Method of calculating an exposure time for disinfecting a room using an ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus

Abstract

Method of calculating an exposure time for disinfecting a room using an ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus comprises the steps of measuring distances by: using a spatial sensor on the ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus, to perform a first scan of a boundary surface of the room, to measure a first set of distances from the sensor to the boundary surface; adjusting the height or orientation of the spatial sensor; using the spatial sensor to perform a second scan of the boundary surface of the room, to measure a second set of distances from the adjusted sensor to the boundary surface; and subsequently, calculating the exposure time in dependence the sets of distances.

1 . A method of calculating an exposure time for disinfecting a room using an ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus,
 the method comprising the steps of:   measuring distances by:   a) using a spatial sensor on the ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus, to perform a first scan of a boundary surface of the room, to measure a first set of distances from the sensor to the boundary surface;   b) adjusting the height or orientation of the spatial sensor;   c) using the spatial sensor to perform a second scan of the boundary surface of the room, to measure a second set of distances from the adjusted sensor to the boundary surface;   and subsequently calculating the exposure time in dependence on the sets of distances.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first scan is arranged such that the first set of distances is measured within a substantially horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second scan is arranged such that the second set of distances is measured within a substantially horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the exposure time comprises comparing, for each rotational position of the scan, two sets of distances to predict the distance to a wall of the room. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of transmitting the sets of distances to a processing module, the processing module being configured to calculate the exposure time in dependence on those distances. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying, on a graphical user interface, the region that would be disinfected if the ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus were run for the calculated exposure time;   allowing a user to adjust the radius of the region to be disinfected; and   calculating a new exposure time to reflect the adjustment made.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the new exposure time is calculated by adjusting the previously-calculated exposure time in proportion to the square of the adjustment in radius. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined limit is applied to the measured distance, such that where a measured distance exceeds the predetermined limit, the measured distance is replaced by that predetermined value. 
     
     
         16 . A method of disinfecting a room including the steps of:
 determining the exposure time according to the method of  claim 1 , and   irradiating the room with ultraviolet radiation for the exposure time.   
     
     
         17 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus for disinfecting a room, the apparatus comprising:
 a spatial sensor configured to perform a first scan of a boundary surface of the room, to measure a first set of distances from the sensor to the boundary surface;   wherein the apparatus is configured such that the height or orientation of the spatial sensor is adjustable such that the spatial sensor can perform a second scan of the boundary surface of the room, to measure a second set of distances from the adjusted sensor to the boundary surface.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  further comprising a processing module configured to calculate an exposure time in dependence on the differences between the measured distances. 
     
     
         20 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a graphical user interface configured to display the boundary surface of the room in dependence on the measured distances, and to display a disinfection region based on the exposure time. 
     
     
         21 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the apparatus is configured so that the size of the disinfection region may be adjusted using the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         22 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the processing module is configured to calculate a new exposure time to reflect the adjustment made to the size of the disinfection region. 
     
     
         23 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the apparatus is generally upright having a vertical axis around which a plurality of UV light sources are arranged, and wherein the spatial sensor is positioned co-axially with the vertical axis such that it is in a central location relative to the light sources. 
     
     
         24 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  comprising a plurality of UV emitters and configured to operate at a first voltage and at a second different voltage, wherein at the first voltage all of the UV emitters are activated and at the second voltage fewer of the UV emitters are activated. 
     
     
         25 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the spatial sensor is rotatable through 400 degrees in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         26 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the orientation of the spatial sensor is adjustable up to 90 degrees above and 90 degrees below a central horizontal plane. 
     
     
         27 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the height of the spatial sensor is adjustable by virtue of a telescopic extension/retraction of the disinfecting apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . A method of monitoring failure of an ultraviolet (UV) emitter in a UV disinfecting apparatus comprising a plurality of UV emitters,
 the method including the steps of:   sequentially energising each of the UV emitters and after each energisation:   measuring the current delivered to the UV emitter(s); and   comparing the current delivered to an expected reference value; and   identifying failure of one of the UV emitters when the combined current is different to the expected reference value.   
     
     
         29 . An ultraviolet (UV) disinfecting apparatus comprising a plurality of UV emitters and a current control and monitoring module, the current control and monitoring module being configured to:
 sequentially energise the UV emitters and after each energisation:   measure the current delivered to the UV emitter(s); and   compare the current delivered to an expected reference value; and   identify failure of one of the UV emitters when the combined current is different to the expected reference value.   
     
     
         30 . An ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus for disinfecting a room, the apparatus in an upright position having a vertical axis around which a plurality of UV light sources are arranged, the apparatus comprising:
 a first unit having a first UV emitter and a second unit having a second UV emitter wherein the second unit is movable relative to the first unit from an un-extended position in which the first and second units at least partially overlap, to an extended or super-extended position, wherein in the un-extended position the first UV emitter is at least partially exposed to emit UV radiation;   a sensor head including a spatial sensor, the spatial sensor comprising an emitter and receiver wherein the spatial sensor is positioned co-axially with the vertical axis such that it is in a central location relative to the light sources; and wherein   the spatial sensor is configured to perform a first scan of a boundary surface of the room, to measure a first set of distances from the sensor to the boundary surface; and wherein   the apparatus is configured such that the height or orientation of the spatial sensor is adjustable such that the spatial sensor can perform a second scan of the boundary surface of the room, to measure a second set of distances from the adjusted sensor to the boundary surface.