US 2003/0150998 A1Published application

Device and method for ultraviolet radiation monitoring

OwnerMinseub Shin, Anil K. Jaininventors

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Abstract

An ultraviolet radiation monitor is disclosed. The monitor includes an aluminum gallium nitride-based detector, such as a Schottky junction fabricated with aluminum gallium nitride and a Schottky layer containing palladium, and a processor. The composition of the detector is tailored so that the detector is responsive substantially only to radiation of certain wavelengths, such as UV-B. The processor is adapted to receive user input of the user's skin type and ultraviolet-blocking power of any sunscreen the user is wearing. The processor is also adapted to read the signal generated by the detector and calculate the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation received by the detector. The processor is further adapted to calculate the maximum length ultraviolet exposure time for the user, based on the radiation intensity, skin type and sunscreen information.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An ultraviolet radiation monitor, comprising:

(a) an ultraviolet radiation detector at least partially fabricated from aluminum gallium nitride and configured to produce an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation received by the detector;
(b) a first signal generator configured to produce a skin type signal indicative of a level of tolerance by a person's skin to ultraviolet radiation;
(c) a second signal generator configured to produce a blocking power signal indicative of the blocking power of a sunscreen applied to the skin of the person;
and
(d) a processor operatively connected to the detector, the first signal generator and the second signal generator to receive the intensity signal, skin type signal and blocking power signal,
wherein the processor is configured to generate, in response to the skin type signal and blocking power signal, a dose limit signal indicative of a limit of the cumulative ultraviolet radiation the person is to receive and, in response to the intensity signal, a cumulative dosage signal indicative of the cumulative ultraviolet radiation the person has received over a time period,
wherein the processor is further configured to produce a signal perceptible to the user when the cumulative ultraviolet radiation indicated by the dosage signal is at least the limit indicated by the dose limit signal.

4 more elements

A method for aiding a person to prevent over exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the method comprising:

(a) measuring the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation using an ultraviolet radiation detector at least partially fabricated from aluminum gallium nitride;
(b) ascertaining the level of tolerance by the person's skin to ultraviolet radiation;
(c) ascertaining the blocking power of any sunscreen applied to the skin of the person;
(d) deriving from the results of steps (b) and (c) a limit of the cumulative ultraviolet radiation the person is to receive;
(e) calculating, based at least partially on the ultraviolet radiation intensity measured in step (a), the cumulative ultraviolet radiation the person has received over a time period;
and
(f) alerting the user when the cumulative ultraviolet radiation is at least the limit of the cumulative ultraviolet radiation the person is to receive.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.