# US 10,245,341 B2 · Room and area disinfection utilizing pulsed light with modulated power flux and light systems with visible light compensation between pulses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,341 B2 - Document ID: US10245341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/989,394 - Filed: 2018-05-25 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-18 - Assignees: Xenex Disinfection Services Inc. - Applicants: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC. - Inventors: Mark A. Stibich; Charles Dale; Edward C. Guerrero, Jr.; Paul P. Froutan; Sarah E. Simmons; Boris Ciorneiu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245341B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A23B 2/53: with ultraviolet light - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - 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) - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract Disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of germicidal light at a frequency greater than 20 Hz and project the pulses of light to surfaces at least 1.0 meter from the disinfection apparatus. The pulses of light comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 5000 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. Other disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of light comprising germicidal light and visible light from a germicidal light source and generate pulses of light from a visible light source that is distinct from the germicidal light source. The projections of visible light from the light sources produce a continuous stream of visible light or a collective stream of visible light pulsed at a frequency greater than 60 Hz. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reducing bacterial contamination on surfaces in an enclosed space which is suitable for human occupancy, wherein the method comprises: generating pulses of light at a frequency greater than approximately 20 Hz from a germicidal light source of a disinfection apparatus that is arranged in an enclosed space which is suitable for human occupancy; and projecting the pulses of light to surfaces in the enclosed space at least 1.0 meter from the disinfection apparatus, wherein the pulses of light generated by the germicidal light source comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 5000 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting or terminating operation of the disinfection apparatus based on a detection signal from an occupancy sensor comprising the disinfection apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of projecting the pulses of light comprises projecting the pulses of light directly to surfaces in the enclosed space at least 2.0 meters from the disinfection apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the pulses of light comprises generating the pulses of light at a frequency greater than approximately 40 Hz. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the pulses of light comprises generating the pulses of light at a frequency greater than approximately 60 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the pulses of light comprises generating the pulses of light at a frequency between approximately 55 Hz and approximately 80 Hz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the pulses of light comprises generating the pulses of light at a frequency greater than approximately 80 Hz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pulses of light generated by the germicidal light source comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 2500 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pulses of light generated by the germicidal light source comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 1000 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically moving the germicidal light source relative to a support structure of the disinfection apparatus during the steps of generating and projecting the pulses of light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically moving the disinfection apparatus during the steps of generating and projecting the pulses of light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the germicidal light source is a polychromatic germicidal light source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the germicidal light source generates ultraviolet light and visible light, wherein the method further comprises generating pulses of light from a visible light source distinct from the germicidal light source such that combined projections of visible light from the visible light source and the germicidal light source produce a continuous stream of visible light or a collective stream of visible light pulsed at a frequency greater than 50 Hz.