Clothing Element for Protection from Organic Structures, System and Method

Abstract

The invention relates to a clothing element (10) comprising a wearing portion (11) for wearing the clothing element (10) in a wearing position (I) by a wearer (1), and an emission unit (12) for emitting electromagnetic radiation (200) for killing organic structures (2), in particular in the form of pathogens and/or insects. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system (5) comprising a clothing element (10) and an external apparatus (4), and to a method (100) for protecting a body region (202) of a wearer (1).

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A clothing element comprising a wearing portion for wearing the clothing element in a wearing position by a wearer, and an emission unit for emitting electromagnetic radiation for killing organic structures, wherein, in the wearing position, a protected area can be generated by the electromagnetic radiation of the emission unit, by means of which a body region of the wearer is at least partially protected from the organic structures.

18. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the radiation emittable by the emission unit comprises a UV radiation.

19. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the emission unit has at least one emission element in the form of at least an LED, a laser or an excimer element.

20. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic radiation in the wearing position has a radiation direction by means of which the electromagnetic radiation is prevented from contacting on the body region.

21. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the emission unit is configured to emit the radiation in a conical manner.

22. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the body region at least partially protected by the protected area is a facial region of the wearer.

23. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the wearing portion is configured for wearing the clothing element on the head of the wearer, wherein a shield section extends from the wearing portion for shielding the body region on which the emission unit is arranged.

24. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein an energy supply unit for providing electrical energy for the emission unit is provided.

25. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein an internal control unit with an emission module for controlling the emission of the emission unit is provided.

26. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is connected to a sensor unit for capturing environmental data in the form of sensor data.

27. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is connected to a position unit for capturing environmental data in the form of position data of a geographical position of the clothing element.

28. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is connected to a communication unit for receiving environmental data in the form of external data from an external apparatus.

29. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein the control unit comprises an evaluation module for producing an evaluation of a hazard potential of penetration of organic structures to the wearer as a function of the environmental data.

30. The clothing element according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of emission units are provided for emitting electromagnetic radiation for killing organic structures.

31. A system comprising at least one clothing element, according to claim 17, and an external apparatus for data communication with the clothing element, wherein the clothing element has a wearing portion for wearing the clothing element in a wearing position by a wearer, and an emission unit for emitting electromagnetic radiation for killing organic structures, wherein, in the wearing position, a protected area can be generated by the electromagnetic radiation of the emission unit, by means of which a body region of the wearer is at least partially protected from the organic structures, wherein the clothing element comprises a communication unit for receiving environmental data in the form of external data from the external apparatus, wherein an evaluation module is provided for producing an evaluation of a hazard potential of penetration of organic structures to the wearer in dependence on the environmental data, wherein the clothing element comprises an internal control unit with an emission module for controlling the emission of electromagnetic radiation of the emission unit in dependence on the evaluation.

32. A method for protecting a body region of a wearer of a clothing element, according to claim 17, from organic structures while the clothing element is in a wearing position in which the clothing element is worn by the wearer, comprising: Capturing of environmental data of an environment of the wearer, producing an evaluation of a hazard potential of penetration of organic structures to the wearer in dependence on the environmental data, generating a protected area in dependence on the evaluation by emitting electromagnetic radiation for killing the organic structures by the clothing element, so that a body region of the wearer is at least partially protected from the organic structures by the protected area.

33. The clothing element according to claim 24, wherein the energy supply unit comprising a connecting element for connection to at least an external energy source or an internal energy storage.

34. The clothing element according to claim 30, wherein at least the emission units having different radiation parameters or the emission units being arranged successively in such a way that the body region in the wearing position can be at least partially protected by each of the emission units.

35. The clothing element according to claim 29, wherein the emission module being configured for controlling the emission of the electromagnetic radiation of the emission unit depending on the evaluation.

36. The clothing element according to claim 26, wherein the emission module being configured for controlling the emission of the electromagnetic radiation of the emission unit as a function of the sensor data.

Description

[0032] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this connection, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It schematically shows:

[0033] FIG. 1 a system according to the invention with a clothing element according to the invention in a first embodiment,

[0034] FIG. 2 a method according to the invention for protecting a body region of a wearer of the clothing element in schematic representation of method steps/stages,

[0035] FIG. 3 an internal control unit of the clothing element,

[0036] FIGS. 4-5 Systems according to the invention, each with a clothing element according to the invention in further examples of embodiment, and

[0037] FIG. 6 a system according to the invention with a clothing element according to the invention in a further embodiment.

[0038] In the following description of some embodiments of the invention, the identical reference signs are used for the same technical features even in different embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a system 5 according to the invention with a clothing element 10 according to the invention in a first embodiment. In this case, the clothing element 10 is designed/configured as a headgear of a wearer 1 and is located in a wearing position I in which the clothing element 10 is worn by the wearer 1. A method 100 according to the invention for protecting a body region 202 of the wearer 1 of the clothing element 10 is further illustrated in FIG. 2. In this case, the steps/stages of the method 100 are carried out while the clothing element 10 is in the wearing position I.

[0040] For wearing the clothing element 10 by the wearer 1, the clothing element 10 has a wearing portion 11 for wearing, in particular placing, the clothing element 10 in a wearing position I by the wearer 1. Extending from the wearing portion 11 in the front head region is a shield section 17, on which an emission unit 12 for emitting an electromagnetic radiation 200 for killing organic structures 2 is arranged. The organic structures 2 may be, for example, pathogens in the form of viruses and/or bacteria or insects. Thus, many pathogens are transmitted via the ambient air by a so-called droplet infection. A protected area 201 can therefore be generated by the electromagnetic radiation 200, by means of which the body region 202 of the wearer 1 is at least partially or completely protected from the organic structures 2. To generate the protected area 201, the electrical radiation 200 can be emitted continuously or at intervals, in particular in a pulse-like manner, by the emission unit 12, so that the organic structures 2 are exposed to the radiation 200 when the organic structures 2 advance towards the body region 202. In this way, any danger to the wearer 1 or the wearer's immune system that may be posed by the organic structures 2 can be reduced or avoided altogether. Here, the body region 202 is a facial region of the wearer 1 which includes the mouth, nose and eyes of the wearer 1. As a result, harmful penetration of pathogens into the mucous membranes of the wearer 1 can be reduced or avoided. In particular, the air supplied to the body region 202 may be disinfected by the radiation 200.

[0041] For this purpose, the emission unit 12 comprises at least one emission element 12.1 in the form of an LED, a laser and/or an excimer element. In particular, the emission element 12.1 is designed/configured for emitting the radiation 200 as a UV radiation, preferably a UV-C radiation, particularly preferably a Far-UV-C radiation. Thereby, the radiation 200 can be emitted in a cone-like manner, in particular with an opening angle 200.1 of 20° to 40°, preferably of about 30°. By the arrangement at the shield section 17, a radiation direction 201.1 of the radiation 200 can furthermore be predeterminable, which prevents the radiation 200 from contacting the body region 202 of the wearer 1. Thus, the wearer 1 itself may be protected from the radiation 200 and/or a higher intensity of the radiation 200 may be selected than when the wearer 1 itself is exposed to the radiation 200. For this purpose, the radiation 200 partly runs parallel to the body region 202 and partly runs away from the body region 202. Preferably, the emission unit 12 comprises a plurality of emission elements 12.1 which may in particular be arranged in the form of an LED matrix and/or an LED array.

[0042] In order to provide electrical energy for the operation of the emission unit 12, the clothing element 10 comprises an energy supply unit 13 comprising an internal energy storage 13.2. Preferably, the energy storage 13.2 is a rechargeable battery. This allows the clothing element 10 to be worn by the wearer 1 without the need for proximity to an external energy source 3.

[0043] Further, the clothing element 10 comprises an internal control unit 20 having an emission module 21 for driving the emission unit 12. The control unit 20 is shown in FIG. 3. For a detection 101 of environmental data 210 of an environment of the wearer 1, the control unit 20 is in communication with a sensor unit 14, a position unit 15 and a communication unit 16. Preferably, the control unit 20, the energy supply unit 13, the sensor unit 14, the position unit 15 and the communication unit 16 are arranged at the shield section 17. Through the sensor unit 14, environmental data 210 can be acquired in the form of sensor data 211. For example, an activity, such as sneezing or coughing, of other persons in the environment may be detected by the sensor unit 14. For this purpose, the sensor unit 14 may be configured to acoustically and/or visually detecting the sensor data 211. Environmental data 210 in the form of position data 212 of a geographical position of the wearer 1 is detected by the position unit 15. The position data 212 may, for example, provide information as to whether the wearer 1 is located in a risk area for epidemics or insects.

[0044] Further, the system 5 comprises an external apparatus 4 that can communicate environmental data 210 in the form of external data 213 to the clothing element 10. For this purpose, the clothing element 10 comprises the communication unit 16 for receiving the external data 213. The external apparatus 4 may be, for example, a mobile terminal, another clothing of another wearer 1 or a central control station such as a server. In particular, the communication unit 16 and the external apparatus 4 may be configured for bidirectional communication.

[0045] For producing 102 an evaluation 220 of a potential danger of an advance of the organic structures 2 towards the wearer 1 dependent on the environmental data 210, the control unit 20 comprises an evaluation module 22 which is in communication with the emission module 21 of the control unit 20. The emission module 21 is adapted to control the emission of the radiation 200 of the emission unit 12 in dependence on the environmental data 210, in particular in dependence on the evaluation of the environmental data 210. As a result, a generation 103 of the protected area 201 can be performed to protect the wearer 1, in particular while minimizing a use of the electromagnetic radiation 200.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a system 5 according to the invention with a clothing element 10 according to the invention in a second embodiment. Here, the system 5 and its function essentially correspond to the system 5 and its function of the first embodiment example. However, instead of arranging the components in the shield section 17, a energy supply unit 13, a control unit 20 and preferably a position (detection) unit 15 and a communication unit 16 are arranged on the wearing portion 11, in particular in an occipital region. As a result, a weight and a space requirement of the components of the clothing element 10 can be distributed, so that a comfort of the clothing element 10 and thus its acceptability is increased. Furthermore, this arrangement offers advantages when the energy supply unit 13 comprises a connection element 13.1 for connection to an external energy source 3, such as a power socket or a USB socket, as shown in FIG. 4. If the connection element 13.1, in particular in the form of a USB interface, is designed/configured for a cable connection, the arrangement can further prevent the cable from interfering in the facial area. It is conceivable that the energy supply unit 13 additionally comprises an internal energy storage 13.2 which can be charged via the connecting element 13.1.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a system 5 according to the invention with a clothing element 10 according to the invention in a further embodiment. In this case, the clothing element 10 is designed/configured as a pair of glasses. For this purpose, two wearing portions 11 in the form of glasses temples are provided. A control unit 20, a communication unit 16 for communicating with an external apparatus 4 and a energy supply unit 13 are integrated in the wearing portions 11. Furthermore, the clothing element 10 comprises a sensor unit 14 for capturing 101 environmental data 210, which is directed in the viewing direction of a wearer 1. On a side of the clothing element 10 opposite to the sensor unit 14, an emission unit 12 for emitting an electromagnetic radiation 200 for killing organic structures 2 is further arranged. By means of the radiation 200, a protected area 201 can be generated by which a body region 202 in the form of a face area of the wearer 1 is at least partially protected when the clothing element 10 is in a wearing position I in which the clothing element 10 is worn by the wearer 1. Since the eyes of the wearer 1 are at least partially protected by the glasses anyway, it may be sufficient if the protected area 201 only protects the nose and the mouth of the wearer 1 at least partially from the organic structures 2.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a system 5 according to the invention with a clothing element 10 according to the invention in a further embodiment. In this case, the clothing element 10 is designed/configured essentially in accordance with the first embodiment example. However, in contrast to the first embodiment example, the clothing element 10 comprises a plurality of emission units 12 for emitting an electromagnetic radiation 200 for killing organic structures 2. Preferably, each of the emission units 12 comprises at least one emission element 12.1 or a plurality of emission elements 12.1 as described in the preceding embodiments. Further, the emission units 12 may each have different radiation parameters. For example, electromagnetic radiation 200 having a different wavelength and/or intensity may be emitted by each of the emission units 12. Depending on the environmental situation, a different emission unit 12 may therefore be controllable by a control unit 20 in order to enable radiation emission appropriate to the situation. For this purpose, the emission units 12 are further arranged in succession in such a way that a body region 202 of a wearer 1 in a wearing position I of the clothing element 10 can be at least partially or completely protected from the organic structures 2 by each of the emission units 12. As shown, the emission units 12 may be arranged for this purpose along a viewing direction of the wearer 1 at a shield section 17, for example.

[0049] In any of the previously described embodiments, it is conceivable that the clothing element 10 is designed/configured without the communication unit 16 and can thus be used independently of the external apparatus 4 to protect the wearer.

[0050] The foregoing explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention by way of example only. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other, provided that this is technically reasonable, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0051] 1 Wearer [0052] 2 Structures [0053] 3 External energy source [0054] 4 Apparatus [0055] 5 System [0056] 10 Clothing element [0057] 11 Wearing portion [0058] 12 Emission unit [0059] 12.1 Emission element [0060] 13 Energy supply unit [0061] 13.1 Connecting element [0062] 13.2 Internal energy storage [0063] 14 Sensor unit [0064] 15 Position unit [0065] 16 Communication unit [0066] 17 Shield section [0067] 20 Control unit [0068] 21 Emission module [0069] 22 Evaluation module [0070] 100 Method [0071] 101 Detection from 210 [0072] 102 Production from 220 [0073] 103 Generation from 201 [0074] 200 Radiation [0075] 200.1 Opening angle [0076] 201 Protected area [0077] 201.1 Radiation direction [0078] 202 Body region [0079] 210 Environmental data [0080] 211 Sensor data [0081] 212 Position data [0082] 213 Data [0083] 220 Evaluation [0084] I Wearing position