# US 12,003,126 B2 · Systems and methods for activating an ultraviolet light emitter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,126 B2 - Document ID: US12003126B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/581,761 - Filed: 2022-01-21 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-14 - Assignees: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Applicants: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Inventors: Phuc H. Nguyen; Christopher William Bruhn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003126B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H04N 21/42222: {Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device} - H04N 21/42224: {Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control} - H05B 45/18: using temperature feedback - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the determining that the wireless communications indicate the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter includes determining that a signal strength of a received signal is less than a threshold signal level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving information indicating a learned schedule of at least one person, wherein the determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter is based on the information indicating the learned schedule of the at least one person. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing information indicating at least one period of time during which no button of a remote control has been pressed, wherein the determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter is based on the information indicating the at least one period of time during which no button of the remote control has been pressed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that a current time is during one of: a first time period in which a first threshold temperature is used and a second time period in which a second threshold temperature is used, the first threshold temperature being greater than the second threshold temperature; in response to determining that the current time is during the first time period, determining whether the temperature indicated by temperature information is above the first threshold temperature, wherein the determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter is in response to determining that the temperature indicated by the temperature information is above the first threshold temperature and determining that the wireless communications indicate the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter; in response to determining that the current time is during the second time period, determining whether the temperature indicated by the temperature information is above the second threshold temperature; and wherein the determining that the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter is in response to determining that the temperature indicated by the temperature information is above the second threshold temperature and determining that the wireless communications indicate the location of the person is not near the ultraviolet light emitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the activating the ultraviolet light emitter, detecting the person; and in response to detecting the person, deactivating the ultraviolet light emitter. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 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.