Germicidal Apparatuses with Configurations to Selectively Conduct Different Disinfection Modes Interior and Exterior to the Apparatus

An apparatus, comprising:

• a germicidal source;
• power supply circuitry coupled to the germicidal source;
• a shield, wherein the shield and/or the germicidal source are moveable relative to each other, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that:
• the shield and/or the germicidal source may be brought in proximity to the other such that germicide projected from the germicidal source is substantially contained within an interior cavity of the apparatus;
• and
• the shield and/or the germicidal source may be brought out of proximity with the other such that germicide projected from the germicidal source is projected into an ambient of the apparatus;
• a sensor to detect whether the germicidal source and the shield are said in proximity with each other and/or to detect whether the germicidal source and the shield are said out of proximity with each other;
• an electronic user interface comprising input controls allowing selection of different disinfection modes conducted by the apparatus, wherein the different disinfection modes comprise a first disinfection mode for primarily disinfecting a medium inside the apparatus and a second disinfection mode for primarily disinfecting a medium exterior to the apparatus;
• a processor;
• and
• a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for:
• receiving input from the electronic user interface regarding a selected disinfection mode;
• upon receiving input of the first disinfection mode:
• determining whether the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other or said out of proximity with each other;
• upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said out of proximity with each other, activating a corrective action for the germicidal source and/or the shield to be moved said in proximity with the other;
• and
• upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other, activating the power supply circuitry in accordance with a predetermined first set of operating parameters for the apparatus;
• and
• upon receiving input of the second disinfection mode:
• determining whether the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other or said out of proximity with each other;
• upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other, activating a corrective action for the germicidal source and/or the shield to be moved said out of proximity with the other;
• and
• upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said out of proximity with each other, activating the power supply circuitry in accordance with a predetermined second set of operating parameters for the apparatus different from the first set of operating parameters.