Storage device including ultraviolet illumination

A food storage device comprising:

• a storage area configured to store at least one perishable food item;
• at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;
• a monitoring system for monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of:
• the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area, wherein the set of current conditions includes a set of current biological conditions of the storage area and an operating condition of the at least one ultraviolet radiation source;
• and
• a control system for controlling the ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of:
• a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area based on the set of current conditions and a set of target conditions for at least one of:
• the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area corresponding to a currently selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, and wherein the plurality of selectable operating configurations include:
• a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, wherein the storage life preservation operating configuration is configured to increase a storage lifespan of the set of items, the disinfection operating configuration is configured to sterilize microorganisms present on the set of items, and the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is configured to remove ethylene emitted from the set of items.

A refrigeration device comprising:

• a storage area configured to store at least one refrigerated item;
• a component configured to control at least one environmental condition of the storage area, wherein the at least one environmental condition includes at least one of:
• a temperature, a humidity, a gas convection, or a fluid convection;
• at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to generate ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area;
• and
• a monitoring and control system for managing the storage area by performing a method comprising:
• monitoring a set of current conditions of at least one of:
• the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area;
• and
• controlling ultraviolet radiation generated by the at least one ultraviolet radiation source using one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations and the set of current conditions, wherein the controlling includes adjusting at least one of:
• a direction, an intensity, a pattern, or a spectral power of ultraviolet radiation directed within the storage area based on the set of current conditions of the storage area and a set of target conditions for at least one of:
• the storage area or a set of items located in the storage area corresponding to a currently selected one of the plurality of selectable operating configurations, and wherein the plurality of selectable operating configurations include:
• a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, wherein the storage life preservation operating configuration is configured to increase a storage lifespan of the set of items, the disinfection operating configuration is configured to sterilize microorganisms present on the set of items, and the ethylene decomposition operating configuration is configured to remove ethylene emitted from the set of items.