IP Library Granted Patent US 12,629,433
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,433 · App. 17/020,942 · Granted May 19, 2026

Ultraviolet sanitizing pacing systems and methods

Inventor: Jamie J. Childress (Mercer Island, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
A61L2/10A61L2103/75A61L2202/11A61L2202/123A61L2202/14A61L2202/15A61L2202/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,433
App. No.
17/020,942
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing system includes a wand assembly including a UV lamp that is configured to emit UV light. A user device is configured to allow a user to select an item to be disinfected with the UV light. A pacing control unit is in communication with the user device. The pacing control unit is configured to output a pacing signal to the user device. The pacing signal includes pacing information regarding operation of the wand assembly to disinfect the item.

Claims (57)

1 . An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing system, comprising:

a backpack assembly;

a wand assembly removably coupled to the backpack assembly, the wand assembly including:

a sanitizing head containing a UV lamp that is configured to emit UV light; and

an elongate handle connected to the sanitizing head via a coupler, wherein the coupler allows selective pivoting of the elongate handle relative to the sanitizing head into a first position in which the elongate handle is pivoted toward the sanitizing head for coupling the wand assembly onto the backpack assembly, and into a second position in which the elongate handle is pivoted away from the sanitizing head for extending the length of the wand assembly when the wand assembly is removed from the backpack assembly for sanitizing purposes;

a user device configured to allow a user to select an item to be disinfected with the UV light;

a pacing control unit in communication with the user device, wherein the pacing control unit is configured to output a pacing signal to the user device, wherein the pacing signal includes pacing information regarding operation of the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected; and

a pacing database configured to store pacing data regarding the item to be disinfected, wherein the pacing control unit is in communication with the pacing database, and wherein the pacing control unit is further configured to determine the pacing information from the pacing data, and

wherein the pacing information includes a distance to a surface of the item to be disinfected, a time of UV light illumination of the surface, a rate at which the wand assembly is to be moved in relation to the item to be disinfected, a pacing audio signal providing one or more audio cues that allow the user to synchronize the rate at which the wand assembly is to be moved in relation to the item to be disinfected, and an audio feedback for such rate of the movement.

2 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a display, wherein the pacing information further includes instructions for operating the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected, and wherein the instructions are shown on the display.

3 . The UV light pacing system of claim 2 , wherein the user device further comprises a speaker configured to broadcast the pacing.

4 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the user device is a handheld device.

5 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the user device includes the pacing control unit.

6 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the user device includes the pacing database.

7 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a display, and wherein the pacing control unit is configured to show a pacing menu screen on the display.

8 . The UV light pacing system of claim 7 , wherein the pacing menu screen shows one or more training options.

9 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the item to be disinfected comprises a passenger seat, a monument, a stowage bin assembly, a component within a lavatory, a component within a galley, or a component within a flight deck.

10 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light having a wavelength between 200 nm-230 nm.

11 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light having a wavelength of 222 nm.

12 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light having a wavelength of 230 nm-280 nm.

13 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light having a wavelength of 254 nm.

14 . The UV light pacing system of claim 1 , wherein a series of audio files comprise the one or more audio cues, the series of audio files configured to provide voice instructions and pacing for an area of the item to be disinfected.

15 . An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing method for a UV light pacing system, the UV light pacing system comprising:

a backpack assembly;

a wand assembly removably coupled to the backpack assembly, the wand assembly including:

a sanitizing head containing a UV lamp that is configured to emit UV light; and

an elongate handle connected to the sanitizing head via a coupler, wherein the coupler allows selective pivoting of the elongate handle relative to the sanitizing head into a first position in which the elongate handle is pivoted toward the sanitizing head for coupling the wand assembly onto the backpack assembly, and into a second position in which the elongate handle is pivoted away from the sanitizing head for extending the length of the wand assembly when the wand assembly is removed from the backpack assembly for sanitizing purposes;

a user device configured to allow a user to select an item to be disinfected with the UV light;

a pacing control unit in communication with the user device, wherein the pacing control unit is configured to output a pacing signal to the user device, wherein the pacing signal includes pacing information regarding operation of the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected; and

a pacing database configured to store pacing data regarding the item to be disinfected, wherein the pacing control unit is in communication with the pacing database, and wherein the pacing control unit is further configured to determine the pacing information from the pacing data,

wherein the pacing information includes a distance to a surface of the item to be disinfected, a time of the UV light illumination of the surface, a rate at which the wand assembly is to be moved in relation to the item to be disinfected, a pacing audio signal providing one or more audio cues that allow the user to synchronize the rate at which the wand assembly is to be moved in relation to the item to be disinfected, and an audio feedback for such rate of the movement,

the method comprising:

using the wand assembly including the UV lamp to emit the UV light;

selecting, by the user device, the item to be disinfected with the UV light; and

outputting, from the pacing control unit in communication with the user device, the pacing signal to the user device.

16 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein the pacing information further includes instructions for operating the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected, and wherein the method further comprises showing the instructions on a display of the user device.

17 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises broadcasting the one or more audio cues by a speaker of the user device.

18 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , further comprising showing, by the pacing control unit, a pacing menu screen on a display.

19 . The UV light pacing method of claim 18 , wherein said showing comprises showing one or more training options.

20 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein said using comprises operating the UV lamp to emit the UV light having a wavelength between 200 nm-230 nm.

21 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein said using comprises operating the UV lamp to emit the UV light having a wavelength of 222 nm.

22 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein said using comprises operating the UV lamp to emit the UV light having a wavelength between 230 nm-280 nm.

23 . The UV light pacing method of claim 15 , wherein said using comprises operating the UV lamp to emit the UV light having a wavelength of 254 nm.

24 . An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing system, comprising:

a backpack assembly;

a wand assembly removably coupled to the backpack assembly, the wand assembly including:

a sanitizing head containing a UV lamp that is configured to emit UV light; and

an elongate handle connected to the sanitizing head via a coupler, wherein the coupler allows selective pivoting of the elongate handle relative to the sanitizing head into a first position in which the elongate handle is pivoted toward the sanitizing head for coupling the wand assembly onto the backpack assembly, and into a second position in which the elongate handle is pivoted away from the sanitizing head for extending the length of the wand assembly when the wand assembly is removed from the backpack assembly for sanitizing purposes;

a user device configured to allow a user to select an item to be disinfected with the UV light, wherein the user device comprises a display and a speaker;

a pacing database that stores pacing data regarding the item to be disinfected; and

a pacing control unit in communication with the user device and the pacing database, wherein the pacing control unit is configured to determine the pacing information from the pacing data, wherein the pacing control unit is configured to output a pacing signal to the user device, wherein the pacing signal includes pacing information regarding operation of the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected, and wherein the pacing information includes:

a distance to a surface of the item to be disinfected;

a time of UV light illumination of the surface;

a rate at which the wand assembly is moved in relation to the item to be disinfected;

instructions for operating the wand assembly to disinfect the item to be disinfected, and wherein the instructions are shown on the display of the user device; and

a pacing audio signal providing one or more audio cues that allow the user to synchronize the rate at which the wand assembly is to be moved in relation to the item to be disinfected, and an audio feedback for such rate of the movement, and wherein the one or more audio cues are broadcast by the speaker of the user device.

25 . The UV light pacing system of claim 24 , wherein a series of audio files comprise the one or more audio cues, the series of audio files configured to provide voice instructions and pacing for an area of the item to be disinfected.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2020
From: CHILDRESS, JAMIE J.
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 053769/0472 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63037630 · Jun 11, 2020
Related Publication 20210386883A1 · Dec 16, 2021
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