GB2603484A

GB2603484A - A sanitizer device for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2603484A
Application number: GB2101529.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gee Kevin; Hilliger Von Thile Alexander; Kim Sangho
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2021-02-04
Filing date: 2021-02-04
Publication date: 2022-08-10
Also published as: GB202101529D0

Abstract

The invention is a sanitiser device 10 for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle, wherein the sanitiser device 10 comprises: a housing compartment 12 configured for accommodating the mobile/cell phone; at least one ultraviolet light emission diode 16 to send light into the housing compartment 12; and a wireless charging device 18 in the housing compartment 12. The sanitiser device 10 may comprise a plurality of UV diodes 16. The mobile phone may be encapsulated by the housing compartment 12 during the decontamination process. There may also be a mechanism 20 for placing and retrieving the phone from the housing compartment 12, which may be activated by pressing a button 22. The device 10 uses UV radiation to disinfect the phone. The device 10 is multi-functional as it can sterilise the mobile phone and charge the phone simultaneously via wireless/inductive charging.

Description

A SANITIZER DEVICE FOR A MOBILE PHONE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the invention relates to a sanitizer device for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In the state of the art sanitizer devices for mobile phones are known. A sanitizer device according to the state of the art can for example be found on the internet site https://www.amazon. com/Portable-Sanitizer-Wireless-Multi-FunctionSterilizer/dp/B086K2OC)96.1n some cases the sanitizer devices comprise a housing wherein at least one ultraviolet light emission diode is arranged in the inside of the housing. A mobile phone can be placed into the inside of the housing and with the ultraviolet light emission diode, the mobile phone can be sanitized.

[0003] There is a need in the art to provide a sanitizer device which can provide more functions besides sanitizing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a sanitizer device with multiple functionalities.

[0005] This object is solved by a sanitizer device according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a sanitizer device for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle, wherein the sanitizer device comprises a housing compartment, wherein the housing compartment is configured for accommodating a mobile phone, and wherein the sanitizer device comprises at least one ultraviolet light emission diode, which emits a light into the housing compartment of the sanitizer device, wherein the mobile phone accommodated therein is sanitized by the light.

[0007] In an embodiment the sanitizer device comprises a wireless charging device in its housing compartment for a wireless charging of the mobile phone, when the mobile phone is inserted in the housing compartment of the sanitizer device.

[0008] Therefore, the sanitizer device is designed to be capable of sanitizing the mobile phone and to wirelessly charging the mobile phone at the same time. The sanitizer device has at least one ultraviolet light emission diode which is used to kill bacteria on the surface of the mobile phone while inserted into the sanitizer device. The sanitizer device also comprises the wireless charging device for charging the mobile phone as needed.

[0009] In an embodiment, the sanitizer device comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light emission diodes.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the sanitizer device comprises a mechanism for placing the mobile phone into the housing compartment of the sanitizer device and for retrieving the mobile phone from the housing compartment of the sanitizer device.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the mechanism of this invention is activated by a user pressing a button on the housing of the sanitizer device.

[0012] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0014] The drawings show in: [0015] Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a first surface of an embodiment of a sanitizer device; and [0016] Fig. 2 another schematic view on a second surface of the sanitizer device.

[0017] In the figures same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0019] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0020] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise" does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0021] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a first surface of a sanitizer device 10 for a mobile phone (not shown). The sanitizer device 10 may be mounted in a motor vehicle (not shown). In particular a view of an inner surface of the sanitizer device 10 is shown. The sanitizer device 10 comprises a housing compartment 12, wherein the housing compartment 12 is configured for inserting the mobile phone, and wherein the sanitizer device 10 comprises at least one ultraviolet light emission diode 16, which emits light into the housing compartment 12 of the sanitizer device 10, wherein the mobile phone may be sanitized by the light.

[0023] In an embodiment the sanitizer device 10 comprises a wireless charging device 18 (Fig. 2) in the housing compartment 12 for a wireless charging of the mobile phone, when the mobile phone is inserted in the housing compartment 12 of the sanitizer device 10.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows that the sanitizer device 10 may comprise a plurality of ultraviolet light emission diodes 16. In particular, there are five ultraviolet light emission diodes 16 shown.

[0025] The mobile phone is in particular encapsulated by the housing 12 of the sanitizer device 10 during the sanitizing process. Furthermore, the sanitizer device 10 comprises a mechanism 20 for placing the mobile phone into the housing compartment 12 and for retrieving the mobile phone from the housing compartment 12. The mechanism 20 may be activated by a user pressing a button 22 on the housing compartment 12 of the sanitizer device 10 or it may also be touchless.

[0026] For example, the sanitizer device 10 may be arranged in a center console of the motor vehicle. The sanitizer device 10 may further comprise a phone cradle 24 for holding the mobile phone in the housing compartment 12 during the sanitizing and charging process.

[0027] Furthermore, the sanitizer device 10 comprises electronics 26 for controlling the ultraviolet light emission diodes and the wireless charging device 18.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows the other surface of the sanitizer device 10, in particular an inner surface viewed from the housing compartment 12 of the sanitizer device 10. This surface may also comprise ultraviolet light emission diodes 16. In particular, as shown in Fig. 2, there may be also five more ultraviolet light emission diodes 16 arranged. The ultraviolet light emission diodes 16 may be provided as ultraviolet C light emission diodes.

[0029] Once the mobile phone is placed into the sanitizer device 10, the mobile phone is inserted into the housing compartment 12 and is encapsulated. Once the mobile phone is encapsulated, the sanitizer device 10 activates the ultraviolet light emission diodes 16 and begins to sanitize the surface of the mobile phone for a predetermined amount of time. The ultraviolet light emission diodes 16 only stay active until the sanitizing process has been completed. At that point, the user may remove the mobile phone or leave the mobile phone in the sanitizer device 10 to continue the wireless charging. To remove the mobile phone the user may push the button 22 and the sanitizer device 10 opens thus allowing the mobile phone to be retrieved from the sanitizer device 10.

List of reference signs sanitizer device 12 Housing compartment 16 ultraviolet light emission diode 18 wireless charging device mechanism 22 button 24 phone cradle

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sanitizer device (10) for a mobile phone in a motor vehicle, wherein the sanitizer device (10) comprises a housing compartment (12), wherein the housing compartment (12) is configured for inserting the mobile phone, and wherein the sanitizer device (10) comprises at least one ultraviolet light emission diode (16), which sends light into the housing compartment (12), wherein the mobile phone is sanitized by the light, characterized in that the sanitizer device (10) comprises a wireless charging device (18) in the housing compartment (12) for a wireless charging of the mobile phone, when the mobile phone is accommodated in the housing compartment (12).
2. The sanitizer device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sanitizer device (10) comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light emission diodes (16).
3. The sanitizer device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mobile phone is encapsulated by the housing compartment (12) during the sanitizing process.
4. The sanitizer device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sanitizer device (10) comprises a mechanism (20) for placing the mobile phone into the housing compartment (12) and for retrieving the mobile phone from the housing compartment (12).
5. The sanitizer device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the mechanism (20) is activated by a user pressing a button (22) on the housing (12) of the sanitizer device (10).