Mobile sanitizing devices and systems for dispensing sanitizer solution

• US 8,564,444 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ota, Yasuhiro, Ryumae, Masaru, Sato, Keiichi, Sano, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/847,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/618, 901/1, 901/46, 901/50, 701/400, 701/537, 701/538
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• 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 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A mobile sanitizing device may include a sanitizer solution dispenser module, a motorized wheel assembly, and a controller module. The sanitizer solution dispenser module may be operable to dispense the sanitizer solution. The motorized wheel includes at least one wheel and is coupled to the sanitizer solution dispenser module. The controller module includes a microcontroller and a memory, and is programmed to log a sanitization record into a sanitization history of at least one user, compare the sanitization history of the user with a sanitization standard, and control the motorized wheel assembly to cause the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user to dispense sanitizing solution to the user when the sanitization history does not meet the sanitization standard.

Claims

1. A mobile sanitizing device for dispensing sanitizer solution comprising:

a sanitizer solution dispenser module operable to dispense the sanitizer solution;

a motorized wheel assembly comprising at least one wheel, wherein the motorized wheel assembly is coupled to the sanitizer solution dispenser module; and

a controller module comprising a microcontroller and a memory, wherein the controller module;

logs a sanitization record into a sanitization history for at least one user, wherein the sanitization history is stored in the memory;

compares the sanitization history of the user with a sanitization standard; and

controls the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user to dispense sanitizing solution to the user when the sanitization history does not meet the sanitization standard.

2. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communications device, wherein:

the wireless communications device receives a wireless signal from one or more user location tags associated with the user, the wireless signal indicative of a location of the mobile sanitizing device and a location of the user within a facility, and the wireless communications device provides proximity data to the controller module; and

the controller module provides a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly in accordance with the proximity data to cause the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user.

3. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein each sanitization record comprises a user name, a date and time of a sanitization session, and a sanitization location.

4. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein:

the mobile sanitizing device further comprises a visual module electrically coupled to the controller module for visually capturing an action of the user; and

the controller module causes the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user if the action of the user captured by the visual module corresponds to a sanitizing action.

5. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the controller module receives a sanitization request signal and causes the mobile sanitizing device to approach a user in accordance with the sanitization request signal.

6. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the controller module causes the mobile sanitizing device to remain in closer proximity to users having a greater need of sanitization in accordance with corresponding sanitization histories than users having a lesser need of sanitization in accordance with the corresponding sanitization histories.

7. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein:

the sanitizer solution dispenser module further comprises a sanitizer solution level sensor that provides a sanitizer solution level signal to the controller module; and

the controller module causes the mobile sanitizing device to navigate to a sanitizer refill location.

8. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the motorized wheel assembly comprises an omni-directional wheel.

9. A mobile sanitizing device for dispensing a sanitizer solution comprising:

a sanitizer solution dispenser module operable to dispense the sanitizer solution;

a motorized wheel assembly comprising an omni-directional wheel, wherein the motorized wheel assembly is coupled to the sanitizer solution dispenser module;

a balance control sensor, wherein the balance control sensor provides a balance signal corresponding to an orientation of the mobile sanitizing device; and

a controller module comprising a microcontroller and a memory, wherein the controller module receives the balance signal from the balance control sensor and provides a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly in accordance with the balance signal and an inverted pendulum control algorithm such that the mobile sanitizing device remains in an upright position when the mobile sanitizing device is operated in an unsupported mode.

10. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 wherein the inverted pendulum control algorithm comprises fuzzy control logic or H-infinity control logic.

11. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of retractable auxiliary supports coupled to the motorized wheel assembly, wherein the auxiliary supports are in an engaged position when the mobile sanitizing device is operated in a supported mode such that the auxiliary supports engage a supporting surface, and the auxiliary supports are in an unengaged position when the mobile sanitizing device is operated in an unsupported mode such that the auxiliary supports are disengaged from the supporting surface.

12. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 wherein the controller module:

logs a sanitization record into a sanitization history of at least one user, wherein the sanitization history is stored in the memory;

compares the sanitization history of the user with a sanitization standard; and

provides a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly to cause the mobile sanitizing device to approach a user in accordance with at least the sanitization history of the user and the sanitization standard.

13. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 further comprising a wireless communications device, wherein:

the wireless communications device receives a wireless signal from one or more user location tags associated with the user, the wireless signal indicative of a location of the mobile sanitizing device and a location of the user within a facility, and the wireless communications device provides proximity data to the controller module; and

the controller module provides a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly in accordance with the proximity data to cause the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user.

14. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 wherein the controller module receives a sanitization request signal and causes the mobile sanitizing device to approach a user in accordance with the sanitization request signal.

15. The mobile sanitizing device of claim 9 wherein the controller module causes the mobile sanitizing device to remain in closer proximity to users having a greater need of sanitization in accordance with corresponding sanitization histories than users having a lesser need of sanitization in accordance with the corresponding sanitization histories.

16. A sanitization system comprising:

a wireless communications network;

a central server communicably coupled to the wireless communications network; and

a mobile sanitizing device comprising;

a sanitizer solution dispenser module operable to dispense a sanitizer solution;

a motorized wheel assembly comprising at least one wheel, wherein the motorized wheel assembly is coupled to the sanitizer solution dispenser module; and

a controller module comprising a microcontroller, a memory, and a wireless communications device communicably coupled to the wireless communications network, wherein;

the wireless communications device receives a wireless signal indicative of a location of the mobile sanitizing device and a location of a user, and transmits proximity data over the wireless communications network;

the central server receives the proximity data over the wireless communications network, calculates a navigation route, and transmits navigation information to the wireless communications device over the wireless communications network in accordance with the navigation route; and

the controller module receives the navigation information from the central server and provides a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly to cause the mobile sanitizing device to autonomously approach a user to dispense the sanitizer solution to the user.

17. The sanitization system of claim 16 further comprising:

a plurality of user location tags, wherein each user location tag transmits a uniquely addressed wireless signal over the wireless communications network and is configured to be associated with a user; and

a plurality of local position tags, wherein each local position tag transmits a uniquely addressed wireless signal over the wireless communications network.

18. The sanitization system of claim 17 wherein the wireless signal is received from one or more user location tags.

19. The sanitization system of claim 17 wherein at least one said mobile sanitizing device is deployed in an area.

20. The sanitization system of claim 16 wherein:

the controller module is programmed to;

log a sanitization record into a sanitization history of at least one user, wherein the sanitization history is stored in the memory;

compare the sanitization history of the user with a sanitization standard; and

determine that a user is in need of sanitization if the sanitization history of the user deviates from the sanitization standard; and

the wireless communications device transmits the sanitization record to the central server.