ULTRAVIOLET PATHOGEN DISINFECTION SYSTEM
An accessory for a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having an exterior housing and a processor. The accessory includes a pathogen disinfection apparatus mountable to the exterior housing of the mobile communication device. The pathogen disinfection apparatus includes 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 accessory includes an application for downloading to the mobile communication device. The application includes processor executable instructions configured to generate signals to control the pathogen disinfection apparatus, including to operate the UV light source.
1 . An accessory for a mobile phone, the mobile phone having an exterior housing, a wireless transceiver, and a processor, the accessory comprising:
a cover having a back surface for mounting adjacent to a rear surface of the exterior housing of the mobile phone, the back surface of the cover comprising:
a pathogen disinfection apparatus having a UV light source configured to emit UV light, having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers, toward a target location at a selected distance away from the mobile phone 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; and
a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless transceiver of the mobile phone; and
an application including processor executable instructions configured to generate signals for communication from the wireless transceiver of the mobile phone to the wireless transceiver of the cover to control the pathogen disinfection apparatus, including to operate the UV light source.
2 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the mobile phone or the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a visible light source configured to emit visible light; and
the application includes processor executable instructions configured to generate signals for communication to the visible light source to operate the visible light source to activate the visible light source as a warning light when the UV light source is active and to deactivate the visible light source when the UV light source is turned off by the application.
3 . An accessory for a mobile phone, 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 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a distance sensor configured to determine a distance between the UV light source and the target location and to generate a distance input signal.
5 . An accessory for a mobile phone, 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 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein: the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a 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 . An accessory for a mobile phone, 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 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone 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 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the application further comprises computer executable instructions to operate the UV light source in response to a user input.
10 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the application further comprises computer executable instructions to generate a visual interface to allow a user to provide the user input.
11 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the pathogen disinfection apparatus further comprises a tilt sensor to provide a tilt angle signal indicating a tilt angle of the mobile phone; and
the application includes processor executable instructions configured to monitor the tilt angle signal and generate a deactivation signal for communication to the UV light source to deactivate the UV light source in response to a maximum tilt angle having been exceeded.
12 . An accessory for a mobile phone, as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the application further comprises computer executable instructions to generate a count-down timer to inform the user of the remaining time until the cumulative dose will equal a target dosage.
13 . An accessory for a mobile phone, 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.
14 . An accessory for a mobile phone, the mobile phone having an exterior housing, a wireless transceiver, and a processor, the accessory comprising:
a cover element for mounting to a back surface of a cover for the mobile phone, the cover element comprising:
a pathogen disinfection apparatus having a UV light source configured to emit UV light, having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers, toward a target location at a selected distance away from the mobile phone 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; and
a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless transceiver of the mobile phone.
15 . The accessory of claim 14 , wherein the cover element comprises a toroidal shape.
16 . The accessory of claim 14 , wherein the cover element is mounted within an opening defined in the back surface of the cover.
17 . An accessory for a mobile phone, the mobile phone having an exterior housing, a wireless transceiver, and a processor, the accessory comprising:
a cover element for mounting to a rear surface of the exterior housing of the mobile phone, the cover element comprising:
a pathogen disinfection apparatus having a UV light source configured to emit UV light, having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers, toward a target location at a selected distance away from the mobile phone 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; and
a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless transceiver of the mobile phone.
18 . The accessory of claim 17 , wherein the cover element comprises a toroidal shape.