EP-4735058-A1 - AN ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and specifically to a modular UV disinfection device configured to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at adhere to a lid of a container, such as a container for food storage.

Inventors

• FORSSELL, FREDRIK
• Tirén, Jonas

Assignees

• PureFize Technologies AB

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240619

Claims (20)

1. 1. A UV disinfection device provided for disinfection, wherein the UV disinfection device comprises: - at least one UV light source, - a driver for operating the at least one UV light source, - a battery, - a control unit connected to the driver and the battery, and - a housing adapted to receive the at least one UV light source, the driver, the battery, and the control unit within an internal space of the housing, wherein: - the at least one UV light source is arranged to emit UV light from a bottom side of the housing, - the bottom side of the housing is arranged to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device, - the control unit is configured to operate the at least one UV light source according to a disinfection cycle, and - the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.
2. 2. The UV disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV light source is arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match a UV transparent area of the connection segment.
3. 3. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising: - a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the connection segment being received at the bottom side of the housing.
4. 4. The UV disinfection device according to claim 3, wherein: - the sensor is a first IR sensor configured to emit and receive IR light, - the first IR sensor is connected to the control unit, - the first IR sensor arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match IR reflective area provided at the connection segment.
5. 5. The UV disinfection device according to claim 4, further comprising a corresponding second IR sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the first and the second IR sensors are both receiving IR light reflected from respective IR reflective areas of the connection segment.
6. 6. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a user interface connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate the disinfection cycle when a user is operating the user interface.
7. 7. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tilt sensor or a movement sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is further configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the tilt sensor or the movement sensor indicates that the UV disinfection device is essentially stationary.
8. 8. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a duration of the disinfection cycle is predefined to be from 10 seconds to 20 minutes.
9. 9. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - an identification sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the identification sensor is configured to acquire an identity of the connection segment when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.
10. 10. The UV disinfection device according to claim 9, wherein a duration of the disinfection cycle is dependent on the identity of the connection segment.
11. 11. The UV disinfection device according to any one the preceding claims, further comprising: - a distance determining sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the distance determining sensor is configured to acquire a distance to an object for disinfection provided a distance away from the bottom side of the housing.
12. 12. The UV disinfection device according to claim 11, wherein the duration of the disinfection cycle is further dependent on the determined distance to the object for disinfection.
13. 13. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one UV light source is a field emission light source configured to emit UV light.
14. 14. The UV disinfection device according to claim 13, wherein a driver comprised with the UV disinfection device is arranged to generate a drive signal for the field emission light source having a voltage amplitude from 4500 V to 9000 V.
15. 15. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the field emission light source is adapted to emit UV light within a major portion of a wavelength range defined between 210 - 350 nm.
16. 16. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 13 - 15, wherein a plurality of field emission light source comprises a light converting material arranged to receive electrons and to emit UV light.
17. 17. The UV disinfection device according to claim 16, wherein the light converting material is selected to be at least one of LaPO4:Pr 3+ , LuPO3:Pr 3+ , Lu2Si2O7:Pr 3+ , YBO3:Pr 3+ , YA103:Sc 3+ or YPO4:Bi 3+ or a similar light converting material.
18. 18. The UV disinfection device according to claim 16, wherein the light converting material is a phosphor material.
19. 19. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 1 - 11, wherein the UV light source comprises at least a first UV LED.
20. 20. The UV disinfection device according to claim 19, further comprising a second UV LED, wherein: - the first UV LED is adapted to emit light within a first wavelength range defined from 250 to 270 nm, - the second UV LED is adapted to emit light within a second wavelength range defined from 270 to 320 nm.

Description

AN ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and specifically to a modular UV disinfection device configured to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at adhere to a lid of a container, such as a container for food storage. BACKGROUND Many everyday objects can serve as transport mechanisms for disease-causing microorganisms. These objects, when handled or contaminated by various individuals or surfaces, can become potential sources of infection. If these contaminated objects come into contact with a person's mouth, nose, eyes, or any area of damaged skin, they can transmit diseases or cause infections. This issue is particularly critical for objects used by infants, as they often put small items in their mouths or touch larger objects with their mouths. Items like bottle nipples, pacifiers, teething rings, and others, which are designed to be placed in an infant's mouth, are frequently dropped onto potentially contaminated surfaces such as the floor. It is crucial to have a quick and easy method to disinfect these objects before giving them back to the infant. Boiling water has traditionally been used to disinfect such items. Similarly, objects used by both adults and children, such as toothbrushes, contact lenses, combs, hairbrushes, eating and drinking utensils, medical and dental devices, and more, may also require disinfection to minimize the risk of disease or infection. One method for sterilizing objects is by exposing them to ultraviolet (UV) light, specifically light mainly having its wavelength within the UV-C region. The use of UV light has also shown to be promising in relation to extending the shelf-life of food by controlling microbial growth, effectively reducing food waste. Within the European Union it is estimated (2020) that approximately 70 kg/inhabitant is annually wasted within the household, which causes significant social, economic, and environmental issues. UV radiation disrupts microorganisms' DNA and RNA, reducing spoilage and bacterial contamination. Implementing UV technology in food storage helps maintain food quality, reduce waste, and promote sustainability as well as addressing food waste, enhancing resource efficiency, significant cost savings and building a more resilient food system. However, present UV systems employing this approach are generally provided for use in an industrial environment which is not generally suitable for a household implementation. Furthermore, the present UV systems often rely on an external power source, such as a wall socket, to operate the UV light source for extended periods. With the above in mind, there is thus a desire to provide further enhancements to such a disinfection system, specifically for improving flexibility of use of UV disinfection, while ensuring that the UV disinfection may be achieved in a cost-efficient manner. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the above is at least partly alleviated by a UV disinfection device provided for disinfection, wherein the UV disinfection device comprises at least one UV light source, a driver for operating the at least one UV light source, a battery, a control unit connected to the driver and the battery, and a housing adapted to receive the at least one UV light source, the driver, the battery, and the control unit within an internal space of the housing, wherein the at least one UV light source is arranged to emit UV light from a bottom side of the housing, the bottom side of the housing is arranged to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device, the control unit is configured to operate the at least one UV light source according to a disinfection cycle, and the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing. The present disclosure is based on the understanding that it would be desirable to reduce unwanted disease-causing microorganisms in e.g. a home environment. This is solved by the flexible UV disinfection device according to the present disclosure, where the present UV disinfection device is adapted to be portable and to be movable between different locations, where such locations have been provided with a connection segment that is provided separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at a lid of a container, at a shelf within a fridge, etc. An advantage following the above is that the flexible UV disinfection device of the present disclosure may be used where it is presently most useful, rather than being provided as a dedicated device that is only useable in a fixed location. A user of the UV disinfection device of the present disclosure will thus be allowed a maximum return on investment since