IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,646,603
Granted Patent B2
US 10,646,603 · App. 15/941,413 · Granted May 12, 2020

Multi wave sterilization system

Inventors: Michael Shur (Vienna, VA); Alexander Dobrinsky (Silver Spring, MD)
Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
A61L2/10A61L2/00A61L2202/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,646,603
App. No.
15/941,413
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. The target wavelength ranges and/or target intensity ranges of the ultraviolet radiation sources can correspond to at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a virus destruction operating configuration and a bacteria disinfection operating configuration. Each configuration can include a unique combination of the target wavelength range and target intensity range.

Claims (41)

1. A storage system, comprising:

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within a storage area;

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising:

enabling selection of each of a plurality of selectable operating configurations via an external interface component, the plurality of selectable operating configurations including: a virus destruction operating configuration, a bacteria disinfection operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein each of the plurality of selectable operating configurations includes a unique combination of a target wavelength, a target intensity range, and a target pattern for the ultraviolet radiation;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a visual appearance of the at least one of: the storage area or the set of items located in the storage area;

controlling and adjusting the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using a selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions; and

displaying, on the external interface component, data regarding the ultraviolet radiation.

2. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shelves within the storage area.

3. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources includes at least one ultraviolet radiation source operating in a first operating configuration and at least one ultraviolet radiation source operating in a second operating configuration.

4. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the set of current conditions also includes a plurality of biological activity dynamics including a presence of biological activity, a location of biological activity, a type of biological activity, and a concentration of biological activity.

5. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring further includes analyzing the set of current conditions over a period of time, such that the set of current conditions includes an estimated amount of time an organism has been in a growth phase, a growth rate of biological activity, and a rate with which an area including the biological activity is spreading.

6. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one ultraviolet radiation detector configured to detect a level of ultraviolet radiation within the storage area, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation detector is a solid state light emitting photodiode.

7. The storage system of claim 6 , wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are solid state light emitting diodes.

8. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the solid state light emitting photodiode and the solid state light emitting diodes comprise group-Ill nitride semiconductors.

9. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst located within the storage area to enhance suppression of biological activity.

10. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising an infrared based sensor for monitoring the set of current conditions, wherein the infrared based sensor is configured to detect ethylene.

11. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising an optical element for enhancing the ultraviolent radiation within the storage area.

12. The storage system of claim 11 , wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of diffusive elements located on at least one interior surface of the storage area.

13. A food storage device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one perishable food item;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising:

enabling selection of each of a plurality of selectable operating configurations via an external interface component, the plurality of selectable operating configurations including: a virus destruction operating configuration, a bacteria disinfection operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein each of the plurality of selectable operating configurations includes a unique combination of a target wavelength, a target intensity range, and a target pattern for the ultraviolet radiation;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a visual appearance of the at least one of: the storage area or the set of items located in the storage area;

controlling and adjusting the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using a selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, and the set of current conditions; and

displaying, on the external interface component, data regarding the ultraviolet radiation.

14. The storage device of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of shelves within the storage area.

15. The storage device of claim 14 , wherein the storage device is a refrigerator, wherein the displaying further includes displaying the set of current conditions and a plurality of attributes regarding the ultraviolet radiation, the storage area, and the set of items.

16. The storage device of claim 13 , further comprising at least one ultraviolet radiation detector configured to detect a level of ultraviolet radiation within the storage area, wherein the at least one ultraviolet radiation detector is a solid state light emitting photodiode comprising group-Ill nitride semiconductors.

17. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are solid state light emitting diodes comprising group-Ill nitride semiconductors.

18. The storage device of claim 13 , further comprising an optical element for enhancing the ultraviolent radiation within the storage area.

19. The storage device of claim 18 , wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of diffusive elements located on at least one interior surface of the storage area.

20. A refrigeration device comprising:

a storage area configured to store at least one refrigerated item;

a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of: a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection;

a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;

a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising:

enabling selection of each of a plurality of selectable operating configurations via an external interface component, the plurality of selectable operating configurations including: a virus destruction operating configuration, a bacteria disinfection operating configuration, and a condition monitoring operating configuration, wherein each of the plurality of selectable operating configurations includes a unique combination of a target wavelength, a target intensity range, and a target pattern for the ultraviolet radiation;

monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a visual appearance of the at least one of: the storage area or the set of items located in the storage area;

controlling and adjusting the ultraviolet radiation generated by the set of ultraviolet radiation sources using a selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions; and

displaying, on the external interface component, the set of current conditions and a plurality of attributes regarding the ultraviolet radiation, the storage area, and the set of items.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2018
From: DOBRINSKY, ALEXANDER
To: SENSOR ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046278/0888 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 15622004 · Jun 13, 2017
Continuation 14012652 · Aug 28, 2013
Provisional Application 62479690 · Mar 31, 2017
Provisional Application 61694235 · Aug 28, 2012
Related Publication 20180221521A1 · Aug 9, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,239,752