Dual-Disinfection Germicial Lighting Device

Abstract

A dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device includes a housing, an air-permeable porous carrier with at least two sides, a fan, two light sources, and two means of disinfection that are back-up means for each other. A first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means and it includes the housing, the air-permeable porous carrier, the fan, and the first light source. The air-permeable porous carrier contains a photocatalyst material, and the first light source activates the photocatalyst material in air-permeable porous carrier. The housing, the air-permeable porous carrier, and the fan together form an air chamber. The fan forces the surrounding air through the air-permeable porous carrier. A second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means that includes the second light source. The second light source is a germicidal light source that disinfects pathogens in the surrounding air or on a nearby surface through the shining of its light.

Claims

1. A dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device, comprising a housing; an air-permeable porous carrier with at least two sides; a fan; a first light source; a second light source; a first means of disinfection; a second means of disinfection; wherein: the housing houses the air-permeable porous carrier, the fan, the first light source, and the second light source, the first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means comprising the housing, the air-permeable porous carrier, the fan, and the first light source, wherein: the air-permeable porous carrier contains a photocatalyst material, the first light source emits a first light to activate the photocatalyst material in the air-permeable porous carrier, the housing, the air-permeable porous carrier, and the fan together form an air chamber, the fan operates to either increase or deplete an amount of air in the air chamber, resulting in an air pressure difference between a first air pressure inside the air chamber and a second air pressure outside the air chamber, thereby causing the air to pass through the air-permeable porous carrier from a high air pressure side of the air-permeable porous carrier to a low air pressure side of the air-permeable porous carrier, airborne pathogens are trapped on a surface of the air-permeable porous carrier when the air passes through the air-permeable porous carrier, the photocatalyst material in the air-permeable porous carrier being activated by the first light source kills the pathogens trapped on the surface of the air-permeable porous carrier, the second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means comprising the second light source, wherein: the second light source emits a second light out of the device, the second light source is a germicidal light source capable of disinfecting pathogens in the air or on a surface through shining of the second light, and the first and the second means of disinfection are a backup air-disinfection means to each other.

2. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein a main active ingredient of the photocatalyst material in the air-permeable porous carrier is titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2).

3. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 2, wherein the photocatalyst material contains a secondary active ingredient comprising silver, gold, copper, zinc, nickel, or a combination thereof.

4. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein a main active ingredient of the photocatalyst material in the air-permeable porous carrier comprises silver, gold, copper, zinc, nickel, or a combination thereof.

5. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits the first light with a wavelength in a range of 200 nm to 400 nm.

6. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits the first light with a wavelength in a range of 400 nm to 700 nm.

7. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source emits the second light with a wavelength in a range of 200 nm to 240 nm.

8. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source emits the second light with a wavelength in a range of 240 nm to 280 nm.

9. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source emits the second light with a wavelength in a range of 280 nm to 315 nm.

10. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source emits the second light with a wavelength in a range of 315 to 400 nm.

11. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source emits the second light with a wavelength in a range of 400 to 410 nm.

12. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source resides in the air chamber.

13. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source resides outside the air chamber.

14. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source and the air-permeable porous carrier are disposed in a way such that there is no obstruction in a line of sight between the first light source and the air-permeable porous carrier.

15. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the air-permeable porous carrier is replaceable without using any tool.

16. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first light source is replaceable without using any tool.

17. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second light source is replaceable without using any tool.

18. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the air-permeable porous carrier comprises non-woven fabric or melt-blown fabric.

19. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, wherein the air-permeable porous carrier comprises ceramic.

20. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a third light source, wherein: the housing houses the third light source, the third light source emits a third light out of the device, and the third light source is a utility light source that illuminates a surrounding area of the device.

21. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 19, wherein the third light source emits the third light with a wavelength greater than 400 nm.

22. The dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of claim 19, wherein the third light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings are included to aid further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the present disclosure. The drawings illustrate a select number of embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. It is appreciable that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, as some components may be shown to be out of proportion to size in actual implementation in order to clearly illustrate the concept of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a diagram of a dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device with the first light source inside the air chamber.

[0019] FIG. 2 schematically depicts a diagram of a dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device with the first light source outside the air chamber.

[0020] FIG. 3 schematically depicts an embodiment in the form of a linear troffer luminaire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Overview

[0021] Various implementations of the present disclosure and related inventive concepts are described below. It should be acknowledged, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular manner of implementation, and that the various embodiments discussed explicitly herein are primarily for purposes of illustration. For example, the various concepts discussed herein may be suitably implemented in a variety of germicidal lighting device having different form factors.

[0022] The present disclosure discloses a dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device that has a housing, an air-permeable porous carrier with at least two sides, a fan, and two light sources and two means of disinfection. The first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means that includes the housing, the air-permeable porous carrier, the fan, and the first light source. The second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means that includes the second light source. The first means and the second means of disinfection are a backup air-disinfection means to each other.

Example Implementations

[0023] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the dual-disinfecting germicidal lighting device of the present disclosure with a cylinder shape 100. The housing 101a, 101b houses the air-permeable porous carrier 102, the fan 103, the first light source 104, and the second light source 108. The air-permeable porous carrier 102 is made of ceramic and its surface is coated with a photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 105. The first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means comprising the housing 101a, 101b, the air-permeable porous carrier 102, the fan 103, and the first light source 104. When the first light source 102 is on, it activates the photocatalyst 105. The housing 101a, 101b, and the air-permeable porous carrier 102, and the fan 103 together form an air chamber 106. The fan 103 operates to increase air pressure in the air chamber 106, forcing the air to exit out of the air chamber by passing from the left side of the air-permeable porous carrier 102 to the right side of the carrier. As the air passing through the air-permeable porous carrier 102, the airborne pathogens are trapped on the surface of the carrier, and the photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 105 being activated by the first light source 104 will kill the pathogens trapped on the surface of the carrier.

[0024] The first light source 104 emits light mainly in the 200 nm to 400 nm wavelength range. When a secondary active photocatalytic ingredient comprising silver, gold, copper, zinc, nickel, or a combination thereof is used in the photocatalyst 105, then the photocatalyst 105 may be activated by visible light. In which case, it is possible to use a visible light source emitting light mainly in the 400 nm to 700 nm wavelength range for the first light source 104. In this embodiment the first light source 104 is placed inside the air chamber 106. There is no obstruction in a line of sight between the first light source 104 and the air-permeable porous carrier 102.

[0025] The second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means comprising the second light source 108. The second light source is housed on the surface of the housing 101b and emits its light out of the device. The wavelength range of the light from the second lighting source 108 may be in the 200-240 nm range, 240-280 nm range, 280-315 nm range, 315-400 nm range, 400-410 nm range, or a combination thereof.

[0026] During normal operation, both the first means and the second means of disinfection will operate simultaneously. When the first means of air-disinfection failed, the second means of disinfection provides continually air-disinfection with the shining its lighting into the surrounding air. When the second means of air-and-surface disinfection failed, the first means of air-disinfection continually disinfects the air.

[0027] The two sections of the housing, 101a and 101b, are connected through their threaded segment 107. These two sections of the housing 101a and 10ab can be disengaged by rotating the housing section 101b counterclockwise, without using any tool. Once the housing section 101b is disengaged from the housing section 101a, the air-permeable porous carrier 102 can be replaced with a new carrier. Similarly, the second light source 108 may be removed from the housing 101b for replacement without using any tool.

[0028] FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the dual-disinfection germicidal lighting device of the present disclosure with a cylinder shape 200. The housing 201a, 201b houses the air-permeable porous carrier 202, the fan 203, the first light source 204, and the second light source 208. The air-permeable porous carrier 202 is made of ceramic and its surface is coated with a photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 205. The first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means comprising the housing 201a, 201b, the air-permeable porous carrier 202, the fan 203, and the first light source 204. The housing 201a, 201b, and the air-permeable porous carrier 202, and the fan 203 together form an air chamber 206. The fan 203 operates to deplete the air in the air chamber 206. As a result, the air pressure in the air chamber 206 will drop, forcing the air to pass from the right side of the air-permeable porous carrier 202 to the left side of the carrier and into the air chamber 206. As the air passing through the air-permeable porous carrier 202, the airborne pathogens are trapped on the surface of the carrier, and the photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 205 being activated by the first light source 204 will kill the pathogens trapped on the surface of the carrier.

[0029] The second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means comprising the second light source 208. The second light source is housed on the surface of the housing 201b and emits its light out of the device. The wavelength range of the light from the second lighting source 108 may be in the 200-240 nm range, 240-280 nm range, 280-315 nm range, 315-400 nm range, 400-410 nm range, or a combination thereof.

[0030] In this embodiment the first light source 204 is placed outside the air chamber 206. There is no obstruction in a line of sight between the first light source 204 and the air-permeable porous carrier 202. The two sections of the housing, 201a and 201b, are connected through their threaded segment 207. These two sections of the housing 201a and 201b can be disengaged by rotating the housing section 201b counterclockwise, without using any tool. Once the housing section 201b is disengaged from the housing section 201a, the first light source 204 can be replaced with a new one. Similarly, the second light source 208 may be removed from the housing 201b for replacement without using any tool.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present disclosure in the form of a linear troffer luminaire 300. Behind the luminaire housing 301a, there are two air-processing modules, where the first air-processing module is shown in the front of the diagram and the second module, behind the first air-processing module, is not shown. Using the first air-processing module shown in the front as example, it includes an air inlet 310a, a ceramic air filter 302, a UVA LED assembly 304, a fan 303, an air outlet 311a, and a housing of the air-processing module 301b. The components of the two air-processing modules are the same. Therefore, with this embodiment, there are two ceramic air filters, two fans, and two UVA LED assemblies. In the center of the luminaire, there are three strips of LEDs: two of the strips 309a and 309b are visible light LED emitting for general lighting, and third strip 308 is a germicidal light source emitting a light in the UV wavelength for germicidal lighting operation.

[0032] The first means of disinfection is an air-disinfection means and it includes the housing 301a, 301b, the ceramic air filter 302, the fan 303, and the UVA LED assembly 304 as the first light source. The ceramic air filter 302 is coated with TiO.sub.2 305. The UVA LED assembly 304 emits a light to activate the photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 305. The housing 301a, 301b, the ceramic air filter 302, and the fan 303 together form an air chamber 306. The fan 303 sucks the air from its left so the air will pass from the left side of the ceramic air filter 302 to the right side of the filter into the air chamber 306. The airborne pathogens will be trapped on the surface of the ceramic air filter 302 and subsequently killed by the activated photocatalyst TiO.sub.2 305.

[0033] The second means of disinfection is an air-and-surface disinfection means and it includes the UV light source 309 as the second light source. The UV light source 309 is housed by the housing 301a and the lens cover 301c, and it emits UV light out of the device. The first and the second means of disinfection are backup air-disinfection means to each other. In this embodiment, the first light source 304 is placed inside the air chamber 306. There is no obstruction in a line of sight between the first light source 304 and the ceramic air filter 302.

[0034] The two strips of visible light LED 309a, 309b serve as the third light source of the device. The visible light LED 309a, 309b are housed by the housing 301a and the lens 301c, and they emit visible light with a wavelength in a range >400 nm out of the device for general lighting.

[0035] This embodiment may operate in two lighting modes: the general lighting and the germicidal lighting mode. During the general lighting mode, the third light source 309a, 309b is ON and the second light source 308 is OFF. During the germicidal lighting model, the second light source 308 is ON and the third light source 309a, 309b is OFF. With these two lighting modes, a user can switch this embodiment to the general lighting mode during office hours and then change it to the germicidal lighting mode in the evening for disinfecting the environment. With these two operation modes, the device avoids exposing a user to the UVC light emitted from the germicidal light source 308. Alternatively, a far UVC light source may be used for second light source 308, and in which case, the second light source 308 can be ON at all time for disinfecting the environment without the side effect of causing skin or eye damages to a user.

[0036] On the air inlet 310a, there is a removeable cover 312. Similarly, on the air inlet 310b, there is a removeable cover 314. There is latch 315 on one side of the cover 314. A user can push the latch 315 to lift and remove the cover 314 (similarly for removing the cover 312). Once the cover 314 or 312 is removed, the user can reach in and pull the ceramic air filter 302 out of its sitting slot 316 for replacement. A new ceramic air filter 302 can be slid into the sitting slot 316. This air filter replacement process can be done without using any tool.

Additional and Alternative Implementation Notes

[0037] Although the techniques have been described in language specific to certain applications, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or applications described herein. Rather, the specific features and examples are disclosed as non-limiting exemplary forms of implementing such techniques.

[0038] As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.