# US 2018/0021469 A1 · Ultraviolet sterilization lamp, ultraviolet sterilization module, and air conditioner including ultraviolet sterilization module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021469 A1 - Document ID: US20180021469A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/363,036 - Filed: 2016-11-29 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Taeyoung KIM; Jaeyoul Joung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021469A1 ## CPC - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A61L 9/205: {using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser} - F24F 1/0025: Cross-flow or tangential fans - F24F 1/0057: mounted in or on a wall - F24F 1/0063: by the mounting or arrangement of the heat exchangers - F24F 1/0073: characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters - F24F 1/0076: by electric means, e.g. ionisers or electrostatic separators - F24F 8/22: using UV light - F24F 13/20: Casings or covers - F24F 13/222: {for evacuating condensate} - F24F 13/28: Arrangement or mounting of filters - F24F 13/30: Arrangement or mounting of heat-exchangers - A61L 2209/14: Filtering means - A61L 2209/15: Supporting means, e.g. stands, hooks, holes for hanging - A61L 2209/16: Connections to a HVAC unit - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A ultraviolet (UV) sterilization lamp, a UV sterilization module, and an air conditioner including a UV sterilization module are provided. The UV sterilization module may include a porous frame, a portion of which may be a mesh so as to allow a fluid to pass therethrough; a plurality of UV lamps provided on the mesh of the porous frame and including an external electrode on an outer surface thereof; a power supply connected to the plurality of UV lamps to supply power to the plurality of UV lamps; and a plurality of fixing portions configured to support the plurality of UV lamps and fixed to the porous frame. The plurality of fixing portions may be arranged to be spaced from each other such that the plurality of UV lamps may be arranged with a constant spacing. The constant spacing may be a shortest distance of about 8 cm or less to connect outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of UV lamps adjacent to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ultraviolet (UV) sterilization module, comprising: a porous frame, a portion of which is a mesh that allows a fluid to pass therethrough; a plurality of UV lamps provided on the mesh of the porous frame and Including an external electrode on an outer surface thereof; a power supply connected to the plurality of UV lamps to supply power to the plurality of UV lamps; and a plurality of fixing portions configured to support the plurality of UV lamps and fixed to the porous frame, wherein the plurality of fixing portions is arranged to be spaced from each other such that the plurality of UV lamps is arranged with a constant spacing, and wherein the constant spacing is a shortest distance of about 8 cm or less to connect outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of UV lamps adjacent to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The UV sterilization module of claim 1, wherein the constant spacing is at least about 1 cm or more, wherein an outer diameter of each of the plurality of UV lamps is smaller than the constant spacing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The UV sterilization module of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of UV lamps has an inner diameter of at least about 0.7 mm or more and an outer diameter of about 1 mm to about 7 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The UV sterilization module of claim 1, wherein the porous frame has a constant width and a length longer than the width, wherein the plurality of UV lamps is arranged in parallel to a widthwise direction and is spaced about from each other in a lengthwise direction at the constant spacing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The UV sterilization module of claim 4, wherein the plurality of UV lamps is smaller than the width of the porous frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The UV sterilization module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fixing portions is a plurality of conductive fixing portions configured to receive power from the power supply and supply the power to the plurality of UV lamps, and further comprising at least one electrode rail provided in the porous frame, wherein the plurality of conductive fixing portions is provided on the at least one electrode rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An air conditioner including the UV sterilization module of claim 1. ### Claim 8 A ultraviolet (UV) sterilization module, comprising: a first UV lamp having a first outer diameter and a first length in a lengthwise direction of the UV sterilization module; a second UV lamp having a second outer diameter and a second length in the lengthwise direction of the UV sterilization module; a pair of first fixing devices configured to surround the first outer diameter of the first UV lamp; a pair of second fixing devices configured to surround the second outer diameter of the second UV lamp; a module body configured to support the pair of first fixing portions and the pair of second fixing portions and have at least flexibility or elasticity; and a power supply configured to connect the first UV lamp and the second UV lamp in parallel to supply power thereto, wherein a passage having a width of about 1 cm to about 8 cm to allow at least a fluid to pass therethrough is formed between the first outer diameter of the first UV lamp and the second outer diameter of the second UV lamp. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The UV sterilization module of claim 8, wherein the first outer diameter of the first UV lamp is equal to the second diameter of the second UV lamp, and the first outer diameter of the first UV lamp and the second outer diameter of the second UV lamp are about 1 mm to about 7 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The UV sterilization module of claim 8, wherein a width of the passage is larger than the first outer diameter of the first UV lamp and the second outer diameter of the second UV lamp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An air conditioner including the UV sterilization module of claim 8. ### Claim 12 An air conditioner, comprising: a main body having an air inlet and an air outlet; a heat exchanger provided in the main body and configured to allow heat exchange with air introduced via the air inlet; a blower fan provided in the main body and configured to blow the air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the air outlet; and at least one UV sterilization module configured to sterilize the air introduced via the air inlet and an inside of the main body with UV rays, wherein the UV sterilizer module includes: at least two UV lamps configured to generate UV rays and arranged to be spaced from each other, a plurality of fixing portions respectively mounted on the at least two UV lamps; a porous body configured to support the plurality of fixing portions and provided in the main body, a portion of the porous body being a mesh; and a power supply connected to the at least two UV lamps to supply power to the at least two UV lamps, wherein a length of a tangent line that connects outer peripheral surfaces of the at least two UV lamps is about 8 cm or less. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the at least one UV sterilization module surrounds at least the heat exchanger in the main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two UV lamps has an outer diameter of about 1 mm to about 7 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the at least two UV lamps are arranged in a lengthwise direction of the main body. ### Claim 16 A ultraviolet (UV) sterilization module, comprising: a porous frame, a portion of which is a mesh that allows a fluid to pass therethrough; a plurality of UV lamps provided on the mesh of the porous frame and including an external electrode on an outer surface thereof; a power supply connected to the plurality of UV lamps to supply power to the plurality of UV lamps; and a plurality of supports configured to support the plurality of UV lamps and fixed to the porous frame, wherein the plurality of supports is each shaped to surround a portion of an outer diameter of one of the plurality of UV lamps, respectively, wherein the plurality of supports is arranged to be spaced from each other such that the plurality of UV lamps is arranged with a constant spacing, and wherein the constant spacing is a shortest distance of about 8 cm or less to connect outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of UV lamps adjacent to each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The UV sterilization module of claim 16, wherein the constant spacing is at least about 1 cm or more, wherein each of the plurality of UV lamps has an inner diameter of at least about 0.7 mm or more and the outer diameter is about 1 mm to about 7 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The UV sterilization module of claim 17, wherein the outer diameter of each of the plurality of UV lamps is smaller than the constant spacing, wherein the plurality of UV lamps has the same outer diameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The UV sterilization module of claim 16, wherein the plurality of supports is a plurality of conductive supports configured to receive power from the power supply and supply the power to the plurality of UV lamps, wherein the UV sterilization module further including at least one electrode rail provided in the porous frame, and wherein the plurality of conductive supports is provided on the at least one electrode rail. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) An air conditioner including the UV sterilization module of claim 16.