more light-emitting elements each comprising a single light source configured to emit first light having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 420 nm;

one or more light-converting elements each arranged to convert a portion of the first light into second light having a wavelength greater than 420 nm,

wherein the first light and the second light mix to form a combined light, the combined light being visible light having u′

, v′

coordinates on the 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram that lie outside of an area that is bounded (i) vertically between 0.035 Duv below and 0.035 Duv above a planckian locus defined by the ANSI C78.377-2015 color standard, and (ii) horizontally between a correlated color temperature (CCT) isoline of between approximately 1500K and 7000K.

11. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein the combined light is output at a power level of between approximately 10,500 mw and 58,000 mw.

12. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein the first light has a wavelength of about 405 nm.

13. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more light-emitting elements comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

14. The lighting device of claim 13, further comprising means for maintaining a junction temperature of the LED below a maximum operating temperature of the LED.

15. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein the second light has a wavelength of greater than 500 nm.

16. The lighting device of claim 15, wherein a first component of the second light has a wavelength of between 530 nm and 580 nm, and a second component of the second light has a wavelength of between 600 nm and 650 nm.

17. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more light-converting elements comprises a phosphor.

18. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein the one or more light-converting elements comprise at least one green phosphor and at least one red phosphor.

19. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein the one or more light-converting elements cover the one or more light-emitting elements, are remote from the one or more light-emitting elements, or a combination thereof.

20. A method of deactivating microorganisms, the method comprising:

providing disinfecting light from a lighting device, the lighting device comprising one or more light-emitting elements each comprising a single light source configured to emit first light having a wavelength of about 405 nm, the lighting device further comprising one or more light-converting elements arranged to convert a portion of the first light into second light having a wavelength greater than 420 nm, wherein the first light and the second light mix to form a combined light, the combined light being visible light having u′

, v′

coordinates on the 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram that lie outside of an area that is bounded (i) vertically between .035 Duv below and .035 Duv above a planckian locus defined by the ANSI C78.377-2015 color standard, and (ii) horizontally between a correlated color temperature (CCT) isoline of between approximately 1500K and 7000K.