Abstract:
A device for providing ultraviolet light includes a shell for a portable device, wherein the shell includes an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the interior region is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the portable device, a power source configured to provide electrical power, a and an ultraviolet light source coupled to the power source and embedded into the exterior region of the shell, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to output the ultraviolet light in response to the electrical power.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mobile communications device and methods of operation. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a mobile communications device, such as a smart phone, including an ultraviolet light source, and methods of controlling the ultraviolet light source using the smart phone. 
     The inventor of the present invention is aware of the use of ultraviolet light for disinfectant purposes. Currently, there are few stand-alone products on the market that provide ultraviolet light for cleaning surfaces or purifying water. One such product is a hand held UV wand that is plugged into a wall socket, and waved over surfaces; and another such product is a hand-held unit that runs on batteries, and is inserted to sanitize a bottle of water. 
     Some drawbacks contemplated by the inventor, to such devices include the high power consumption of such devices limit utility of such devices. For example, surface sanitizers are typically bulky and need to be powered by plugging them into a wall socket; and portable water sanitizers use batteries, but drain them quickly. 
     Additional drawbacks contemplated by the inventor, to these devices are when the user travels, they are yet another device that the user must remember to bring along. Because of gadget overload, such dedicated ultraviolet light (UV) sources are not believed to be widely adopted. 
     From the above, it is desired to have an ultraviolet light source without the drawbacks described above. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mobile communications device and methods of operation. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a mobile communications device, such as a smart phone, including an ultraviolet light source, and methods of controlling the ultraviolet light source using the smart phone. 
     In some embodiments, a case for a smart phone is contemplated having an integrated ultraviolet (UV) light source and a power source, e.g. batteries. In such embodiments the UV light source may be located near one or more holes of the case, or anywhere else, where the camera of a smart phone is located. In some embodiments, power for the UV light may be drawn from the smart phone. 
     In some embodiments, a smart phone is contemplated having an integrated UV light source. In such embodiments the UV light source may also be located near the camera of a smart phone is located, or anywhere else. In some embodiments, power for the UV light may be drawn from the smart phone. 
     In some embodiments, application software is installed upon the smart phone, and programs the processor of the smart phone to perform one or more operations. Some operations may include monitoring a camera image, monitoring accelerometers, directing the UV light to turn on and off, and the like. In some examples, the camera image may be monitored to determine where the UV light is directed towards, may be monitored to determine whether the UV light is pointed upwards or downwards, etc. In other examples, the camera image may be used to determine if the UV light is close enough to a surface for disinfectant purposes, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc. may also be used to determine orientation of the smart phone. In particular, if the UV light of the smart phone is directed upwards, the power may be shut-off from the UV light; while the UV light of the smart phone is directed, e.g. within 45 degrees of downwards, the UV light may be turned on, or the like. 
     In various embodiments, using data from one or more of these sensors, the smart phone may be programmed to indicate to the user how long to hold the UV light source of the smart phone over a particular surface; when a particular surface is sanitized and when to move the UV light source of the smart phone to a new location; or the like. In addition, the smart phone may be programmed to turn off the UV light upon unsafe usage conditions, e.g. pointing a UV light source upwards at the user, or other users. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a device for providing ultraviolet light is disclosed. One device includes a shell for a portable device, wherein the shell includes an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the interior region is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the portable device. An apparatus includes a power source configured to provide electrical power, and an ultraviolet light source coupled to the power source and embedded into the exterior region of the shell, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to output the ultraviolet light in response to the electrical power. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for providing ultraviolet light is described. One method includes providing a shell having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the shell comprises an ultraviolet light source embedded into the exterior region of the shell, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to output ultraviolet light. A technique may include disposing a portable device adjacent to the interior region within the shell, and powering the ultraviolet light source to cause the ultraviolet light source to output the ultraviolet light to a plurality of surfaces. 
     Various additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to more fully understand the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, the presently described embodiments and the presently understood best mode of the invention are described with additional detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of various embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a functional block diagram of various embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrate block diagrams of flow processes according to various embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrate an example of various embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates various embodiments of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hand-held computing device (e.g. smart phone, tablet)  100 . 
     In various embodiments, as illustrated, the back casing  110  of device  100 , may include a camera  120 , a LED light source (e.g. flash)  130 , and a UV light source  140 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , UV light source  140  may be positioned such that light  150  from the UV light source  140  is within a field of view  160  of camera  120 . In other embodiments, light  150  may not be within field of view  160 . Additionally, in other embodiments, UV light source  140  may be positioned on the side, top, bottom, or the like of smart device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a functional block diagram of various embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , a computing device  200  typically includes an applications processor  210 , memory  220 , a touch screen display  230  and driver  240 , a camera  250 , audio input/output devices  260 , and the like. Additional communications from and to computing device are typically provided by via a wired interface  270 , a GPS/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth interface  280 , RF interfaces  290  and processor  300 , and the like. Also included in various embodiments are physical sensors  310 . 
     In various embodiments, computing device  200  may be a hand-held computing (smart) device (e.g. Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface, a tablet), a smart phone (e.g. Apple iPhone, Motorola Droid, Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy S), a portable computer (e.g. netbook, laptop), a media player (e.g. Microsoft Zane, Apple iPod), a reading device (e.g. Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook), or the like. 
     Typically, computing device  200  may include one or more processors  210 . Such processors  210  may also be termed application processors, and may include a processor core, a video/graphics core, and other cores. Processors  210  may be a processor from Apple (A6), Intel (Atom), NVidia (Tegra 3), Marvell (Armada), Qualcomm (Snapdragon). Samsung. TI (OMAP), or the like. In various embodiments, the processor core may be an Intel processor, an ARM Holdings processor such as the Cortex-A, -M, -R or ARM series processors, or the like. Further, in various embodiments, the video/graphics core may be an Imagination Technologies processor PowerVR-SGX, -MBX, -VGX graphics, an Nvidia graphics processor (e.g. GeForce), or the like. Other processing capability may include audio processors, interface controllers, and the like. It is contemplated that other existing and/or later-developed processors may be used in various embodiments of the present invention. 
     In various embodiments, memory  220  may include different types of memory (including memory controllers), such as flash memory (e.g. NOR, NAND), pseudo SRAM, DDR SDRAM, or the like. Memory  220  may be fixed within computing device  200  or removable (e.g. SD, SDHC, MMC, MINI SD, MICRO SD, CF, SIM). The above are examples of computer readable tangible media that may be used to store embodiments of the present invention, such as computer-executable software code (e.g. firmware, application programs), application data, operating system data or the like. It is contemplated that other existing and/or later-developed memory and memory technology may be used in various embodiments of the present invention. 
     In various embodiments, touch screen display  230  and driver  240  may be based upon a variety of later-developed or current touch screen technology including resistive displays, capacitive displays, optical sensor displays, electromagnetic resonance, or the like. Additionally, touch screen display  230  may include single touch or multiple-touch sensing capability. Any later-developed or conventional output display technology may be used for the output display, such as TFT-LCD, OLED, Plasma, trans-reflective (Pixel Qi), electronic ink (e.g. electrophoretic, electrowetting, interferometric modulating). In various embodiments, the resolution of such displays and the resolution of such touch sensors may be set based upon engineering or non-engineering factors (e.g. sales, marketing). In some embodiments of the present invention, a display output port, such as an HDMI-based port or DVI-based port may also be included. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, image capture device  250  may include a sensor, driver, lens and the like. The sensor may be based upon any later-developed or convention sensor technology, such as CMOS, CCD, or the like. In various embodiments of the present invention, image recognition software programs are provided to process the image data. For example, such software may provide functionality such as: facial recognition, head tracking, camera parameter control, image differencing, or the like. 
     In various embodiments, audio input/output  260  may include conventional microphone(s)/speakers. In some embodiments of the present invention, three-wire or four-wire audio connector ports are included to enable the user to use an external audio device such as external speakers, headphones or combination headphone/microphones. In various embodiments, voice processing and/or recognition software may be provided to applications processor  210  to enable the user to operate computing device  200  by stating voice commands. Additionally, a speech engine may be provided in various embodiments to enable computing device  200  to provide audio status messages, audio response messages, or the like. 
     In various embodiments, wired interface  270  may be used to provide data transfers between computing device  200  and an external source, such as a computer, a remote server, a storage network, another computing device  200 , or the like. Such data may include application data, operating system data, firmware, or the like. Embodiments may include any later-developed or conventional physical interface/protocol, such as: USB 3.0, 3.0, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire, Apple iPod connector, Ethernet, POTS, or the like. Additionally, software that enables communications over such networks is typically provided. 
     In various embodiments, a wireless interface  280  may also be provided to provide wireless data transfers between computing device  200  and external sources, such as computers, storage networks, headphones, microphones, cameras, or the like. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , wireless protocols may include Wi-Fi (e.g. IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, WiMax), Bluetooth, IR and the like. 
     GPS receiving capability may also be included in various embodiments of the present invention, however is not required. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , GPS functionality is included as part of wireless interface  280  merely for sake of convenience, although in implementation, such functionality is currently performed by circuitry that is distinct from the Wi-Fi circuitry and distinct from the Bluetooth circuitry. 
     Additional wireless communications may be provided via RF interfaces  290  and drivers  300  in various embodiments. In various embodiments, RE interfaces  290  may support any future-developed or conventional radio frequency communications protocol, such as CDMA-based protocols (e.g. WCDMA), GSM-based protocols, HSUPA-based protocols, or the like. In the embodiments illustrated, driver  300  is illustrated as being distinct from applications processor  210 . However, in some embodiments, these functionality are provided upon a single IC package, for example the Marvel PXA330 processor, and the like. It is contemplated that some embodiments of computing device  200  need not include the RF functionality provided by RE interface  290  and driver  300 . 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates computing device  200  to include physical sensors  310 . In various embodiments of the present invention, physical sensors  310  are multi-axis Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Such MEMS devices may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, pressure sensors, or the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, conventional physical sensors  310  from Bosch, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, Kionix or the like may be used. In various embodiments, these MEMS devices, as well as most, if not all of the above-described electronic devices, are powered by a battery  320 . 
     In various embodiments, any number of future developed or current operating systems may be supported, such as IOS (e.g. 6.0), WindowsMobile (e.g. 8), Google Android, Symbian, or the like. In various embodiments of the present invention, the operating system may be a multi-threaded multi-tasking operating system. Accordingly, inputs and/or outputs from and to touch screen display  230  and driver  240  and inputs/or outputs to physical sensors  310  may be processed in parallel processing threads. In other embodiments, such events or outputs may be processed serially, or the like. Inputs and outputs from other functional blocks may also be processed in parallel or serially, in other embodiments of the present invention, such as camera  250  and physical sensors  310 . 
     In some embodiments, computing device may include a UV light source  330 . The UV light source  330  may be embodied as a UV light source being developed by the assignee of the present patent application, RayVio. In other embodiments, UV light source  330  may be utilized. 
       FIG. 2  is representative of one computing device  200  capable of embodying the present invention. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many other hardware and software configurations are suitable for use with the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention may include at least some but need not include all of the functional blocks illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, in various embodiments, computing device  200  may lack image acquisition unit  250 , or RF interface  290  and/or driver  300 , or GPS capability, or the like. Additional functions may also be added to various embodiments of computing device  200 , such as a physical keyboard, an additional camera, a trackball or trackpad, a joystick, or the like. Further, it should be understood that multiple functional blocks may be embodied into a single physical package or device, and various functional blocks may be divided and be performed among separate physical packages or devices. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates block diagrams of flow processes according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
     In various embodiments, the user initiates an application upon the smart device to start a UV sanitation process, step  400 . In some embodiments, this may include the user tapping upon an application icon of a display of the smart device, the user hitting a physical button on the smart device, a software tinier going off, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the smart device determines whether it is safe to turn on or keep on the UV light, step  410 . In some embodiments, this may include the smart device monitoring the MEMS sensors, discussed above, to ensure that the UV light of the smart phone is directed towards the ground, e.g. not upwards towards the face of the user. In some embodiments, this may include the smart device monitoring the amount of light reaching the camera. For example, if there is little light reaching a downwards facing camera, but a lot of light reaching an upwards facing camera, it might be assumed that the downwards camera is downwards and adjacent to the surface being sanitized. Accordingly, the downwards facing camera will not detect much light. In various embodiments, the tilt angle of the downwards orientation may vary, for example by +/−10 degrees, +/−45 degrees, or the like; and the amount of light reaching the camera, for the UV light to be turned on may vary within a range, e.g. 0 to 10, 0 to 50, etc. from a scale of 0 to 255, or the like. In still other embodiments, combinations of MEMS sensors and optical detection may be used for this step. 
     In some embodiments, images from the cameras may be processed by pattern recognition software to provide additional capabilities. In some examples, images from a downwards facing camera (assuming the UV light is also directed downwards) can be used to help determine if the UV light is directed towards a safe surface for sanitization. In some examples, if the downwards facing camera captures an image of a face, animal, skin, or the like, the UV light may be inhibited; if neither the upwards facing camera nor the downwards facing camera recognizes a face, only then can the UV light may be allowed; or the like. In some embodiments, only groups of specific surfaces can be sanitized, after these surfaces are visually identified. As examples, when surfaces with printed letters, e.g. keyboards, magazines, airplane emergency cards are identified by character recognition software, the UV light source may be enabled. In other examples, surfaces to be sanitized may be identified by bar-code, QR code, image, target, or the other such identifier. In such examples, only surfaces bearing such identifiers can be sanitized. In light of the above, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many other examples of image recognition that may be used in various embodiments of the present invention. 
     In various embodiments, if safe, power may be applied to the UV light and one or more timers may be initiated, step  420 . In some embodiments, when the UV light is turned on, one or more indicators may be displayed to the user, for example, an auxiliary light may turn on, the display of the smart device may turn blue, or the like. 
     In various embodiments, while the UV light is positioned over a particular surface, the cameras and/or the MEMS sensors may be used to determine whether the smart phone has moved, step  430 . In some embodiments, to sanitize a surface, the surface should be exposed to UV light for a certain amount of time. However, if the user moves the UV light around, a keyboard, for example, regions of the keyboard may not be sufficiently exposed to the UV light. Accordingly, in various embodiments, based upon optical tracking (from camera images), or MEMS sensors, it can be determined where the smart device/UV light is irradiating, in time. 
     In some embodiments, the timers may be used to determine whether the UV light has exposed a surface a sufficient period of time, step  440 , and/or to determine whether the UV light has been powered on for too long, step  450 . In the latter case, the UV light may be automatically switched off, step  460 . In other embodiments, many other such timers may be used for similar purposes. In various embodiments, the amount of time may vary upon the type of surface to be disinfected, for example, fruit, water, and plastic surfaces are believed to require different exposure times. 
     In various embodiments, after a particular surface has be exposed to UV light for a sufficient period of time, the user may be visually indicated to move the smart device/UV light to another surface, step  470 . In some embodiments, the user may terminate the above process at any time. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 4  illustrates a protective housing  500  for a smart device, e.g. smart phone. 
     As illustrated, protective housing  500  may include an opening  510  where the camera of the smart device is positioned. Additionally, housing may include a UV light source  520 , typically near opening  510 , and a region  530  for a power source, e.g. battery. In some embodiments, a power source, e.g. battery need not be provided within protective housing  500 . Instead, in some embodiments, UV light source  520  receives power from a smart device that is nestled within protective housing  500 . For example, a plug, or the like may be provided that physically plugs into a port of the smart device and draws power therefrom. In some embodiments, the port may be an I/O port, power port, peripheral port, or other ports. In such embodiments, the smart device may control light from UV light source  520  by selectively applying power over the port. 
     Input from direct connection, Bluetooth, or the like. 
     As discussed above, in various embodiments of housing  500 , a field of view of UV light source  520  may be positioned within a field of view of a smart device camera. In other embodiments, e.g. relying upon MEMS devices, these field of views may not overlap. 
     In some embodiments, MEMS acclerometers, or the like may be integrated into protective housing  500   
     Further embodiments can be envisioned to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure. In other embodiments, combinations or sub-combinations of the above disclosed invention can be advantageously made. The block diagrams of the architecture and flow charts are grouped for ease of understanding. However it should be understood that combinations of blocks, additions of new blocks, re-arrangement of blocks, and the like are contemplated in alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
     The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.