UVC LED Disinfecting Device

This invention provides an air disinfecting device for disinfecting or decontaminate air, which comprises a first metal plate and a second metal plate opposite to the first metal plate, a UVC LED mounted on the first metal plate, and a power supply providing power to the UVC LED. The second metal plate has an area large enough such that lights emitted from the UVC LED will be enclosed inside the air disinfection device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sterilization device, and more particularly to a UVC LED disinfecting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

UVC(ultraviolet-C) tubes or bulbs have been widely used in conventional disinfecting devices, such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,814 by Dionisio, titled as “AIR DISINFECTING SYSTEM AND CARTRIDGE DEVICE CONTAINING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT”. Dionisio teaches a mobile air disinfection device which includes a UV bulb, HEPA or carbon filter, a fan for active air flow, a battery, and a LED indicator for battery life.

Both the UV light bulb and the fan for air flow are high power consumption devices, and thus would not be suitable for long duration mobile applications. Furthermore, the UV light bulb is too bulky to many other mobile applications.

Thus, an invention is necessary to solve the issues mentioned above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide an air disinfection device which can eliminate bacteria, viruses, even foul odors.

It is an objective of this invention to provide an air disinfecting device within air circulation passage way of appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, or humidifiers.

It is an objective of this invention to provide an air disinfecting device inside an air circulation system of buildings for habitat or living, such as residential houses, hospitals, theaters, malls, stadiums, cleanrooms, factories, offices.

It is an objective of this invention to provide an air disinfecting device inside an air circulation system of mobile article for carrying people, such as vehicles, trains, MRTs(Mass Rapid Transit), airplanes, or cruise ships.

Accordingly, the invention provides an air disinfecting device, which comprises a duct with a first opening for inlet air flow and a second opening for outlet air flow, a first UVC LED assembly mounted inside the duct, and a power supply providing power to drive the UVC LED assembly. The power supply and the UVC LED could be mounted on one circuit board.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a material of the duct may be Al, Cu, alloy thereof, or metal-coated plastic.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, an inner surface of the duct may be formed with ARC layer.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, an inner surface of the duct may be a matt surface.

The air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprises a photocatalyst layer formed inside an inner surface or both inner surfaces of the duct.

The air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprises a second UVC LED assembly mounted inside the duct.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first UVC LED assembly may be mounted in a corner of an L-shape of the passage way, or any place within the passage way.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the passage way may be configured inside an air circulation system of an appliance, a building, or a mobile article for carrying people.

The present invention also provides an air disinfecting device, which comprises a first metal plate and a second metal plate opposite to the first metal plate, a UVC LED assembly mounted on the first metal plate, wherein the second metal plate has an area large enough such that lights emitted from the UVC LED assembly will be enclosed inside the air disinfection device, and a power supply providing power to the UVC LED assembly.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a surface of the second metal plate facing to the first metal plate may be coated with an anti-reflection layer.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a surface of the second metal plate facing to the first metal plate may be a first matt surface.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a surface of the first metal plate facing to the second metal plate may be a second matt surface.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first metal plate may include a second concave structure for mounting the UVC LED assembly.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the second metal plate may include a first concave structure for receiving the lights emitted from the UVC LED assembly.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a distance between the first metal plate to the second metal plate may be between about 0.1 to 10 cm.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a distance between the first metal plate to the second metal plate may be between about 0.3 to 1.0 cm.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the area and the distance may have a ratio ranged about from 1:1.4 to 1:40.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the power supply may be a battery.

The air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a photocatalyst layer formed inside an inner surface of the second metal plate.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first metal plate and the second metal plate may be installed at the air flow outlet on a vent of a vehicle.

In the air disinfecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the power supply may be a cigarette lighter or an automobile auxiliary power outlet.

The present invention also provides an air disinfecting device, which comprises a housing with at least one rear opening and at least one front opening such that air flows from the rear opening into the housing and out of the housing through the front opening; a UVC LED assembly inside the housing, for providing UVC lights to disinfect the air flowing inside the housing; and a power supply providing powers to drive the UVC LED assembly.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a first cover with the UVC LED assembly mounted thereinside and a second cover within a concave inner surface to seal the housing.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a lens on the UVC LED assembly such that UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED assembly is collimated toward the second cover.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, a material of the housing is steel, stainless steel, tinplate, Al, Cu, alloy thereof, or metal-coated plastic, and an inner surface of the housing includes a honeycomb structure, pyramid structure or a screw structure.

In on embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, a material of the concave inner surface of the second cover is UVC absorptive and a material of the inner surface of the housing is UVC absorptive.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a spring clip for clamping on a vent plate on a vent.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise two spring clips for clamping on two vent plates on a vent.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the two spring clips fasten to a front side of the air disinfection device or a back side of the air disinfection device.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the inner surface of the housing is matt, sanded, or imprinted.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the power supply includes a battery or a USB port.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the power supply is a cigarette lighter or an automobile auxiliary power outlet.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the housing comprises an upper plate, a lower plat, and a support therebetween, and the UVC LED assembly is mounted on the support for illuminating the UVC lights to the housing.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a shield for blocking the UVC lights inside the housing without blocking the air flows.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a shield for blocking the UVC lights outside the housing without blocking the air flows.

The present invention also provides an air disinfecting device, which comprises a housing with a rear opening and a front opening such that air flows through the rear opening into the housing and out of the housing through the front opening, wherein a material of the housing is steel, stainless steel, tinplate, Al, Cu, alloy thereof, and an inner surface of the housing is matt, sanded, or imprinted; a UVC LED assembly inside the housing for providing

UVC lights to disinfect the air flowing inside the housing; a power supply providing power to drive the UVC LED assembly; and two spring clips, fastened to the housing, for clamping on two vent plates in a vent.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, a material of an inner surface of the housing is UVC absorptive.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the inner surface of the housing includes a honeycomb structure, pyramid structure or a screw structure.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a first cover with the UVC LED assembly mounted thereinside and a second cover within a concave inner surface to seal the housing.

The air disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a lens on the UVC LED assembly such that UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED assembly is collimated toward the second cover.

In one embodiment of the air disinfection device of the present invention, the power supply includes a USB port a cigarette lighter or an automobile auxiliary power outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, while example embodiments of the invention are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments of the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments of the invention are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

In this invention, the term “UVC LED” may refer to a LED chip or an array of LED chips which emits light with wavelength in UVC.

In this invention, the term “UVC LED package” may refer to a UVC LED chip or chips packaged inside a housing or an array of UVC LED packages.

In this invention, the term “UVC LED assembly” may refer to a LED package or an array of LED packages with driving circuits on a board. Power supply, such as battery or power lines, can also be provided in the board.

In this invention, the term “disinfection” may refer to the process of using a disinfectant to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents, such as bacteria or viruses.

In this invention, the term “decontamination” may refer to a system or device which can remove or get rid of contamination.

In this invention, the term “sterilization” may refer to the act of sterilizing, such as the rendering of something free from viable microorganisms.

In this invention, the term “passive air flow” may refer to an air flow directly from the environment by fans or air circulation, not by the disinfection device per se.

In this invention, the term “passage way” may refer to a portion or complete of a pipeline or a duct wherein air can be flowed inside the pipeline or duct.

In the drawings, relative dimensions of each component and among every component may be exaggerated for clarity. Within the following description of the drawings the same or like reference numbers refer to the same or like components or entities, and only the differences with respect to the individual embodiments are described.

This invention provides at least one UVC LED package as a source for air sterilization or air disinfection. The UVC LED package is enclosed inside a duct or between a pair of plates. The areas of the metal plates should be large enough to prevent the UVC light leakage. A matt surface or an ARC coating surface inside the duct or metal plates can prevent UVC light from leaking due to the reduced reflection.

The present invention provides an indoor air disinfecting device which can be applied to the air outlet of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, an air purifier, a dehumidifier, or a humidifier. Indoor applications can be more effective due to bacteria, viruses, or foul odors can be irradiated repeatedly by the UVC lights through the air circulation.

The present invention provides an air disinfecting device which can be applied to the vent in the vehicles, airplanes, or cruise ships. For application in car or vehicle, the cigarette lighter, an automobile auxiliary power outlet, or a set of battery can provide power to the UVC LED assembly.

The present invention provides an indoor air disinfection device which can be applied to passage way inside refrigerators, air purifiers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or humidifiers.

The present invention provides an air disinfection device which can be applied to the air conditioner in open environments, such as cleanrooms, residential buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals, malls, supermarkets, theaters, stadiums, skating rinks, ice skating rinks, or domes.

For the applications mentioned above, light power or UVC radiation intensity of the UVC LED should match with the airflow for an effective disinfection.

Detailed embodiments of the present invention can be described and shown herein with the drawings.

Please refer toFIG.1, wherein a UVC LED package is shown. The UVC LED package includes a UVC LED chip10packaged inside a housing22. Please refer toFIG.2, wherein a cross-sectional view of the UVC LED package is shown. The UVC LED chip10is mounted on a substrate20, which may be a metal or ceramic substrate with circuits thereon. The ceramic or metal housing22is made firmly on the substrate20. A cap24is hermetically sealed with the housing22, and UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED chip10can pass through the cap24. The material of the cap24can be quartz. Wavelength emitted by the UVC LED chip10is ranged from 200-280 nm.

The emitting angle of the UVC LED package ranges from 120°-140° if the cap24is flat, and may be 60°-140° if the cap24is designed with an optical component. The emitting angle is large enough to cover a relatively large area for sterilization.

Please refer toFIG.3, wherein a cross-sectional view of an air disinfection device of one embodiment is shown. At least one UVC LED assembly26is configured inside of a duct40within the passage way, such as a portion of a pipeline or a duct, and powered by a power supply28. The duct40may have a square cross-sectional shape, a circular shape or other shape. The duct40is made by materials unlikely to be degraded by UVC irradiation, such as metal. For example, Al, Cu, tinplate, steel, stainless steel tempered, alloy thereof, and metal-coated plastic can be suitable for the duct40. Note that the conventional pure plastic is not suitable for the duct40. The area48inside the duct40illuminated by the

UVC lights can be coated with silver or other types of nano particles for enhancing the photocatalyst reaction. In this embodiment, the foul odor can be eliminated by the photocatalyst function. Other types of photocatalyst such as Titanium Oxide, Gallium Phosphide, and Gallium Arsenide can also be applied. In one embodiment, other surfaces inside the duct40can be coated with a photocatalyst layer.

The power supply28can be a battery, mains electricity, utility power, power grid, domestic power, wall power, household power, household electricity, house current, powerline, line power, AC power, city power, or street power. In one embodiment, power supply28should provide enough power to the UVC LED such that irradiation of the UVC LED can match the air flow for an effective disinfection. For example, if the air flow is large, UVC LED should provide more light density to disinfect or sterilize bacteria or viruses. Thus, the power supply28should provide enough electric power to the LED assembly so as to have enough irradiation for an effective sterilization, or more UVC LED chips or UVC LED packages have to be used. In order to clarify the embodiments of the present invention, power for the UVC LED package will not be shown in the following drawings.

Passive air flow30from inlet to outlet of the passage way is illuminated by the UVC LED26. In the present invention, the air flow30driven into the inlet of the passage way is provided by the environment, such as the cases of refrigerators, air purifiers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or humidifiers of appliances, air circulation system in buildings for habitat or living, such as residential houses, wards in hospitals, theaters, cleanrooms, factories, offices, or air circulation system in mobile articles for carrying people, such as vehicles, trains, MRT, airplanes, or cruise ships. The air31then flows out of the outlet of the passage way. All these appliances provide air flow and/or local air circulation. For example, if the UVC LED assembly is configured within the passage way of the refrigerator or other appliances, the UVC lights will sterilize bacteria or viruses when they pass through the air disinfection device. Even when the light density or illumination of UVC light emitted by the UVC LED assembly is not high enough to kill all bacteria or viruses at one pass, the air circulation inside the refrigerator will bring them back to the air disinfection device again and again, for repeated sterilization.

For the air disinfection device of the present invention applied to the air purifiers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or humidifiers, the air circulation inside the residential houses, hospitals, or commercial buildings have similar function as that inside the refrigerator. Thus, the air circulation configuration would be better for repeated disinfection. The invention can also be applied to airplanes, cruise ships, trains, MRT or vehicles.

The air disinfection device of the present invention can also be applied to the air circulation system of the clean room in a factory, office, theater, mall, or stadium.

The air disinfection device of the present invention can be applied to the air conditioners in an open environment, such as stations, hospitals, commercial buildings, airports, piers, train and subway stations, stadiums, or malls. The dosage of the UVC can be designed such that bacteria and viruses are killed completely. This is important for the situations like biological terrorism, SARS, COVID 19, sick buildings, cruise ship disease outbreaks, toxic molds, and epidemics of asthma and allergies.

The air disinfection device of the present invention can include more than one UVC LED packages, as shown inFIG.4. Two UVC LED assembly26are mounted inside the metal duct40if the air flow is larger. High light density in the duct40is provided to match the air flow, and hence the bacteria, or viruses can also be eliminated in one pass.

Please refer toFIG.5, wherein an oblique view of the disinfection device configured in a pipe or duct40. In the embodiment, four UVC LED packages10as an array are packaged on an assembly12with circuits11for an effective and complete sterilization. A portion of the duct wall is designed such that the UVC LED assembly12can be installed. The present invention is also suitable for an L-shaped duct41, as shown inFIG.6, or other shapes(not shown in drawings) within a duct. In some applications, air flow at the corner of the L-shape duct forms turbulence, and it becomes a good place to install a disinfection device. Generally, UVC LED assembly can be configured within any place of a duct, and it would be preferred if UVC LED chips are configured before or after filters in a passage way.

Please refer toFIG.7andFIG.8, wherein another embodiment of the present invention is shown. A disinfection device includes an upper plate42and a lower plate44which form two sides of a housing. The air flow30is pushed through the inlet of the housing and the air flow31is pushed out of the outlet of the housing. The other two sides of the housing, can be open (FIG.8), sealed (FIG.9A) or covered by extensions of a plate or both plates (FIG.9B). For example, two posts43or extensions42A of the upper plate42can cover the other two sides of the housing, such that UV lights inside the housing can be contained as shown inFIG.9AandFIG.9Brespectively. The UVC LED assembly26is mounted on the lower plate44and the power supply for the UVC LED assembly26is not shown inFIG.7. Materials of the plates42and44can be Al, Cu, SST, tin, tinplate, steel, alloy thereof, and metal coated plastic. Areas of the two metal plates are large enough to prevent the UVC light leakage. In the present invention, the embodiment shown inFIG.9Bis preferred.

An anti-reflecting coating(ARC) layer50is formed inside the plates42and44such that reflected UVC lights can be substantially reduced or eliminated. As example of UV ARC can refer to US patent, US9,488,852. Another way to form anti-reflect surface is to form matt surfaces on the inner surfaces of the plates. The purpose of forming the ARC layers or matt surfaces is to reduce the possibility of UVC light leakage. When reflections of the UVC light are reduced, UVC leakage can be prevented.

The distance between the upper plate42and the lower plate44can range from 0.1-10 cm for mobile device applications, and preferred from 0.3-1.0 cm. The ratio between the distance and the area of one plate is ranged about from 1:1.4 to 1:40. The purpose of the distance and the ratio is to make sure that the UVC lights emit from the lower plate44and are reflected and absorbed by the plates42and44only and do not leak out of the housing. In this embodiment, the air disinfection device100can be applied to vehicles, for example, placed (inserted into or hung onto) at air condition vents200of cars, as shown inFIGS.10. Two spring clips140may sandwich or clamp on a vent plate202as shown inFIG.10A, or two vent plates202as shown inFIG.10B. Please notice that front and rear openings for air flow through are not shown in these figures. Thus, the air flow30is supplied by fan (blower) of the car. In addition to use a battery as the power, the cigarette lighter or automobile auxiliary power outlet can be used to provide electric power to the UVC LED assembly.

Some variant embodiments of cross-section illustrations of the air disinfection device100installed on the vent plates202are shown inFIG.11A,11B,11C,11D,11E, and11F. InFIG.11A, two spring clips140are fastened to the back side of the air disinfection device100body, and clamp on a vent plate202. The air flow30, above and below the vent plate202, blows from the back side of the air disinfection device100, and the air flow31is purged out of the front side of the air disinfection device100. InFIG.11B, two spring clips140are also fastened to the back side of the air disinfection device100body, and clamp on two vent plates202respectively. Thus, the air flow30between the two vent plates202blows the bask side of the air disinfection device100and the air flow31is purged out of the front side of the air disinfection device100. InFIG.11C, two spring clips140are fastened on the front side of the air disinfection device100body, and clamp on two vent plates202respectively. In this embodiment, the air disinfection device100can be installed between two vent plates202and inside the vent200. An embodiment as shown inFIG.11D, two spring clips140are fastened on the front side of the air disinfection device100body, and clamp on two vent plates202respectively. The air disinfection device100also is installed between two vent plates202but outside the vent200. For the embodiments shown inFIGS.7,8,9, and12, the air disinfection device100with an upper plate42and a lower plate44can be installed between two vent plates202and inside the vent200, as shown inFIG.11E. The UVC LED assembly26can be mounted on the lower plate44as shown in the drawings, but can also be mounted on the upper plate42. In this embodiment, the two posts43inFIG.9Acan be applied to this embodiment. For the air disinfection device illustrated in theFIGS.12, can also be applied to the embodiment in theFIG.11. In the above four embodiments, body of the air disinfection device100has a circular cross-sectional shape. For the embodiments shown inFIGS.7,8, and9, the two spring clips140can be fastened to the upper plate42and lower plater44respectively as shown inFIG.11E, and the UVC LED26is mounted on the lower plate44or upper plate42. The UVC LED26can be mounted on a support44-1as shown inFIG.11F. Similar to the embodiment shown inFIG.11E, the upper plate42and the lower plate44are configures between two vent plates202. In this embodiment, the two spring clips140are not shown inFIG.11Ffor the clarity. The UVC LED26is mounted on the backside of the support44-1to illuminate a direction where the air flow30comes from. The support44-1also provides means for fastening the upper plate42and the lower plate44.

Some structures can be made to avoid the UVC light bounced out of the housing. Please refer toFIG.12A, wherein the upper plate42has a square concave structure60such that the UVC light emitted from the UVC LED package26is reflected within the square concave structure60. A photocatalyst layer48can be formed inside the square concave structure60.

Another embodiment of the air disinfection device can be referred toFIG.12B. The concave structure66on the upper plate42is a dome-like structure, wherein UVC light is reflected inside the concave structure66. The photocatalyst layer48inFIG.12Acan be formed in the concave structures66inFIG.12B. If necessary, the low plater44can be designed another concave structure, thus the reflected UVC light is confined within the space between the upper concave structure60of the upper plate42and lower concave structure62of the lower plate44, as shown inFIG.12C. In this embodiment, the UVC LED assembly26is mounted inside the lower concave structure62. In the above embodiments, the concave structure either in the upper plate42or lower plate44can be of other shapes, such as concave structure60inFIG.12Amay extend to a direction perpendicular to the air flow. Thus, the concave structure60inFIG.12Ais not a square shape. Similarly, the concave structure66inFIG.12Bmay also extend to the direction and hence constitutes a partial cylindrical shape in top view. The photocatalyst layer48inFIG.12Acan be formed in the concave structures60and62inFIG.12C.

For one embodiment in the present invention, detail structures of the air disinfection device100are described. Please refer toFIG.13andFIGS.14, wherein the air disinfection device100includes a housing102with at least one rear opening and at least one front opening. Either rear or front opening104can be one large opening or several small openings, and four front openings are shown in this embodiment. A first cover110and a second cover120fasten the housing102to provide an environment for air to flow through inside of the housing102, such that the air flow is illuminated by UV lights. Materials of the housing102, first cover110and second cover120can be any metal, such as steel, stainless steel, tinplate, aluminum, iron or steel, or compound of any metal. Several front openings104allow air to flow out of the housing102, while rear openings106which can be referred toFIGS.18provide air to flow into the housing102. A spring clip140clamps sheets on the vent inFIGS.10. A UVC LED package is mounted inside the first cover110with an optional lens118, and a battery to power the UVC LED. In one embodiment, a socket112, such as USB port, provides an interface for powering the UVC LED.

Please refer toFIG.15andFIG.16, wherein inside structures of the air disinfection device are shown. The first cover110includes a UVC LED package12, a lens118for shaping UVC light from the UVC LED package12, a battery114for powering the UVC LED package12, and a switch116for turning the UVC LED on/off. Another visible LED, which is not shown in the drawings, can be optionally mounted on the first cover110for indicating whether the battery is workable or the UVC LED is out of service. The second cover120optionally includes an inner concave surface122such that UVC light irradiated from the UVC LED package12on the inner surface122can be absorbed easily.

When the first cover110and the second cover120sealed with the housing102, most UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED package102will irradiate to the inner concave surface122, because the optional lens118shapes the UVC lights from the UVC LED package12into a small emitting angle. Small emitting angle of the UVC LED package12is a preferred embodiment. A shape of the inner surface122is recess or concave so that UVC light can be reflected inside the inner surface122. A preferred shape of the inner surface122can be semi-sphere or semi-ellipsoid.

Outline of the housing102in the above embodiment is cylindrical. However, another shape can be applied to this invention. A square columnar housing102-1is shown inFIG.17. In fact, cross-sectional shapes of the housing102, although not in in the drawings, may include eclipse, triangle, square, rectangular, polygon, or other shapes.

In order to shield or block the UVC lights from the housing102outside the front openings104, an outer shield150or inner shield152can be applied to the housing102, as shown inFIGS.18. The air flow from the vent is blown into the housing102via the rear openings160. Then the air flow is irradiated by the UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED package, and then flow out of the housing102through the front openings104. The outer shelter150, covering the front openings104such that UVC lights inside the housing102can be blocked, still lets air flow move out. An inner shelter152can also be applied inside the housing102.

The inner surface130of the housing102may optionally include regular or irregular rough structures or may be matte to reduce reflectiveness of the inner surface130. In one embodiment, the inner surface130of the housing102may also be sanded or imprinted.

Moreover, the inner surface130may include a honeycomb structure132or another honeycomb structure134as shown inFIG.19AandFIG.19B, for antireflecting the UVC lights inside the housing102. Features of the honeycomb structures132and134can be optimized for absorbing the UVC lights emitted from the UVC LED package12. Moreover, the inner surface130and inner concave surface122may be coated with UVC light absorption materials, such as Avain Black-S®, silicon oxide coatings, or magnesium oxide coatings. The materials of the honeycomb structures132and134can be the UVC lights absorption materials or metal similar to the housing120. A simple structure of the inner surface130can be a screw structure136, as shown inFIG.20AandFIG.20B. Materials of the screw structure136can be UVC lights absorption materials or the same to the housing120. The inner surface of the housing102may include a pyramid structure which is not shown in the figures.

In the present invention, UVC LED is provided for disinfection, which consumes low power and is compact compared to a conventional UV light bulb or tube.

In the present invention, the air disinfection device is designed within a passive air flow and hence the power consumption can be even lower. Thus, the air disinfection device of this invention is placed in an environment with air flow.

In the present invention, large enough metal plates as air disinfection housing are provided to prevent UVC light leakage. Further, ARC layer or matt surfaces can be provided to decrease the UVC light leakage.