US-12622994-B2 - Light fixture with UV disinfection

Abstract

A light fixture includes a housing forming a cavity to permit airflow therethrough. A filter is disposed within the airflow of the cavity. An ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed within the cavity and is directed to concurrently treat the airflow and the filter to destroy biomaterial therein.

Inventors

• Maxim S. Shatalov
• Michael Handerhan

Assignees

• APOGEE LIGHTING HOLDINGS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20211019

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A light fixture, comprising: a housing forming a cavity and having an inlet to permit airflow therethrough; a first ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) external to the cavity to direct UV light from the first UV LED to treat the airflow prior to entering the inlet; a filter disposed within the airflow of the cavity; and a second UV LED disposed within the cavity, the second UV LED being directed to concurrently treat the airflow and the filter to destroy biomaterial therein.
2. 2 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a forced convection device to draw air into the cavity.
3. 3 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter includes an ultraviolet light resistant material.
4. 4 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first UV LED treats the filter on an inlet side of the filter.
5. 5 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a plurality of filters and an intermediary ultraviolet radiation source is disposed between filters in the plurality of filters.
6. 6 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter has a collection efficiency of more than 99.9% with the most penetrating particle size of less than 0.3 micron.
7. 7 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a reflector coupled to the housing to direct light emitted from first UV LED externally about the inlet.
8. 8 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a controller to control the activation of the first UV LED to protect humans and pets in an ultraviolet light avoidance area.
9. 9 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a controller to control airflow and an intensity of radiation, the controller including a programmable dose module to store a required radiation dose, the controller controlling power and time based on sensor feedback to ensure a UV radiation dose is achieved.
10. 10 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a visible light disposed on the housing.
11. 11 . The light fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the light fixture is suspended from a ceiling.
12. 12 . A light fixture, comprising: a housing forming a cavity and having an inlet to permit airflow therethrough; an ultraviolet radiation source including a first ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) external to the housing to direct UV light from the first UV LED to treat the airflow prior to entering the inlet; a reflector being opaque to the UV light, the reflector having a reflective surface with a distant region and an adjacent region, wherein at least a portion of the adjacent region is located close to and below the ultraviolet radiation source, and the distant region is further from the ultraviolet radiation source than the adjacent region and extends to a position above the ultraviolet radiation source such that ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation source is directed upward to treat a volume of air before entering the inlet.
13. 13 . The light fixture as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a forced convection device to draw air into the cavity.
14. 14 . The light fixture as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a filter disposed at the inlet of the cavity and within the volume such that the filter is exposed to the UV light during operation.
15. 15 . The light fixture as recited in claim 14 , wherein the filter includes an ultraviolet light resistant material.
16. 16 . The light fixture as recited in claim 14 , wherein the first UV LED is on an inlet side of the filter and a second UV LED is on an outlet side of the filter.
17. 17 . The light fixture as recited in claim 14 , wherein the filter includes a plurality of filters and an intermediary ultraviolet radiation source is disposed between filters in the plurality of filters.
18. 18 . The light fixture as recited in claim 14 , wherein the filter has a collection efficiency of more than 99.9% with the most penetrating particle size of less than 0.3 micron.
19. 19 . The light fixture as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a visible light disposed opposite the reflective surface.
20. 20 . A light fixture, comprising: a housing forming a cavity to permit airflow therethrough; a forced convection device to draw air into the cavity through an inlet; an ultraviolet light resistant filter disposed within the airflow of the cavity; a first ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) disposed within the cavity, the first UV LED being directed to concurrently treat the airflow and the filter to destroy biomaterial therein; a reflector coupled to the housing to direct light emitted from a second UV LED external to the cavity to treat the airflow prior to entering the inlet; and a controller to control airflow and an intensity of radiation of the at least one light emitting diode, the controller including a programmable dose module to store a required radiation dose, the controller controlling power and time based on sensor feedback to ensure a radiation dose is achieved.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/093,434, filed on Oct. 19, 2020, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/115,411, filed on Nov. 18, 2020, both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to disinfection and sanitization, and more particularly, to the disinfection and sanitization of air from ultraviolet light source incorporated into the light fixture. BACKGROUND Ultraviolet disinfection systems are known and have a successful history of use in the reduction of viable concentrations of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. The core unit of these ultraviolet systems is/are a source(s) of ultraviolet radiation having wavelength(s) close to the absorption peaks of biologically significant molecules of DNA, RNA, and proteins. The system can disinfect a medium, such as water, air, or surface, to a safe condition as long as the irradiance from the ultraviolet source and the exposure time are sufficient to create a high enough disinfection dose to modify and/or destroy the internal molecular structure of the pathogens. The vast majority of known ultraviolet disinfection systems typically use mercury lamps, xenon arc lamps, excimer lamps, or UV light emitting diodes (LED) as a source of ultraviolet radiation. Low-pressure and medium-pressure mercury lamps provide a linear spectrum of radiation with wavelengths that are in the relative vicinity to a DNA absorption spectrum. UV LEDs provide a relatively narrow spectrum of radiation of approximately 5 nm to approximately 20 nm, such that the peak of the spectrum of radiation can be further tuned to have wavelength values in the vicinity or close to one of peak DNA absorption wavelength values. UV LED light sources frequently provide the flexibility of design and features lacking in mercury lamps, xenon arc lamps, and excimer lamps. Ultraviolet light emitting sources provide a convenient and effective way for the disinfection of surfaces. However, installing a new ultraviolet light emitting system in common high occupancy facilities such as classrooms, office conference rooms, medical facility lobbies, and restaurants may have high associated costs related to mounting ultraviolet sources at different locations within a facility, providing electrical wiring and power to such ultraviolet sources and providing means for controlling these sources. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce costs associated with installing these sources by providing ways to retrofit existing light emitting sources with ultraviolet light emitting capability. The present disclosure provides systems and methods that address various problems associated with the deployment of ultraviolet light emitting sources for the disinfection of surfaces. SUMMARY Consistent with a disclosed embodiment, a light fixture is provided. The light fixture may include an ultraviolet radiation source comprising at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode configured to generate ultraviolet radiation. Further, the light fixture may include a housing that further includes a cavity through which the airflow is directed by the fan. The cavity can include at least one air filter. The at least one air filter can include a HEPA equivalent filter. The at least one air filter can include a dust prefilter and/or a porous PTFE filter. The at least one air filter can be irradiated by ultraviolet radiation. The housing further comprises ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned within the cavity to irradiate the air filter. Consistent with a disclosed embodiment, a light fixture is provided. The light fixture may include an ultraviolet radiation source comprising at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode configured to generate ultraviolet radiation. Further, the light fixture may include a reflector being reflective (but not transparent) to the ultraviolet radiation, the reflector having a top surface, the top surface comprising a distant region and an adjacent region, wherein at least a portion of the adjacent region is located close to and below the ultraviolet radiation source, and wherein the distant region comprises a rim located above a top-most emitting point of the ultraviolet radiation source, the reflector having at least partially reflective surface with reflectivity of at least 80% in the ultraviolet region, the reflector having a visible illumination light source in proximity to a bottom surface. Consistent with another disclosed embodiment, a light fixture is provided. The light fixture may include an ultraviolet radiation source comprising at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode configured to generate germicidal ultraviolet radiation. Further, the light fixture may include a reflector being not transparent to the ultraviolet radiation, the reflector comprising a top surface, the top surface including a first surface adjacent to the source and a second surface adjac