STORAGE DEVICE INCLUDING TARGET UV ILLUMINATION RANGES

• US 20140060094A1
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• 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, Bettles, Timothy James, Bilenko, Yuri, Smetona, Saulius, Dobrinsky, Alexander, Gaska, Remigijus
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/129
• 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: 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 27/005 combined with control means

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area at target wavelengths and/or target intensities. 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 storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within a storage area; and

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, wherein each selectable operating configuration mode has a corresponding target intensity range and a target wavelength range for the ultraviolet radiation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 0.1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 milliwatt/m².

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 10 watt/m².

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 watt/m².

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of:

a target time schedule or a target radiation direction for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source based on the set of current conditions and a currently selected operating configuration.

9. The system of claim 1, the method further comprising controlling at least one of:

a temperature, a humidity, or illumination by a non-ultraviolet light source based on a currently selected operating configuration.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

an optical sensor, a chemical sensor, or a mechanical sensor for providing the monitoring and control system data corresponding to at least one of the set of current conditions.

11. A food storage device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one perishable food item;

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area; and

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, wherein each selectable operating configuration mode has a corresponding target intensity range and a target wavelength range for the ultraviolet radiation.

12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 0.1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 milliwatt/m².

13. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 10 watt/m².

14. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 watt/m².

15. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of:

a target time schedule or a target radiation direction for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source based on the set of current conditions and a currently selected operating configuration.

16. The storage device of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

an optical sensor, a chemical sensor, or a mechanical sensor for providing the monitoring and control system data corresponding to at least one of the set of current conditions.

17. 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;

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area; and

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of;

the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area; and

controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, the selectable operating configurations including;

a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, wherein each selectable operating configuration mode has a corresponding target intensity range and a target wavelength range for the ultraviolet radiation.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the storage life preservation operating configuration is approximately 0.1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 milliwatt/m².

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 250 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the disinfection operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 10 watt/m².

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the target wavelength range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 285 nanometers to approximately 305 nanometers, and wherein the target intensity range for the at least one ultraviolet radiation source in the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is approximately 1 milliwatt/m² to approximately 1000 watt/m².