Uv germicidal system, method, and device thereof

Abstract

A germicidal system for at least partially disinfecting a human interface device including a touch surface and method thereof are provided. The germicidal system includes a housing defining an aperture, an adjustable attachment device extending from the housing, the adjustable attachment device configured to removably attach to the human interface device, an ultra-violet (UV) light source at least partially enclosed in the housing, wherein the UV light source is configured to project an illumination pattern at least partially defined by the aperture and position of the adjustable attachment device, such that the illumination pattern substantially corresponds to the touch surface of the human interface device, a sensor in communication with the UV light source, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object proximate to the housing, and a processor in communication between the UV light source and the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to activate the UV light source when the sensor has not detected the object within a first time period, and deactivate the UV light source when one of the sensor detects the object and a second time period has expired, such that the illumination pattern projected by the UV light source disinfects the touch surface of the human interface device below a surgical grade sterilization.

1 . A germicidal system for at least partially disinfecting a human interface device comprising a touch surface, said germicidal system comprising:
 a housing defining an aperture;   an adjustable attachment device extending from said housing, said adjustable attachment device configured to removably attach to the human interface device;   an ultra-violet (UV) light source at least partially enclosed in said housing, wherein said UV light source is configured to project an illumination pattern at least partially defined by said aperture and position of said adjustable attachment device, such that said illumination pattern substantially corresponds to said touch surface of the human interface device;   a sensor in communication with said UV light source, wherein said sensor is configured to detect an object proximate to said housing; and   a processor in communication between said UV light source and said sensor, wherein said processor is configured to activate said UV light source when said sensor has not detected said object within a first time period, and deactivate said UV light source when one of said sensor detects said object and a second time period has expired, such that said illumination pattern projected by said UV light source disinfects the touch surface of the human interface device below a surgical grade sterilization.   
     
     
         2 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  further comprising an alignment light source configured to project an illumination pattern adapted to direct alignment of said adjustable attachment device, such that said UV light source is substantially aligned with the touch surface of the human interface device. 
     
     
         3 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one indicator light source configured to emit light that corresponds to at least one of an operating condition of said UV light source and a disinfectant status of the touch surface of the human interface device. 
     
     
         4 . The germicidal system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one indicator light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         5 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  configured to be in electrical communication with a direct-current (DC) power source. 
     
     
         6 . The germicidal system of  claim 5 , wherein said DC power source is in electrical communication with said UV light source utilizing a universal serial bus (USB) connection. 
     
     
         7 . The germicidal system of  claim 1 , wherein the human interface device comprises at least one of:
 a laptop computer;   a laptop computer keyboard;   a laptop touch pad;   a keyboard;   a mouse;   a touch screen;   a cash register;   an automated teller machine (ATM); and   a credit card payment device.   
     
     
         8 . The germicidal system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The germicidal system of  claim 8 , wherein said sensor is at least one of:
 a capacitive sensor;   an inductive sensor;   a passive infrared sensor;   a thermo or heat sensor;   an infrared sensor; and   an imager.   
     
     
         10 . A germicidal system integrated into a human interface device, said germicidal system comprising:
 an adjustable housing defining an aperture;   an ultra-violet (UV) light source at least partially enclosed in said housing, wherein said UV light source is configured to project an illumination pattern at least partially defined by said aperture and position of said adjustable housing, such that said illumination pattern substantially corresponds to said touch surface of the human interface device;   a sensor in communication with said UV light source, wherein said sensor is configured to detect a position of said UV light source with respect to the touch surface of the human interface device; and   a processor in communication between said UV light source and said sensor, wherein said processor is configured to activate said UV light source when said sensor detects that said UV light source is juxtaposed to the touch surface of the human interface device, such that said illumination pattern projected by said UV light source disinfects the touch surface of the human interface device below a surgical grade sterilization.   
     
     
         11 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  further comprising an alignment light source configured to project an illumination pattern adapted to direct alignment of said adjustable housing, such that said UV light source is substantially aligned with the touch surface of the human interface device. 
     
     
         12 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one indicator light source configured to emit light that corresponds to at least one of an operating condition of said UV light source and a disinfectant status of the touch surface of the human interface device. 
     
     
         13 . The germicidal system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one indicator light source comprises a plurality of multi-colored light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         14 . The germicidal system of  claim 1  configured to be in electrical communication with a direct-current (DC) power source. 
     
     
         15 . The germicidal system of  claim 14 , wherein said DC power source is in electrical communication with said UV light source utilizing a universal serial bus (USB) connection. 
     
     
         16 . The germicidal system of  claim 1 , wherein the human interface device comprises at least one of:
 a laptop computer;   a laptop computer keyboard;   a laptop touch pad;   a keyboard;   a mouse;   a touch screen;   a cash register;   an automated teller machine (ATM); and   a credit card payment device.   
     
     
         17 . The germicidal system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The germicidal system of  claim 17 , wherein said sensor is at least one of:
 a capacitive sensor;   an inductive sensor;   a passive infrared sensor;   a thermo or heat sensor;   an infrared sensor; and   an imager.   
     
     
         19 . A method of at least partially disinfecting a touch surface of a human interface device, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining if an object is proximate the touch surface of the human interface device;   determining a distance between an ultra-violet (UV) light source and the touch surface of the human interface device; and   projecting an illumination pattern by said UV light source if it is determined that an object is not proximate the touch surface of the human interface device, wherein said illumination pattern of said UV light source is projected for a first time period that is a function of an intensity of said illumination pattern and said determined distance between said UV light source and the touch surface of the human interface device, such that said illumination pattern projected by said UV light source disinfects the touch surface of the human interface device below a surgical grade sterilization.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 turning said UV light source off during said first time period if said object is detected proximate to the touch surface of the human interface device. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 projecting an alignment illumination pattern adapted to direct alignment of said UV light source, such that said UV light source is substantially aligned with the touch surface of the human interface device. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 illuminating at least one indicator light source configured to emit light that corresponds to at least one of an operating condition of said UV light source and a disinfectant status of the touch surface of the human interface device. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 supplying direct current (DC) electrical power to said UV light source. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said DC electrical power is supplied utilizing a universal serial bus (USB) connection.