Patent Description:
Vehicles are known to be provided with lamps that provide normal visible light in a variety of locations to illuminate the interior of the vehicle at night. To sterilize the interior of a vehicle, a driver may sterilize the interior of the vehicle by irradiating the interior of the vehicle with UV radiation generated by an independent sterilization system, as described for example in the patent publications <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, or <CIT>.

Systems for sterilizing household items have been introduced in the form of independent systems using UV LEDs. These related-art systems include systems for sterilizing household items using UV LEDs are a toothbrush sterilizer, a baby bottle sterilizer, and the like that sterilize microorganisms and viruses in household items that are generally taken into the mouth.

There are three types of UV radiation, long wavelength UV radiation (UV-A), medium wavelength UV radiation (UV-B), and short wavelength UV radiation (UV-C). UV sterilizers generally use short wavelength UV radiation and have <NUM>% sterilization power when UV radiation is only projected for <NUM> seconds. However, UV radiation may be harmful when directly projected to human bodies.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided so that the present disclosure is adequately disclosed, and a person with ordinary skill in the art can fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. Meanwhile, the terms used in the present specification are for explaining the embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure.

The use of the term "up" or "upward" herein is meant to refer to a direction wherein a corresponding vehicle includes wheels on a lower portion of the vehicle compared to a roof of the vehicle in an upper portion of the vehicle.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an in-vehicle sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the in-vehicle sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one sterilizing part (for example, a sterilizer) <NUM>, a driving determining part <NUM>, a sterilization control part <NUM>, a communication part <NUM>, and a remote control terminal <NUM>. The driving determining part <NUM>, and sterilization control part <NUM> may be part of the electronic control unit (ECU) or respective ECUs each having one or more processors configured to perform the processes as detailed herein below, including determining a time point at which the sterilizing part <NUM>. Communication part <NUM> may include, for example, a transceiver configured to receive communications. Remote control terminal <NUM> may be a user device, such as, for example, a mobile device.

The sterilizing part <NUM> includes one or more ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs). The sterilizing part <NUM> may be provided together with a vehicle room lamp <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, a door lamp <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, or an ambient light (or mood lamp) <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sterilizing part <NUM> may be disposed on a ceiling air vent <NUM> provided on the upper portion of the interior of a vehicle. The sterilizing parts <NUM> disposed on the ceiling air vents <NUM> provided on the upper portions of the interior of the vehicle serve to sterilize the entirety of the interior of the vehicle, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sterilizing part <NUM> disposed on the room lamp sterilizes a steering wheel <NUM>, a dashboard <NUM>, an audio, video, and navigation system (AVN) <NUM> disposed on the dashboard <NUM>, an air conditioning system button <NUM>, and a gearstick.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, the ambient light <NUM> in the sterilizing part <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing <NUM>, a luminescent fiber <NUM>, UV LEDs <NUM>, a UV reflector <NUM>, an upper garnish <NUM>, and a lower garnish <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> is provided on a predetermined portion of the length of a door of the vehicle or a predetermined portion of the length of the dashboard <NUM>. A channel having an open front portion is provided on a front portion of the housing <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, and the luminescent fiber <NUM> is seated in the channel. A UV mounting panel having a space for accommodating the UV LEDs <NUM> is provided below the rear portion of the channel. The UV LEDs <NUM> mounted on the lower portion of the UV mounting panel may be a plurality of UV LEDs arranged along the UV mounting panel. Meanwhile, according to another unclaimed embodiment, the housing <NUM> may be configured to accommodate the luminescent fiber <NUM> and the UV LEDs <NUM> without being provided with a separate channel in which the luminescent fiber <NUM> is disposed.

The UV reflector <NUM> is disposed below the UV mounting panel and spaced apart a predetermined distance from the housing <NUM>, such that UV radiation generated by the UV LEDs <NUM> may be projected outward. The UV reflector <NUM> of the present embodiment may be configured to be curved so that UV radiation generated by the UV LEDs <NUM> may be projected in a variety of directions. Since the UV reflector <NUM> of the present embodiment is configured to be curved as described above, the UV radiation generated by the UV LEDs <NUM> may be uniformly projected to the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the range of projection of the UV radiation may be adjusted depending on the distance between the UV reflector <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

The upper garnish <NUM> covers an open portion of the channel such that the luminescent fiber <NUM> disposed in the channel of the housing is not dislodged outward. The upper garnish <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be formed of a material allowing light generated by the luminescent fiber <NUM> to pass therethrough and projected to the interior of the vehicle.

In addition, a UV transparent film may further be provided between the UV reflector <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to prevent external dust or the like from entering the interior.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sterilizing part <NUM> disposed on the door lamp <NUM> sterilizes a door handle <NUM> inside the vehicle. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sterilizing part <NUM> disposed on the ambient light <NUM> sterilizes the entirety of the interior of the vehicle.

The sterilization control part <NUM> controls the sterilizing part <NUM> so that the sterilizing part <NUM> is turned on or off depending on a result of the determination.

The driving determining part <NUM> determines a time point at which the sterilizing part <NUM> is to be operated. In this regard, the driving determining part <NUM> determines whether or not information regarding the operation time of the sterilizing part <NUM> set by the user is stored and, when the operation time is reached, controls the sterilization control part <NUM> so that the sterilizing part <NUM> operates during the operation time.

The communication part <NUM> receives a remote start signal and a remote sterilization request signal through communication with the remote control terminal <NUM>. When the remote start signal and the remote sterilization request signal are received from the remote control terminal <NUM> through the communication part <NUM>, the driving determining part <NUM> may instruct the sterilization control part <NUM> to control the sterilizing part <NUM> so that the sterilizing part <NUM> operates for a predetermined time. Here, the communication part <NUM> may use a communication protocol to transmit or receive a signal through radio frequency (RF) communication with the remote control terminal <NUM> provided as a vehicle smart key or may transmit or receive a signal through the Bluetooth communication protocol.

Meanwhile, the remote control terminal <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided with a separate function of sterilizing the interior of the vehicle as an application is installed. A driver may transmit a remote start signal or a remote sterilization request signal to the vehicle through an application as illustrated in <FIG> when sterilization is desired (for example, is necessary, initiated, etc.). In addition, the remote control terminal <NUM> may control turning on/off of the UV lamp, turning on/off of the mood lamp, the color of the mood lamp, the brightness of illumination, and the like through the application.

The driving determining part <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle or may be implemented as an ECU of a separate AVN allowing services, such as remote control, safety security, vehicle management, and navigation, to be provided using a smartphone.

In addition, the communication part <NUM> may be implemented as a communication module of a terminal disposed in the vehicle to be started remotely by an application installed in the smartphone of the driver. The communication part <NUM> allows the vehicle to be identified by a separate universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card, and transmits or receives data to or from the smartphone of the driver through a mobile communication network.

Meanwhile, when unlocking of a locked door is detected during a predetermined driving time, the driving determining part <NUM> may control the sterilization control part <NUM> to end the operation of the sterilizing part <NUM>.

This configuration may prevent the driver from being directly irradiated with harmful UV radiation when he/she gets in the vehicle while the sterilizing part <NUM> is being driven.

In addition, a sterilization request is input by the remote control terminal, the driving determining part <NUM> may control the sterilization control part <NUM> to operate in one of a quick sterilization mode in which only some of a plurality of sterilizing parts <NUM> operate an entirety sterilization mode and in which the entirety of the sterilizing parts <NUM> are operated according to the setting of the vehicle itself. Meanwhile, the driving determining part <NUM> may further include a sensing part detecting whether or not a child or a pet is inside the vehicle when the sterilization request is input by the remote control terminal. The sensing part may include one or more sensors selected among a camera sensor, a temperature sensor, and CO<NUM> sensor.

Thus, when the sterilization request is received from the remote control terminal, the driving determining part <NUM> may operate the sensing part to detect whether or not a child or a pet is inside the vehicle and, when detecting the child or the pet inside the vehicle, controls the sterilizing part <NUM> not to operate.

According to the present embodiment, when the driving of a vehicle is stopped in the dawn after the vehicle is parked or an electric vehicle is being charged, a sterilization diagnosis function may be performed. In addition, during commuting in weekdays, the entirety sterilization mode may be performed when the entirety sterilization mode is set according to the setting of the vehicle itself, or the quick sterilization mode may be performed when sterilization is requested at an unspecified time and in an unspecified place.

Meanwhile, the sterilizing part <NUM> operates simultaneously with an LED lamp having a visible light wavelength range. The LED lamp is operated by changing the color depending on the operation of the sterilizing part <NUM>. For example, when the sterilizing part <NUM> is operating, the ambient light (or mood lamp) is operated to project purple light or red light to notify that the sterilizing part <NUM> is operating as illustrated in <FIG>. When the operation of the sterilizing part <NUM> is ended due to the completion of the sterilization of the interior of the vehicle, the ambient light is operated to project green light to notify the occupant of the completion of the sterilization as illustrated in <FIG>. Thus, an accident in which the occupant is directly irradiated with UV radiation projected form the sterilizing part may be prevented.

Meanwhile, the driving determining part <NUM> determines the operation mode on the basis of a time point and a position at which the sterilization of the interior of the vehicle is requested and a driver use pattern.

For example, in a situation in which doors are locked after the driver ends the driving of the vehicle, when a signal regarding the function of sterilizing the interior of the vehicle is received from the remote control terminal <NUM> through the communication part <NUM>, the driving determining part <NUM> determines the quick sterilization mode to be activated.

In contrast, when the vehicle is determined to be in a parking state after the driver ends the driving of the vehicle, the driving determining part <NUM> determines the entirety sterilization mode to be activated. For example, after the driving of the vehicle is ended, when a predetermined time has passed, the driving determining part <NUM> may determine the vehicle is in a parking state, and thus activate the entirety sterilization mode. When the vehicle is parked in a designated position, i.e., the resident of the driver, the driving determining part <NUM> may determine the entirety sterilization mode to be activated.

The operation mode according to the present embodiment includes the quick sterilization mode in which only some of the sterilizing parts <NUM> operate and the entirety sterilization mode in which the entirety of the sterilizing parts <NUM> provided inside the vehicle operate.

Meanwhile, the sterilizing part <NUM> may be disposed on at least one of the mood lamp, the door lamp, and the room lamp. The sterilizing part <NUM> disposed in this manner operates when the quick sterilization mode is activated. In general, the sterilizing part <NUM> concentrically sterilizes a location on the steering wheel or the door switch to be frequently in contact with a pollutant, such as the driver.

In addition, the sterilizing part <NUM> may be provided on an air vent in an air conditioning system provided in the ceiling inside the vehicle. When the sterilizing part <NUM> is provided on the air vent in an air conditioning system provided in the ceiling inside the vehicle, the sterilizing part <NUM> may be operated in the entirety sterilization mode.

The term "part" used in this specification may include a unit implemented as hardware, software or firmware, and may be interchangeably used with a term, such as logic, a logical block, a unit, or a circuit. The "part" may be an integrated part, or a minimum unit of the part or a part thereof, which performs one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the "part" may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Furthermore, an implementation described in this specification may be realized as a method or process, an apparatus, a software program, a data stream or a signal, for example. Although the present disclosure has been discussed only in the context of a single form of an implementation (e.g., discussed as only a method), an implementation having a discussed characteristic may also be realized in another form (e.g., apparatus or program). The apparatus may be implemented as proper hardware, software or firmware. The method may be implemented in an apparatus, such as a processor commonly referring to a processing device, including a computer, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit or a programmable logic device, for example. The processor includes a communication device, such as a computer, a cell phone, a mobile phone/personal digital assistant ("PDA") and another device which facilitates the communication of information between end-users.

Examples of the present disclosure may provide an effect capable of removing harmful microorganisms and viruses present inside a vehicle by sterilizing the interior of the vehicle in any conditions.

Various embodiments provide for performance of automatic in-vehicle sterilization using an application, such as Bluelink, installed in the smartphone of the driver prior to the driver entering (or operating) the vehicle. When embodiments are used in public transportation means, such as a sharing car, a taxi, a bus, and a subway, used by unspecified people, an effect of restricting the spread of virus may be obtained.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a hybrid function using a variety of available lamps (e.g., room lamps and door lamps) in a vehicle and a ceiling air conditioning system.

Respective descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure do not itemize all available combinations, and descriptions of various embodiments may be applied independently or may be applied through a combination of two or more. Features of an embodiment may be applicable to any other embodiment or combination of embodiments.

Moreover, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented with hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In a case where various embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented with hardware, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented with one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), general processors, controllers, microcontrollers, or microprocessors.

The scope of the present disclosure may include software or machine-executable instructions (for example, an operation system (OS), applications, firmware, programs, etc.), which enable operations of a method according to various embodiments to be executed in a device or a computer, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium capable of being executed in a device or a computer each storing the software or the instructions.

Claim 1:
An in-vehicle sterilization system comprising:
a sterilizer (<NUM>) comprising one or more ultraviolet, UV, light-emitting diodes, LEDs (<NUM>); and
one or more processors configured to:
determine a time point at which the sterilizer (<NUM>) is to be operated, and
control operation of the sterilizer (<NUM>) according to a result of the determination,
wherein the sterilizer (<NUM>) is characterized by
a housing (<NUM>) comprising a longitudinal channel provided on a front portion of the housing (<NUM>) and having an open front portion and a UV mounting panel provided below a rear portion of the channel and having a space for accommodating the UV LEDs (<NUM>);
a luminescent fiber (<NUM>) disposed in the channel of the housing (<NUM>) to project RGB light under control;
the UV LEDs (<NUM>) mounted on a lower portion of the UV mounting panel to generate UV radiation under control; and
an upper garnish (<NUM>) configured to cover an open portion of the channel such that the luminescent fiber (<NUM>) disposed in the channel is not released outward.