SANITIZING REMOTE CONTROLS AND HANDHELD DEVICES

• US 20140363335A1
• Filed: 06/07/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tuan Quoc Dam
• Original Assignee: Tuan Quoc Dam
• Inventors: Dam, Tuan Quoc
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

An ultraviolet sanitizer for non-contact sanitizing of handheld devices includes a device receptacle moveable adjacent a UV light source within a housing. The receptacle and a housing closure are moveable in response to detection of receipt of a handheld device in the receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sanitizing handheld devices comprising:

a housing defining a device insertion port;

an ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed within the housing for irradiating handheld devices;

a receptacle disposed within the housing toe receiving a handheld device therein;

a closure moveable to substantially cover the device insertion port;

a first drive mechanism operable to move the closure to substantially cover the device insertion port during the irradiating; and

wherein the receptacle is movable by at least one of the first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism to present different surfaces of the handheld device to the UV light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a highly reflective material present on an interior surface of the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle and the closure are rotatable relative to the housing to provide double barriers to escape of light from the UV light source at the device insertion port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect receipt of a handheld device within the receptacle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, where the sensor comprises a capacitance sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, configured initiate a cycle of receptacle movement and UV irradiation in response to detection of receipt of a handheld device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further configured to reverse a direction of motion of at least one of the receptacle and the closure in response to detection of an impediment to such motion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a near-field charger positioned to charge a handheld device positioned in the receptacle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is moveable by at least one of the first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism to position a portion of the receptacle between the UV light source and the insertion port or closure.

10. A method of sanitizing a handheld device comprising:

receiving a handheld device within a moveable receptacle disposed within a housing;

detecting receipt of the handheld device in the receptacle;

initiating movement of at least one of the receptacle and a closure associated with the housing in response to detecting receipt of the handheld device; and

initiating an irradiation cycle by the UV light source in response to attainment of a predetermined position during movement of the at least one of the receptacle and the closure.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising presenting a reflective surface on an interior of at least one of the housing and the receptacle.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving the receptacle to position the handheld device substantially within a light cone of the UV light source.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning at least a portion of the receptacle during the irradiation cycle between the closure and UV light source to provide a double barrier to escape of UV light from the housing.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving the receptacle to position the handheld device for retrieval from the housing upon completion of the irradiation cycle.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning a near-field charger in proximity to the receptacle to charge the handheld device received in the receptacle.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing variable irradiation cycle times in response to identification of the handheld device.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising replacing an interchangeable receptacle within the housing to accommodate a second device.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising combining the housing with a display device, wherein the housing is configured to store a handheld remote control device for at least one of the display device and an audio/video input device in communication with the display device.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a second visible spectrum light source to illuminate at least a portion of an exterior of at least one of the housing and the closure during the irradiation cycle to create an optically benign impression of the irradiation process underway within the housing.

14. The method of claim 0, further comprising moving the receptacle during the irradiation cycle to present a range of surfaces of the handheld device to the UV light source.