Patent Publication Number: US-2020282089-A1

Title: Light and disinfection system and a method for disinfecting an illuminated surface by the system

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for disinfection and sterilization using light, more specifically to a system and method for self-adaptive disinfection and sterilization on an illuminated surface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is found that ultraviolet, violet or blue light may have a function of disinfection and sterilization, such as inactivation of pathogen on an object surface, in the air or water. The pathogen refers to any microscopic organism that can cause disease or infection in human body, including bacteria, viruses, spores and fungi. Inactivation includes killing the pathogen, making it unable or impossible to reproduce, or making it unable to infect human. The ultraviolet (UV) refers to light having a wavelength in a range of 100 nm to 400 nm; four sub-ranges of the UV range comprises a vacuum UV ranging from 100 nm to 200 nm; UVC ranging from 200 nm to 280 nm; UVB ranging from 280 nm to 315 nm; and UVA ranging from 315 nm to 400 nm. The wavelength of the violet light is about 400 nm to about 450 nm, and the wavelength of the blue light is about 450 nm to about 490 nm. 
     In some known UV systems, UV light ranging from 200 nm to 300 nm, including some of the UVC range and UVB range, is utilized to destroy DNA or RNA of the pathogen so as to make its multiplication impossible, thus unable to infect human, achieving the goal of disinfection and sterilization. However, there exist some problems in these UV systems: firstly, irradiances of these UV systems are greater than 10 W/m2, and exposure to such UV lights may be harmful to human, particularly causing great damage to human&#39;s eyes; secondly, in order to achieve the goal of disinfection and sterilization, a surface to be disinfected needs to be illuminated by UV light for a long time, which cannot play the role of thorough sterilization if the time is too short, and which will accelerate degradation of the material performance of the surface to be disinfected, e.g., fading and the like, if the time is too long. 
     Therefore, it is desired to provide with a new light and disinfection system for solving at least one of the above problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the present application discloses a light and disinfection system, wherein the light and disinfection system comprises an illumination module, including an illumination source; a distance sensor for detecting a distance between the light and disinfection system and an illuminated surface; and a disinfection module, including a disinfection light source and a control unit, the control unit receiving the distance detected by the distance sensor and controlling an irradiation power of the disinfection light source based on the distance such that an irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at a predetermined value. 
     In another embodiment, the present application discloses a method for disinfecting and sterilizing an illuminated surface by said light and disinfection system, the method comprising: detecting a distance between the light and disinfection system and the illuminated surface; and controlling an irradiation power of the disinfection light source in the light and disinfection system based on the distance, such that an irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at a predetermined value. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present application can be understood better in light of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference signs represent similar components in the whole drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a light and disinfection system according to one embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is a stereogram in which the light and disinfection system shown in  FIG. 1  is applied to a lighting scene; 
         FIG. 3  is a function block diagram of the light and disinfection system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for disinfecting and sterilizing an illuminated surface by the light and disinfection system according to one embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In order to help the person skilled in the art to exactly understand the subject matters claimed by the present invention, detailed description for embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following. In the following detailed description for those embodiments, some well-known functions or structures will not be described in details by the Description, to avoid disclosure of the present invention to be affected by unnecessary details. 
     Unless defined otherwise, the technical or scientific terms used in the Claims and the Description should have meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. The terms “first”, “second” and the like in the Description and the Claims do not mean any sequential order, quantity or importance, but are only used for distinguishing different components. The terms “a”, “an” and the like do not denote a limitation of quantity, but denote the existence of at least one. Unless pointed out otherwise, terms such as “front”, “rear”, “lower” and/or “upper” and the like are used only for convenient explanation, rather than limiting to one position or one space orientation. “Or” and the like mean inclusive, and refer to one or all of the illustrated terms. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including” and the like mean that the element or object in front of the “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and “including” covers the elements or objects and their equivalents illustrated following the “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and “including”, but do not exclude other elements or objects. The term “coupled” or “connected” or the like is not limited to being connected physically or mechanically, but may comprise electric connection or coupling, no matter directly or indirectly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present application reveals a light and disinfection system  100 , comprising an illumination module  10  that includes an illumination source  11 ; a disinfection module  20  that includes a disinfection light source  21 . 
     In some embodiments, the illumination source  11  comprises a white light source, e.g., white LED. In one embodiment, the disinfection light source  21  comprises a light source such as a UV light source, a violet light source or a blue light source, the UV light source including vacuum UV, UVC, UVB, UVA and the like. In some specific embodiments, the UV light source comprises a long-wavelength UV light source having a wavelength ranging from 280 nm to 380 nm. In some embodiments, the illumination module  10  and the disinfection module  20  may use a diffusion hood (not shown) for evenly diffusing the light produced by the light source. Specifically, the materials of the diffusion hoods used by the illumination module  10  and the disinfection module  20  may be the same, or may also be different, e.g., utilizing material such as quartz glass and the like to manufacture the diffusion hood of the UV light source, and utilizing PC, PMMA, PBT and the similar material to manufacture the diffusion hood of the white light LED source, which may allow the illumination source  11  and the disinfection light source  21  to achieve their own best effects at low cost. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the illumination source  11  comprises a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB)  14  and an illumination source chip  15  mounted on the MCPCB. Specifically, the illumination source chip  15  may be one or more, and in case of more than one, the illumination source chips are provided on a long-striped MCPCB  14  at intervals. The disinfection light source  21  comprises a MCPCB  24  having a UV-protective solder mask and a disinfection light source chip  25  (e.g., UV light source chip) mounted on the MCPCB  24  having a UV-protective solder mask. Specifically, the UV light source chips may be one or more, and in case of more than one, the UV light source chips are provided, at intervals, on a long-striped MCPCB  24  having a UV-protective solder mask. In some specific embodiments, the MCPCB  14  and the MCPCB  24  are mounted on the light and disinfection system  100  at an adjustable angle, such that an adjustable angle is formed between the disinfection light source  21  and the illumination source  11 , so that the disinfection light source  21  of the disinfection module  20  and the illumination source  11  of the illumination module  10  that are mounted adjacently have a substantially coincident illumination range on an illuminated surface. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the light and disinfection system  100  also comprises a distance sensor  104 , a timing module  105 , a detecting sensor  106 , a photosensitive sensor  107  and an indicator  108  which are located at the same side of the illumination source  11  and the disinfection light source  21 . These components may all be mounted at different positions, rather than the positions defined in the figure. In some other embodiments, the number of the above components may also be greater than one, e.g., two or three. 
     The light and disinfection system of the present application can be used in a kitchen, a bathroom, a home dining room, a home table, an office space, a laundry room, a wardrobe, an office dining room and any other places that need disinfection, sterilization and lighting. In some embodiments, a stereogram of applying the light and disinfection system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  to a lighting scene  200  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment, the light and disinfection system  100  is mounted at a bottom of a kitchen cabinet, above a countertop, for lighting the countertop of the kitchen, and performing disinfection and sterilization on the countertop of the kitchen and kitchenware on the countertop. 
       FIG. 3  is a function block diagram of the light and disinfection system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the light and disinfection system  100  supplies power to an illumination module  10 , a disinfection module  20  and an intelligent drive module  50  via a power supply input terminal  101 . The disinfection module  20  comprises a disinfection light source  21  and a control unit  22 , in which the control unit  22  may be built in the disinfection module  20  of  FIG. 1 . The intelligent drive module  50  comprises a distance sensor  104 , a timing module  105 , a detecting sensor  106  and a photosensitive sensor  107 . The distance sensor  104  is used to detect a distance between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface, and the control unit  22  is electrically connected with the distance sensor  104  for receiving a distance signal detected by the distance sensor  104  and controls an irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21  based on the distance, such that an irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at a predetermined value. 
     The distance sensor  104  can be selected from an ultrasonic ranging sensor, a laser ranging sensor, an infrared ranging sensor, a radar sensor and the like. In some embodiments, the distance sensor  104  can be selected from a sensor such as a laser ranging sensor which measures a distance between two points. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the laser ranging sensor is used to measure the shortest distance between the laser ranging sensor mounted on the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface. Depending on the different positions on which the laser ranging sensor is mounted, the measured distance may be a distance between the laser ranging sensor and the kitchen countertop, or may also be a distance between the laser ranging sensor and the kitchenware (e.g., pot). In some embodiments, the distance sensor  104  can be selected from a sensor such as an ultrasonic ranging sensor which measures a distance between a point and a plane. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the ultrasonic ranging sensor is used to measure a plurality of distances between the ultrasonic ranging sensor mounted on the light and disinfection system  100  and the respective points within a certain range on the illuminated surface which includes both the kitchen countertop and surfaces of all kinds of kitchenware on the countertop. The control unit  22  may select the shortest distance between the ultrasonic ranging sensor and the illuminated surface, or may also select the maximum distance between the ultrasonic ranging sensor and the illuminated surface, or may alternatively select an average distance between the ultrasonic ranging sensor and the illuminated surface, as the basis for controlling the irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light and disinfection system  100  may be arranged above the illuminated surface (e.g., kitchen countertop), within a preset threshold range from the illuminated surface. When the distance between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface which is detected by the distance sensor  104  is within the preset threshold range, the control unit  22  controls the irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21  based on the distance such that duration of one disinfection circle is kept at a preset time. In other words, when the distance is within the preset threshold range, the irradiation power can be adjusted within the power range of the disinfection light source  21 , such that the irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within a fixed time of disinfection and sterilization is kept at a predetermined value each time. In some specific embodiments, the preset threshold range is 0.5-2 meters, the preset time is about 7-9 hours, and the predetermined value is about 8.5-9.5 J/m2. In some specific embodiments, the preset time is about 8 hours, and the predetermined value is about 9 J/m2. 
     In some embodiments, when the distance between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface which is detected by the distance sensor  104  is greater than a maximum of the preset threshold range, the control unit  22  adjusts the irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21  to a maximum. At this time, the duration of one disinfection circle is prolonged to be greater than the preset time, thus ensuring that the irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at a predetermined value. When the distance between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface which is detected by the distance sensor  104  is less than a minimum of the preset threshold range, the control unit  22  adjusts the irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21  to a minimum. At this time, the duration of one disinfection circle is shortened to be less than the preset time, thus ensuring that the irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at the predetermined value. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the light and disinfection system  100  comprises a control switch  30  which is coupled to the illumination source  11  of the illumination module  10  and the timing module  105  of the intelligent drive module  50  respectively, for controlling the illumination source  11  and the timing module  105  to be turned on or turned off. In some specific embodiments, the control switch  30  can be a three-step mechanical switch, which will turn on the illumination source  11  and turn off the timing module when in the first step; which will turn off the illumination source  11  and turn on the timing module  105 , thus turning on the disinfection light source  21  connected to the timing module  105 , when in the second step; which will turn off both the illumination source  11  and the timing module  105  when in the third step. 
     In order to ensure that the user would not be irradiated by UV light, in some embodiments, the intelligent drive module  50  further comprises a detecting sensor  106  and/or a photosensitive sensor  107  coupled to the disinfection module  20  respectively. Note that the detecting sensor may be a human pyroelectric infrared sensor (PIR), an ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor and the like, for detecting whether anybody is nearby when the disinfection light source  21  is turned on. If it is detected that someone is nearby, the disinfection light source  21  will temporarily be turned off; until it is detected that the person is no longer in the detected region of the sensor, the disinfection light source  21  will be turned on again. The photosensitive sensor  107  is used as follows: when the disinfection light source  21  is turned on at night, if the photosensitive sensor  107  detects light that exceeds a preset threshold, it indicates that someone conducts activities with light on, then the disinfection light source  21  will temporarily be turned off; until the photosensitive sensor  107  detects light that does not exceed the preset threshold, then the disinfection light source  21  will be turned on again. 
     In some embodiments, the intelligent drive module  50  further comprises a timing module  105  coupled to the disinfection module  20 . When the illuminated surface needs to be disinfected and sterilized, the control switch  30  turns on the timing module  105 , thereby turning on the disinfection light source  21 . When the disinfection light source  21  is turned on, the timing is started simultaneously, and when one disinfection circle ends, the timing is stopped and the disinfection light source  21  is turned off, so as to ensure that the effect of disinfection and sterilization achieves an expected standard. In some specific embodiments, the timing module  105  performs timing by counting down. For example, the control switch  30  turns on the timing module  105 , and the timing module  105  counts down from 8 hours while the disinfection light source  21  is turned on; when the countdown becomes 0, the disinfection light source  21  will be turned off, and one disinfection circle is finished. When the detecting sensor  106  and the photosensitive sensor  107  detect that someone is active nearby, the timing module  105  stops the timing and temporarily turns off the disinfection light source  21 , until no human activity can be detected, then the timing module  105  continues the timing to complete one disinfection circle. 
     In some embodiments, the timing module  105  further comprises a function of automatically turning on the disinfection light source  21  regularly in a fixed circle. For example, on each Monday morning, at 10 o&#39;clock, the disinfection light source  21  is turned on and the timing is started, disinfecting and sterilizing for one disinfection circle. The time for turning on manually is saved, and on the other hand, the environment is kept clean and hygienic. 
     In some embodiments, the light and disinfection system  100  further comprises an indicator  108 , e.g., an indicator light, for indicating the working status of the disinfection module  20 . If the disinfection module is working, the indicator light is on; when the disinfection module is turned off, the indicator light is off; and when the disinfection module is turned off temporarily, the indicator light is flickering. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the light and disinfection system  100  further comprises a dimmer switch  40  coupled to the illumination source  11  of the illumination module  10 , for adjusting brightness of the illumination source  11 . The dimmer switch  40  can comprise one of three-step dimming, five-step dimming, stepless dimming and the similar dimming manners. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for disinfecting and sterilizing an illuminated surface by the light and disinfection system according to one embodiment of the present application. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the method  400  comprises: 
     Step  410 : detecting a distance between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface; and 
     Step  420 : controlling an irradiation power of the disinfection light source  21  in the light and disinfection system  100  based on the distance, such that an irradiation amount of the illuminated surface accumulated within one disinfection circle is kept at a predetermined value. 
     In some embodiments, a relationship between the irradiation power P of the disinfection light source  21  and the distance D between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface is as shown in the following Equation (1): 
         P=a*Db   (1)
 
     wherein a and b are constants, with their values chosen depending on the size and shape of the light and disinfection system  100 . 
     In some specific embodiments, taking a disinfection lamp on the bottom of a kitchen cabinet of 24 inches as an example, the relationship between the irradiation power P of the disinfection light source  21  and the distance D between the light and disinfection system  100  and the illuminated surface is as shown in the following Equation (2): 
         P= 0.01083* D 1.719  (2)
 
     The light and disinfection system disclosed in the present application may perform a function of lighting when lighting is needed, and perform a function of disinfection and sterilization when people leave, and may adaptively adjust the irradiation power of the disinfection light source based on the distance between the disinfection light source and the surface to be disinfected, such that the irradiation amount accumulated on the surface to be disinfected within each circle of disinfection and sterilization is kept at a predetermined value, so as to ensure efficiency and quality of disinfection and sterilization, thus providing a clean and hygienic place for family and working environment. 
     Although the present invention has been set forth in details in combination with specific embodiments, the person skilled in the art shall be understood that many modifications and variations may be made to the present invention. Therefore, it should be recognized that the intention of the claims is to cover all these modifications and variations within the real concept and range of the present invention.