Disinfecting touch-based screen automatically
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorIlya Tumanov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A UV and visible light transparent film material is secured onto or within a touch-based screen to automatically disinfect the external surface. UV light is emitted from a UV light source into an edge of the transparent film material in order to transfer the UV light through the transparent film material while remaining in the transparent film material through total internal reflection effect. Some UV light exits the transparent film material at points of contact to disinfect fingertips and immediate surrounding areas through the frustrated total internal reflection effect.
Claims11
A method executed at least in part in a computing device for automatically disinfecting a touch-based screen, the method comprising:
- detecting a predetermined event to trigger disinfection of the touch-based screen;
- activating an ultra violet (UV) light source located on an edge of a transparent film material substantially covering a display surface of the touch-based screen;
- and
- emitting UV light through the transparent film material to disinfect the transparent film material, wherein optical index matching gel is applied between the UV light source and the edge of the transparent film material to allow additional UV light to enter the transparent film material at a low power to maximize safety.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.