System and apparatus thereof for destroying pathogens associated with footwear

A footwear-sanitizing system, comprising:

• a user interface to be mounted to a wall, the user interface configured to display a progress of a sanitization process;
• a microcontroller;
• and
• an apparatus to be disposed on a floor, the apparatus in communication with the user interface and including:
• a platform having a portion configured to permit passage of ultraviolet light therethrough;
• and
• an LED matrix panel disposed below the portion of the platform and including:
• a grid defining a plurality of cells;
• and
• a plurality of discretely-controlled, ultraviolet light LEDs (UV LEDs) that selectively emit ultraviolet light, wherein each UV LED of the plurality of UV LEDs is associated with one cell of the plurality of cells such that the plurality of cells direct the ultraviolet light emitted by the plurality of UV LEDs upwardly through the portion of the platform to sanitize an object supported on the portion of the platform, and
• wherein the plurality of UV LEDs are further configured as photodiodes such that the plurality of UV LEDs sense a change in light upon an object being disposed on the portion of the platform to activate the plurality of UV LEDs.