# US 11,998,666 B2 · Occupant respiration isolation method

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- Number: US 11,998,666 B2
- Document ID: US11998666B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/158,271
- Filed: 2021-01-26
- Published: 2022-03-17
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-17
- Assignees: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
- Applicants: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
- Inventors: Tom Lee Sorensen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998666B2

## CPC

- A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation
- B60N 2/56: Heating or ventilating devices
- A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
- A61L 2209/12: Lighting means
- A61L 2209/14: Filtering means
- B60N 2002/905: {the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas}
- 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)
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method of isolating vehicle occupant respiration includes energizing a source of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize in air. A first sensor detects carbon dioxide content of that air. A second sensor detects quality of that air. A third sensor detects particulate in that air. Result from the first sensor is compared to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in a controller connected with the sensors. Fan speed increases temporal duration of air exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Result from the second sensor is compared with baseline air quality recorded in the controller. A signal is sent to a display comprising the filtration system to identify contaminate in the air. Result from the third sensor is compared with baseline particulate recorded in controller. An alert is sent to an interested party indicating particulate presence in the air.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for isolating and filtering respiration of an occupant of a vehicle, the vehicle having an interior and a seat disposed on the interior of the vehicle, a filtration system disposed on the seat for isolating and filtering respiration of the occupant, the filtration system having a plenum including an interior, a vent through which air enters at least one first duct, the least one first duct attached to the plenum, at least one second duct connected to the plenum, the at least one second duct separating the air from a first occupant from air from a second occupant, a source of ultraviolet radiation disposed in the plenum for reducing contaminate in the air, an at least one first sensor disposed on the interior of the plenum for monitoring carbon dioxide content of the air adjacent the at least one first sensor, an at least one second sensor disposed on the interior of the plenum for monitoring quality of the air adjacent the at least one second sensor, an at least one third sensor disposed on the interior of the plenum for monitoring the air adjacent the at least one third sensor for a particulate, a controller connected with the at least one first sensor which sends a first signal to the controller, the at least one second sensor which sends a second signal to the controller, and the at least one third sensor which sends a third signal to the controller, and a fan disposed on the interior of the plenum for increasing temporal duration of air exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the method comprising steps of:
energizing the source of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize in the air;
sampling the air adjacent the at least one first sensor to detect carbon dioxide content of that air;
sampling the air adjacent to the at least one second sensor to detect quality of that air;
sampling the air adjacent to the at least one third sensor to detect particulate in that air;
comparing result from the at least one first sensor to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in controller;
adjusting the fan speed to increase the temporal duration of the air exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
comparing result from the at least one second sensor with baseline air quality recorded in the controller;
sending a signal to a display comprising the filtration system to identify contaminate in the air;
comparing result from the at least one third sensor with baseline particulate recorded in controller; and
sending an alert to an interested party indicating particulate presence in the air.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet radiation has a wavelength within a range of 100 nanometers to 280 nanometers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the plenum comprises at least one baffle, the method further comprising steps of:
positioning the at least one baffle at a location empirically determined to increase surface area within the plenum exposed to ultraviolet radiation;
positioning the at least one baffle to collect an item, such as a respiration droplet and the like, from air about the at least one baffle; and
sanitizing a surface of the a least one baffle with ultraviolet radiation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein an at least one third duct is connected to the interior of the plenum conveying air from the interior of the plenum to the interior of the vehicle.