Patent Application
20230149579
This patent application claims priority to Indian provisional patent application no: 202041014472 filed on Mar. 31, 2021, the complete disclosures of which, in their entirety, are hereby incorporated by reference.
The embodiments herein generally relate to safe usage of an ultraviolet disinfectant, and more particularly, using human proximity sensing to provide safe usage of an ultraviolet disinfectant device.
Ultraviolet (UV) light in a wavelength range of 100 nano-meter (NM) to 280 NM is called a UV C light. The UV C light is known to have germicidal properties and also has an ability to kill or inactivate micro-organisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA. This leaves the micro-organisms unable to perform vital cellular functions and a surface to which is exposed to the UV C light is disinfected. In the event of pandemics like 2019-20 COVID-19, the properties of the UV C light are utilized to disinfect surfaces and materials thus helping reduction of virus spread.
Traditionally, there have been UV light emitting handheld wands proposed in the past for this purpose. UV wand built can be used to sanitize any surface as it kills epidemic micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli (E-coli), Salmonella, typhii, Staphylococcus aureus, avian bird flu and SARS virus with a high killing percentage of 99.99% in 10 seconds. However, since human beings are vulnerable to UV light exposure, there is a ubiquitous worry about accidental UV light exposure to humans, which causes a depreciation in the widespread usage of UV light based disinfectant devices. An exposure of UV light to a human being is harmful and may cause damage to eye-sight, skin burns. A long term exposure may even lead to cancer development in a human-being.
Accordingly, there remains a need of safe to use UV disinfectant device that automatically detects proximity of a human being and provides safe operation of the UV disinfectant device.
In view of the foregoing, embodiments herein provide a system of a safe ultraviolet (UV) disinfectant device using human proximity sensing. The system includes (a) a human proximity sensor that detects a presence of nearby objects, (b) an ultraviolet light source that emits a UV light on a desired surface, and (c) a control unit that switches the ultraviolet light source on or off by (i) capturing a proximity region of the safe UV disinfectant device using the human proximity sensor, (ii) detecting the presence of at least one human being from the proximity region using image recognition, and (iii) disabling a power switch based on the presence of at least one human being to provide safe operation of the safe UV disinfectant device (200).
In some embodiments, the human proximity sensor is an image capturing device that continuously captures images of a long range proximity region of the safe UV disinfectant device.
In some embodiments, the human proximity sensor continuously captures images of a short range proximity region of the safe UV disinfectant device.
In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device includes a thermal or capacitive sensor that detects a part of the at least one human being.
In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device includes an opaque UV resistant enclosure below a transparent window that encloses the ultraviolet light source for enabling a hand-held wand operation of the safe UV disinfectant device.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of safe operation of a safe ultraviolet (UV) disinfectant device using human proximity sensing. The method includes (i) capturing a proximity region of a safe UV disinfectant device using a human proximity sensor, (ii) emitting UV light on a desired surface from a UV light source, (iii) detecting a presence of at least one human being from the proximity region using a human presence detection logic using image recognition, and (iv) disabling a power switch of the safe UV disinfectant device based on the presence of at least one human being to provide safe operation of the safe UV disinfectant device.
In some embodiments, the human proximity sensor is an image capturing device that continuously captures images of a long range proximity region of the safe UV disinfectant device (200).
In some embodiments, the human proximity sensor continuously captures images of a short range proximity region of the safe UV disinfectant device.
In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device includes a thermal or capacitive sensor that detects a part of the at least one human being.
In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device includes an opaque UV resistant enclosure below a transparent window that encloses the ultraviolet light source for enabling a hand-held wand operation of the safe UV disinfectant device.
The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
In the view of the foregoing, the need of a UV disinfectant device that is safe to use that automatically detects proximity of a human being and provides safe operation of the UV disinfectant device is fulfilled in the ongoing description by: (a) capturing a proximity region of a safe UV disinfectant device using a camera or a human proximity sensor, (b) detecting a presence of a one or more human beings from the proximity region using a human presence detection logic, (c) controlling a power switch of the safe UV disinfectant device based on the presence of the one or more human beings, and (d) causing a UV light source of the safe UV disinfectant device to either turn off or on to provide safe operation of the safe UV disinfectant device. In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device is implemented in a wand like object. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
With reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the safe UV disinfectant device 200 may include sensors like thermal sensors, capacitive sensors that provide better detection of the presence of the one or more human beings when the distance between the one or more human beings and the safe UV disinfectant device 200 is less. In some embodiments, when the distance between the one or more human beings and the safe UV disinfectant device 200 is more, the human presence detection module 506 utilizes the camera 302 to detect the presence of the one or more human beings.
With reference to
The embodiments herein may include a computer program product configured to include a pre-configured set of instructions, which when performed, can result in actions as stated in conjunction with the methods described above. In an example, the pre-configured set of instructions can be stored on a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium or a program storage device. In an example, the tangible non-transitory computer readable medium can be configured to include the set of instructions, which when performed by a device, can cause the device to perform acts similar to the ones described here. Embodiments herein may also include tangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media for carrying or having computer executable instructions or data structures stored thereon.
Generally, program modules utilized herein include routines, programs, components, data structures, objects, and the functions inherent in the design of special-purpose processors, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
The embodiments herein can include both hardware and software elements. The embodiments that are implemented in software include but are not limited to, firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/output (I/O) devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.
A representative hardware environment for practicing the embodiments herein is depicted in
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202041014472 | Mar 2020 | IN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IN2021/050327 | 3/31/2021 | WO |
