ULTRAVIOLET PATHOGEN DISINFECTION SYSTEM
A mobile communication device includes a pathogen disinfection apparatus including an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers toward a target location to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted light and a surface of the target location. Further, the mobile communication device includes an application including processor executable instructions configured to generate signals to control the pathogen disinfection apparatus, including to operate the UV light source.
1 . A mobile communication device with an integrated pathogen disinfection apparatus, comprising:
an exterior housing of the mobile communication device;
a touchscreen display disposed on a front portion of the exterior housing;
an ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed on a rear portion of the exterior housing, the UV light source configured to emit UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers toward a target location to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted light and a surface of the target location;
at least one visible light source disposed on the rear portion of the exterior housing;
an application including processor executable instructions configured to generate signals to control the pathogen disinfection apparatus to: (a) activate both the at least one visible light source and the UV light source so that when the UV light source is active and emitting the UV light toward the target location, the visible light source is also active and emitting a first visible light to illuminate the target location, the first visible light having a first color or intensity indicating that the UV light source is active; and (b) selectively activate the at least one visible light source to emit a second visible light to illuminate the target location only when the at least one UV light source is inactive, the second visible light having a second color or intensity; and
a mobile application including processor executable instructions configured to take an input via a dosimetry circuit or algorithm and, based at least in part thereupon, output a dynamic countdown clock to the touchscreen display, wherein the dynamic countdown clock is configured to show an estimated time to disinfection of the target location, and wherein the estimated time to disinfection of the target location is configured to update in real-time, via the dosimetry circuit or algorithm input, based at least in part on changes in a distance between the UV light source of the mobile communication device and the target location.
2 . (canceled)
3 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a temperature or motion sensor configured to provide a deactivation input signal to the application upon sensing a particular temperature or motion within a light beam emitted from the UV light source; and
the application includes processor executable instructions configured to generate a signal for communication to the UV light source to deactivate the UV light source in response to receiving the deactivation input signal from the temperature or motion sensor.
4 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a distance sensor configured to determine the distance between the UV light source and the target location and to generate a distance input signal.
5 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
the distance sensor comprises a UV sensor which determines distance from the target surface based upon sensing the UV light reflected from the target location to generate the distance input signal.
6 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises the dosimetry circuit or algorithm configured to receive the distance input signal and generate a cumulative dose signal indicating a cumulative dose of UV light received at the target location in real-time based at least upon the distance input signal and an intensity of the UV light emitted at the UV light source.
7 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the application further comprises processor executable instructions configured to receive the cumulative dose signal and to send a deactivation signal to the UV light source when the cumulative dose signal indicates that a target dose has been achieved.
8 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device includes a speaker mechanism and the application further comprises processor executable instructions configured to activate the speaker mechanism to emit an audible sound, before, during, or after activation or deactivation of the UV light source, or some combination thereof.
9 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mobile application further comprises computer executable instructions to operate the UV light source in response to a user input.
10 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the mobile application further comprises computer executable instructions to generate a visual interface to allow a user to provide the user input.
11 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the mobile communication device includes a tilt sensor to a tilt sensor configured to provide a tilt angle signal indicating a tilt angle of the mobile communication device; and
the application includes processor executable instructions configured to receive the tilt angle signal from the mobile communication device and to generate a deactivation signal for deactivating the UV light source in response to a maximum tilt angle having been exceeded.
12 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is configured to emit the UV light at a mean peak wavelength between 210-220 nanometers toward the target location.
13 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one visible light source comprises a dedicated LED configured to emit the first visible light and the second visible light.
14 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one visible light source comprises a camera flash configured to emit the first visible light and the second visible light.
15 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one visible light source comprises:
a dedicated LED configured to emit the first visible light; and
a camera flash configured to emit the second visible light.
16 . A mobile communication device, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one visible light source comprises:
a camera flash configured to emit the first visible light; and
a dedicated LED configured to emit the second visible light.
17 . A mobile communication device with an integrated pathogen disinfection apparatus, comprising:
an exterior housing of the mobile communication device;
a touchscreen display disposed on a front portion of the exterior housing;
an ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed on a rear portion of the exterior housing, the UV light source configured to emit UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers toward a target location to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted light and a surface of the target location;
at least one visible light source disposed on the rear portion of the exterior housing;
an application including processor executable instructions configured to generate signals to control the pathogen disinfection apparatus to: (a) activate both the at least one visible light source and the UV light source so that when the UV light source is active and emitting the UV light toward the target location, the visible light source is also active and emitting a first visible light to illuminate the target location, the first visible light having a first color or intensity indicating that the UV light source is active; and (b) selectively activate the at least one visible light source to emit a second visible light to illuminate the target location only when the at least one UV light source is inactive, the second visible light having a second color or intensity; and
a mobile application including processor executable instructions configured to output a plurality of features to the touchscreen display, the plurality of features comprising:
a dynamic countdown clock configured to show an estimated time to disinfection of the target location, and wherein the estimated time to disinfection of the target location is configured to update in real-time, via a dosimetry circuit or algorithm, based at least in part on changes in a distance between the UV light source of the mobile communication device and the target location;
a current dosage display feature configured to show the current dosage of UV light provided to the target location;
an elapsed time display feature configured to show an amount elapsed time from activation of the UV light source;
a distance to target surface display feature configured to show the distance between the UV light source and the target location; and
a UV light source status display feature configured to show an activation status of the UV light source.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of features further comprises a target dosage display feature configured to show the target dosage for disinfecting the target location.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of features further comprises an interface option to enter a target dosage for disinfecting the target location, wherein the mobile device is configured to update the estimated time based at least in part on a comparison of a current dosage to the target dosage.
20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of features further comprises a UV light source activation button, wherein the UV light source activation button is positioned with the UV light source status display feature such that tapping over the UV light source status display feature selects the UV light source activation button.