# US 11,999,449 B2 · Assessing at least one structural feature of an anti-biofouling arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,449 B2 - Document ID: US11999449B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/601,092 - Filed: 2020-03-31 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-02 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Roelant Boudewijn Hietbrink; Eduard Matheus Johannes Niessen; Antonius Adranus Petrus Schudelaro; Rudy Roth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999449B2 ## CPC - B63B 59/04: Preventing hull fouling (anti-fouling paints C09D5/16) - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - B08B 17/02: Preventing deposition of fouling or of dust - B63B 79/10: using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers - G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates} - G01L 1/22: using resistance strain gauges - G01N 29/04: Analysing solids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14) - G01N 33/2045: Defects - G01N 33/207: Welded or soldered joints; Solderability - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - B08B 7/0057: {by ultraviolet radiation} - G01N 2291/0234: Metals, e.g. steel - G01N 2291/0289: Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture - G01N 2291/2675: Seam, butt welding - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - 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) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - 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) ## Abstract In an anti-biofouling context, an anti-biofouling system (20) is provided, which is configured to emit anti-biofouling light in an activated state thereof and to be applied to an object (10). Further, the anti-biofouling system (20) comprises a sensor system (30) that is configured to obtain measurement data relating to at least one structural feature of an anti-biofouling arrangement (1) including both the anti-biofouling system (20) and the object (10) in an actual case of the anti-biofouling system (20) being in place on the object (10). By having the sensor system (30) as mentioned in the anti-biofouling system (20), it is achieved that one or more structural aspects of the anti-biofouling arrangement (1) may be checked/monitored without a need for providing separate means for fulfilling such functionality. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Anti-biofouling arrangement including: an object; and an anti-biofouling system configured to emit anti-biofouling light in an activated state thereof, the anti-biofouling system being applied to the object and having a structural unit which is positioned and fixed with respect to the object, the anti-biofouling system comprising a sensor system, wherein the sensor system configured to obtain measurement data relating to a structural construction feature relating to the construction of the anti-biofouling arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structural construction feature is a structural feature of the object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structural construction feature is a structural feature of the anti-biofouling system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a strain gauge configured to assess mechanical deformation of the object and/or the structural unit, and/or an ultrasound sensor configured to assess mechanical integrity of an area of the object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the structural construction feature is a structural feature at an interface of the object and the anti-biofouling system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The biofouling arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one UV sensor configured to assess adherence and/or positioning of the structural unit with respect to the object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system is further configured to obtain measurement data relating to a degree of biofouling of an area of the anti-biofouling arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, configured to emit the anti-biofouling light away from the object in the anti-biofouling arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the object is a vessel, and wherein the structural unit is applied to an area of the vessel's hull. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 9, comprising a processor configured to receive and process measurement data from the sensor system of the anti-biofouling system and to provide output representative of the structural feature to which the measurement data relate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Method of applying an anti-biofouling system to an object to obtain an anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a step of positioning and fixing the structural unit to the object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Method of obtaining information relevant to assessing the structural construction feature of an anti-biofouling arrangement according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: receiving and processing measurement data obtained from the sensor system, and providing output representative of the structural construction feature to which the measurement data relate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Computer program product comprising code to cause a processor, when the code is executed on the processor, to execute the method according to claim 12.