IT202000027242A1 - STERILIZATION SYSTEM FOR TOUCH GLASSES AND SCREENS - Google Patents

Description

Patent application for industrial invention entitled:

?Sterilization system for touch glasses and screens?

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to techniques for sterilizing tactile glasses and screens in compliance with the standards imposed for safety.

The solution described here answers a question born and strongly felt in the last period due to the problems related to the Coronavirus.

In particular the solution ? designed to avoid the spread of viruses, such as the Coronavirus, linked to surfaces in direct and indirect contact with humans in order to avoid contagion and the evolution of bacterial colonies.

PRIOR NOTE TECHNIQUE

Solutions are known in the art which provide for the use of UVC lamps to sanitize environments and objects, in particular commercial and industrial structures, restaurants, healthcare environments, hospitality structures, sports structures and professional environments. The use of these lamps must for? take place in the absence of people and therefore does not guarantee constant sanitization and during the entire period of time. In particular, this external solution cannot? be used between first and subsequent uses of a shared touch screen such as an ATM or ticket machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to techniques for sanitizing screens, for example screens for shared use, which provides for the use of UVC rays for sanitization.

The purpose of the present invention ? then that of making a self-sanitizing display screen or tactile glass (S) comprising a layered structure enclosed in a frame, wherein the layered structure comprises a first layer of glass composed of at least 99.9% pure quartz, wherein the first layer ? accessible to the user, a second lamination layer in shatterproof polyvinyl butyral, and a fifth layer which forms the display panel, in which the screen has UVC LED strips on at least two contiguous sides, in which each strip is ? composed of a plurality of UVC LEDs in which the UVC LEDs are able to emit UVC rays towards the screen and in which these rays are confined within the first layer of pure quartz glass, in which the UVC rays allow to sanitize in safety for the user the surface of the screen and in which the frame protects the user from exposure to UVC rays in the area where the rays are emitted by the UVC LEDs.

In various embodiments the layered structure comprises a third layer of standard glass STD SiO2 60-75% or (C5O2H8)n, i.e. a glass or standard PMMA polymethyl methacrylate and in which the second lamination layer is placed between the first glass layer and the third glass layer.

The layered structure in some embodiments comprises a fourth layer which realizes the multi-point capacitive touch panel, wherein the fourth layer is ? interposed between the third glass and the fifth layer that makes the display panel.

In particular, each UVC LED of the plurality? emits UVC rays at 270nm with power between 0.1W and 0.3W.

Preferably, the frame? made of metal or plastic material.

In various embodiments ? There is a UVC LED command module which activates the UVC LEDs of the strips.

In some embodiments, the command module activates all the UVC LEDs of the two strips simultaneously to achieve a homogeneous emission of rays which sanitizes the entire surface of the screen.

In alternative embodiments, the command module selectively activates only some of the UVC LEDs of the two strips to create a localized ray emission which sanitizes the screen surface only at the points of contact with the user's fingertips or with foreign bodies.

In various embodiments ? It is possible to envisage that the control module periodically activates the emission of rays at pre-set time intervals to sanitize the screen.

In alternative embodiments there are two more LED strips on the remaining two sides of the screen.

In some embodiments ? Is there a presence sensor that interrupts and inhibits the emission of UVC rays in the presence of a user in the vicinity? of the screen.

The present invention also relates to a device for collective or individual use comprising a display screen or self-sanitizing tactile glass (S). The present invention also relates to a process for sanitizing a display screen or tactile glass which provides for the provision of a self-sanitizing screen and an activation step of the UVC LEDs of the strips to sanitize the screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the attached tables, in which:

- Figure 1 shows the composition of a screen according to the present invention,

- Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the bars of UVC LED strips, - Figure 3 shows a screen according to the present invention on which ? mounted a frame,

- Figure 4 shows the working principle of the solution according to the present invention,

- Figure 5 shows the operating principle of the solution according to the present invention, in the case of homogeneous sanitization,

- Figure 6 shows the operating principle of the solution according to the present invention, in the case of selective sanitization,

- Figure 7 shows the block diagram of the solution according to the present invention,

- Figures 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the solution according to the present invention,

- Figure 10 the solution according to the present invention, in the case of a double bar of UVC LED strips, e

- Figure 11 shows the block diagram of the solution according to the present invention, in the case of the presence of a presence sensor.

The parts according to the present description have been represented in the drawings, where appropriate, with conventional symbols, showing only those specific details which are pertinent to the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, so as not to highlight details which will be immediately apparent, to those skilled in the art. skilled in the art, with reference to the description reported herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The solution described here is based on the use of UV-C rays for the sanitization of surfaces such as tactile glass and the screens of devices for collective use, such as, for example, automatic ticket machines, information totems, booking totems, ATMs, tablets for collective use for example to order at the restaurant, etc.

One of the most problematic current, especially in this period with the presence of the Coronavirus,? the need? to sanitize surfaces in direct and indirect contact with humans in order to avoid contagion and the evolution of bacterial colonies. There are various methods in the world to sanitize environments and surfaces, including the use of antibacterial films and even more? effective UV-C rays, but currently the use of UV-C rays presents major problems and major limitations.

The various types of spokes available and the different characteristics are now briefly described

UV rays cover a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with a wavelength between 100 and 400 nm and are divided into:

- UVA-A rays (320nm -400nm) are not very powerful, but are able to penetrate deeply? in the dermis by destroying capillaries, collagen and elastin, consequently causing premature aging of the skin; they also cause rashes and skin damage, such as cancerous formations, pass through unshielded glasses and are present all year round, even when the sky is clear. cloudy, why? it is essential to use filters that prevent its absorption;

- UV-B rays (280nm-300nm) compared to UVA, UVB are concentrated above all in the summer period, in particular in the central hours of the day, they have a capacity? of lower penetration and are unable to overcome the layers pi? surface of the dermis, but are still able to alter the genetic material contained in the DNA, increasing the risk of the appearance of skin tumors, are potentially carcinogenic, so ? it is essential to use filters that prevent its absorption;

- UV-C (100nm-280nm) are definitely harmful to our health but fortunately the ozone layer holds them back, consequently they have no particular effects on humans, studies carried out in the laboratory have shown that UVC rays are unable to reach deep the dermis, but they stop on the superficial part in the layer of dead cells with consequent aging of the skin for long exposures, and are able to change the values of the DNA, above all with the exposure of the eyes.

Many scholars have analyzed UVC rays for medical applications, as rays with a wavelength of 254nm are capable of modifying the DNA of microorganisms at a molecular level, destroying them if exposed even for a few seconds.

The solution proposed here is based on the use of UVC lamps with powers proportional to the cubic meters to be sanitized. The goal ? eliminate germs, bacteria and viruses from surfaces in a limited area, such as tactile glasses or shared and collective use screens.

The only problem still present ? direct exposure of UVC rays to humans during the sanitization process, which brings with it complex safety systems that require the total absence of personnel, and long times required for sterilisation.

This process can limit the bacterial presence immediately after exposure to UVC rays, but the problem remains in the following hours because? This type of sanitization does not guarantee coverage on all surfaces, especially those with direct human contact.

One of the tools most in contact with man in the digital age? the touch screen usually accompanied by a protective glass.

Every day an average user passes in front of a touch screen more? 50% of the day between using smartphones and other tactile devices.

The glasses placed above the viewing panel (display) of shared screens are the greatest carriers of B bacteria and germs as they are not subject to daily cleaning, and are accessible to any user with times that are impossible to intercept. Just think of the tactile screens of an ATM which are exposed every day to multiple direct tactile contacts by users, or indirect ones such as the emission of saliva particles.

The solution proposed here? was created to optimize, in the public, industrial and private sectors, the sterilization and sanitization times of tactile and non-tactile glasses, automatically, without the use of external devices and in compliance with the regulations imposed for safety.

The solution described here can? be used in various applications and pu? choose between two types:

? Matrix sanitizing glass with selective system (for touch screens), e

? Sanitizing glass with presence sensor (for screens for collective use). Will I come now described, with reference to Figure 1, the structure of the screen and the operating principle for example of a touch screen for industrial application according to the present invention.

The structure of the screen S comprises a layer 1 made of 99.99% SiO2 glass, i.e. a glass composed entirely of pure Quartz. A second layer 2 of PVB polyvinyl butyral lamination is added to this first layer 1 to make a shatterproof screen.

The structure of the screen S also provides for a third layer 3 of standard STD SiO2 60-75% or (C5O2H8)n glass, i.e. a standard PMMA glass or polymethyl methacrylate, as an integrated part of the shatterproof and protective system of the display or display brush portion , i.e. layer 5, and touch screens, i.e. layer 4.

The second layer 2, interposed between the first glass layer 1 and the third glass layer 3? made of plastic material for the lamination of the two glasses to give the property? shatterproof.

The screen S then comprises a fourth layer 4 which forms the touch screen panel, ie the multi-point capacitive touch panel.

In contact with the fourth layer 4 c?? finally a fifth layer 5 of visualization panel or display.

The solution provides for providing a first bar 6 of UVC LEDs, in which each LED that makes up the strip ? indicated by L, on a first side L1 and a second bar 7 of UVC LEDs, wherein each LED making up the strip ? indicated by L, on a second side L2.

Bars 6 and 7 are UVC LED strips with emission at 270nm and 0.1-0.3W/each. The heart of the system resides in the two UVC LED bars 6 and 7 arranged on the two horizontal X and vertical Y axes and placed laterally to the display screen S (assembled glass V made up of layers 1 to 3 and the display panels 5 and touch 4), such as to form a matrix.

The glass V ? an assembly of pi? parts to increase the safety levels of the glass/display and the effectiveness of the antibacterial action. The glass V ? composed of the first layer 1, accessible to the user, made of pure quartz to allow the passage of the light beam inside it, of the second shatterproof layer 2, and of a third layer 3 of standard glass with a lower quartz component such as to limit the passage of the light beam to avoid affecting the parts pi? sensitive to direct exposure to UVC rays including the display panel or display 5 and the touch panel or touch-screen 4.

The metal or plastic part around the glass V is called frame C and ? necessary to avoid direct exposure of the human eye to the rays emitted by UVC L LEDs and comply with the limits set by the ISO 15858:2016 directive.

The fourth layer 4 of touch screen is glued on the assembled glass V, while the visualization panel or display is positioned centrally as the last detail.

The UVC LED bars 6 and 7 are positioned parallel to the first quartz glass 1 to allow the flow of light to flow inside the walls of the layer 1, reducing to a minimum the emission of the beam outside the walls.

The desired effect? that of optical fibre, where a light generated by a LED/laser is transmitted per kilometer inside a plastic tube without losing efficiency. In the case of optical fibre, the operating principle is based on cladding (ie a coating placed over the luminous core which allows total reflection of the light inside the fibre).

In the solution described here this principle is exploited and the same conditions are recreated, but with limited reflection and some refractive components. In fact, the beam produced by the plurality? of UVC LEDs L pu? pass through the pure quartz glass only, i.e. layer 1, generating a sort of F fiber, as pure quartz allows wavelengths between 100-280 nm to pass, and the germicidal effect is valid only in this conditions. The same lens placed above each UVC LED L ? of pure quartz. The UVC LEDs leave the factory with quartz lenses.

For this reason, its position guarantees a linear flow through the walls of pure glass, i.e. layer 1, with a refractive component that allows us to perform the antibacterial function.

In the most internal of the first glass V we find the second layer 2 in Polyvinyl butyral PVB and the third layer 3 in STD glass which will be the correspondent of the cladding, not allowing the total passage of the wavelength of the UVC LEDs L, protecting the glue of layer 4 of touch-screens and display layer 5 or displays, which are subject to aging and yellowing (erosive properties of UV rays on long exposure).

On the other hand, the flow of UV rays flows along the wall and, due to the refractive effect, a percentage of the flow of rays escapes towards the outside.

When the fingertips P of the hand are placed on the external surface or particles P external to the glass are placed (such as saliva or mucus following coughing or sneezing), a thin opacifying layer is created in which the reflection ? almost total and as a result you create a photonic flux more? marked due to the presence of the obstacle. We can also see the same effect in the sandblasting of the glass to enhance writing or decorations when they are illuminated through. As shown in Figure 5, the UVC rays pass through the glass layer 1 and are not visible directly since are hidden by the metal part of the body which creates the frame C. The emission? homogeneous on the entire surface of the screen S and sterilizes the entire surface by acting from the inside on the external surface part of the glass, or tactile glass.

This process allows the sterilization of the entire screen S in a very short time and can be done after each use.

The activation system for windows with touch-screen sensor can? be more selective and safe thanks to a matrix system, as shown in Figure 6.

The operation recalls that of the old infrared touch-screens and allows the selective enabling of only some UVC LEDs L along bars 6 and 7 positioned along the X and Y axes based on the position of the fingertip P when it is placed.

In particular, the matrix system allows to selectively illuminate the point that comes into contact with the pad P of the finger and works like touch systems based on infrared light. The touch of the fingertip P interrupts the light beam and interrupts the signal received by the photo-detectors.

The UVC LEDs L located on each strip 6 and 7 are controlled by a command or controller module 10 comprising a CPU and/or an N-channel LED driver based on the dimensions of the glass and therefore of the required tactile area.

As illustrated in Figure 6, when the interested area is pressed, the touchscreen assigns an Xa,Ya or Xb,Yb coordinate to be projected onto the screen, in turn this coordinate is interpreted by the controller 10 UVC LEDs and illuminates two or more? UVC LED L corresponding to the affected area. In the case of total absence of pressure? It is possible to carry out a global cleaning with settable times. This process makes it possible to sanitize in real time only the external part of the screen S with which the user comes into contact without waiting for the user?s absence and respecting the safety standards in relation uW /cm<2>. In the event of an emergency or an increase in security anyway? there is a presence sensor.

Considering that 2-8 uW-s/cm<2 > is needed to kill 90% of B germs and bacteria, and a single L UVC LED can? deliver a minimum of 200uW up to a maximum of 15mW, it is assumed that in less than T=1sec it is possible to obtain a RAS= radius of action sterilizing equal to min 5-7cm? for single unit?, and with an increase in delivery time we obtain a proportional increase in RAS.

Furthermore, due to the effect of the internal optical passage of the quartz glass, can we collimate and extend the flux by about 70%, bringing the propagation up to 12 cm? with a proportional increase in time T.

According to ISO15858 ? a direct exposure of max 6000 uW/cm<2 > is allowed for 1 second at a wavelength of 254nm. Considering the indirect and direct exposure generated by the device, the precise data of calibration and exposure risk analysis must be calculated after the effective irradiance tests in the laboratory.

In the diagram of Figure 7 a theoretical operating system is shown. The LED bars 6 and 7 placed laterally to the screen are connected to a CPU with n General Purpose Input/Output available or led driver controller 10, which can then be connected to the PC 8. The touch-screen S ? also connected to a touch controller 9 and to the PC 8.

The software which runs on the PC 8 interprets the XY values taken from the touchscreen S and transmits them to the LED controller 10 for turning on the UVC LED L concerned.

Eg:

1) Fingertip P detected in coordinates x= 500; y=500 LEDs X2-X3 and LEDs Y2-Y3 are turned on for a time of 60mS;

2) Fingertip P detected in coordinates x= 500; y=600 LEDs X2-X3 and LEDs Y3-Y4 are turned on for a time of 60mS;

3) Fingertip P detected in coordinates x= 400 ; y=600 LEDs X1-X2 and LEDs Y3-Y4 are turned on for a time of 60mS.

To carry out some experiments ? A 17"+ display panel or display and a 17" touch panel or touch-screen have been used, and consequently the glass measurements are proportional to the screen size.

The two strips 6 and 7 of UVC L LEDs have been positioned along the two X and Y axes and have the same measurements as the glass.

For example, the dimensions of the glass are 38 cm x 30 cm and the dimension of the LED strip 6 placed along the X axis? of 30 cm and the LED strip 7 placed along the axis Y ? of 38 cms.

The number of UVC LEDs L to obtain the necessary power varies according to the size of the glass following the principle described above.

According to the area of use? necessary to have more responsiveness in the sterilization of the surface always within the limits set. For the following reason? It is possible to increase the number of UVC L LEDs (without increasing their power) by placing them on the opposite side of the glass, forming a parallel system with greater homogeneity.

As shown in Figure 11 ? It is possible to have two strips 6a and 6b on the X axis and two strips 7a and 7b on the Y axis, placed on the two opposite sides L1 and L3 and L2 and L4 of the screen S.

To have an overall sterilization, in the absence of users, ? It is possible to activate all the UVC LEDs. All configurable through a software procedure.

With reference to Figure 10, the case of a screen without a touchscreen is described.

In this case the screen S ? composed of a first layer 1 of glass made entirely of pure Quartz SiO2 99.99%, a second layer 2 of shatterproof material such as Polyvinylbutyral PVB for lamination of the two glasses, with properties? shatterproof and by a fifth layer 5 which forms the visualization panel or display. The solution provides for providing a first bar 6 of UVC LEDs indicated by L on a first side X and a second bar 7 of UVC LEDs indicated by L on a second side Y.

Bars 6 and 7 are UVC LED strips with emission at 270nm and 0.1-0.3W/each.

The working principle? very similar to the model with touch-screen. The variant? the absence of the third glass layer 3 and the introduction of a presence sensor 12.

This model ? a standard system that can be applied to any glass with a display or display panel on the back, a glass, a touch panel or touchscreen, but without a matrix system or a glass surface for medical / healthcare use.

The system ? mainly based on a timed presence sensor 12 which activates the UVC LED bars 6 and 7 for the time set on the basis of the formula uW/cm<2>. The sensor 12 pu? be programmed to activate only in certain situations with long rest times such as to save unnecessary radiation. ? it is also possible to connect the sensor 12 to a proprietary control card for customized management of the UVC LED activation.

In particular, the solution provides for sanitization when not? there is no user.

In particular, if the presence sensor 12 detects the presence of a user, sanitization is interrupted and is not restarted as long as the sensor 12 senses the presence of the user.

The present invention exploits the sanitizing power of UVC rays to obtain a self-sanitization of devices for collective use.

? It is possible to provide two types of solutions, a homogeneous sanitization of the entire surface of the screen or a punctual and localized sanitization in the points where there is was the contact or where c?? the presence of foreign bodies.

These solutions could also be used for devices including a screen S for private use.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (13)

1. A self-sanitizing display screen or tactile glass (S) comprises a layered structure enclosed in a frame (C), wherein said layered structure comprises a first layer (1) of glass composed of at least 99.9% pure accessible quartz to the user, a second layer (2) of lamination in shatterproof polyvinyl butyral, and a fifth layer (5) which forms the display panel, in which said screen (S) has on at least two contiguous sides (L1, L2) strips (6,7, 6a,7a) of UVC LEDs, wherein each strip (6,7) ? composed of a plurality of UVC LEDs (L), and in which said UVC LEDs (L) are capable of emitting UVC rays towards the screen (S), in which these rays are confined within the first layer (1) of pure quartz glass, wherein said UVC rays allow the surface of said screen (S) to be safely sanitized for the user and in which said frame (C) protects the user from exposure to UVC rays in the area where the rays from said UVC LEDs are emitted (L). The display screen or self-sanitizing touch glass (S) according to claim 1, wherein said layered structure comprises a third layer (3) of standard glass STD SiO2 60-75% or (C5O2H8)n, i.e. a glass or standard PMMA polymethylmethacrylate, in which the second lamination layer (2) is? placed between the first glass layer (1) and the third glass layer (3). The self-sanitizing display screen or touch glass (S) according to claim 2, wherein said layered structure comprises a fourth layer (4) realizing the multi-point capacitive touch panel, wherein said fourth layer (4) ? interposed between the third layer of standard glass (3) and the fifth layer of display panel (5). 4. The display screen or tactile glass (S) is self-sanitizing according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein each UVC LED (L) of said plurality? emits UVC rays at 270nm with power between 0.1W and 0.3W. 5. The display screen or tactile glass (S) is self-sanitizing according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said frame (C) ? made of metal or plastic material. 6. The display screen or tactile glass (S) is self-sanitizing according to one or more? of the previous claims, in which ? there is a command module (10) of the UVC LEDs which activates said UVC LEDs (L) of said strips (6,7). 7. The self-sanitizing display screen or tactile glass (S) according to claim 6, wherein said command module (10) activates all the UVC LEDs (L) of the two strips (6,7) simultaneously to realize a? homogeneous emission of rays which sanitizes the entire surface of the screen (S). 8. The self-sanitizing display screen or tactile glass (S) according to claim 6, wherein said command module (10) selectively activates only some of the UVC LEDs (L) of the two strips (6,7) to realize a Localized ray emission that sanitizes the screen surface (S) only at the points of contact with the user?s fingertips (P) or with foreign bodies. 9. The self-sanitizing display screen or tactile glass (S) according to claim 6, claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said command module (10) periodically activates the emission of rays at predetermined time intervals for sanitize the screen (S). 10. The display screen or tactile glass (S) is self-sanitizing according to one or more? of the previous claims, in which two more LED strips (6b, 7b) are present on the remaining two sides (L3, L4) of the screen (S). 11. The display screen or tactile glass (S) is self-sanitizing according to one or more? of the previous claims, in which ? Is there a presence sensor (12) which interrupts and inhibits the emission of UVC rays in the presence of a user in the vicinity? of the screen (S). 12. Device for collective or individual use comprising a display screen or tactile glass (S) according to one or more of the previous claims 1 to 11. 13. Process for sanitizing a display screen or tactile glass (S) which provides for the preparation of a screen (S) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 which provides for an activation step of the UVC LEDs (L) of said strips ( 6,7) to sanitize said screen (S).