DE102021103117A1 - Device and method for surface treatment of a body - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for treating a surface (2) of a body (3), comprising the body (4) with the surface (2) to be treated, which is covered by an electrically conductive surface layer (4) arranged on the body (3). is formed, and having a control device (5) by means of which the surface layer (4) can optionally be supplied with current (I) from an electrical energy source (6), the control device (5) being set up to treat the surface layer (4) with each treatment process to apply a current surge of limited pulse energy, which is defined on the basis of a current strength and a surge duration, in particular is predetermined once, to bring about a predetermined minimum temperature of the surface layer (4) caused by resistance heating of the surface layer (4). The invention also relates to a method for Treatment of a surface (2) of a body (3).

Description

The invention relates to a device for treating a surface of a body according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for treating a surface of a body according to the preamble of claim 18.

Undesirable organic and/or inorganic matter is often found on body surfaces. Organic matter can be, for example, microorganisms such as germs, bacteria or viruses, while inorganic matter can be dust, moisture, ice or other dirt particles. This sticks to the surface by adhesion, electrostatic forces or mechanical anchoring. The removal of the unwanted matter can be done in different ways according to the current state of the art, e.g. B. by treatment with suitable chemicals, mechanical abrasion or prolonged exposure to heat such as autoclaving at 121 °C or 134 °C. These methods require a great deal of time and labor.

From the DE 39 24 764 C1 a mouth mirror for dental purposes is also known, in which a mirror surface is mirrored by means of a rhodium coating. The rhodium coating is connected to a low-voltage power source. By permanently energizing the rhodium coating, it should be possible to heat the rhodium coating to temperatures of around 40 °C as a result of its resistance heating, in order to prevent the mirror surface from fogging up.

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method for treating the surface of a body, which reliably removes undesired matter deposited on the body surface or eliminates undesired effects of the deposited matter. Here, the time and effort are to be significantly reduced in order to generally simplify the treatment process significantly. The device should also be simple in construction in order to be able to be produced as cost-effectively as possible. In addition, the device and the method for the surface treatment should be able to be used in a particularly energy-efficient manner. In particular, the operation of the device and the method should in no way impair or endanger the health of living beings that come into contact with the body surface to be treated.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 18. Further, particularly advantageous refinements of the invention are disclosed in the respective dependent claims.

It should be pointed out that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically sensible way (even across category boundaries, for example between method and device) and show further refinements of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures.

It should also be pointed out that a conjunction "and/or" used herein, standing between two features and linking them to one another, must always be interpreted in such a way that in a first embodiment of the subject matter according to the invention only the first feature can be present, in a second embodiment only the second feature may be present and in a third embodiment both the first and the second feature may be present.

Also, as used herein, a term "about" is intended to indicate a range of tolerance considered normal by those skilled in the art. In particular, the term “approximately” means a tolerance range of the related size of up to a maximum of +/-20%, preferably up to a maximum of +/-10%.

A device according to the invention for treating a surface of a body has the body with the surface to be treated, which is formed by an electrically conductive surface layer arranged on the body. The device also has a control device, by means of which the surface layer can be selectively supplied with current from an electrical energy source. The control device is also set up to apply a current surge of limited pulse energy to the surface layer for each treatment process, which is defined on the basis of a current strength and a pulse duration, in particular is predetermined once, to bring about a predetermined minimum temperature of the surface layer caused by resistance heating of the surface layer.

The current surge or current pulse, which can also be described as the current intensity integrated over the pulse duration, i.e. corresponding to the electrical charge that has flowed, causes a defined, maximum and time-limited energy input into the electrically conductive surface layer in order to temporarily (e.g. in the Range of only a few milliseconds) to at least the specified minimum treatment temperature (z. B. at least 150 ° C) to heat, whereby the on the Oberflä Material deposited or adsorbed in the surface layer can be reliably removed or the undesired effects of which can be eliminated. Due to the quantity and time-limited energy input per treatment process, the surface treatment can be implemented much more energy-efficiently than conventional solutions. The time and labor required for surface treatment is also significantly reduced. A chemical or mechanical treatment of the body surface is not required, nor is continuous or long-lasting exposure to heat. Overall, this significantly simplifies the treatment process.

The minimum temperature required for the desired surface treatment can be determined beforehand on the basis of the material on the body surface to be influenced. In other words, depending on the previously known material properties of the conductive surface layer, its geometric dimensions, etc., the current pulse required for the desired minimum treatment temperature can also be precisely predetermined. Therefore, no temperature measurement is required during the surface treatment that is taking place, so that simple control of the current surge is sufficient. A temperature control can thus be dispensed with, which results in a simple and inexpensive construction of the device.

A measurement of voltage and / or current can be useful if the matter located on the surface layer an unknown heat dissipation by z. B. has significant thickness or mass. This makes it possible to determine whether the desired surface influencing has been carried out successfully. If such a situation is to be assumed, the current or the voltage can be controlled from the outset as a function of the measured values.

The device according to the invention can for example be advantageously used to reduce the risk of transmission of diseases via contact infection, in particular (but not necessarily limited to) in medical institutions. The presence of germs, bacteria or viruses on surfaces can lead to contact infections in people who touch such a surface. Doorknobs or input terminals that are used by several people one after the other should be mentioned here as an example. The pathogens reach the mucous membranes from the hands by touching the mouth, nose or eyes and can cause an infection there if the immune system does not prevent it.

In the case of surfaces that are frequently touched by different people one after the other, such as doorknobs or terminals, avoiding contact infection is either impossible or only possible with great effort, e.g. B. by installing automatic doors or disinfection after each use. A large number of such surfaces are often not movable (e.g. operating tables, terminals, ATMs and the like) or permanently installed (e.g. door handles, touch screens and the like) and therefore cannot be thermally (e.g. by autoclaving) , but only chemically cleaned or disinfected. This requires trained personnel who are able to clean as many contaminated surface areas as possible with suitable chemical agents. This process is naturally error-prone and takes time. The removal of unwanted matter by mechanical means is only suitable for surfaces that are not damaged by this or whose geometry allows mechanical removal at all.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to reliably clean or disinfect body surfaces that are contaminated or potentially colonized by pathogens as often as required. The desired treatment temperature is generated using the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive surface layer. With sufficient energy input (corresponding to a minimum temperature generated in the surface layer), the organic matter attached to the surface layer can be pyrolytically decomposed at the interface and thus easily removed. In the case of infectious agents (bacteria, germs, viruses), these are inactivated or killed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimum temperature is predetermined in that a specific physical and/or chemical change occurs as a result of a material layer located, in particular adsorbed, on the electrically conductive surface layer. As already described above, this material layer can be, for example, an essentially water-based layer (moisture) with infectious agents such as bacteria, germs, viruses and the like contained therein. The entire electrical energy deposited in the electrically conductive surface layer as a result of the current surge/current pulse is used to heat the surface layer together with the adsorbed material layer located on it, with the surface layer, which was initially heated, giving off some of the heat to the adsorbed material layer, so that the Temperature of both layers equalized. The predetermined amount of energy in the electrical pulse is dimensioned at least sufficiently to bring both layers together to the required minimum temperature. This can be easily calculate in advance by considering the material properties of the deposited material layer and the thickness of the electrically conductive surface layer, and realistically estimating the thickness of the deposited/adsorbed (water-based) material layer.

In this case, the physical/chemical change in the deposited material layer can be the inactivation of the germs and/or the evaporation of the water content (moisture).

Depending on the type of material layer that has been deposited, the physical/chemical change can also essentially be a detachment of or at least a reduction in the adhesive force between the material layer that has been deposited and the electrically conductive surface layer, so that the material layer independently detaches from the conductive surface layer or at least dissolves can be removed from it (e.g. mechanically) in a simple manner and without great expenditure of time and effort.

According to an advantageous development of the subject of the invention, the surface layer is thermally insulated from the body. In this way, on the one hand, the amount of energy required to reach the minimum treatment temperature in the electrically conductive surface layer can be minimized, since there is essentially no or at best very little/slow heat conduction from the briefly heated surface layer into the body. The increase in temperature caused by the current surge is therefore essentially limited exclusively to the electrically conductive surface layer. Accordingly, an energy-efficient operation of the device is possible. In addition, the time required to heat the surface layer to the desired minimum temperature is also shortened.

In addition, the amount of energy or heat introduced and deposited in the surface layer is so small that a transfer when touching the heated surface layer (e.g. a door handle) to a person's hand leads to only slight local heating of the skin. The heat transfer to the skin that takes place here heats up so slightly that at most the outermost skin layer, the nerve-free epidermis, is affected. This ensures that the health of living beings that come into contact with the body surface to be treated is in no way endangered. Touching the electrically conductive surface layer is therefore possible at any time without any risk.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface layer has a specific heat capacity of less than about 0.5 kJ/(kg*K), preferably less than about 0.1 kJ/(kg*K) and most preferably less than about 0 .01 kJ/(kg*K) and in any case not greater than 1 kJ/(kg*K). As is well known, the value of the specific heat capacity describes the amount of heat with which the temperature of a substance can be increased per degree. The specific heat capacity of a substance in a given state is the heat that is added to or withdrawn from a quantity of the substance divided by the associated increase or decrease in temperature and the mass of the substance. The above upper limit of the specific heat capacity of the electrically conductive surface layer ensures high energy efficiency (low energy consumption during operation), the shortest possible heating time to reach the desired minimum temperature, a small amount of heat to be deposited in the surface layer and, as a result, the elimination of a risk of injury when touching the heated surface layer.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimum temperature during a treatment process is greater than 150° C., preferably greater than 230° C., even more preferably greater than 300° C. and most preferably greater than 350° C., in order to achieve the desired physical and/or chemical change in a to bring about a broad spectrum of material layers which can be deposited/adsorbed on the electrically conductive surface layer. The minimum temperature of the electrically conductive surface layer that can be achieved per treatment process can be limited to a maximum of about 800°C, more preferably a maximum of about 500°C.

Furthermore, the pulse energy of the current surge per treatment process can be dimensioned according to one embodiment of the invention in such a way that at least one energy input into the surface layer per cm ² of heated area of about 1 to about 10 J per 10 μm layer thickness of the surface layer can be achieved. In this way, too, the properties and advantages described above can be ensured or further improved. In particular, the pulse energy can be measured in such a way that the surface layer and the material layer that can be deposited/adsorbed on the surface layer are heated together to the minimum temperature for each treatment process.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the current intensity of the current surge per treatment process has a value between approximately 100 A and 1000 A, more preferably between approximately 250 A and 1000 A, even more preferably between 500 A and 1000 A.

Alternatively or additionally, the duration of the current impulse per treatment process can be less than about 1 s, preferably less than about 100 ms, even more preferably less than about 10 ms and most preferably less than about 3 ms. Such brief heating reduces the likelihood of accidental touching of the surface layer during the treatment process.

More preferably, the surface layer may have a thickness less than about 100 µm, preferably less than about 50 µm, more preferably less than about 30 µm, and even more preferably less than about 10 µm. A lower limit for the thickness of the surface layer is given by the fact that the electrical conductivity of the surface layer must be ensured, which requires a layer thickness of at least a few nanometers. In addition, the surface layer should also be sufficiently abrasion-resistant, which is why a minimum layer thickness of the surface layer of at least about one or a few micrometers is particularly preferred.

Yet another advantageous embodiment provides that the surface layer is a film attached to the body. In this way, for example, bodies that are very different in their geometry can be prepared in a simple manner for the heat treatment within the meaning of the invention. In addition, the film can be replaced if necessary. In order to produce a very precise adaptation of the film to the body surface, the film can advantageously be shrunk onto the body, but without being necessarily limited to this.

According to an alternative embodiment, the surface layer is a layer deposited galvanically on the body or a layer applied to the body by sputtering, plasma coating, powder coating, photolithography and the like, which enables the production of particularly thin layer thicknesses, for example layer thicknesses in the range of a few micrometers or even less than a micrometer.

Another preferred development of the subject of the invention provides that the current surge at the surface layer generates an electrical voltage of less than about 60 V, preferably less than about 40 V and even more preferably less than about 20 V, so that the surface layer always has a harmless touch voltage. An electrically insulating additional coating of the surface layer on its outside can thus possibly be dispensed with.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an abrasion-resistant protective layer can be arranged on the side facing away from the body (=outside) of the surface layer. This allows the minimum layer thickness of the electrically conductive surface layer to be specified independently of the abrasion resistance required for long-term use of the device, in particular, for example, also significantly less than about 10 μm, e.g. B. less than about 1 µm, as already explained above. The abrasion-resistant protective layer can additionally electrically insulate the electrically conductive surface layer from being touched by a person.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the control device is set up to detect an approach to the surface layer and/or a touching of the surface layer by an object, in particular a living being. This makes it possible, for example, to provide protection against contact, in which the treatment process is only triggered if the body is not touched. On the other hand, the treatment process can also be triggered specifically after a detected touch, so that the treatment cycles can be optimized to further increase efficiency.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the surface layer itself serves as a capacitive electrode, so that the structure of the device can be significantly simplified despite the provision of a touch or proximity identifier. In this case, the touch detection can take place by means of generally known capacitive touch detection methods, which can be executed by the control device, for example.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an electrically non-conductive and/or thermally insulating layer is inserted between the surface layer and the body. An electrically non-conductive intermediate or separating layer offers the advantage that the body itself can be electrically conductive (e.g. a metallic body) without the process of energizing the electrically conductive surface layer, in particular with regard to the current intensity and/or current-feed duration required to achieve the minimum temperature adversely affect (e.g. increase). An intermediate or separating layer with a thermally insulating property reduces or prevents possible heat dissipation from the surface layer heated during the treatment process into the body, so that the entire thermal energy deposited in the surface layer can be used to heat the material layer attached/adsorbed to the surface layer and to be influenced can be used, whereby a further increase in energy efficiency can be achieved.

According to a preferred embodiment, the electrical energy source is a battery, an accumulator and/or a supercapacitor, ie a DC voltage source. The energy-efficient operation of the device according to the invention, as described herein, enables a long, self-sufficient operating time, so that service intervals (e.g. for a battery change) can be planned with larger time intervals.

It is to be understood that the surface layer does not necessarily have to be metallic but merely electrically conductive. For example, the surface layer can be made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or have ITO, which is electrically conductive. ITO layers with very good electrical properties (conductivity) can already be realized with very thin layer thicknesses of less than 1 μm (e.g. about 50 nm to 300 nm) using known methods, which are also transparent and do not make the body appear metallic .

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for treating a surface of a body, which is formed by an electrically conductive surface layer arranged on the body, is disclosed, in which the surface layer is subjected to a current surge of limited pulse energy for each treatment process, which is measured on the basis of a current intensity and a shock duration is defined in such a way, in particular predetermined once, that a minimum temperature of the surface layer caused by resistance heating of the surface layer is generated.

It should be noted that with regard to method-related definitions of terms and the effects and advantages of method-related features, reference is made in full to the disclosure of analogous definitions, effects and advantages of the device according to the invention. Accordingly, disclosures herein regarding the device according to the invention can be used analogously to define the method according to the invention, unless this is expressly excluded. Disclosures herein regarding the method according to the invention can also be used analogously to define the device according to the invention. In this respect, a repetition of explanations of the same features, their effects and advantages of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention can be dispensed with in favor of a more compact description, without such omissions having to be interpreted as a restriction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimum temperature is specified in such a way that a specific physical and/or chemical change is subsequently brought about in a material layer located, in particular adsorbed, on the surface layer.

According to a further embodiment, the surface layer can be thermally insulated from the body.

More preferably, the surface layer can have a specific heat capacity of less than about 0.5 kJ/(kg*K), preferably less than about 0.1 kJ/(kg*K), and most preferably less than about 0.01 kJ/( kg*K) and in any case not greater than 1 kJ/(kg*K).

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the minimum temperature per treatment process is selected to be greater than about 150°C, preferably greater than about 230°C, even more preferably greater than about 300°C and most preferably greater than about 350°C. The minimum temperature of the electrically conductive surface layer that can be achieved per treatment process can be limited to a maximum of about 800°C, more preferably a maximum of about 500°C.

According to a preferred development of the subject matter of the invention, the pulse energy is measured in such a way that the surface layer and the material layer that can be adsorbed on the surface layer are (together) heated to the minimum temperature for each treatment process in order to reliably achieve the desired physical and/or chemical change in the deposited material layer during the treatment process achieve.

An energy input into the surface layer per cm ² of heated area of about 1 to about 10 J per 10 μm layer thickness of the surface layer can particularly preferably be brought about by means of the pulse energy per treatment process.

The amperage of the current surge can be selected between about 100 A and about 1000 A, more preferably between about 250 A and about 1000 A and even more preferably between about 500 A and about 1000 A for each treatment process.

The duration of the current impulse can be chosen to be less than about 1 s, preferably less than about 100 ms, even more preferably less than about 10 ms and most preferably less than about 3 ms for each treatment process.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface layer is attached to the body in the form of a foil. This can be applied to the body, for example be shrunk to achieve an exact fit to the contour of the body.

Alternatively, the surface layer may be electrodeposited onto the body or applied to the body by sputtering, plasma coating, powder coating, photolithography, and the like. In this way, particularly thin layer thicknesses of the electrically conductive surface layer can be achieved, for example in the range of a few micrometers or even less.

An advantageous further embodiment of the invention provides that an electrically non-conductive and/or thermally insulating layer is inserted between the surface layer and the body.

In addition, an abrasion-resistant protective layer can be arranged on the side facing away from the body (=outside) of the surface layer.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, an approach to the surface layer and/or a touch of the surface layer by an object (e.g. a person's hand) is detected, the treatment process being carried out when the approach to the surface layer is detected and/or during the detected Touching the surface layer is not performed. The approach/touch detection can be carried out, for example, by means of an electronic control device.

Furthermore, the treatment process can be triggered specifically after a detected touch of the surface layer.

In addition, in an advantageous embodiment, the surface layer can be used as a capacitive electrode for detecting when the surface layer is being approached and/or for detecting when the surface layer is being touched.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Einrichtung zur Behandlung einer Körperoberfläche gemäß der Erfindung,
• 2 eine Querschnittansicht eines Teils der Einrichtung aus 1,
• 3 eine Querschnittansicht eines Teils eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Einrichtung zur Behandlung einer Körperoberfläche gemäß der Erfindung und
• 4 eine Querschnittansicht eines Teils eines noch weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Einrichtung zur Behandlung einer Körperoberfläche gemäß der Erfindung.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are not to be understood as limiting, which are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In this drawing show schematically:

• 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for treating a body surface according to the invention,
• 2 Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of part of the device 1 ,
• 3 a cross-sectional view of a part of a further embodiment of a device for treating a body surface according to the invention and
• 4 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of part of yet another embodiment of an apparatus for treating a body surface according to the invention.

In the different figures, parts that are equivalent in terms of their function are always provided with the same reference symbols, so that they are usually only described once.

1 1 schematically represents a perspective view of an embodiment of a device 1 for treating a surface 2 of a body 3 according to the invention. B. a doorknob, a terminal, touch screen, operating table and the like, but is not necessarily limited to this, is formed by an electrically conductive surface layer 4 arranged on the body 3, which, without limitation, consists of indium tin oxide ( ITO) can be formed. Furthermore is 1 a control device 5 can be seen, by means of which the surface layer 4 can optionally be supplied with current I from an electrical energy source 6, which in the present case is in the form of a battery or accumulator (DC voltage source) without any mandatory restriction. The surface layer 4 can be electrically conductively connected to the energy source 6 via electrical lines.

The control device 5 can be embodied as an electronic control device, which can have, for example, a microcontroller, microprocessor and the like, as well as an electronic memory unit, for example RAM, ROM, flash and the like.

The control device 5 is set up to apply a current surge of limited pulse energy to the surface layer 4 for each treatment process, which is defined on the basis of a current strength and a pulse duration in such a way as to bring about a predetermined minimum temperature of the surface layer 4 caused by resistance heating of the surface layer 4. Particularly preferably, the pulse energy required for this is predetermined or calculated once for each treatment process by comparing the material properties of a material layer 7 that can be deposited or adsorbed on the surface layer 4 (see 2 & . 3) and the thickness of the electrically conductive surface layer 4 are taken into account and the expected thickness of the deposited/adsorbed (water-based) material layer 7 is estimated.

At the in 1 shown embodiment of the device 1 is the minimum temperature given by the fact that as a result a specific physical and/or chemical change occurs in the material layer 7 located on the surface layer 4, in particular adsorbed. The deposited material layer can be, for example, a substantially water-based layer (moisture) with infectious agents such as bacteria, germs, viruses and the like contained therein.

The minimum temperature achieved per treatment process is preferably at least 150°C, preferably at least 230°C, even more preferably at least 300°C and most preferably at least 350°C.

The pulse energy is measured in such a way that the surface layer 4 and the material layer 7 that can be deposited/adsorbed on the surface layer 4 are heated together to the minimum temperature for each treatment process.

The impulse energy is also preferably dimensioned in such a way that at least one energy input into the surface layer 4 per cm ² of heated area of about 1 to about 10 J per 10 μm layer thickness of the surface layer 4 occurs.

The surface layer 4 advantageously has a specific heat capacity of less than about 1 kJ/(kg*K), preferably less than about 0.1 kJ/(kg*K) and most preferably less than about 0.01 kJ/(kg*K ) on.

The current intensity of the current surge is set to a value between 100 A and 1000 A, preferably between 250 A and 1000 A and even more preferably between 500 A and 1000 A for each treatment process.

The duration of the current surge per treatment process is preferably less than 1 s, preferably less than 100 ms, even more preferably less than 10 ms and most preferably less than 3 ms.

The surface layer 4 has at the in 1 The device 1 shown has a thickness of less than 100 µm, preferably less than 50 µm, more preferably less than 30 µm and even more preferably less than 10 µm.

The surface layer 4 may be a foil attached to the body 3, or a layer electro-deposited on the body 3, or a layer applied to the body 3 by sputtering, plasma coating, powder coating, photolithography and the like.

The surface layer 4 can serve as a capacitive electrode, for example to prevent an object, e.g. B. hand of a person to recognize. However, the device 1 according to the invention is not necessarily limited to this. The touch/approach detection can be performed by the control device 5 .

2 FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of part of the device 1. FIG 1 represents. In particular, in 2 the electrically conductive surface layer 4 arranged on the body 3 and the material layer 7 deposited or adsorbed thereon through the use of the body 3.

3 Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a further embodiment of a device for treating a surface 2 of a body 3 according to the invention. In contrast to Fig 2 illustrated cross-sectional view of the device 1 it can be seen that in the 3 shown embodiment between the surface layer 4 and the body 3, an electrically non-conductive and / or thermally insulating layer 8 is inserted. In this way, electrical insulation between the electrically conductive surface layer 4 and an optionally electrically conductive body 3 (e.g. metallic body) and/or further thermal decoupling between the surface layer 4 and the body 3 can be achieved.

4 Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of yet another embodiment of a device for treating a surface 2 of a body 3 according to the invention. Unlike in Figs 2 and 3 shown cross-sectional views, it can be seen that in 4 An abrasion-resistant protective layer 9 is arranged on the side facing away from the body (=outside) of the surface layer 4, which protects the electrically conductive surface layer 4 from mechanical wear when the body 3 is in use. The protective layer 9 also makes it possible to further reduce the layer thickness of the conductive surface layer 4 .

It is to be understood that other combinations or arrangements of layers 4, 8 and 9 than those shown in FIGS 2-4 shown are conceivable.

In addition, it is to be understood that although the conductive surface layer 4 in 1 exemplarily shown arranged only on one side of the body 3, several and in particular all sides of the body 3, ie its entire surface, can be covered with the electrically conductive surface layer 4 / can be.

The device according to the invention disclosed herein for the surface treatment of a body and the method according to the invention disclosed herein for the surface treatment of a body are not limited to the concrete embodiments disclosed in each case, but also include other embodiments which have the same effect and which result from technically meaningful further combinations of the features described herein Establishment and the procedure arise. In particular, the features and feature combinations mentioned above in the general description and the description of the figures and/or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the combinations explicitly stated herein, but also in other combinations or on their own, without going beyond the scope of the present invention leaving.

Reference List

1

furnishings

2

body surface

3

Body

4

Electrically conductive surface layer

5

control device

6

Electrical energy source

7

Attached/adsorbed layer of material

8th

Electrically non-conductive and/or thermally insulating layer

9

Abrasion-resistant protective layer

I

Electrical current

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 3924764 C1 [0003]

Claims (33)

Device for treating a surface (2) of a body (3), having the body (4) with the surface (2) to be treated, which is formed by an electrically conductive surface layer (4) arranged on the body (3), and having a control device (5) by means of which the surface layer (4) can be selectively supplied with current (I) from an electrical energy source (6), characterized in that the control device (5) is set up to treat the surface layer (4) with a To apply a current surge of limited pulse energy, which is defined based on a current intensity and a surge duration, in particular is predetermined once, to bring about a predetermined minimum temperature of the surface layer (4) caused by resistance heating of the surface layer (4). setup after claim 1 , characterized in that the minimum temperature is predetermined in that a specific physical and/or chemical change in a material layer (7) located on the surface layer (4), in particular adsorbed, results as a result. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (4) is thermally insulated from the body (3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (4) has a specific heat capacity of less than 1 kJ/(kg*K), preferably less than 0.5 kJ/(kg*K), even more preferably less than 0. 1 kJ/(kg*K) and most preferably less than 0.01 kJ/(kg*K). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum temperature per treatment process is greater than 150°C, preferably greater than 230°C, even more preferably greater than 300°C and most preferably greater than 350°C. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulse energy per treatment process is dimensioned in such a way that at least one energy input into the surface layer (4) per cm ² of heated area of 1 to 10 J per 10 µm layer thickness of the surface layer (4) is brought about. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the current intensity of the current surge per treatment process has a value between 100 A and 1000 A, more preferably between 250 A and 1000 A, even more preferably between 500 A and 1000 A. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impulse duration of the current impulse per treatment process is less than 1 s, preferably less than 100 ms, even more preferably less than 10 ms, most preferably less than 3 ms. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (4) has a thickness of less than 100 µm, preferably less than 50 µm, more preferably less than 30 µm and even more preferably less than 10 µm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (4) is a film attached to the body (3). Setup according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the surface layer (4) is an electro-deposited layer on the body (3) or a layer applied to the body (3) by sputtering, plasma coating, powder coating, photolithography and the like. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the current surge generates an electrical voltage (U) of less than 60 V, preferably less than 40 V, even more preferably less than 20 V, on the surface layer (4). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (5) is set up to detect an approach to the surface layer (4) and/or a touch of the surface layer (4) by an object. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the surface layer (4) serves as a capacitive electrode. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrically non-conductive and/or thermally insulating layer (8) is inserted between the surface layer (4) and the body (3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an abrasion-resistant protective layer (9) is arranged on the side of the surface layer (4) facing away from the body. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical energy source (6) is a battery, an accumulator and/or a supercapacitor. Method for treating a surface (2) of a body (3), which is formed by an electrically conductive surface layer (4) arranged on the body (3), characterized in that the surface layer (4) is treated with a current surge of limited pulse energy for each treatment process is applied, which is determined based on a current intensity and a shock duration, in particular predetermined once, that a resistance heating of the surface layer (4) causes minimum temperature of the surface layer (4) is generated. procedure after Claim 18 , characterized in that the minimum temperature is predetermined in such a way that a specific physical and/or chemical change in a material layer (7) located on the surface layer (4), in particular adsorbed, is brought about as a result. procedure after Claim 18 or 19 , characterized in that the surface layer (4) is thermally insulated from the body (3). Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 20 , characterized in that the surface layer (4) with a specific heat capacity of less than 1 kJ/(kg*K), preferably less than 0.5 kJ/(kg*K), more preferably less than 0.1 kJ/(kg *K) and most preferably less than 0.01 kJ/(kg*K). Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 21 , characterized in that the minimum temperature per treatment process is greater than 150 °C, preferably greater than 230 °C, even more preferably greater than 300 °C and most preferably greater than 350 °C. procedure after claim 19 , characterized in that the pulse energy is measured in such a way that the surface layer (4) and the material layer (7) which can be adsorbed on the surface layer (4) are heated to the minimum temperature for each treatment process. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 23 , characterized in that an energy input into the surface layer (4) per cm ² heated area of 1 to 10 J per 10 µm layer thickness of the surface layer () is effected by means of the pulse energy per treatment process. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 24 , characterized in that the current intensity of the current surge per treatment process is selected between 100 A and 1000 A, preferably between 250 A and 1000 A, even more preferably between 500 A and 1000 A. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 25 , characterized in that the pulse duration of the current pulse per treatment process is selected to be less than 1 s, preferably less than 100 ms, even more preferably less than 10 ms, most preferably less than 3 ms. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 26 , characterized in that the surface layer (4) is applied to the body (3) in the form of a film. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 26 , characterized in that the surface layer (4) is electrodeposited on the body (3) or applied to the body (3) by sputtering, plasma coating, powder coating, photolithography and the like. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 28 , characterized in that an electrically non-conductive and/or thermally insulating layer (8) is inserted between the surface layer (4) and the body (3). Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 29 , characterized in that an abrasion-resistant protective layer (9) is arranged on the side of the surface layer (4) facing away from the body. Procedure according to one of claims 18 until 30 , characterized in that an approach to the surface layer (4) and/or a touch of the surface layer (4) by an object is detected, the treatment process being carried out when the approach to the surface layer (4) is detected and/or while the surface layer is touched (4) is not carried out. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the treatment process is triggered after touching the surface layer (4) is detected. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the surface layer (4) is used as a capacitive electrode for detecting the approach to the surface layer (4) and/or for detecting contact with the surface layer (4).

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