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US 2012/0093684 A1Published application
UV sterilization system
OwnerJohn T. Martin, Lucien Tournie +1inventors
InventorsJohn T. Martin, Lucien Tournie, Douglas Gene Lockie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing a UV Sterilization System are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention may be used as a fluorescent lamp ballast which is controlled using a non-resonant circuit that allows the ballast to lower to fifty percent the light output of the lamp while providing a corresponding fifty percent reduction in energy used.
Claims60
A method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a sealed enclosure for providing illumination;
- said enclosure containing a plurality of molecules of a gas;
- said enclosure having an interior surface;
- said interior surface being at least partially coated with a light emitting substance;
- said enclosure including a first and a second electrode;
- applying a first electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes to excite some of said plurality of molecules of a gas and to produce an ionized cloud within said enclosure;
- and
- applying a second electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes along with said first electrical signal to maintain said ionized cloud within a set of predetermined limits to optimize the production of visible light from said light emitting substance on said interior surface of said enclosure.
5 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- confining a plasma;
- stimulating said plasma with electrical energy to form a conductive plasma channel;
- measuring the state of said conductive plasma channel by determining a mean impedance characteristic of said conductive plasma channel;
- and
- managing said plasma channel to optimize its electrical impedance to provide efficient illumination.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a power factor correction power supply for supplying power;
- a microcontroller connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling said power factor correction power supply;
- a switchable resistance;
- said switchable resistance connected to said switchable filter for varying the output impedance of said power factor correction power supply;
- a switchable filter;
- said switchable filter connected to said power factor correction power supply for filtering the output of said electrical switch;
- a lamp;
- said lamp connected to said output relay;
- said lamp for providing illumination;
- an electrical switch;
- said electrical switch connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling the operation of said lamp;
- and
- an output relay;
- said output relay connected to said switchable filter for changing the polarity of energy applied to said lamp.
11 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a power factor correction power supply means for providing power;
- a microcontroller means connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling said power factor correction power supply means;
- a switchable filter means for enabling switchable filtering;
- said switchable filter means being connected to said power factor correction power supply means;
- a switchable resistance means for providing a switchable resistance;
- said switchable resistance means being connected to said switchable filter means;
- an output relay means for furnishing a controlled output;
- said output relay means connected to said switchable filter means;
- a lamp means for providing illumination;
- said lamp means being connected to said output relay means;
- and
- an electrical switch means for supplying on and off control;
- said electrical switch means connected to said lamp means.
10 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a sealed enclosure for providing ultraviolet radiation for disinfection;
- said enclosure containing a plurality of molecules of a gas;
- said enclosure having an interior surface;
- said interior surface being at least partially coated with an ultraviolet radiation emitting substance;
- said enclosure including a first and a second electrode;
- applying a first electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes to excite some of said plurality of molecules of a gas and to produce an ionized cloud within said enclosure;
- and
- applying a second electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes along with said first electrical signal to maintain said ionized cloud within a set of predetermined limits to optimize the production of said ultraviolet radiation from said ultraviolet radiation emitting substance on said interior surface of said enclosure.
5 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a sealed enclosure for providing illumination;
- said enclosure containing a plurality of molecules of a gas;
- said enclosure having an interior surface;
- said interior surface being at least partially coated with a light emitting substance;
- said enclosure including a first and a second electrode;
- applying a first electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes to excite some of said plurality of molecules of a gas and to produce an ionization channel within said enclosure;
- and
- applying a second electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes along with said first electrical signal to maintain said ionized cloud within a set of predetermined limits to optimize the production of visible light from said light emitting substance on said interior surface of said enclosure;
- said first electrical signal being a low voltage direct current applied across said first and said second electrodes;
- said first electrical signal being applied across said first and said second electrodes to stimulate the emission of photons from said ionized cloud within said sealed enclosure at high efficiency for a first period of time;
- continuing to apply said first electrical signal during said first period of time;
- applying said second electrical signal after the passage of said first period of time until said ionization channel in said cloud of gas degrades;
- said second electrical signal being a plurality of periodic pulses;
- each of said plurality of periodic pulses being applied for a second period of time;
- said second electrical signal having a higher voltage than said first electrical signal which maintains the effectiveness of said ionization channel within said sealed enclosure to provide higher photon production per total input power than would be provided using only said first electrical signal.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.