Abstract:
Disclosed is a disinfecting station for at least one portable electronic device. An enclosure is adapted to receive the at least one portable electronic device therein through an openable side that includes a selectively closable door. Each electronic device is exposed to a disinfecting wavelength of light, such as UV light, to disinfect the surface of the device. The enclosure can include supports that minimally contact each device so that the device will be substantially exposed to the UV light. A control circuit can monitor the exposure time and level, and is programmable to activate the UV light based on pre-set criteria. The enclosures may be stacked and provide power and network connectivity to each device while docked therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/101,721 filed Dec. 10, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,977,796, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/543,055, filed Jul. 6, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,606,981, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/849,301, filed Aug. 3, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,296,493, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/231,084, filed Aug. 4, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as part of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the eradication of pathogens, and more particularly to a recharging and disinfecting docking station for portable electronic products. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Medical environments, such as hospitals and doctors&#39; offices, are known to contain a relatively high concentration of pathogens. As a result, it is desirable to reduce such pathogens wherever they exist in such environments. As a doctor makes his rounds from patient to patient in a hospital, for example, the objects the doctor carries are susceptible to contamination throughout the day. 
         [0004]    One such object a doctor may routinely carry is a medical tablet computer, which a doctor may use to make notes on a patient file, write prescriptions, and the like. Such portable electronic devices frequently need to be recharged, yet currently there is no provision in recharging stations for such devices for disinfecting such devices. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a device that not only charges portable electronic devices, but that also concurrently disinfects such devices. Such a needed device would allow for the charging of multiple portable electronic devices, and would ensure disinfecting wavelengths of light reach substantially every surface of each portable electronic device therein. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present device is a disinfecting docking station for at least one portable electronic device, such as a medical technician&#39;s tablet computer, that has at least one recharging connector. A substantially opaque enclosure is adapted to receive the at least one portable electronic device therein through at least one openable side. The enclosure further includes at least one door for selectively sealing the openable side. The enclosure may include reflective inner surfaces therein for reflecting disinfecting wavelengths of light. 
         [0007]    A recharging means for recharging each of the at least one portable electronic device through the recharging connector thereof is adapted to transmit disinfecting wavelengths of light to the at least one portable electronic device. The recharging means preferably includes a backplane connector for electrically communicating with the recharging connector of the at least one portable electronic device. The back plane connector is connected with a power source and is preferably at least partially transparent to the disinfecting wavelengths of light and capable of transmitting such light to substantially all of the surfaces of the recharging connector. 
         [0008]    At least one means of supporting each of the at least one portable electronic device is included, each means of supporting adapted to transmit the disinfecting wavelengths of light to the at least one portable electronic device. Preferably each means of supporting each include at least one shelf surface, each of which is substantially transparent to the disinfecting wavelengths of light. Each shelf surface may be comprised of a relatively small surface area where actually contacting the portable electronic device. 
         [0009]    At least one disinfecting means, each adapted for producing the disinfecting wavelengths of light only when the door is in a closed position, is included. A control circuit may be further included and electrically connected with the power source, a user interface disposed on an outside surface of the enclosure, a switch for detecting when the door is in the closed position, and the ultraviolet light source. Such a control circuit includes a timer for activating the ultraviolet light source only when the switch indicates that the door is in the closed position and only for a predetermined period of time once activated by the user interface. 
         [0010]    In use, with at least one of the portable electronic devices supported by the means of supporting within the enclosure and the door in the closed position, the means for disinfecting may be activated to produce the disinfecting wavelengths of light, illuminating substantially each surface of each of the portable electronic devices for a predetermined period of time. 
         [0011]    The present invention is a device that charges and concurrently disinfects portable electronic devices. The present device allows for the charging of multiple portable electronic devices, and ensures disinfecting wavelengths of light reach substantially every surface of each portable electronic device therein. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention, illustrate a stack of docking stations of the invention with daisy-chain power and network connectors; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a recharging means thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of various components of a control circuit of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front diagram of one embodiment of the invention wherein ultraviolet light sources of the invention are oriented in a coplanar configuration with a plurality of portable electronic devices stored within an enclosure of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternate means for recharging each portable electronic device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, wherein the ultraviolet light sources of the invention are oriented substantially perpendicular to the plurality of portable electronic devices stored within the enclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a partial top view of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a partially cut-away side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the invention in a closed position; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0022]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a disinfecting docking station  10  for at least one portable electronic device  20 , such as a medical technician&#39;s tablet computer, that has at least one recharging connector  22  and may include various crevices  26  therein for air ducting ports, alternate connectors, door or compartment actuators, or the like. While the illustrations herein show the invention as used with tablet computers, any portable electronic device may be used, such as portable phones, music players, electronic book readers, or other electronic devices used in environments where reduction of pathogens is desirable. 
         [0024]    A substantially opaque enclosure  30  is adapted to receive the at least one portable electronic device  20  therein through at least one openable side  35 . The enclosure  30  further includes at least one door  40  for selectively sealing the openable side  35  between a closed position  41  and an open position  42  ( FIG. 1 ). The door  40  is preferably connected with the enclosure  30  through a suitable hinge arrangement. The enclosure  30  may include reflective inner surfaces  90  therein for reflecting disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  about the enclosure  30 . The enclosure  30  is made of any suitably rigid, strong, opaque material, such as metal, plastic, or the like. 
         [0025]    A recharging means  50  for recharging each of the at least one portable electronic device  20  through the recharging connector  22  thereof is adapted in one embodiment to transmit disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  to the at least one portable electronic device  20 . The recharging means  50  preferably includes a backplane connector  52  for electrically communicating with the recharging connector  22  of the at least one portable electronic device. The back plane connector  52  is connected with a power source  80  and is preferably at least partially transparent to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  and capable of transmitting such light  65  to substantially all of the surfaces of the recharging connector  22 . In one embodiment, the backplane connector  52  includes a plurality of elongated, relatively thin electrical pins  150  ( FIG. 2 ), around which the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  may travel so as to fully expose the recharging connector  22 . The backplane connector  52  may be included at a rear side of the enclosure  30 , as illustrated, or elsewhere within the enclosure  30  as necessary based on the type of portable electronic devices used therewith and the location of its recharging connector  22 . 
         [0026]    At least one means of supporting  70  each of the at least one portable electronic device  20  is included, each means of supporting  70  adapted to transmit the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  to the at least one portable electronic device  20 . Preferably each means of supporting  70  includes at least one shelf surface  72 , each of which is substantially transparent to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65 . In one embodiment, each means of supporting  70  includes at least one reflective surface  90  for reflecting a portion of the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  into a crevice  26  of one of the at least one portable electronic device  20 , as determined by the particular portable electronic device  20  used with the docking station  10 . Such a crevice  26  may be, for example, an inset connector, a stylus or pen cavity, an inset screw access aperture, or the like. Each shelf surface  72  may be comprised of a relatively small surface area where actually contacting the portable electronic device  20 , and may include small prongs, rollers (not shown) or other means having a small contact area with the electronic device  20 . As such, 99% or greater of the surface  25  of each portable electronic device  20  may be exposed to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65 . 
         [0027]    Alternately, each means of supporting  70  may be opaque and include support pins (not shown) that alternately extend and retract, such that, where alternately supported, each portable electronic device  20  is exposed to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  in an alternating fashion. 
         [0028]    At least one disinfecting means  60 , each adapted for producing the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  only when the door is in the closed position  42 , is included. Preferably each disinfecting means  60  includes an ultraviolet light source  62 , such as an ultraviolet light bulb. The enclosure  30  may further include a plurality of ultraviolet light filters  180  ( FIG. 7 ) fixed within the enclosure  30  to block at least some of the ultraviolet light  65  from sensitive areas  29  of the portable electronic device  20 , such as photocells or camera elements thereof, for example. 
         [0029]    A control circuit  100  ( FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 ) may be further included and electrically connected with the power source  80 , a user interface  110  disposed on an outside surface  38  of the enclosure  30 , a switch  120  for detecting when the door  40  is in the closed position, and the ultraviolet light source  62 . Such a control circuit  100  includes a timer  130  for activating the ultraviolet light source  62  only when the switch  120  indicates that the door  40  is in the closed position and only for a predetermined period of time once activated by the user interface  110 . The user interface  110  and control circuit  100  may provide options for delivering varying durations or intensities of the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65 , based on selections made at the user interface  110 . For example, overnight disinfection of each portable electronic device  20  may include longer durations or stronger intensities of the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  than disinfection between patient encounters. Further, the control circuit  100  may include provisions for illuminating a portion of the total number of ultraviolet light sources  62  within the enclosure  30 , based on the number of portable electronic devices  20  contained therein. 
         [0030]    In use, with at least one of the portable electronic devices  20  supported by the means of supporting  70  within the enclosure  30  and the door  40  in the closed position  41 , the means for disinfecting  60  may be activated to produce the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65 , illuminating substantially each surface  25  of each of the portable electronic devices for a predetermined period of time. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment of the invention, each means for recharging  50  may be a retractable connector (not shown), such that after the predetermined period of time has elapsed and the means for disinfecting  60  has been deactivated by the control circuit  100 , such a retractable connector may extend to engage the recharging connector  22  of the portable electronic device  20 , the recharging connector  22  having been thoroughly disinfected by the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  while previously disengaged from the means for recharging  50 . In such an embodiment, the backplane connector  52  includes a motorized arrangement (not shown) for engaging the recharging connector  22 , the motorized arrangement controlled by the control circuit  100 . It is understood that the term “recharging connector” used herein may also refer to other types of connectors, such as network connectors, interface connectors, VGA connectors, and the like. 
         [0032]    The control circuit  100  may allow for varying exposure time and intensity of the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  depending on selections made at the user interface  110 . For example, a “double” disinfecting dose of the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  may be selected on the user interface  110 , which may double the exposure time of each portable electronic device  20  to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65 , for example. Further, in the case where the enclosure  30  holds a plurality of the portable electronic devices  20 , any particular device  20  may be selected for exposure to the disinfecting wavelengths of light  65  at the user interface  110 . For example, “bay 3” (not shown) may be selected, whereupon the control circuit only activates the ultraviolet light sources  62  associated with that particular location within the enclosure  30 . A suitable embodiment for such functionality is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, the control circuit  100  is further connected to at least one photocell  190  sensitive to ultraviolet light, such that the control circuit  100  may activate the ultraviolet light source  62  only for a duration sufficient to provide a predetermined dose, or number of lumens, for example, to each portable electronic device  20 , as determined by the at least one photocell  190  and the control circuit  100  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, each door  40  includes the means of supporting  70  and is pivotally attached with the enclosure  30  at a lower end  43  thereof ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). In such an embodiment, the enclosure  30  may be adapted to hold only a single portable electronic device  20 , or the enclosure  30  may be equipped with a plurality of such doors  40  to hold a plurality of single portable electronic devices  20 . 
         [0035]    Preferably the power source  80  of the enclosure  30  includes a daisy chain connector  170  fixed with the enclosure  30  such that a plurality of enclosures  30  can be stacked ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ), each enclosure  30  connecting with the daisy chain connector  170  of its next adjacent enclosure  30 . As such, a single power source  80  may be included and connected to each enclosure  30  in stack of such enclosures  30  through each enclosure&#39;s daisy chain connector  170 . It is understood that the power source may be an A/C line voltage source, or a low-voltage D/C source. 
         [0036]    In a similar manner, each enclosure  30  may further include a network switch means  200  for providing network connectivity to each of the portable electronic device  20  stored therein. A network daisy chain connector  171  may be included for electrically connecting each network switch means  200  of each enclosure  30  in a stack of such enclosures  30 , whereby only one network connection is required for the stack of enclosures  30 . For portable electronic devices  20  that include wireless network capability, such as through WiFi or the like, a radio frequency refractor (not shown) may be included within the enclosure  30  so as to allow such wireless radio signals to pass substantially unimpeded through the enclosure  30 . 
         [0037]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the particular shape of the enclosure  30 , and the number of portable electronic devices  20  illustrated in the drawings, may be altered considerably as desired. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. 
         [0038]    The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0039]    These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0040]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
         [0041]    The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0042]    All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0043]    Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0044]    In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. 
         [0045]    While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.