US 12,582,733 B2Granted

Parallel heating system and method for amalgam lamps

AssigneeTru-D SmartUVC, LLC

InventorBrian Manley

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection devices, systems and methods for automatically preheating a plurality of UV emitters of the UV disinfection device in response to the UV disinfection device being coupled to a power source, independent of the activation of the plurality of EV emitters, or a ballast or power supply thereof, in order to minimize a total disinfection cycle time. In certain optional embodiments, the present disclosure relates to UV disinfection devices, systems and methods for dynamically adjusting a power-level of each of the plurality of UV emitters based on corresponding UV sensor measurements in order to further minimize the total disinfection cycle time. In other optional embodiments, the present disclosure relates to UV disinfection devices, systems and methods for optimizing alignment of each of a plurality of UV emitters within a room in order to further minimize the total disinfection cycle time.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of disinfecting an area with a predetermined disinfecting dose of ultraviolet (UV) energy, the method comprising:

(a) positioning an UV disinfection device in the area, the UV disinfection device including a plurality of UV emitters positioned in an emitter array and a plurality of UV sensors positioned in a sensor array, each of the plurality of UV emitters including an amalgam spot and configured to emit UV energy, each of the plurality of UV sensors configured to measure a reflected irradiance indirectly from one or more of the plurality of UV emitters via reflection off of one or more surfaces of the area;
(b) applying power to the UV disinfection device;
(c) automatically in response to the applied power, activating a heating step for the amalgam spots of each of the plurality of UV emitters;
(d) selectively activating the plurality of UV emitters, independent of the activating of the heating step;
(e) beginning a disinfection cycle once the heating step is completed for each of the plurality of UV emitters;
(f) determining whether the predetermined disinfecting dose is achieved by each of the plurality of UV sensors based at least in part on the reflected irradiance measured by each of the plurality of UV sensors and an elapsed time since beginning the disinfection cycle;
and
(g) completing the disinfecting cycle and deactivating the heating step for the amalgam spots once each of the plurality of UV sensors has achieved the predetermined disinfecting dose.

5 more elements

A disinfection system for disinfecting an area with a predetermined disinfecting dose of UV energy, the disinfection system comprising:

a mobile ultraviolet (UV) disinfection device including:
a mobile base supported by one or more ground engaging units;
a plurality of UV lamps oriented vertically and positioned in a lamp array, each of the plurality of UV lamps having a lower end and an interior amalgam spot positioned at a predetermined common distance from the lower end, the interior amalgam spot of each of the plurality of lamps facing towards a central axis of the lamp array;
and
an auxiliary amalgam heating assembly comprising a plurality of heating elements, each of the plurality of heating elements positioned proximate to the amalgam spot of a corresponding one of the plurality of UV lamps;
a plurality of UV sensors configured to generate reflected irradiance data corresponding to reflected irradiance received indirectly from one or more of the plurality of UV lamps via reflection off of one or more surfaces of the area;
and
a controller linked to receive the data from the plurality of UV sensors and configured to:
control a power state of the UV disinfection device;
automatically activate the auxiliary amalgam heating assembly to heat the amalgam spot of each of the plurality of UV lamps in response to the power state;
selectively activate the plurality of UV lamps, independent of activation of the auxiliary amalgam heating assembly;
begin a disinfection cycle once a ballast current of the plurality of UV lamps has stabilized;
determine whether the predetermined disinfecting dose is achieved by each of the plurality of UV sensors based at least in part on the reflected irradiance measured by each of the plurality of UV sensors and an elapsed time since beginning the disinfection cycle;
and
complete the disinfecting cycle and deactivate the auxiliary amalgam heating assembly once each of the plurality of UV sensors has achieved the predetermined disinfecting dose.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/120,420Filed 12 Mar 2023
Published: US 2024/0299603 A112 Sep 2024
Granted: 24 Mar 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61L 2/10
Radiation: ultraviolet [UV] radiation
A61L 2/24
Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor: apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
H05B 1/023
Applications: industrial applications
A61L 2103/75
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: room floors or walls