EP3442603A1

EP3442603A1 - Structure of a lamp for the reduction of the environmental bacterial load through the microbicidal action that is produced by the controlled, managed and monitored combination of light emitting diodes (led)

Info

Publication number: EP3442603A1
Application number: EP17730282.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carmelo Raffaele CARTIERE; Rosario VALLES
Original assignee: Nextsense SRLS
Current assignee: Nextsense SRLS
Priority date: 2016-04-11
Filing date: 2017-04-04
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Also published as: WO2017179082A4; WO2017179082A1; ITUA20162467A1

Abstract

Purpose of the present invention is the realization of a LED illuminating device, more specifically a LED lamp structure with standard caps (Edison, bayonet.. ) and therefore ready to install on any existing lighting system, able to break down, thank you to its own technical and constructive characteristics, the microbial load present in the environments in which the luminaire is installed. The device also allows a power consumption not different from the one of a standard LED bulb/lamp, does not employ photocatalytic materials classified as hazardous, does not emit wavelengths that fall in the ultraviolet region but only in the band 405-420 nm, and can be supplied with a thermostated lighting room and an articulated endowment of sensors and management technologies.

Description

"STRUCTURE OF A LAMP FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BACTERIAL LOAD THROUGH THE MICROBICIDAL ACTION THAT IS PRODUCED BY THE CONTROLLED, MANAGED AND MONITORED COMBINATION OF LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) "

Purpose of the present invention is the realization of a LED illuminating device, more specifically a LED lamp structure with standard caps (Edison, bayonet, ... ) and therefore ready to install on any existing lighting system, able to break down, thank you to its own technical and constructive characteristics, the microbial load existing in the environments in which the luminaire is installed.

As it is well known, since the beginning of the 900, antibiotics have been one of the main tools to combat and reduce pathogenic bacteria; however, over the years, bacteria have changed, becoming more and more resistant to external attacks. The insiders, therefore, after that strong researches and studies have been carried out, have flanked appropriate devices to the traditional methods to fight and to decrease such microorganisms, that either use a series of wavelengths of the visible electromagnetic spectrum, or adopt filters made of films wrapped around to the common white light sources of illumination with the purpose to filter only the desired wavelength.

In addition to these devices, there are others that use laser (in medicine for treatments of the skin or in dentistry as polymerization units), power spotlights (used for scenic lighting effects) or monochromatic LED (for use in marine aquaria). These devices emit an intense blue-violet color light, and not white light, and therefore are not suitable for use as a primary source of illumination in environments normally frequented by humans .

Some of these devices, improved and perfected, were transfused in patents, among which are the International Patent WO/2016/018545, WO/2015/148025, WO/2015/073798 and the US Patent US20150164067. In these patents, the lighting devices, for their optimal operation, always use an additive, the titanium dioxide (Ti02), which only exerts its action for photocatalysis when the microorganisms come into direct contact with the treated surface. In such cases the surface, which always coincides with the outer part of the lamp, is normally located at ceiling height and, therefore, plays only a passive role, since it is not able to exert its action in the surrounding environment.

Also in the prior art, we find the device referred to in the international patent n. WO/2009/056838 which is instead designed to be able to emit bactericidal light at a wavelength in the range from 380 to 420 nm. And also the illuminating device according to the patent WO/2016/019029 , which seems to suggest a similar structure, is designed to be able to emit bactericidal light at a wavelength in the range from 380 to 420 nm. However, it is known that wavelengths in the range from lOOnm to 400nm, fall in the ultraviolet spectrum (UV), in which they are distingued from lOOnm to 280nm (UV-C), from 280nm to 315nm (UV-B), and from 315nm to 400nm (UV- A) . These wavelengths, falling in the spectra indicated in the above mentioned patents, may cause side effects to human health such as skin cancers known as "melanoma", syndromes such as those referred to as "Mallorca acne" and irritative skin diseases.

Besides, in the description of the latter two devices, it is stated that the bactericidal action is mainly carried out by a single wavelength at 405nm, which, however, is good to remember, is particularly effective on Gram+ microbial strains, but certainly much less effective, if not at all effective, on Gram- microbial strains. And because both bacterial species are responsible for very serious diseases, both must be equally opposed.

In addition, both devices do not have any adjustment and control mechanism of the exposure times, and it can inappropriately turn into a total sterilization of the environment. And if such a sterile state may be desirable in any monitored

80 "healthcare/medical/medical-scientific" environment, it is absolutely dangerous in a home environment, where a natural presence of microorganisms is needed to allow the normal development and remodeling of the immune system. Finally, the absence of any dynamic control of the

85 operating temperature does not guarantee that the wavelengths emitted in that part of the near ultraviolet (near-UV) visible electromagnetic spectrum cannot shift in the ultraviolet region, due to thermal variations induced by the functioning of the device, with

90 predictable consequences in terms of hazard to humans.

In any case, it is good to highlight that both the first and the second type of described devices, as well as those on the market, are not adaptable to existing installations, but need of specially designed equipment

95 for their use and operation, with costs not to be underestimated .

This invention overcomes all these problems through the creation of an illuminating device, more precisely a lamp/bulb, realized and achievable with any standard cap 100 (Edison, bayonet, ... ) as already present in all installations normally in use, with a power consumption not different from the one of a standard LED bulb/lamp, not employing photocatalytic materials classified as hazardous, not emitting wavelengths that fall in the 105 ultraviolet region, but only in the band 405-420 nm, and not shifting from that band for having supplied a thermostated lighting room and an articulated endowment of sensors and management technologies.

This invention will now be described, by 110 illustrations, according to one preferred embodiment, with the lamp depicted with Edison cap, and that shall not be construed in any way limiting, with particular reference to the figures and to the accompanying drawings, taking into account that all the utilized 115 embodiments , without prejudice to their functionality, may vary in size, shape, and number without that this may limit the present invention:

Figure 1 shows a frontal view of the lamp.

Figure 2 shows a frontal view of the lamp with all 120 components visible.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the lamp as a whole with all components visible.

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the lamp.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the lamp with 125 emphasis of the components present on the circuit board. The structure of the antibacterial lamp (A), represented in the figures, is made of a cap (101) with standard Edison type attack, which allows the installation on any existing lighting system. The lamp is equipped, in the lower part, of a power supply (102) and in the upper part of a diffuser (103), and of a heat sink (104). On the entire surface of the diffuser (103) there is a photocatalytic material based on titanium dioxide (Ti02), or tungsten trioxide (W03), or other similar material which exerts any similar action that is "biocidal and/or virucidal and/or of control of allergens". The core of the antibacterial bulb is on the circuit board (105) on which there are three sets of LEDs ( 106, 107 and 108) .

More precisely:

- a first group of LEDs (106) is composed by a red LED (109) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (110) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet color LED (111) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength lying in the range between 405 and 410 nm, flanked by a white LED (112) capable of emitting light with a continuous spectrum of energy with a color temperature in the range between 1000 and 20000K;

- a second group of LEDs (107) is composed by a red LED (113) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (114) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet color LED (115) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength lying in the range between 410 and 415 nm, flanked by a white LED (116) capable of emitting light with a continuous spectrum of energy with a color temperature in the range between 1000 and 20000K;

- a third group of LEDs (108) is composed by a red LED (117) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (118) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet color LED (119) capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength lying in the range between 415 and 420 nm, flanked by a white LED (120) capable of emitting light with a continuous spectrum of energy with a color temperature in the range between 1000 and 20000K;

However, as is known, the "wavelength/frequency" of emission of any LED is influenced by the operating temperature, which definitely depends on the temperature of the PN junction, which is the point where the generation and emission of photons occurs. Since the heat produced therein is dissipated to the environment, it happens that when the ambient temperature varies, also varies the temperature of the P junction, and then it varies the "wavelength/frequency" of the light emitted. All this can happen even when the device is switched on in conditions of "stable/constant" environmental temperature, because the power supply produces and dissipates a significant amount of heat, which can lead to a deviation of the wavelength toward the shorter band region, which can mean to invade the ultraviolet region.

From this it follows that the stabilization of the operating temperature is crucial both to obtain constant spectral properties and to ensure that wavelengths that are hazardous to health are not emitted. This is even more true if one considers that the effectiveness of the device depends "exclusively" from the spectral irradiance value and, therefore, depends on the emitted wavelength, but it is independent by the distance of the same from the irradiated surface. However, the distance influences the efficiency, that is the amount of time necessary to obtain the bactericidal effect.

To solve these problems, the antibacterial bulb is equipped with a microcontroller (121) placed on the circuit board (105) which, by monitoring the operating temperature, is able to adjust the temperature of the lighting chamber through a thermal conditioning system

205 based on two Peltier cells (122).

This is to allow the management of both the heating phase and the cooling phase and - consequently - to maintain a constant effectiveness thanks to the control of the characteristics of the spectral emission and,

210 therefore, of the emitted wavelengths, thus avoiding dangerous shifts toward the ultraviolet region.

The lamp is internally equipped with a sensor (123) for the detection of the heat emitted by the device, the parameters of which are processed by the microcontroller

215 (121) which, when calculated the LED junction temperature, regulates the voltage applied to the Peltier cells (122), in order to increase or reduce the temperature of the circuit and adjust, accordingly, the temperature of the PN junction, to make sure that the

220 spectral properties of the LEDs remain constant.

The microcontroller (121), as mentioned, is equipped with an integrated temperature sensor (123), and a precompiled firmware for the management and control, including through a timer, of the power of the Peltier

225 plates (122) that are mounted inside a housing formed in the heat exchanger (124), the latter of aluminum, or ceramic materials with characteristics suitable for this purpose .

The system operated by the microcontroller (121)

230 has the task of controlling the operation times of the device to make sure that the optimal limits are adjusted to ensure, when necessary, the reduction, but not the complete destruction, of the microbial population.

However, in special cases, when it is required the

235 complete sterilization of the environments

(healthcare/medical/medical-scientific areas), you can adjust the timer to reaching the complete sterilization of environments. All through the presence on the circuit board (105) of a wireless device (126) (infrared,

240 bluetooth, wi-fi, or gsm) that allows the microcontroller (121) the remote communication with an external device.

The regulation of the temperature, in this patent, therefore takes place through "heat exchange" with the heatsink (124) - hot or cold depending on the function

245 set by the microcontroller - until it reaches the required temperature.

The adjustment, under the profile of its process, is carried out in this way: the microcontroller (121), by means of the temperature sensor (123), acquires the value

250 of the temperature inside the lighting room, and adjusts the current dispensed to the Peltier (122). Depending on the intensity and direction of the current, as mentioned, the Peltier (122) heats or cools the plate (105), with consequent adjustment of the temperature of the lighting

255 room. The timer present in the firmware that is installed on the microcontroller, that is adjustable, makes sure to stop the operation of the bactericidal wavelengths at predetermined intervals, so as to preserve, when appropriate, the presence of a low environmental

260 bacterial load. At the microcontroller (121) can be connected, by way of example, one or more monitoring probes (125), always positioned on the circuit board (105), for verifying, for example, the level of humidity, of the carbon dioxide, of the oxide-reductive potential,

265 of the intensity of the ambient light, and of the ambient light spectrum.

The present invention has been described in relation to its functionality, for illustrative but not limitative purpose and it is therefore to be understood

270 that the use of the structure as described may be applied to other types of lamps, without exception, by making even small variations and/or modifications without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection.

275 - Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional exploded 280 view of the individual components of the extruder for cakes and desserts;

- Figure 2 shows a side view of the screw in which the individual components that compose it are evident;

285 - Figure 3 shows a side view of the extruder assembled in the open position;

Figure 4 shows a section of the extruder assembled in the open position;

- Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the 290 extruder in the assembly sequence.

The invention consists of an ergonomically cylindrical shaped tank (Fig. 1, 4 and 5 - Letter a) that is slightly flared on the outer sides to allow for easier and safer grip. The tank is partially

295 threaded in the upper interior part (Fig. 1 - No.l) so as to allow the plunger (Fig. 1, 2, 4 - No. 4) of the screw (Fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5 - Letter b) to screw on the inside. The remaining part is empty (Fig. 4 - No. 2) where the walls are smooth (Fig. 4 - No .11) in order

300 to allow the plunger tip (Fig. 1, 4, and 5 - Letter c) and paste filling to pass through. In the lower part of the tank (Fig. 1, 4 and 5 - Letter a) is an external thread (Fig. 1 and 4 - No. 3) allowing the invention to be closed once it has been filled with

305 paste by threading it onto (Fig. 1 and 4 - No. 10) the flanged cap (Fig. 1, 4, 5 - Letter e). At the top of the tank (Fig. 1, 4 and 5 - Letter a) is the screw (Fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5 - Letter b) that in turn is formed by a threaded plunger (Fig. 1, 2 and 4 - No. 4), which

310 connects to the upper part of the tank, which is also threaded (Fig. 1 - No. 1). This is screwed by a helix handle (Fig. 1 and 2 - No. 5), which allows the user to screw and unscrew the same. There is also a lower part, which is placed in an interlocking socket (Fig.

315 1 and 2 - No. 6) allowing the insertion of the plunger tip (Fig. 1, 4, and 5 - Letter c). The plunger tip (Fig. 1, 4, and 5 - Letter c), in turn, is formed at the base by a circular plate (Fig. 1 and 4 - No.7) of a diameter equal to that of the lower part of the

320 tank, surmounted by a semicircular wall (Fig. 1 - No.8) closed at the top (Fig. 1 - No.9) which allows the plunger tip to connect to the plunger (Fig. 1, 2, 4 No. 4) screw (Fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5 - Letter b). The coupling of the screw to the plunger tip creates a 325 sealed piston that enables the linear extrusion of the paste out of the extruder without any of it getting back into the tank. Furthermore, the invention consists of an always-circular die plate (Fig. 1 and 5 - Letter d) on which there may be holes/groves of

330 various shapes and sizes, depending on the design to be created. This die plate (Fig. 1 and 5 - Letter d) , located at the closure of the tank (Fig. 1, 4 and 5 - Letter a), is blocked by a circular flanged cap (Fig. 1, 4 and 5 - Letter e) characterized by internal

335 threads (Fig. 1 and 4 - No. 10) that have the function to enable it to screw onto the bottom of the tank (Fig. 1 and 4 - No. 3 ) .

The invention as described must be assembled in the following way in order to be able to perform the

340 functions for which it was designed. The components are positioned in greater detail in Figure 5. The user must first insert and completely screw, the screw (b) inside the tank (a) using the helix handle. Then after inserting the plunger tip (c), turn it to bring it

345 back to the original height in order to fill the tank (a) with the paste and close the invention placing the die plate (d) into the flanged cap, (e) which in turn will be screwed onto the bottom of the tank (a). Once you close the extruder simply rotate the helix handle 350 so that the paste can be extruded through the holes on the die plate (d) onto the cake or dessert in a consistent and linear manner. To disassemble and store the invention simply follow the steps described in reverse .

355 The invention may be used with tactile materials and/or any material that is compatible with foods. It is also dishwasher-safe.

This invention has been described for illustrative purposes and in no limitative way is it 360 understood that any variations/modifications can also be made with reference to the materials used.

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Claims

CLAIMS :

1) A lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count exerted through the 385 microbicidal action produced by the controlled, managed, and monitored combination of light emitting diode (LED) sources, characterized by the presence of:

a circuit board (105) on which there are 390 three set of LEDs ( 106, 107 and 108) and a sensor (123) connected to a microcontroller (121) as well as monitoring probes (125) and a wireless device (126) for remote control;

a heat exchanger (124) inside . which are 395 housed two Peltier cells (122) connected to the microcontroller (121);

a photocatalytic material based on Titanium Dioxide (TI02), or Tungsten Trioxide (W03), or other analogous material which exerts analogous biocidal 400 and/or virucidal and/or allergenic control action.

2) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 1), characterized by the presence on the circuit board (105) of three set of LEDs ( 106, 107 and 108) in 405 which: - a first group of LEDs (106) is composed of a red LED (109) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (110) which is capable of emitting

410 a visible electromagnetic radiation in the range between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet LED (111) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 405 and 410 nm, accompanied by a white LED (112) which is

415 capable of emitting light with continuous spectrum of energy in a colour temperature that lays in the range between 1000 and 20000 ;

- a second group of LEDs (107) is composed of a red LED (113) which is capable of emitting a visible

420 electromagnetic radiation in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (114) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation in the range between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet LED (115) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic

425 radiation with a wavelength in the range between 410 and 415 nm, accompanied by a white LED (116) which is capable of emitting light with continuous spectrum of energy in a colour temperature that lays in the range between 1000 and 20000K; 430 - a third group of LEDs (108) is composed of a red LED (117) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation in the range between 633 and 660 nm, a green LED (118) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation in the range

435 between 555 and 570 nm, a blue-violet LED (119) which is capable of emitting a visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range between 415 and 420 nm, accompanied by a white LED (120) which is capable of emitting light with continuous spectrum of

440 energy in a colour temperature that lays in the range between 1000 and 20000K.

3) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 1), characterized by the presence on the circuit board

445 ( 105) of a sensor (123) for the detection of the heat emitted by the device, the parameters of which are processed by a microcontroller (121), which computes the temperature of the PN junction of the LEDs and adjusts the voltage applied to the Peltier cells (122)

450 in order to increase or reduce the temperature of the circuit board to ensure that the spectral properties of the LEDs remain constant.

4 ) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 455 1), wherein the Peltier plates (122) are mounted within a housing obtained in the heat exchanger (124), the latter of aluminium, or ceramic, or other materials with characteristics suitable for the purpose .

460 5) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 1), characterized by the presence on the circuit board (105) of one or more monitoring probes (125) connected to the microcontroller (121) that check the level of

465 humidity and/or carbon dioxide and/or the oxidation- reduction potential and/or the environmental light intensity and/or the environmental light spectrum.

6) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 1)

470 characterized by the presence on the circuit board (105) of one or more wireless devices (infrared, Bluetooth, wi-fi or GSM or similar) (126) which allows the microcontroller (121) to communicate remotely with an external device.

475 7 ) A LED lamp structure for the reduction of the environmental bacterial count, as claimed in claim 1), characterized by the presence of a photocatalytic material based on Titanium Dioxide (TI02), or Tungsten Trioxide (W03), or other analogous material which 480 exerts analogous biocidal and/or virucidal and/or allergenic control action.

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