# US 10,372,952 B2 · Device having light source to reduce surface pathogens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,952 B2 - Document ID: US10372952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/426,558 - Filed: 2017-02-07 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-06 - Assignees: Hand Held Products, Inc. - Applicants: Hand Held Products, Inc. - Inventors: Erik Todeschini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372952B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10564: {Light sources} - A61L 2/084: Visible light - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - G06K 7/10881: {constructional details of hand-held scanners} - G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes} - G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes} - 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 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles - H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)} - H04M 1/17: Hygienic or sanitary devices on telephone equipment (for mouthpieces or earpieces H04R1/12) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - 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) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A self-disinfecting device includes a housing with translucent material and an internal light source that is used to reduce surface pathogens on the translucent material. The device includes a processor and a light source positioned within the housing. At least a portion of the housing is translucent to radiation, and the light source emits radiation at a wavelength and an intensity that kills pathogens residing on the outer surface of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand-held device, comprising: a processor; a laser or image sensor for reading symbology; a housing that substantially encloses the processor and the laser or image sensor, the housing being at least partially formed of a rigid material that is translucent to radiation; and a radiation source positioned within the housing for emitting radiation at a wavelength and an intensity that kills pathogens on the outer surface of the housing's translucent material; wherein at least a portion of the radiation is emitted from the radiation source orthogonal to the inner surface of the translucent material and through the translucent material to kill pathogens on the outer surface of the translucent material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, comprising a motion sensor for preventing the emission of radiation from the radiation source when the hand-held device is moving. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, comprising a timer for starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, comprising a switch or sensor for detecting when the hand-held device is positioned in a charging base and starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in an array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is guided to the outer surface of the housing's translucent material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is guided through glass to the outer surface of the housing's translucent material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a handle formed of material that is translucent to ultraviolet light. ### Claim 10 A hand-held device, comprising: a processor, an image sensor for reading code symbology, and a radiation source positioned within a housing; wherein a portion of the housing comprises a rigid material that is translucent to radiation; wherein the radiation source emits radiation at a wavelength and an intensity that kills pathogens on an outer surface of the housing's translucent material; wherein the radiation emitted from the radiation source is directed orthogonal to an inner surface of the translucent material and through the translucent material to kill pathogens on the outer surface of the housing's translucent material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hand-held device according to claim 10, comprising a motion sensor for preventing the emission of radiation from the radiation source when the hand-held device is moving. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The hand-held device according to claim 10, comprising a timer for starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The hand-held device according to claim 10, comprising a switch or sensor for detecting when the hand-held device is positioned in a charging base and starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The hand-held device according to claim 10, wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in an array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The hand-held device to claim 10, wherein the radiation is guided through glass to the outer surface of the housing's translucent material. ### Claim 16 A hand-held device, comprising: an image sensor for reading symbols; a processor; a housing containing the image sensor and the processor, the housing including rigid material that is translucent to radiation; and at least one radiation source positioned within the housing that, when illuminated, emits radiation at a wavelength and an intensity that kills pathogens on an outer surface of the housing's translucent material; wherein a portion of the radiation emitted from the at least one radiation source is emitted orthogonal to an inner surface of the translucent material and through the translucent material to kill pathogens on the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hand-held device according to claim 16, comprising a motion sensor for preventing the emission of radiation from the radiation source when the hand-held device is moving. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The hand-held device according to claim 16, comprising a timer for starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The hand-held device according to claim 16, comprising a switch or sensor for detecting when the hand-held device is positioned in a charging base and starting and stopping the emission of radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the radiation source comprises an ultraviolet light-emitting diode.