Patent ID: 12214095

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, similar components are given the same reference numbers. In the present specification, the term “disinfection” includes not only detoxifying bacteria and viruses but also reducing the presence of (sterilizing) bacteria and viruses.

FIG.1is a schematic configuration diagram of a disinfection system100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. AlthoughFIG.1illustrates the disinfection system100for disinfecting the inside of a bus, it is also possible to disinfect the inside of a vehicle (moving body) other than a bus or the inside of a building by the same configuration.

The disinfection system100includes an ultraviolet irradiator1, a recognition sensor2, an alarm device3, and a control device4.

The ultraviolet irradiator1irradiates a passenger compartment of the bus with ultraviolet rays to disinfect an irradiation target object. The switching on and off of the ultraviolet irradiator1is controlled by the control device4. An example of the irradiation target object includes a body support that can be gripped by a hand such as a handrail or a hanging strap installed in the passenger compartment of a bus for the purpose of supporting a body or assisting walking. Further, examples of the irradiation target object include walls, windows, seats, and the like that may be touched by hands.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.1, ultraviolet irradiators1A,1B are respectively installed in the front and rear of the passenger compartment of the bus such that the front and rear of the passenger compartment of the bus can be individually irradiated. The mounting location and the number of ultraviolet irradiators1are not particularly limited. The ultraviolet irradiator1may be appropriately set such that a part to be disinfected is included in an irradiation range. The ultraviolet irradiator1may be provided with directivity such that a desired irradiation range can be irradiated by changing the irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1. Further, by reflecting the ultraviolet rays using a mirror or the like, a part that cannot be directly irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiator1may be irradiated.

The recognition sensor2is a sensor for recognizing the situation in the inside of the passenger compartment of the bus, more specifically, a sensor for recognizing whether there are passengers in the passenger compartment of the bus, and when there are passengers in the passenger compartment of the bus, in which part (for example, the front and rear of the passenger compartment, and the like) of the passenger compartment the passengers are present. In the present embodiment, as the recognition sensor2, a camera installed in a place where the entire passenger compartment of the bus can be seen is used, but the installation location and the number of installations are not limited thereto. Further, another sensor (for example, a motion sensor, or the like) can be used as the recognition sensor2. The camera as the recognition sensor2periodically photographs the passenger compartment of the bus and transmits the captured image to the control device4.

The alarm device3is a device for giving various warnings and notifications to bus passengers using light, sound, an image, or the like. The alarm device3is controlled by the control device4.

The control device4is, for example, a general-purpose computer equipped with a communication function, and includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory such as a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM), an input port, an output port, and the like which are connected to one another by a bidirectional bus. The control device4controls the ultraviolet irradiator1and the alarm device3based on the situation in the inside of the passenger compartment of the bus.

In the present embodiment, the control device4determines whether there are passengers in the passenger compartment of the bus by performing image processing on the images taken by the camera, and when there are passengers in the passenger compartment of the bus, determines in which part (for example, the front and rear of the passenger compartment, and the like) of the passenger compartment the passengers are present. Then, based on the determination result, the control device4controls the ultraviolet irradiator1to irradiate the passenger compartment of the bus with ultraviolet rays, and controls the alarm device3as necessary to warn the passengers of the bus that ultraviolet disinfection will be carried out.

FIG.2is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the control device4in order to control the ultraviolet irradiator1.

In step S1, the control device4determines whether an elapsed time T1since the previous irradiation on the front part of the passenger compartment is equal to or longer than a preset predetermined time Tthr. When the elapsed time T1is equal to or longer than the predetermined time Tthr, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S2. On the other hand, when the elapsed time T1is less than the predetermined time Tthr, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S6.

In step S2, the control device4determines, based on the images taken by the camera, whether there is a passenger within an irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1A that irradiates the front part of the passenger compartment. The control device4proceeds to the process of step S3when there is no passenger who exists in the irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1A, that is, in the front part of the passenger compartment. On the other hand, when there is a passenger in the front part of the passenger compartment, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S6.

In step S3, the control device4determines, based on the images taken by the camera, whether there is a passenger in the passenger compartment. The control device4proceeds to the process of step S4when there is no passenger in the passenger compartment. On the other hand, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S5when there is even one passenger in the passenger compartment.

In step S4, the control device4automatically disinfects the front part of the passenger compartment by irradiating the front part of the passenger compartment with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiator1A. Further, the control device4returns the elapsed time T1to zero and counts again.

In step S5, the control device4controls the alarm device3to warn the passengers in the rear part of the passenger compartment that ultraviolet disinfection will be carried out on the front part of the passenger compartment. The warning method is not particularly limited. A warning may be made by causing a light to blink, a warning may be given by sound or voice, a warning may be given by displaying a warning message on a screen, or these may be combined and executed in sequence or at the same time.

In step S6, the control device4determines whether an elapsed time T2since the previous irradiation on the rear part of the passenger compartment is equal to or longer than the preset predetermined time Tthr. When the elapsed time T2is equal to or longer than the predetermined time Tthr, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S7. On the other hand, when the elapsed time T2is less than the predetermined time Tthr, the control device4ends this process without disinfecting the passenger compartment.

In step S7, the control device4determines, based on the images taken by the camera, whether there is a passenger within an irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1B that irradiates the rear part of the passenger compartment. The control device4proceeds to the process of step S8when there is no passenger within the irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1B, that is, in the rear part of the passenger compartment. On the other hand, when there is a passenger in the rear part of the passenger compartment, the control device4ends this process without disinfecting the passenger compartment.

In step S8, the control device4determines, based on the images taken by the camera, whether there is a passenger within the passenger compartment. The control device4proceeds to the process of step S9when there is no passenger within the passenger compartment. On the other hand, the control device4proceeds to the process of step S10when there is even one passenger within the passenger compartment.

In step S9, the control device4automatically disinfects the rear part of the passenger compartment by irradiating the rear part of the passenger compartment with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiator1B. Further, the control device4returns the elapsed time T2to zero and counts again.

In step S10, the control device4controls the alarm device3to warn the passengers in the front part of the passenger compartment that ultraviolet disinfection will be carried out on the rear part of the passenger compartment.

The disinfection system100according to the present embodiment described above is a disinfection system that disinfects the passenger compartment (inside a building or a moving body) of a bus. The disinfection system100includes the ultraviolet irradiator1, the recognition sensor2that recognizes the situation in the passenger compartment of the bus, and the control device4configured to automatically control the ultraviolet irradiator1based on the situation in the passenger compartment of the bus, which is recognized by the recognition sensor2, to disinfect the passenger compartment of the bus.

As a result, the part of the building or moving body that is touched by a person can be automatically disinfected by ultraviolet rays. In addition, unlike the case of disinfecting by spraying a disinfectant solution, the parts irradiated with ultraviolet rays can be evenly disinfected, and the disinfectant solution does not adhere to the parts even when the irradiated parts are touched immediately after irradiation, such that the parts touched by a person can be appropriately disinfected.

In the present embodiment, the control device4is configured to perform irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiator1when it is determined, based on a recognition result by the recognition sensor2, that there is no person within the irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1. Further, the control device4is configured not to perform irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiator1when it is determined that there is a person within the irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the passengers from being irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the control device4is configured to, when it is determined, based on a recognition result by the recognition sensor2, that there is no person within an irradiation range of the ultraviolet irradiator1but there is a person who exists outside the irradiation range, perform irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiator1after giving a warning to a person who exists outside the irradiation range.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the passengers from being irradiated with ultraviolet rays while increasing the frequency of irradiation (frequency of disinfection) with ultraviolet rays.

Although the embodiment of the present disclosure is described above, the embodiment described above is only a part of the application examples of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific configuration of the embodiment described above.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the warning given in steps S5and S10ofFIG.2is given by the alarm device3, but the warning is not limited thereto. Communication may be performed between a terminal and the control device such that the terminal (for example, a smartphone or the like) owned by the passenger gives a warning.

Further, for example, in the embodiment described above, when performing ultraviolet disinfection in the passenger compartment of a bus after giving a warning in steps S5or S10ofFIG.2, for example, along with the warning, a shielding object that physically blocks ultraviolet rays, such as a shielding curtain installed between the front part and the rear part of the passenger compartment of the bus, may be automatically operated, and ultraviolet disinfection may then be performed in the passenger compartment of the bus after physically blocking the part between the front part and the rear part of the passenger compartment of the bus.

In addition, in order to inform passengers who are about to board the bus that the bus has just been disinfected with ultraviolet rays, for a certain period of time after the ultraviolet disinfection, the alarm device3may be used to inform passengers of this, or a notification indicating that the fact may be sent to a terminal of a newly boarded passenger.