Adjustable ultraviolet led sterilization automatic enclosure

Abstract

A sterilization enclosure includes a main body defining a volume and having a movable component configured to move between an access position to allow access to the volume and a restricted position to at least partially enclose the volume. The sterilization enclosure further includes a light source located in the volume and configured to emit light having a frequency that injures pathogens. The sterilization enclosure further includes a switch coupled to the movable component and configured to be in a closed position to allow power to flow to the light source to cause the light source to emit the light into the volume when the movable component is in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sterilization enclosure comprising:
 a main body defining a volume and having a movable component configured to move between an access position to allow access to the volume and a restricted position to at least partially enclose the volume;   a light source located in the volume and configured to emit light having a frequency that injures pathogens; and   a switch coupled to the movable component and configured to be in a closed position to allow power to flow to the light source to cause the light source to emit the light into the volume when the movable component is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the movable component of the main body is a retractable cover such that the access position corresponds to the retractable cover being retracted and the restricted position corresponds to the retractable cover at least partially enclosing the volume. 
     
     
         3 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 2  wherein:
 the retractable cover is manually controllable: 
 the switch is configured to switch to the closed position when the retractable cover is manipulated to be in the access position; and 
 the switch is configured to switch to an open position to prevent the power from flowing to the light source when the retractable cover is manipulated to be in the restricted position. 
 
     
     
         4 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an open event corresponding to a desire for access to the volume; and 
 a controller coupled to the sensor and the retractable cover and configured to cause the retractable cover to be in the access position when the open event is detected and to at least one of control the switch to be in an open position to prevent the power from flowing to the light source or operate as the switch and be in the open position when the open event is detected. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 4  wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor configured to detect presence of a person or a gesture as the open event, or a second switch configured to be manually manipulated as the open event. 
     
     
         6 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a close event corresponding to a desire for the light source to emit the light; and 
 a controller coupled to the sensor and the retractable cover and configured to cause the retractable cover to be in the restricted position when the close event is detected and to at least one of control the switch to be in the closed position or operate as the switch and be in the closed position when the close event is detected. 
 
     
     
         7 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 6  wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of cause the retractable cover to remain in the restricted position for a predetermined amount of time after the close event is detected or to cause the light source to emit the light for the predetermined amount of time after the close event is detected. 
     
     
         8 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 2  wherein the retractable cover has an inner surface that faces the volume when the retractable cover is in the restricted position, and wherein at least some of the light source is located on the inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the main body has an adjustable size having at least a first size that causes the volume to have a first area and a second size that causes the volume to have a second area that is less than the first area. 
     
     
         10 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the light source includes at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) or a short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light and the frequency of the light is between 240 nanometers (nm, 0.00945 thousandths of an inch (mils)) and 310 nm (0.0122 mils). 
     
     
         11 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a fan having an on state and configured to at least draw air into or blow air out of the volume when in the on state such that sterilized exits the volume when the light source emits the light and the fan is in the on state. 
     
     
         12 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 1  wherein at least one of:
 the main body has an inner surface that faces the volume and includes a material that is at least partially reflective; or 
 the movable component is a sliding door. 
 
     
     
         13 . A sterilization enclosure comprising:
 a main body defining a volume and having a retractable cover having a retracted position that allows access to the volume and an extended position that restricts access to the volume;   a light source located in the volume and configured to emit light having a frequency that injures pathogens; and   a controller coupled to the light source and configured to cause the light source to emit the light when the retractable cover is in the extended position.   
     
     
         14 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an open event corresponding to a desire for access to the volume; and 
 an actuator coupled to the retractable cover and configured to move the retractable cover between the retracted position and the extended position, 
 wherein the controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the retractable cover from the extended position to the retracted position when the sensor detects the open event. 
 
     
     
         15 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 14  wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor configured to detect presence of a person or a gesture as the open event. 
     
     
         16 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a close event corresponding to a desire for the light source to emit the light; and 
 an actuator coupled to the retractable cover and configured to move the retractable cover between the retracted position and the extended position, 
 wherein the controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the retractable cover from the retracted position to the extended position and to control the light source to emit the light when the sensor detects the close event. 
 
     
     
         17 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 13  further comprising a fan having an on state and configured to at least draw air into or blow air out of the volume when in the on state such that sterilized exits the volume when the light source emits the light and the fan is in the on state. 
     
     
         18 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a network access device coupled to the controller; and 
 an actuator coupled to the retractable cover and configured to move the retractable cover between the retracted position and the extended position, 
 wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator and the light source based on a signal received via the network access device. 
 
     
     
         19 . A sterilization enclosure comprising:
 a retractable cover having an inner surface;   a plurality of light emitting devices positioned on the inner surface and configured to output ultraviolet light having a wavelength that is capable of sterilization;   a motion sensor configured to detect motion; and   a controller coupled to the retractable cover, the plurality of light emitting devices, and the motion sensor and configured to control the retractable cover to retract and to control the plurality of light emitting devices to output the ultraviolet light based on data detected by the motion sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The sterilization enclosure of  claim 19  wherein the motion sensor is configured to detect a presence of a person in an environment of the motion sensor and the controller is further configured to:
 control the retractable cover to open when the motion sensor detects the presence of the person; and 
 control the retractable cover to close and the plurality of light emitting devices to output the ultraviolet light when the motion sensor detects an absence of the person.