# US 10,117,958 B2 · System and apparatus thereof for destroying pathogens associated with footwear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,958 B2 - Document ID: US10117958B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/909,301 - Filed: 2018-03-01 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-05 - Assignees: Harbor Innovations, LLC - Applicants: HealthierStep, Inc. - Inventors: Rachel Dombrowsky; Christopher Montalbano; Andrew Martin; Philip Beamer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117958B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - H05B 45/22: using optical feedback - A47L 11/405: {Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning} - A47L 23/02: Shoe-cleaning machines, with or without applicators for shoe polish - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - E04F 15/02405: {Floor panels} - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An apparatus for destroying pathogens includes a platform and an LED matrix panel. The platform has a portion configured to permit passage of ultraviolet light therethrough. The LED matrix panel is disposed below the portion of the platform and includes a grid and a plurality of discreetly-controlled, ultraviolet light LEDs (UV LEDs). The grid defines a plurality of cells. Each UV LED is associated with one cell such that the cells direct the ultraviolet light emitted by the UV LEDs upwardly through the portion of the platform to sanitize an object supported on the portion of the platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The footwear-sanitizing system according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding each use of the footwear-sanitizing system consists of the number of uses of the apparatus; the time of each use; whether each use was complete; or identification information relating to the user or the object supported on the portion of the platform; or combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller receives and stores information regarding each use of the footwear-sanitizing system by a user or an object supported on the portion of the platform. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the platform and in communication with the plurality of UV LEDs, the plurality of UV LEDs configured to be activated upon the pressure sensor sensing a threshold force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed within a respective cell of the plurality of cells disposed within the LED matrix panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, wherein a first UV LED of the plurality of UV LEDs is activated in response to a first sensor of the plurality of sensors sensing an object on the portion of the platform, the first UV LED and the first sensor being disposed within the same cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the first sensor senses the object only when the object is disposed directly above the first sensor. ### Claim 8 A system for monitoring sanitizing of footwear comprising: a user interface to be mounted to a wall, the user interface configured to display a progress of a sanitization process; a footwear sanitizer apparatus including: at least one sensor; a microcontroller; and a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to radiate UV light to footwear of a user upon the at least one sensor sensing a predetermined setting; and a power supply in electrical communication with the footwear sanitizer apparatus, wherein upon the at least one sensor sensing an adjustable predetermined threshold setting, the microcontroller transmits a signal to the plurality of UV LEDs to radiate UV light to footwear of a user standing or an object laying on the footwear sanitizer apparatus, and wherein the user interface includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag storing identification information of a user of the system, or the user interface requires input of identification information of a user of the system prior to the user using the system, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor includes a pressure sensor coupled to the platform and in communication with the plurality of UV LEDs, the plurality of UV LEDs configured to be activated upon the pressure sensor sensing a threshold force. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed within a respective cell disposed within an LED matrix panel that includes a grid defining a plurality of cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein a first UV LED of the plurality of UV LEDs is activated in response to a first sensor of the plurality of sensors sensing an object on the portion of the platform, the first UV LED and the first sensor being disposed within the same cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the first sensor senses the object only when the object is disposed directly above the first sensor.