System and method of disinfection
A system and method for a UV disinfection device configured to be disposed to direct UV energy through an exit interface toward a target surface of a device. The UV disinfection device may be configured for low-profile distribution of UV energy toward the target surface.
1 . A UV disinfection device for a display having a target surface defining a region of intended human interaction with the display, the device comprising:
a support member operable to facilitate mounting the UV disinfection device proximate to a proximal edge of the target surface of the display, wherein the target surface further comprises a distal edge spaced apart from the UV disinfection device and opposite the proximal edge;
a germicidal energy source operable to generate UV energy, wherein the germicidal energy source is a UV light emitting diode (LED);
a UV reflection chamber having a first reflector and an exit interface through which UV energy exits the UV reflection chamber, the first reflector operable to receive UV energy generated by the germicidal energy source and to direct UV energy toward the exit interface;
the first reflector operable to direct UV energy the target surface through the exit interface; and
the exit interface having a proximal portion proximate the proximal edge of the target surface and a distal portion distal from to the proximal edge of the target surface, the exit interface having an exit interface height defined between the proximal portion and the distal portion and an exit interface length defined along a direction transverse to the exit interface height,
wherein the exit interface height is significantly less than a target surface distance between the proximal edge of the target surface and the distal edge of the target surface;
an elongated UV diffuser separate from the UV LED and having an elongated dimension corresponding to the exit interface length, the elongated UV diffuser disposed adjacent to and optically coupled with the UV LED within the UV reflection chamber and wherein the UV LED is arranged to transmit UV energy into the elongated UV diffuser and the elongated UV diffuser is arranged to receive UV energy output from the UV LED;
wherein the UV LED, the elongated UV diffuser, and the UV reflection chamber cooperate to facilitate spreading UV energy within the UV reflection chamber and provide an elongated emission pattern of UV energy extending in the direction of the exit interface length;
wherein the UV reflection chamber is configured to reflect UV energy within the UV reflection chamber until the UV energy is directed through the exit interface at an exit angle of incidence sufficient to permit passage of the UV energy directly toward the distal edge of the target surface; and
wherein the UV reflection chamber is configured to direct a greater amount of UV energy through the distal portion of the exit interface than through the proximal portion of the exit interface to compensate for inverse square losses over the target surface distance between the proximal edge of the target surface and the distal edge of the target surface.
2 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein:
the distal portion and the proximal portion define an exit interface plane through which UV energy traverses toward the target surface; and
the UV energy exits the exit interface between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the exit interface.
3 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the exit interface height corresponds to a distance between the proximal portion and the distal portion.
4 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein a distance between the distal portion and the proximal portion is 2 mm or less.
5 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein an angle between the exit interface and the target surface is less than 90°.
6 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the UV energy reflected from the first reflector is directed toward the target surface at an angle less than 90° relative to the exit interface.
7 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the target surface distance to the exit interface height is greater than 5.
8 . The UV disinfection device of claim 7 wherein the ratio is greater than 100.
9 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the UV energy output from the exit interface is substantially confined to a UV energy region, where a distance between a boundary of the UV energy region and the target surface is significantly less than the target surface distance.
10 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the exit interface includes a mask operable to affect a distribution of UV energy output from the exit interface.
11 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the exit interface includes a composite lens operable to output a UV light pattern to a target distance and dosage with a generally uniform distribution at the target surface after accounting for the inverse square losses.
12 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the UV energy output from the exit interface is substantially confined to a UV energy region, wherein the UV energy region is defined by the target surface and an opposing boundary line that converges with the target surface.
13 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the elongated UV diffuser is in the shape of a rod.
14 . The UV disinfection device of claim 13 wherein a gel is provided in contact with the elongated UV diffuser and the germicidal energy source, wherein the gel optically couples the germicidal energy source to the elongated UV diffuser.
15 . A UV disinfection device for disinfecting a target surface associated with a display, the target surface defining a region of intended human interaction with the display, the UV disinfection device comprising:
a support member operable to facilitate mounting the UV disinfection device proximate to a proximal edge of the target surface of the display, wherein the target surface further comprises a distal edge spaced apart from the UV disinfection device and opposite the proximal edge;
a germicidal energy source operable to generate UV energy, wherein the germicidal energy source is a UV light emitting diode (LED);
a UV reflection chamber having a first reflector and an exit interface through which UV energy exits the UV reflection chamber, the first reflector operable to receive UV energy generated by the germicidal energy source and to direct UV energy toward the exit interface;
the exit interface being adjacent the proximal edge of the target surface, the exit interface having a proximal portion proximate the proximal edge of the target surface and a distal portion distal from to the proximal edge of the target surface, the exit interface having an exit interface height significantly less than a target surface distance between the proximal edge of the target surface and the distal edge of the target surface, the exit interface having an exit interface length defined along a direction transverse to the exit interface height;
the first reflector configured to direct the UV energy through the exit interface and to the target surface; and
an elongated UV diffuser separate from the UV LED and having an elongated dimension corresponding to the exit interface length, the elongated UV diffuser disposed adjacent to and optically coupled with the UV LED within the UV reflection chamber and wherein the UV LED is arranged to transmit UV energy into the elongated UV diffuser and the elongated UV diffuser is arranged to receive UV energy output from the UV LED;
wherein the UV LED, the elongated UV diffuser, and the UV reflection chamber cooperate to facilitate spreading UV energy within the UV reflection chamber and provide an elongated emission pattern of UV energy along the exit interface length;
wherein the UV reflection chamber is configured to reflect UV energy within the UV reflection chamber until the UV energy is directed through the exit interface at an exit angle of incidence sufficient to permit passage of the UV energy directly toward the distal edge of the target surface; and
wherein the UV energy output from the exit interface is substantially confined to a UV energy region, the UV energy region being defined by the target surface and a boundary plane that converges toward the target surface, wherein the boundary plane intersects the distal portion of the exit interface and is defined by the exit angle of incidence; and
wherein the UV reflection chamber is configured to direct a greater amount of UV energy through the distal portion of the exit interface than through the proximal portion of the exit interface to compensate for the inverse square losses over the target surface distance between the proximal edge of the target surface and the distal edge of the target surface.
16 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the boundary plane converges with the target surface at a point distal from the exit interface.
17 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the exit interface height is 2 mm or less.
18 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein an angle between the exit interface and the target surface is less than 90°.
19 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the UV energy reflected from the first reflector is directed toward the target surface at an angle less than 90° relative to the exit interface.
20 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein a ratio of the target surface distance to the exit interface height is greater than 5.
21 . The UV disinfection device of claim 20 wherein the ratio is greater than 100.
22 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein a distance between the boundary plane of the UV energy region and the target surface is significantly less than the target surface distance.
23 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the exit interface includes a mask operable to affect a distribution of UV energy output from the exit interface.
24 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the exit interface includes a composite lens operable to output a UV light pattern to a target distance and dosage with a generally uniform distribution at the target surface after accounting for the inverse square losses.
25 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the elongated UV diffuser is rod-shaped.
26 . The UV disinfection device of claim 25 wherein a gel is provided in contact with the elongated UV diffuser and the germicidal energy source, wherein the gel optically couples the germicidal energy source to the elongated UV diffuser.
27 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the first reflector is positioned in opposition to the exit interface, wherein the distal portion and the proximal portion define an exit interface plane through which UV energy traverses toward the target surface, wherein UV energy reflected from the first reflector is directed toward the target surface at an angle less than 90° relative to the exit interface plane.
28 . The UV disinfection device of claim 1 wherein the UV energy output from the exit interface is substantially confined to a UV energy region, the UV energy region being defined by the target surface and a boundary plane that converges toward the target surface, wherein the boundary plane intersects the distal portion of the exit interface and is defined by the exit angle of incidence.
29 . The UV disinfection device of claim 28 wherein a ratio of the target surface distance to the exit interface height is greater than 5, and wherein the exit angle of incidence is greater than 0° and less than 5°.
30 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein the first reflector is positioned in opposition to the exit interface, wherein the distal portion and the proximal portion define an exit interface plane through which UV energy traverses toward the target surface, wherein UV energy reflected from the first reflector is directed toward the target surface at an angle less than 90° relative to the exit interface plane.
31 . The UV disinfection device of claim 15 wherein a ratio of the target surface distance to the exit interface height is greater than 5, and wherein the exit angle of incidence is greater than 0° and less than 5°.