Single diode disinfection
Disclosed herein is a device which inactivates microorganisms. The device includes a light emitter and at least one light-converting material arranged to convert at least a portion of light from the light emitter. Any light emitted from the light emitter and converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mixes to form a combined light, the combined light having a proportion of spectral energy measured in an approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm range of greater than approximately 20 percent. In another embodiment, the device includes a light emitter configured to emit light with wavelengths in a range of 380 to 420 nm, and at least one light-converting material including at least one optical brightener and configured to emit a second light. The first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white.
1. A light emitting device which inactivates microorganisms on a surface, the light emitting device comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit a first light comprising a first wavelength in a range of 380 nanometers (nm) to 420 nm and having an irradiance at the surface sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms on the surface,
a first light-converting layer arranged remote from the light emitter and configured to convert a first portion of the first light emitted from the light emitter to at least a second light comprising a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and
a second light-converting layer arranged remote from the light emitter and configured to convert a second portion of the first light emitted from the light emitter to at least a third light comprising a third wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein the second light-converting layer is layered separately from the first light-converting layer to limit absorption of the second light;
wherein at least the first light, the second light, and the third light mix to form a combined light being white and having a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70.
2. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).
3. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter comprises a laser.
4. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first light-converting layer or the second light-converting layer includes at least one phosphor.
5. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first light-converting layer or the second light-converting layer includes at least one optical brightener.
6. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm.
7. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy, measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range, of greater than 20%.
8. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter emits light having a peak wavelength of approximately 405 nm.
9. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the combined light has a CRI of at least 80.
10. The light emitting device of claim 1 , further comprising an array of light emitters and the first light-converting layer is arranged in a direct path of a first light emitter of the array of light emitters and the second light-converting layer is arranged in a direct path of a second light emitter of the array of light emitters.
11. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) between approximately 1,000 Kelvin (K) and 8,000 K.
12. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) between approximately 2,500 Kelvin (K) and 5,000 K.
13. A method for inactivating microorganisms on a surface, the method comprising:
emitting, by a light emitter, a first light with a wavelength in a range of 380 nanometers (nm) to 420 nm and having an irradiance sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms at the surface;
converting, based on a first light-converting layer arranged remote from and in a direct path of the light emitters, a first portion of the first light into a second light in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm;
converting, based on a second light-converting layer arranged remote from and in a direct path of the light emitter, a second portion of the first light into a third light in a wavelength range greater than 495 nm, wherein the second light-converting layer is layered separately from the first light-converting layer to limit absorption of the second light; and
based on the first light, the second light, and the third light, forming a white light having a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the white light further comprises forming the white light with a peak wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the white light comprises forming the white light with a proportion of spectral energy measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range of greater than 20%.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein converting the second portion of the first light into the third light in the wavelength range greater than 495 nm comprises:
converting at least a third portion of the first light into a fourth light in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm; and
converting at least a fourth portion of the first light into a fifth light in the wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the white light comprises forming the white light with a CRI of at least 80.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the white light comprises forming the white light with a correlated color temperature (CCT) between approximately 1,000 Kelvin (K) and 8,000 K.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the white light comprises forming the white light with a correlated color temperature (CCT) between approximately 2,500 Kelvin (K) and 5,000 K.
20. A system for inactivation of microorganisms, the system comprising:
a surface; and
a light emitting device which inactivates microorganisms on the surface, the light emitting device comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit a first light comprising a first wavelength in a range of 380 nanometers (nm) to 420 nm and having an irradiance at the surface sufficient to initiate inactivation of microorganisms on the surface,
a first light-converting layer arranged remote from the light emitter and configured to convert a first portion of the first light emitted from the light emitter to at least a second light comprising a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and
a second light-converting layer arranged remote from the light emitter and configured to convert a second portion of the first light emitted from the light emitter to at least a third light comprising a third wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein the second light-converting layer is layered separately from the first light-converting layer to limit absorption of the second light;
wherein at least the first light, the second light, and the third light mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white and having a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first light-converting layer includes at least one of a phosphor or an optical brightener.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm.
23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy, measured in a 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range, of greater than 20%.