Ultraviolet pathogen disinfection system

Abstract

A pathogen disinfection apparatus includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light toward a target location to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted light and a surface of the target location. The UV light has a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers. Further, the pathogen disinfection apparatus includes a distance sensor configured to determine a distance between the UV light source and the target location. Moreover, the pathogen disinfection apparatus includes dosimetry circuitry configured to monitor a dose of the UV light at the target location in real-time based at least in part on an intensity of the UV light and the distance between the UV light source and the target location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pathogen disinfection system, comprising:
 an ultraviolet (UV) light source secured to an overhead portion of an interior of a vehicle and configured to emit UV light in at least a downward direction toward a target location within the interior of the vehicle to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the UV emitted light and on a surface of the target location, the UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers; and   a photochromic material secured to a seat in the target location, wherein the photochromic material is configured to change from a first color to a second color in response to exposure to the emitted UV light to indicate to a passenger that airborne pathogens in a breathing zone above the seat have been at least partially inactivated.   
     
     
         2 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers is configured to at least partially inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 
     
     
         3 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is configured to emit the UV light to provide a target dosage of 1-120 millijoules/cm 2  to the target location, the target location being between 5-300 cm from the UV light source. 
     
     
         4 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visible light source secured to the overhead portion of the interior of the vehicle and configured to emit visible light at a first color or intensity in at least the downward direction toward the target location within the interior of the vehicle, the visible light source further configured to activate to emit the visible light at the first color or intensity when the UV light source is activated to indicate that the UV light source is active and the apparatus is in a disinfection mode. 
     
     
         5 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 4 , wherein the UV light source configured to emit the UV light with a power draw of 0.1-150 watts toward the target location, and wherein the visible light source is configured to emit the visible light with a power draw of 0.1-150 watts toward the target location. 
     
     
         6 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor configured to determine a distance between the UV light source and the target location, wherein the distance sensor comprises a UV sensor configured to receive the UV light reflected from the target location to determine the distance between the UV light source and the target location. 
     
     
         7 . A pathogen disinfection system, comprising:
 a UV light source secured to an overhead portion of an interior of a vehicle and configured to emit UV light in at least a downward direction toward a surface of a target location within the interior of the vehicle to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted UV light and on the target location, the UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers;   a visible light source configured to emit visible light toward the target location to illuminate the surface of the target location;   a circuit configured to power the UV light source and the visible light source, wherein the circuit activates both the UV light source and visible light source in a disinfection mode, the visible light source emitting the visible light with a first color or intensity indicating the UV light source is active; and   a photochromic material secured to a seat in the target location, wherein the photochromic material is configured to change from a first color to a second color in response to exposure to the emitted UV light to indicate to a passenger that airborne pathogens in a breathing zone above the seat have been at least partially inactivated.   
     
     
         8 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein UV light source is configured to emit UV light with a power draw of 0.1-150 watts toward a target location and the visible light source is configured to emit visible light with a power draw of 0.1-150 watts. 
     
     
         9 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the UV light source and the visible light source are secured within an overhead housing assembly, wherein the overhead housing assembly is secured to the overhead portion of the interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the visible light source is configured to emit the visible light at a wavelength between 380-700 nanometers. 
     
     
         11 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect movement inside of the interior of the vehicle and output a shut-down or an activation signal. 
     
     
         12 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuit comprises a delay switch configured to delay activation of the disinfection mode for at least 5 seconds from receiving user input to activate the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         13 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the target location includes one or more of the group comprising: a driver seat; passenger seats; and a center console. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the UV light comprises a light beam width of 0.5-12 inches at the target location. 
     
     
         16 . A pathogen disinfection system, comprising:
 a UV light source secured to an overhead portion of an interior of a vehicle and configured to emit UV light in at least a downward direction toward a target location within the interior of the vehicle to at least partially inactivate pathogens exposed to the emitted UV light in the path of the emitted UV light and on a surface of the target location at the target location, the UV light having a mean peak wavelength between 200-280 nanometers;   a sensor from the group comprising a temperature sensor configured to output a deactivation signal in response to detecting a human temperature in the path of the emitted UV light and a motion sensor configured to output the deactivation signal in response to detecting motion in the path of the emitted UV light; and   a circuit configured to deactivate the UV light source in response to receiving the deactivation signal from the sensor; and   a photochromic color changing fabric secured to a seat in the target location, wherein the photochromic color changing fabric is configured to change from a first color to a second color in response to exposure to the emitted UV light to indicate to a passenger that airborne pathogens in a breathing zone above the seat have been at least partially inactivated.   
     
     
         17 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 16 , wherein a range for the human temperature range includes temperatures between 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit or over 10 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient or room temperature. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , further comprising dosimetry circuitry configured to monitor a dose of the UV light at the target location in real-time based at least in part on an intensity of the UV light and the distance between the UV light source and the target location. 
     
     
         22 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 16 , further comprising dosimetry circuitry configured to monitor a dose of the UV light at the target location in real-time based at least in part on an intensity of the UV light and the distance between the UV light source and the target location. 
     
     
         23 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 16 , further comprising a visible light source secured to the overhead portion of the interior of the vehicle and configured to emit visible light at a first color or intensity in at least the downward direction toward the target location within the interior of the vehicle, the visible light source further configured to activate when the UV light source is activated to indicate that the UV light source is active and the apparatus is in a disinfection mode. 
     
     
         24 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising dosimetry circuitry configured to monitor a dose of the UV light at the target location in real-time based at least in part on an intensity of the UV light and a distance between the UV light source and the target location. 
     
     
         25 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 4 , wherein the visible light source secured to the overhead portion of the interior of the vehicle is further configured to emit visible light at a second color or intensity in at least the downward direction toward the target location within the interior of the vehicle, the visible light source further configured to selectively activate to emit the visible light at the second color or intensity only when the UV light source is inactive. 
     
     
         26 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the visible light source is secured to the overhead portion of the interior of the vehicle and is configured to emit visible light in at least the downward direction toward the target location. 
     
     
         27 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuit is further configured to selectively activate the visible light source to emit the visible light with a second color or intensity only when the UV light source is inactive. 
     
     
         28 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the photochromic material comprises color changing fabric that forms an exterior layer of the seat. 
     
     
         29 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the photochromic material is configured to revert from the second color to the first color over a period of 2-10 minutes in the absence of exposure to the UV light. 
     
     
         30 . The pathogen disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the photochromic material is secured to each seat of a plurality of seats disposed within the interior of the vehicle.