# US 12,109,323 B2 · Indoor lighting apparatus including ultraviolet light source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,323 B2 - Document ID: US12109323B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/987,752 - Filed: 2022-11-15 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-02 - Assignees: CH Reynolds Electric Inc. - Applicants: CH Reynolds Electric Inc. - Inventors: Chuck Reynolds; Mark Hiura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109323B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - F21S 8/046: {having multiple lighting devices, e.g. connected to a common ceiling base} - F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person} - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources - H05B 47/16: by timing means - A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls - 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 - A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors - A61L 2209/12: Lighting means - F21Y 2113/30: {of visible and non-visible spectrum} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - 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) - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An overhead lighting fixture containing both visible light sources and UV light sources is disclosed herein. UV light can sanitize/disinfect the surrounding environment after the environment over a period of about 30-45 minutes. In this way, viruses, germs, bacteria, mold, and the like can be destroyed to clean the air and/or surfaces (e.g., furniture). Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide a controllable UV lighting assembly that can produce UV light to sanitize/disinfect an area and can be automatically disabled to prevent UV light exposure to those in the area using a motion sensor. The lighting assembly can produce visible light while the UV light source is disabled. According to some embodiments, the duration of UV light production is controlled by a timer for power savings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of automatically disabling an ultraviolet (UV) light source of a lighting assembly, the method comprising: closing a relay of the lighting assembly to power the UV light source of the lighting assembly, wherein the lighting assembly comprises a visible light source and the UV light source; and opening the relay to power the visible light source to produce visible light wherein said opening also correspondingly shuts off the UV light source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that a timer associated with the lighting assembly expired and wherein said opening further comprises opening the relay responsive to the determining that the timer expired. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly is operable to be an overhead lighting assembly for installation in a ceiling of an indoor environment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visible light source comprises at least one of: a plurality of fluorescent lights and a plurality of visible light LED lights. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UV light source comprises a UV LED emitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising opening the relay to power the visible light source to produce visible light, wherein said opening also correspondingly shuts off the UV light source, and wherein said opening is responsive to data produced by a sensor. ### Claim 7 A lighting assembly comprising: a first light source configured to produce a first light; a second light source configured to produce a second light; and control circuitry for selectively powering the first light source and the second light source, said control circuitry comprising: a sensor; a relay coupled to the sensor and for selectively coupling a power source to one of: the first light source and second light source; and a timer, wherein the control circuitry automatically controls the relay to couple the relay to the first light source when the timer expires, automatically controls the relay to couple the relay to the second light source when the timer is active, and automatically controls the relay to couple the relay to the first light source according to a reading of the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, operable to be an overhead lighting assembly for installation in a ceiling of an indoor environment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein the first light source comprises at least one of: a plurality of fluorescent lights and a plurality of visible light LED lights. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein the second light source comprises a UV LED emitter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, further comprising an external switch and an external power source for powering the first light source, and wherein activating the external switch activates the first light source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, further comprising a housing and wherein the motion sensor is integrated into the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein the timer is controlled by a remote wireless device. ### Claim 14 A lighting assembly comprising: a first light source configured to produce a first light type; a second light source configured to produce a second light type; and control circuitry for selectively powering the first light source and the second light source, said control circuitry comprising: a sensor; a wireless transceiver; and a timer, wherein the control circuitry automatically receives a timer value from a wireless device using the wireless transceiver, controls the relay to couple the relay to the first light source when the timer value expires, automatically controls the relay to couple the relay to the second light source when the timer is active, and automatically controls the relay to couple the relay to the first light source according to a reading of the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, further comprising a safety timer that defines a safe period for the second light source, wherein the control circuitry controls the relay to couple the relay to the second light source only when both the timer and the safety timer are active. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, further comprising a third light source, wherein the control circuitry controls the relay to couple the relay to the first light source and the third light source when the timer value expires. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, operable to be an overhead lighting assembly for installation in a ceiling of an indoor environment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the first light source comprises at least one of: a plurality of fluorescent lights and a plurality of visible light LED lights. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the second light source comprises a UV LED emitter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the second light source produces a type of a light spectrum that kills viruses, germs, bacteria, and mold using a specific frequency of UV light or a specific duration of exposure.