US-12624850-B2 - UVC sterilization and lighting device

US12624850B2US 12624850 B2US12624850 B2US 12624850B2US-12624850-B2

Abstract

Lighting device that provides, in addition to effective LED illumination, controlled UVC treatment of an airflow that provides sterilization of the air without endangering those using the illumination or damaging the environment being illuminated. Some embodiments include variable light and sterilization control, with variables being timing, intensity and light color, for example.

Inventors

Donglei Wang

Assignees

ETi Solid State Lighting Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220701

Claims (11)

1 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device comprising: a light emitting assembly; a fan box connected to said light emitting assembly; a fan located in said fan box; a front cover, a back cover, and side baffles that form an air duct in operative connection with said fan; an air inlet disposed on one side of said light emitting assembly for drawing contaminated air into said UVC sterilization device from a space; an air outlet disposed on a side of said light emitting assembly different from the disposition of said air inlet; and a germicidal and disinfecting air purifier apparatus for eliminating pathogens from said air and disinfecting said air from said light emitting assembly, wherein said air outlet directs air treated with said germicidal and disinfecting air purifier apparatus back into the space.
2 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 wherein said UVC sterilization device comprises a UVC 2×2 direct/indirect troffer.
3 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 wherein said LED light unit comprises a color temperature control switch that selectively controls color temperature of the light emitted by the light emitting assembly.
4 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 wherein said UVC sterilization device comprises a UVC sterilization lamp that is within a cavity, and wherein the UVC sterilization lamp comprises a UVC-LED, and one or more walls of the cavity comprise a substrate for sterilizing air flowing through said cavity with an output from the UVC sterilization lamp.
5 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 and further including a night light.
6 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 and further comprising a control assembly for instituting and completing one or more the following functions: air sterilization combined with LED lighting; separate LED lighting; night lighting; and ventilation in combination with at least one of air sterilization, air sterilization with LED lighting, LED lighting, and night lighting; wherein the control assembly comprises one or more of a wall switch, remote control switch, automatic temperature control switch, motion switch, humidity switch, and time switch.
7 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the air inlet draws contaminated air into said UVC sterilization device from the space through the front cover; and said air outlet directs air treated with said germicidal and disinfecting air purifier apparatus back into the space through the front cover.
8 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet is defined at one end of the air duct, the air outlet is defined at another end of the air duct, and the air outlet is disposed on a side of the front cover different from the disposition of the air inlet.
9 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 1 , further comprising a separator forming the air duct, wherein the side baffles and the separator form the air duct in a serpentine manner around the separator.
10 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 9 , wherein the germicidal and disinfecting air purifier apparatus includes a UV lamp fastened in the air duct, between the separator and one of the side baffles.
11 . A combination LED light unit and a UVC sterilization device according to claim 9 , wherein the germicidal and disinfecting air purifier apparatus includes UV lamps fastened to the back cover, at opposite sides of the separator.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/217,467, filed Jul. 1, 2021, entitled “UVC STERILIZATION AND LIGHTING DEVICE”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ultraviolet sterilization and LED lighting devices, and in particular to such devices that can sterilize air and provide illumination while rendering the places in which the inventive devices are used, safe to people and animals. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Prior Art Let there be light—and since that phrase was uttered, ingenuity has been called forth to do so in man's own hands, and for a variety of reasons. While traditional lighting for visual aid purposes is perhaps the most known use, other uses of specialized light are also known. Ultraviolet (UV) sterilization devices have been known for over seventy-five years. UV light has been used for sterilizing against the spread of bacteria which cause tuberculosis, for example. Such lamps are referred to as germicidal lamps. Depending on the wavelength, other similar safety-inducing applications have been developed. Ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps are well-known devices for disinfecting surfaces in homes, places of business, etc., and currently inactivating viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. UV spectrums are generally considered to have four parts: UVA (315-400 nm); UVB (280-315 nm); UVC (200-280 nm); and UVVacuum (110-200 nm). It is to be appreciated that natural UVC (for example, from the sun) does not reach the earth from space due to atmospheric scattering, so typically no natural UVC reaches living cells in the skin. UVC kills up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. The Center for Disease Control has defined in the following terms for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI): Sterilization—a process that destroys all forms of microbial life by physical or chemical methodsDisinfection—a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects; andDecontamination—makes an object or an area safe by removing, neutralizing or destroying any harmful substance—this being the result of sterilization or disinfection. Continuous low doses of far ultraviolet C (far-UVC) can kill airborne flu viruses without having human access. Far-UVC typically has wavelengths of between 207-227 nm. While perhaps effective in theory against seasonal flu epidemics and pandemics, it is to be appreciated that implementation of overhead far-UVS in all public spaces may be difficult or impossible to enact. Most materials do not reflect or transmit UVC energies very well. Some specialty glasses made from fused silica are used to direct UVC light. Reflective materials include Teflon, PTFE (polytetrafluorotethylene) and UV-enhanced aluminium. UVC light sources used for disinfection include low pressure mercury-vapor lamps, pulsed-xenon lamps, excimer lamps and UV LEDs. UVC radiation destroys the outer protein layer of SARS-coronavirus (which differs from SARS-CoV-2 virus) and inactivates the SARS-coronavirus. UVC radiation is believed to be effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19. UVC radiation damages RNA and DNA, stopping microbes (viruses, bacteria, etc.) from replicating. If used correctly, for example with personal protective equipment (PPE), a person may not be damaged by UVC radiation. UVC radiation inactivates viruses only when the virus is directly exposed to the radiation, and a layer of contaminants, such as for example dust, may prevent the radiation from reaching the virus target. UVC radiation can damage a person's eyes or skin, so it is usually used in ducts to disinfect the air passing through the ducts. One form of eye damage may be that a cornea may be burnt or damaged. Eye damage may also include photoceratitis (or Welder's Flash or Arc Eyes), cataracts, pterygia (inflammatory, invasive and proliferating lesions on the cornea) and pineuecula (yellow deposits between the cornea and sclera). Such damages to a person's eye may occur in as little time as a 3 second exposure. With respect to damage to the skin, the surface of the skin, the epidermis, may be penetrated by UVC. UVC can cause severe skin burns, and excessive exposure to UVC can cause skin cancer. UVC lamps thus can cause health issues unless the UVC lamps are properly insulated. A person should never look directly at UVC radiation. Some UVC lamps generate toxic mercury and/or ozone, each of which can cause health problems. UVC lamps should emit 254 nm (nanometer), but may emit a broad range of UV wavelengths. Some UVC lamps also emit infrared or visible radiation, and such variations in these emissions may damage persons or animals; however, LED lamps contain no mercury. Germicidal lamps are used because they deactivate the reproductive capabilities of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens when used at 253.7 nm for 10 inches and for