Systems and methods for activating an ultraviolet light emitter
AssigneeDISH Technologies L.L.C.
InventorsPhuc H. Nguyen, Christopher William Bruhn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remote control having an ultraviolet light emitting device for disinfecting the outer surfaces of the remote control is disclosed. In particular, the remote control may include an ultraviolet transmissive housing and internal ultraviolet emitting light emitting diodes. The ultraviolet transmissive housing allows the light from the internally mounted ultraviolet emitters to pass through the remote control's housing and kill bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms on the outer surface of the remote control by employing methods to automate safe and effective operations of ultraviolet light.
Claims8
A method of determining when to activate an ultraviolet light emitter, the method comprising:
- monitoring wireless communications;
- determining that the wireless communications indicate a location of a person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter, including determining that no network traffic is detected during a predetermined period of time;
- and
- in response to determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter, activating the ultraviolet light emitter.
A method of determining when to activate an ultraviolet light emitter, the method comprising:
- monitoring wireless communications;
- determining that the wireless communications indicate a location of a person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter;
- and
- in response to determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter, activating the ultraviolet light emitter,
- wherein the monitoring the wireless communications includes receiving a service set identifier broadcast by an access point, and
- wherein the determining that the wireless communications indicate the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter includes determining that no network traffic going to or coming from the access point, other than the service set identifier broadcast by the access point, has been detected for at least a predetermined period of time.
A method of determining when to activate an ultraviolet light emitter, the method comprising:
- monitoring wireless communications;
- determining that the wireless communications indicate a location of a person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter;
- in response to determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter, activating the ultraviolet light emitter;
- and
- wirelessly receiving from a set-top box information indicating that a television connected to the set-top box is turned off,
- wherein the determining that the wireless communications indicate the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter includes determining that the information indicating that the television connected to the set-top box is turned off has been wirelessly received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.