# US 2019/0378706 A1 · Germicidal Lamp Apparatuses Having Automated Mobility While Emitting Light

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- Number: US 2019/0378706 A1
- Document ID: US20190378706A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/549,631
- Filed: 2019-08-23
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-08
- Assignees: Xenex Disinfection Services Inc.
- Applicants: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
- Inventors: Mark A. Stibich; James B. Wolford; Alexander N. Garfield; Martin Rathgeber; Eric M. Frydendall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190378706A1

## CPC

- H01J 61/025: {Associated optical elements}
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
- H01J 61/00: Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps (arc lamps with consumable electrodes H05B; electroluminescent lamps H05B)
- A47L 11/405: {Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning}
- A47L 2201/00: Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
- A61L 2/14: Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
- A61L 2/18: Liquid substances
- A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
- A61L 9/015: using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone (A61L9/20 takes precedence {; evaporation in general B01B1/005})
- A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation
- A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls
- A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
- A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
- A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
- F21V 21/15: specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
- F21V 21/22: telescopic
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)
- 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)
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Apparatuses are disclosed which include one or more lamps configured to emit germicidal light, wherein the apparatuses are configured such that germicidal light emitted from the one or more lamps is projected exterior to the apparatus. The apparatuses further include wheels arranged along a bottom of the apparatus and a motor to provide automated mobility of the apparatus across at least a part of a room or area in which the apparatus is arranged. Moreover, the apparatuses include a processor and a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for activating the motor such that the apparatus is moved within the room or area while the one or more lamps are emitting germicidal light.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a lamp configured to emit germicidal light, wherein the apparatus is configured such that germicidal light emitted from the lamp is projected exterior to the apparatus;
a mobile carriage supporting the lamp;
a push/pull handle extending from an exterior surface of the mobile carriage, wherein an uppermost surface of the push/pull handle is arranged at an elevation lower than an uppermost surface of the lamp;
wheels arranged along a bottom of the mobile carriage;
a motor to provide automated mobility of the apparatus across at least a part of a room or area in which the apparatus is arranged;
a processor; and
a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for activating the motor such that the apparatus is moved within the room or area while the lamp is emitting germicidal light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a xenon flashlamp.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a mercury vapor lamp.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp is spaced inward from a closest outer peripheral edge of the mobile carriage by a distance greater than three times a width of the lamp.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the lamp is moveable but not moveable beyond vertical planes aligned with a casing of the mobile carriage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic sensor or an ultraviolet light sensor, wherein the apparatus is configured to navigate the apparatus through the room or area using information obtained from the ultrasonic sensor or the ultraviolet light sensor.

### Claim 7

An apparatus, comprising:
a lamp configured to emit germicidal light, wherein the apparatus is configured such that germicidal light emitted from the lamp is projected exterior to the apparatus, and wherein an uppermost surface of the lamp is at least 36 inches above a floor of a room or area when the apparatus is arranged on the floor of the room or area;
wheels arranged along a bottom of the apparatus;
a motor to provide automated mobility of the apparatus across at least a part of the room or area;
a processor; and
a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for activating the motor such that the apparatus is moved within the room or area while the lamp is emitting germicidal light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lamp is a xenon flashlamp.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lamp is a mercury vapor lamp.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a reflector assembly configured to redirect germicidal light emitted from the lamp to a region exterior to the apparatus between approximately 2 feet and approximately 4 feet from the floor of the room or area in which the apparatus is arranged.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor for altering the speed of the apparatus based on a map and dose requirements for the room or area.

### Claim 12

An apparatus, comprising:
a lamp configured to emit germicidal light, wherein the apparatus is configured such that germicidal light emitted from the lamp is projected exterior to the apparatus;
wheels arranged along a bottom of the apparatus;
a motor to provide automated mobility of the apparatus across at least a part of a room or area in which the apparatus is arranged;
an occupancy sensor for determining presence of an individual in the room or area in which the apparatus is arranged;
a processor; and
a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for:
activating the motor such that the apparatus is moved within the room or area while the lamp is emitting germicidal light; and
inhibiting and terminating projection of germicidal light exterior to the apparatus upon the occupancy sensor detecting presence of an individual in the room or area.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lamp is a xenon flashlamp.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lamp is a mercury vapor lamp.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a mobile carriage supporting the lamp and a push/pull handle extending from an exterior surface of the mobile carriage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an uppermost surface of the push/pull handle is arranged at an elevation lower than the uppermost surface of the lamp.

### Claim 17

An apparatus, comprising:
one or more lamps configured to emit germicidal light, wherein the apparatus is configured such that germicidal light emitted from the one or more lamps is projected exterior to the apparatus to a region which encircles the apparatus, and wherein the germicidal light redirected to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region;
wheels arranged along a bottom of the apparatus;
a motor to provide automated mobility of the apparatus across at least a part of a room or area in which the apparatus is arranged;
a processor; and
a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for activating the motor such that the apparatus is moved within the room or area while the one or more lamps are emitting germicidal light.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more lamps comprise a xenon flashlamp.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more lamps comprise a mercury vapor lamp.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more lamps are arranged in the apparatus such that uppermost surfaces of the one or more lamps are at least 36 inches above a floor of the room or area when the apparatus is arranged on the floor of the room or area.