# US 10,441,670 B2 · Storage device including ultraviolet illumination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,670 B2 - Document ID: US10441670B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/388,394 - Filed: 2016-12-22 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-28 - Assignees: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Shur; Maxim S. Shatalov; Timothy James Bettles; Yuri Bilenko; Saulius Smetona; Alexander Dobrinsky; Remigijus Gaska; Igor Agafonov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441670B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - F25D 17/042: {Air treating means within refrigerated spaces (air conditioning in general F24F)} - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - G01N 27/121: {for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid (moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048)} - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - 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 - F25D 2317/0417: using an UV-lamp - 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) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. Items located within the area and/or one or more conditions of the area are monitored over a period of time. Based on the monitoring, ultraviolet radiation sources are controlled by adjusting a direction, an intensity, a pattern, and/or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source. Adjustments to the ultraviolet radiation source(s) can correspond to one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a storage device including a plurality of storage areas, wherein a storage area in the plurality of storage areas includes at least one shelf for holding the at least one item, and wherein the storage area is at least partially defined by a plurality of layers including: a transparent region fixed in the storage device, wherein the transparent region is configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation; and a reflecting region located in proximity to the transparent region, wherein the reflecting region is configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation within the storage area and prevent the ultraviolet radiation from exiting the storage area; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the storage area, wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are configured to generate ultraviolet radiation into the storage area; a set of sensing devices located within the storage area, wherein the set of sensing devices are configured to monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or the at least one item, wherein the set of current conditions includes a set of visual attributes regarding a surface of the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and a control system configured to control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources within the storage area based on the set of current conditions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the set of sensing devices includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution of the at least one item on the at least one shelf. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the set of sensing devices further includes a visual camera configured to capture an image of the at least one item for processing by the control system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the control system is configured to recognize the at least one item based on the weight distribution from the load sensor and the image from the visual camera and control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on a recognition of the at least one item. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the set of sensing devices includes a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity level within the storage area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the control system is configured to adjust the humidity level within the storage area based on the recognition of the at least one item. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf includes a plurality of sub-compartments and the control system is configured to individually control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources in each sub-compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein each sub-compartment includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution in the sub-compartment. ### Claim 9 A storage device comprising: a plurality of storage areas located within a portion of the storage device, wherein a storage area in the plurality of storage areas includes at least one shelf for holding at least one item, and wherein the storage area is at least partially defined by a plurality of layers including: a transparent region fixed in the storage device, wherein the transparent region is configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation; and a reflecting region located in proximity to the transparent region, wherein the reflecting region is configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation within the a storage area and prevent the ultraviolet radiation from exiting the storage area; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the storage area, wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are configured to generate ultraviolet radiation into the storage area, wherein the ultraviolet radiation is contained within the storage area; a set of sensing devices located within the storage area, wherein the set of sensing devices are configured to monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or the at least one item, the set of sensing devices including a visual camera configured to capture an image of the at least one item, wherein the set of current conditions includes a visual attribute regarding a surface of the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and a control system configured to control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources within the storage area based on the set of current conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The storage device of claim 9, wherein the set of sensing devices includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution of the at least one item on the at least one shelf. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The storage device of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to recognize the at least one item based on the weight distribution from the load sensor and the image from the visual camera and control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on a recognition of the at least one item. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The storage device of claim 11, wherein the set of sensing devices includes a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity level within the storage area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The storage device of claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to adjust the humidity level within the storage area based on the recognition of the at least one item. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The storage device of claim 9, wherein the at least one shelf includes a plurality of sub-compartments and the control system is configured to individually control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources in each sub-compartment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The storage device of claim 14, wherein each sub-compartment includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution in the sub-compartment. ### Claim 16 A storage device comprising: a plurality of storage areas, wherein a storage area in the plurality of storage areas includes at least one shelf for holding at least one item, wherein the at least one shelf includes a plurality of sub-compartments, and wherein the storage area is at least partially defined by a plurality of layers including: a transparent region fixed in the storage device, wherein the transparent region is configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation; and a reflecting region located in proximity to the transparent region, wherein the reflecting region is configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation within the storage area and prevent the ultraviolet radiation from exiting the storage area; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located within the storage area, wherein the set of ultraviolet radiation sources are configured to generate ultraviolet radiation into the storage area; a set of sensing devices located within the storage area, wherein the set of sensing devices are configured to monitor a set of current conditions of at least one of: the storage area or the at least one item, the set of sensing devices including a visual camera configured to capture an image of the at least one item, wherein the set of current conditions includes a visual attribute regarding a surface of the at least one item and a set of chemical attributes for the at least one item; and a control system configured to control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources within the storage area based on the set of current conditions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The storage device of claim 16, wherein the set of sensing devices includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution of the at least one item on the at least one shelf. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The storage device of claim 17, wherein the control system is configured to recognize the at least one item based on the weight distribution from the load sensor and the image from the visual camera and control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on a recognition of the at least one item. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The storage device of claim 16, wherein each sub-compartment includes a load sensor configured to detect a weight distribution in the sub-compartment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The storage device of claim 19, wherein the control system is configured to individually control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources in each sub-compartment.