Patent Publication Number: US-2023133529-A1

Title: Method and system of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet (uv) rays

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/IN2021/050272, filed on Mar. 17, 2021, which claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 202011011956 filed on Mar. 19, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a system and a method for performing exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the system and method of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     UV radiation is an essential for various health purposes including, such as but not limited to, production of Vitamin ‘D’, regulation of insulin level, diabetes control, supporting lung function, and control of the expression of genes in cancer. When a person is deprived from sufficient amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiations, the person may be subject to rickets, bone weakening, muscle pain, and body aches. Because sunlight is a good source of UV radiations, people are frequently advised by doctors to be exposed to the sunlight for obtaining sufficient amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiations. However, in today&#39;s busy era, people do not get sufficient time to be exposed to the sunlight. Therefore, there exists a need for ultraviolet (UV) exposure systems that artificially expose a user to the UV rays, for providing sufficient amount of UV rays to the user. 
     A UV exposure system is equipped with a UV light source that provides UV rays to the user, upon activation. However, such a UV exposure system is not equipped with a control system to control and deliver an optimum amount of UV rays to the user. In particular, there may be situations when the user may be excessively exposed to the UV rays. In such situations of excessive exposure to the UV rays, there exists many associated risks, including skin cancer, pre-mature aging, skin damage, skin burns, eye damage, and immune suppression. Furthermore, in a method of operating the UV exposure systems, an operator manually activates the UV exposure system to expose the user for a predefined amount of time and thereafter manually deactivates the UV exposure system upon completion of the predefined amount of time. Such manual control of the UV exposure system may be inaccurate and subject to errors. Moreover, in such a UV exposure system, the user is required to dedicate the time to the exposure of the UV rays. Furthermore, when the user wishes to be exposed to the UV rays in a number of small dosages, the operator may cause a manual error in recording the dosage already delivered to the user. 
     In addition to aforementioned drawbacks of the method of operating the UV exposure system, there is a well felt need of an improved method of operating the UV exposure system to perform controlled exposure of UV rays to the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     One object of the present disclosure relates to a method of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user. The method comprises: capturing, with use of a camera unit, an image of the user positioned opposite to or in front of a camera unit; performing face recognition on the captured image, with use of a microcontroller, to identify a user profile of the user; obtaining, with use of the microcontroller, information on a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period; comparing, with use of the microcontroller, the dosage value with a threshold value; and performing an action, with use of the microcontroller, on the UV source based on the comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. The method is initiated upon detection of a presence of a user opposite to or in front of the camera unit, with use of the camera unit. The action performed by the microcontroller includes: activating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller, to expose the user with UV rays when the dosage value is below the threshold value; and deactivating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller, when the dosage value is above the threshold value. 
     Another object of the present disclosure relates to an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to a user. The UV exposure system comprises a camera unit, a UV source, and a microcontroller. The camera unit is configured to capture an image of the user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit. The UV source is configured to expose the user with UV rays when actuated. The microcontroller is configured to: perform face recognition on the captured image to identify a user profile of the user; obtain information on a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period; compare the dosage value with a threshold value; and perform an action on the UV source based on the comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. The action performed by the microcontroller includes: activating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller, to expose the user with UV rays when the dosage value is below the threshold value; and deactivating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller, when the dosage value is above the threshold value. 
     Yet another object of the present disclosure relates to integrally installing of the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system for performing the controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user, onto a furniture unit. The furniture unit is either of a household furniture unit including a mirror, a headboard of a bedding arrangement, and/or a television unit; or a hospital furniture unit, such as but not limited to, an incubator, a hospital bedding arrangement, and/or a hospital headwall. In such systems, each of the camera unit, the UV source, and the microcontroller of the UV exposure system is integrally installed on the furniture unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. These and other details of the present disclosure are described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the present disclosure, and in which drawings: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a schematic of a household furniture unit implemented with an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system and illustrates various components of the UV exposure system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a flowchart of a method of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user, as employed by the UV exposure system of  FIG.  1   , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts throughout the different drawings. 
     The present disclosure discloses an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to users. Furthermore, the present disclosure also discloses a method  104  employed by the UV exposure system  102 , for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the users. Moreover, the present disclosure discloses a furniture unit  100  that integrally installs the UV exposure system  102  for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the users. Although the present disclosure hereinafter describes the furniture unit  100  and integral installation of the UV exposure system  102  on the furniture unit  100 , it should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the concepts of the present disclosure may also extend to a bathing unit and integral installation of the UV exposure system  102  on the bathing unit. In particular, integral installation of the UV exposure system  102  on the bathing unit also lies within a scope of the present disclosure, wherein the bathing unit may include a bathing shower, a bathing tub, a jacuzzi, and/or a bathing cabinet. For ease in reference and understanding, while concepts of the present disclosure are described as applied to the furniture unit  100  and installation of the UV exposure system  102  on the furniture unit  100 , similar concepts of the present disclosure may be applied to the bathing unit and installation of the UV exposure system  102  on the bathing unit. 
       FIG.  1    shows a schematic of the furniture unit  100  employing the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102 , for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the users. The UV exposure system  102  is integrally installed on the furniture unit  100 , to facilitate controlled exposure of the UV rays to a user, while the user uses the furniture unit  100 . In an embodiment, the furniture unit  100  may include any household furniture unit, such as but not limited to, a headboard of a bedding arrangement, a vanity mirror, a study table, a kitchen cabinet, and the like. With such embodiments of the furniture unit  100 , the users are able to perform a household task and concurrently get exposed to the UV rays. In another embodiment, the furniture unit  100  may include any hospital furniture unit, such as but not limited to, an incubator, a hospital bedding arrangement, a hospital headwall, and the like. Concepts of the present disclosure hereinafter are defined as UV exposure system  102  integrally installed onto the vanity mirror  100  as an embodiment. However, it should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the concepts of the present may also be applied to the UV exposure system  102  integrally installed on other aforementioned examples of the furniture unit  100 . For ease in reference and understanding, the furniture unit  100  may be referred to as the vanity mirror  100 , interchangeably hereinafter. 
     The vanity mirror  100  may be used by a user to apply make-ups or get ready for a party, and the like. The vanity mirror  100  may be any silver polished mirror that reflects an image of a user to be viewed by the user. The vanity mirror  100  may include any shape, profile, and structure, defining a peripheral portion  106 . 
     The UV exposure system  102  is integrally installed on the vanity mirror  100 . Specifically, as the vanity mirror  100  is frequently used by users, integrally installing the UV exposure system  102  onto the vanity mirror  100  corresponds to relatively promised exposure of the UV rays to the users. The UV exposure system  102  includes a UV source  108 , a camera unit  110 , and a microcontroller  112 . 
     The UV source  108  is a part of a light unit  114  installed along the peripheral portion  106  of the vanity mirror  100 . In particular, the light unit  114  has alternate portions of a light source  114   a  and the UV source  108 . The light source  114   a  outputs visible light to be projected onto the user&#39;s body using the vanity mirror  100 , for improved illumination. The visible light outputted by the light source  114   a  is within a range of 400-700 nm. The UV source  108  outputs UV light to output the UV rays be projected onto the user&#39;s body for exposure to the UV rays. The UV rays outputted by the UV source  108  to be exposed to the user is within a range of 280-320 nm. Each of the UV source  108  and the light source  114   a  may be controlled for activation and/or deactivation by the microcontroller  112 , as and when required. 
     The camera unit  110  is positioned on a top center position of the vanity mirror  100 . The camera unit  110  is configured to detect a presence of a user positioned in front of the vanity mirror  100 . The camera unit  110  is suitably positioned to capture images of a user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110  (and thus opposite to or in front of the vanity mirror  100 ). It may be noted that the camera unit  110  is suitably positioned on the vanity mirror  100 , such that the camera unit  110  focuses on a single user and captures the images of the single user, even when multiple users are positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit. The camera unit  110  may further be controlled by the microcontroller  112 , for capturing the images of the user positioned in front of the vanity mirror  100 . 
     The microcontroller  112  is electrically connected to each of the light source  114   a  and the UV source  108  of the light unit  114  and the camera unit  110 , to control each of the light source  114   a , the UV source  108 , and the camera unit  110 , in accordance to a method  104  of performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user as disclosed in the present disclosure. The microcontroller  112  may be a combination of a memory unit, a processor, and a number of other electronic components, capable of performing the method  104  of controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user. The microcontroller  112  may be either of an 8-bit microcontroller, 16-bit microcontroller, a 32-bit microcontroller, and/or a 64-bit microcontroller. Examples of the microcontroller  112  include, such as but not limited to, an 8081 microcontroller, an 8085 microcontroller, a PIC2x, an Intel 8096, and/or MC68HC12 families. 
     The microcontroller  112  is configured to perform the method  104  of performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user. For such purposes, the microcontroller  112  stores an information on a dosage value delivered to a number of users corresponding to a number of user profiles in a defined amount of dosage time period. In particular, the microcontroller  112  has the database that stores information for a number of users, including a user profile (for example a user profile ID) and a dosage value delivered in a defined amount of dosage time period, for each user. The dosage time period is a time period between a preset time instance and a current time instance. In an embodiment, the microcontroller  112  may be programmed to define 00:00 A.M. as the preset time instance, for storing the dosage value delivered to the users in a single day time period. In such embodiments, the dosage time period is the time period between the start of the day instance and the current time instance, for each user. With such storage of information on user profile (for example a user profile ID) and the dosage value delivered in the dosage time period, the microcontroller  112  is capable of performing the method  104  of performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the users. In particular, the microcontroller  112  is programmed and configured to perform the following: perform face recognition on the captured image to identify a user profile of the user; obtain a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period; compare the dosage value with a threshold value; and perform an action on the UV source  108  based on the comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. Moreover, the microcontroller  112  performs actuation of the UV source  108  when the dosage value is below the threshold value and performs deactivation of the UV source  108  when the dosage value is above the threshold value. ‘Activation’ of the UV source  108  herein refers to adjusting the UV source  108  to an ‘ON’ mode, in which the UV source  108  exposes the user with UV rays. ‘Deactivation’ of the UV source  108  herein refers to adjusting the UV source  108  in an ‘OFF’ mode, in which the UV source  108  stops exposing the user with UV rays. Moreover, ‘Deactivation’ of the UV source  108  herein refers to adjusting the UV source  108  in the ‘OFF’ mode if the UV source  108  is previously in the “ON’ mode; and keeping the UV source  108  in the ‘OFF’ mode if the UV source  108  is previously in the OFF’ mode. 
     The method  104  implemented by the microcontroller  112  of the UV exposure system  102  may perform the controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to users. Although the present disclosure describes the threshold value as a prestored value that is constant for all user profiles, it should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the threshold value may be a value dependent on the user profile, i.e., each user profile may have a different threshold value for each user. Moreover, the threshold value may also be a user-customizable value in place of the prestored value, which can be changed if required. 
       FIG.  2    shows a flowchart of the method  104  of performing the controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the users. The method  104  may be initiated at step  202 . At step  202 , as a user steps in front of the vanity mirror  100 , the camera unit  110  detects the presence of the user opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 . The camera unit  110 , upon detection of the presence of the user opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 , signals the microcontroller  112  to initiate the method  104  of performing the controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the user. The method  104  then proceeds to step  204 . 
     At step  204 , the microcontroller  112  sends a signal to the camera unit  110 , to capture an image of the user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 . The camera unit  110  is suitably positioned on the vanity mirror  100  to capture the image of a single user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 . Therefore, when multiple users are positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 , the camera unit  110  captures the image of the single user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 . The camera unit  110  transfers the captured image to the microcontroller  112 . The method  104  then proceeds to step  206 . 
     At step  206 , the microcontroller  112  performs face recognition on the captured image, to identify a user profile of the user whose image is captured. In particular, the microcontroller  112  runs the face recognition algorithm to identify the user profile of the user whose image is captured. Specifically, the microcontroller  112  stores algorithm for face recognition algorithm to perform the face recognition on the captured image. Furthermore, the microcontroller  112  also has a database of user database that stores information for a number of users, including a user profile (for example a user profile ID) and a dosage value delivered in a defined amount of dosage time period, for each user. At this step, the microcontroller  112  performs face recognition relative to the entire database, to identify a user profile of the user positioned opposite to or in front of the camera unit  110 . The method  104  then proceeds to step  208 . 
     At step  208 , the microcontroller  112  obtains a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period. The defined amount of dosage time period is a time period between a preset time instance and a time instance during initiation of the method  104 . In an embodiment, the preset time instance is 00:00 A.M. Therefore, in such embodiments, the defined amount of dosage time period defines the time period elapsed in the day of performing the method  104  until the method  104  is initiated. Moreover, the dosage value obtained at step  208 , in such embodiments, is the dosage delivered to the user of the identified user profile during the same day until the method  104  is initiated. The method  104  then proceeds to step  210 . 
     At step  210 , the microcontroller  112  compares the dosage value with a threshold value. In particular, the microcontroller  112  identifies if the dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in the defined amount of dosage time period is above/below the threshold value. The method  104  then proceeds to step  212 . 
     At step  212 , the microcontroller  112  performs an action on the UV source  108  based on the comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. In particular, based on the comparison, the method  104  proceeds to either of step  212   a  or step  212   b . At step  212   a , the microcontroller  112  deactivates the UV source  108  when the dosage value is above the threshold value. After step  212   a , the method  104  is terminated. Moreover, at step  212   b , the microcontroller  112  activates the UV source  108  to expose the user with UV rays when the dosage value is below the threshold value. In particular, the microcontroller  112  activates the UV source  108  for at least a defined amount of active time period. After the defined amount of active time period, the method  104  proceeds to step  212   c . At step  212   c , the microcontroller  112  deactivates the UV source  108  for at least a defined amount of halt time period. After step  212   c , the method  104  proceeds to step  212   d . At step  212   d , the microcontroller  112  increments the dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile. After step  212   d , the method  104  proceeds to perform step  202  again. 
     It may be noted that as the method  104  disclosed in the present disclosure may deactivate the UV source  108  when the dosage value reaches above the threshold value, the method  104  may limit the exposure of the user to the UV rays from the UV source  108  up to the threshold value. Therefore, over-exposure of the UV rays from the UV source  108  may be avoided. Moreover, as the method  104  disclosed in the present disclosure activates the UV source  108  for the defined amount of active time period only and deactivates thereafter, the method  104  may avoid over-exposure of the user to the UV rays from the UV source  108 . Furthermore, as the method  104  provides the UV rays exposure to the user by the UV source  108  within a range of 280 nm-320 nm, such range is relatively safer and provides for safe exposure of the user to the UV rays by the UV source  108 . Moreover, as the method  104  and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  are integrally installed on the furniture unit  100 , such an arrangement provides exposure of the users to the UV rays by the UV source  108  while the user uses the furniture unit  100 . In particular, in one embodiment, the method  104  and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  is integrally installed on the vanity mirror  100 . Therefore, such an arrangement of the method  104  and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  with the vanity mirror  100  provides controlled exposure of the UV rays by the UV source  108  of the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  and concurrent use of the vanity mirror  100 . In nutshell, such an arrangement provides controlled exposure of the UV rays from the UV source  108  to the user while using the vanity mirror  100 . Similar to the embodiment of the vanity mirror  100 , in an alternated embodiment, the method  104  and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  may be integrally installed on a bathing shower. Therefore, such an arrangement of the method  104  and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  with the vanity mirror  100  provides controlled exposure of the UV rays by the UV source  108  of the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  and concurrent use of the bathing shower for bathing purposes. In nutshell, such an arrangement provides controlled exposure of the UV rays from the UV source  108  to the user while the user uses the bathing shower. 
     Further, it may be noted that as an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  and the method  104  as disclosed in the present disclosure may perform controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user. With such exposure to the UV rays by use of the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  and the method  104  as disclosed herein, the user may produce enough Vitamin ‘D’, which provides improved bone strength, better regulation of insulin level, diabetes control, improved lung function support, and controlled expression of genes in cancer. This avoids chances of rickets, bone weakening, and muscle pain to the user. It may further be noted that the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system  102  and the method  104  as disclosed in the present disclosure provides controlled exposure of the user to the UV ray, while the user performs other household work of using the furniture unit  100 . In particular, the user may use the furniture unit  100  (for example may use the vanity mirror unit  100 ) and concurrently get exposed to the UV rays by the disclosed UV exposure system  102  and the method  104 . By doing so, the user may also be prevented from over-exposure of the UV rays, and thus the user may be prevented from skin cancer, pre-mature aging, skin damage, skin burns, eye damage, and immune suppression. 
     While the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure and the scope of the appended claims. It should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments should be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
     
         
         
           
               100 — Furniture Unit 
               100 — Vanity Mirror 
               102 — UV Exposure System 
               104 — Method 
               106 — Peripheral Portion of  100   
               108 — UV Source of  102   
               110 — Camera Unit of  102   
               112 — Microcontroller of  102   
               114 — Light Unit 
               114   a — Light Source 
               202 - 212 —Steps of  104   
               212   a - 212   d — Sub-steps of  212