# US 11,433,154 B2 · Germicidal lighting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,154 B2 - Document ID: US11433154B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/319,432 - Filed: 2021-05-13 - Published: 2021-11-18 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-18 - Assignees: Wangs Alliance Corporation - Applicants: Wangs Alliance Corporation - Inventors: Shelley S. Wald; Voravit Puvanakijjakorn; Rong Feng Yu; David Xin Wang; Li Changyong; Zhou Tingting - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433154B2 ## CPC - A61L 9/00: Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air (body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20) - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A61L 9/22: Ionisation - F04D 25/088: {Ceiling fans} - A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors - A61L 2209/12: Lighting means - A61L 2209/15: Supporting means, e.g. stands, hooks, holes for hanging - 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) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract Apparatus, methods and instructions for disinfecting air. The apparatus may include, and the methods may involve, a fixture. The fixture may include a germicidal light source. The fixture may include a fan. The fan may circulate air through a volume into which the germicidal light source propagates germicidal light. The light source may be configured to emit, upward from a horizontal plane, a beam that, absent reflection off an environmental object, does not cross the horizontal plane. The apparatus may include a shield that prevents light from the light source from crossing the horizontal plane. The sensor may face upward from the horizontal plane. The sensor may face downward from the horizontal plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for disinfecting air of a room, the apparatus comprising: a ceiling fan having a rotatable fan blade; a fixture configured to be suspended into the room from a ceiling; an annular array of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), each of the LEDs being: configured to emit germicidal light that is incident on the ceiling; disposed in the fixture such that the LED does not rotate with the fan blade; and embedded in a chip having an upper surface corresponding to a plane that is common to an upper surface of each of the chips in which the other LEDs are embedded; and an opaque surface defining a perimeter outside the array; wherein: absent reflection off an environmental object, the apparatus does not emit germicidal light below the plane; and the opaque surface is positioned such that, if the germicidal light emitted by the LEDs propagates outward along the plane and is incident on the opaque surface, the opaque surface interferes with such germicidal light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the germicidal light is configured to neutralize a virion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the germicidal light is configured to neutralize a bacterium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the LEDs emits light having a wavelength that is no longer than ultraviolet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wavelength is in the UV-C spectrum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller that is configured to control the fixture; wherein the fixture is configured to direct a beam of the germicidal light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a range sensor configured to estimate a distance between the plane and the ceiling. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller that is configured to control the LEDs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reflection sensor configured to detect a reflection of light emitted by the LEDs from a structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the structure is the ceiling. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fixture in operation emits germicidal light that propagates radially away from the annular array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a control interface in electronic communication with the controller; wherein the control interface is configured to receive an instruction conforming to a lighting control protocol. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an energy level of the germicidal light is adjustable in correlation to a setting of the fan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the setting is speed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the fixture supports a louver that: includes the opaque surface; and is configured to direct a beam of the germicidal light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to cause the LEDs to deliver to the air an amount of energy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to adjust a duration of the energy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to adjust an intensity of the energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fixture supports a louver that is configured to direct a beam of the germicidal light. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising lensing disposed over the annular array.