Method and apparatus for operating a germicidal UV device with a programmable logic controller and a bluetooth low energy solution
This invention employs a computer system or a programmable logic controller (computer) with a specific wireless communication protocol (BLE) to allow for remote connectivity of the germicidal UV device to display the status of the disinfection cycle and to operate the device and send and transfer data wirelessly to the Cloud via the BLE interface. A dose sensitive coupon, which can undergo color change in response to UV dosage, can also be used.
1. An apparatus for disinfection of air and surfaces, comprising:
a UV lamp having a mercury amalgam spot;
a power source;
a conduit body, which has at least one hole that is located near the mercury amalgam spot of the UV lamp; and
an air moving device, which delivers air through the conduit body in a first direction; and
the at least one hole directs the air in a second direction and near the mercury amalgam spot of the UV lamp;
the apparatus further comprises:
a computer system with a human machine interface (HMI);
a wireless communication controller communicates to the computer system;
whereby the air moving device provides cooling to alter the temperature near the mercury amalgam spot of the UV lamp, and the wireless communication controller controls the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a computing device;
the wireless communication controller communicates to the programmable logic controller through the computing device;
the computing device is connected through hardwire to the programmable logic controller and the human machine interface using an Ethernet port on the programmable logic controller or a serial port or USB port or through a wireless router or an internet connected device.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication controller uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), low energy wireless communication or WiFi technology to communicate with the programmable logic controller; and the computing device of the apparatus has Ethernet, Bluetooth Low Energy and WiFi interfaces.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computing device of the apparatus communicates with the programmable logic controller and the human machine interface, and the computing device of the apparatus uses commands specific to the programmable logic controller and the human machine interface.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computing device of the apparatus is a single board computer (SBC).
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one remote UV sensors is wirelessly connected to said apparatus and said wireless communication controller.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication controller is a Smart Phone, a tablet, a handheld PC or a mobile computing device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus transmits data to an Internet based server.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless controller controls and displays the operating status of the UV apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a dose verification device having at least one coupon,
the at least one coupon having a UV sensitive portion, which can undergo a color change, in response to a UVC dose corresponding to a UVC wavelength range from 200 nm to 280 nm;
the at least one coupon has a UV dosage reference portion, which is calibrated to a certain UVC dose to achieve a level of disinfection for a target organism.