Elevator sterilization system and method of using same

Abstract

An ultraviolet anti-pathogen device for an elevator car is disclosed. The device includes occupant sensors, such as motion detectors to sense movement, weight sensors to sense the presence of occupants, or head sensors to sense the presence of occupants to assure that occupants have evacuated the car prior to sterilization or sanitization. Subsequently, UV-C generators, such as a bank of mercury bulbs, generate intense levels of UV-C. An array of multiple UV-C sensors scan the car, and determine the darkest area, or the area reflecting the lowest level of UV-C back to the sensors. A set of controllers contained in the device calculates the time required to obtain a bactericidal dose of UV-C reflected back from darkest area. Once a bactericidal dose has been reflected to all the sensors, the unit shuts down.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.