Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/02—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor using physical processes
  • A61L2/08—Radiation
  • A61L2/10—Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K11/00—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent
  • C09K11/08—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials
  • C09K11/77—Luminescent materials, e.g. electroluminescent or chemiluminescent containing inorganic luminescent materials containing rare earth metals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
  • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
  • H01J61/02—Details
  • H01J61/30—Vessels; Containers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
  • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
  • H01J61/02—Details
  • H01J61/30—Vessels; Containers
  • H01J61/35—Vessels; Containers provided with coatings on the walls thereof; Selection of materials for the coatings
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
  • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
  • H01J61/02—Details
  • H01J61/38—Devices for influencing the colour or wavelength of the light
  • H01J61/42—Devices for influencing the colour or wavelength of the light by transforming the wavelength of the light by luminescence
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
  • H01J65/00—Lamps without any electrode inside the vessel; Lamps with at least one main electrode outside the vessel

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ultraviolet light emitter and light-emitting device that utilizes fluorescent glass, and a sterilization and disinfection device that uses them.
• Patent Document 1 ultraviolet fluorescent glass that emits fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet light has been known (Patent Document 1).
• the fluorescent glass before Patent Document 1 and the like includes composites made by compounding phosphor crystals and glass powder and firing them, crystallized glass, glass containing no crystal phase that contains activators such as luminescent ions, and glass in which phosphor crystals are dispersed (Non-Patent Document 2, Patent Document 5).
• the main interest in UV fluorescent glass has been in the generation of visible light using fluorescent glass, i.e., the main use of UV fluorescent glass has been in the emission of visible light, and the properties of UV fluorescent glass have been primarily designed to meet this requirement (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2, Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4).
• ultraviolet light has been increasingly used for cleaning and sterilization purposes.
• ultraviolet fluorescent lamps halogen lamps such as xenon lamps, or high-intensity discharge lamps such as high-pressure mercury lamps are often used.
• the ultraviolet light emitted by these lamps has a wide spectral distribution, and depending on the intended use, it is necessary to separately install an interference filter or the like to block ultraviolet light in unnecessary wavelength ranges (Patent Document 6).
• excimer light from noble gases or halogen gases is used as ultraviolet light.
• Representative examples include xenon, ArF, KrF, KrCl, KrBr, and other excimer lights.
• the wavelengths of these excimer lights are specific to each excimer light source gas, and there is a problem that the emission of ultraviolet light other than limited wavelengths is insufficient. Furthermore, although the spectral distribution of excimer light is relatively narrow, there is a certain degree of distribution, and depending on the intended use, it is necessary to separately install an interference filter or the like to remove light of unnecessary wavelengths (Patent Document 7). In particular, when ultraviolet light is used for various disinfection purposes, the problem of wavelength adjustment is prominent. That is, it has been reported that even when ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 230 nm or less is irradiated onto the human body, it has little adverse effects on the human body, such as rough skin, and also has a high bactericidal effect.
• KrCl excimer lamps and KrBr excimer lamps have been proposed as ultraviolet light emitters capable of generating ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 230 nm or less.
• the ultraviolet light emitted by these lamps contains an amount of ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 230 nm to 300 nm that cannot be ignored in terms of adverse effects on the human body, and it has been reported that it is desirable to install an interference filter or the like to remove this ultraviolet light (Patent Document 7).
• Patent Document 7 the installation of an interference filter leads to the complication and high cost of the light-emitting device, and furthermore, the degree of freedom in the design of the shape of the light-emitting device is reduced, and there are problems in that the installation location is limited.
• Non-Patent Document 8 since the function of the interference filter is directional-dependent, ultraviolet light with the desired narrow spectral distribution can only be emitted in a narrow direction. Therefore, it has been reported that it is difficult to emit ultraviolet light with the desired narrow spectral distribution in all emission directions unless the filter is placed so as to completely surround the emission direction (Patent Document 8).
• interference filters must be individually manufactured in complex shapes according to the light emitters, which makes production complicated and very costly.Furthermore, the use of interference filters also poses the problem of attenuation of the amount of light passing through them (Non-Patent Document 3).
• conventionally proposed ultraviolet light emitters or light-emitting devices are not wavelength-adjusted so that the desired wavelength accounts for the majority, and therefore require the addition of devices such as interference filters to remove light of unnecessary wavelengths (change the direction so that it is not irradiated), resulting in problems such as attenuation of the amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength, increased energy and irradiation time required to irradiate the required amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength, high costs, and reduced freedom in device design.
• an object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet light emitter, an ultraviolet light emitter, and a sterilization and disinfection apparatus which solves problems such as attenuation of the amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength, increased energy required to irradiate the required amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength and increased irradiation time, high costs, and reduced freedom of device design.
• the present invention provides the following inventions. 1. An ultraviolet light emitter that is made of a hollow space forming body at least a part of which is made of glass, in which a discharge space filled with a discharge gas is formed within the space forming body, and that emits light by discharge when a voltage is applied, An ultraviolet light emitter characterized in that fluorescent glass is used as the glass. 2.
• a fluorescent member having a fluorescent substance is installed in the space forming body, and the fluorescent member is configured to be excited by the discharge light of the discharge gas and emit ultraviolet rays, 2.
• the discharge gas contains at least xenon.
• the ultraviolet emitting device characterized in that the emitted ultraviolet light includes ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 to 230 nm, and in the ultraviolet light region having a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 to 230 nm is the majority.
• the ultraviolet emitting device wherein the space forming body is formed having a portion made of the glass and a portion made of other components. 7.
• An ultraviolet light emitter a wavelength conversion unit that absorbs a portion of the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitter and emits light having a different optical spectrum from the optical spectrum of the ultraviolet light,
• the ultraviolet light emitting device is characterized in that the wavelength conversion portion is formed of fluorescent glass. 10.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention solves problems such as attenuation of the amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength, increased energy required and irradiation time to irradiate the required amount of ultraviolet light of the required wavelength, high costs, and reduced freedom of device design.
• the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention comprises the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention described above, but has fewer restrictions on installation and a wavelength conversion section that can solve the above-mentioned problems, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems.
• the sterilization and disinfection device of the present invention can irradiate ultraviolet light of a desired wavelength, and therefore can safely sterilize and disinfect a desired location in a short period of time.
• FIG. 1(a) is a front view (interior perspective view) showing a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention
• FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view thereof (interior perspective view with some parts omitted).
• FIG. 2 is a front view (corresponding to FIG. 1) showing another embodiment of the ultraviolet ray emitter of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a side view (interior perspective view) showing another embodiment of the ultraviolet ray emitter of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a front view (corresponding to FIG. 1) showing an embodiment of the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 1, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 6 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 2, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 6 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 1, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 7 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 3, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 8 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 4, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 9 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated assuming the use of the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 5, and is a chart showing an example of the emission spectrum of a first phosphor and the light spectrum after that light passes through a second phosphor.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the sterilization apparatus of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a wagon as a sterilization apparatus of the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a chart showing the emission spectrum of the ultraviolet ray emitter itself used in Example 1.
• FIG. 13a is a top view (inner see-through view) that shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention, and
• FIG. 13b is a side view (inner see-through view) thereof.
• FIG. 14 is a chart showing the spectrum of light irradiated from the ultraviolet ray emitter of Example 6.
• FIG. 15 shows the emission spectrum of the first phosphor used in the ultraviolet light emitter of
• UV light emitter 1. UV light emitter, 2. Discharge space, 3. Fluorescent material, 5. Space formation body
• the ultraviolet light emitter and light emitting device utilizing the fluorescent glass of the present invention and the sterilization and disinfection device to which they are applied will be specifically described below, but the present invention is not limited to these in any way.
• the ultraviolet ray emitter of the present invention will be described.
• the ultraviolet light emitter 1 of this embodiment shown in Figures 1 (a) and (b) is an ultraviolet light emitter that consists of a hollow space forming body 5 at least a part of which is made of glass, in which a discharge space 2 filled with a discharge gas is formed within the space forming body 5, and which emits discharge light by applying a voltage.
• the glass fluorescent glass is used.
• the ultraviolet light emitter 1 of this embodiment is configured as a so-called fluorescent lamp. That is, it is configured by sealing a noble gas in a round straight tube as a space forming body 5. Although not shown in the figure, both ends of the round straight tube are sealed by a cap or heat sealing, so that the noble gas inside does not leak and outside air does not get mixed in.
• a fluorescent member 3 is disposed within the space forming body 5.
• Flat electrodes 4A and 4B are disposed opposite each other on the outer surface of the round straight tube, and these are further connected to a power source 7.
• the straight tube may be replaced with a thin tube, and a plurality of these tubes may be arranged on a substrate together with electrodes corresponding to each thin tube to form a surface light emitter.
• the ultraviolet light emitted by the fluorescent member 3 contains ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 to 230 nm.
• the ultraviolet light emitted to the outside from the space forming body contains ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 to 230 nm, and that the ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 to 230 nm is the main component in the ultraviolet light range with a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm.
• "mainly" means that the amount of ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 200 to 230 nm occupies the majority in the ultraviolet light range of 200 to 300 nm, preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more, and most preferably 93% or more.
• ultraviolet light with such wavelengths as the main component By using ultraviolet light with such wavelengths as the main component, it becomes possible to safely enjoy the effects of ultraviolet light in various fields, such as reducing adverse effects and achieving a large bactericidal and disinfecting effect even when applied to the human body.
• the following configurations can be adopted.
• the space forming body 5 in this embodiment is formed using fluorescent glass as described above.
• any conventionally known method or structure can be used without any particular limitation as long as a structure using fluorescent glass can be adopted.
• the fluorescent glass comprises a glass main component as a skeleton and a fluorescent material that emits light when exposed to ultraviolet light.
• the glass main component is not particularly limited, and the fluorescent glass can be made using any glass main component used in various lamps without any particular limitation.
• the glass main component is typically SiO2 , but other than that , alkali metal oxides and alkaline earth metals such as Na2O , K2O , Li2O, Na2O , K2O , CaO, MgO, ZnO, BaO , B2O3 , and Al2O3 , phosphorus compounds such as P2O5 , fluorine compounds such as MgF2 , CaF2 , SrF2 , AlF3 , and BaF2 , and chlorides such as BaCl2 are appropriately used in consideration of the physical properties desired for glass , such as overall melting property, stability, weather resistance, and ultraviolet light transmittance.
• alkali metal oxides and alkaline earth metals such as Na2O , K2O , Li2O, Na2O , K2O , CaO, MgO, ZnO, BaO , B2O3 , and Al2O3
• phosphorus compounds such as P2O5
• quartz glass which requires high temperatures for melt forming but has excellent ultraviolet transmittance, etc.
• the composition of such glass for example, the glass composition described in the above Non-Patent Document 2 or the glass composition described in the above Non-Patent Document 1 (for example, table on page 54) can be adopted.
• the glass may have a composition that has phosphate as the main component and contains a halide or the like and a fluorescent substance, or a composition that does not contain phosphate and contains a halide or the like and a fluorescent substance.
• the fluorescent glass can be classified according to the fluorescent material used into glass containing no crystalline phase, composite material obtained by compounding and firing fluorescent material crystals and glass powder, and crystallized glass.
• the fluorescent substance used in the above-mentioned fluorescent glass is preferably a fluorescent substance different from the first fluorescent substance described below, and specific examples of the fluorescent substance include the following substances.
• fluorescent material suitable for fluorescent glass not containing phosphor crystals Ions of rare earth elements such as La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, and Y, or compounds such as oxides and halides of rare earth elements.
• a second phosphor suitable for the above-mentioned fluorescent glass not containing phosphor crystals is preferable.
• the second fluorescent substance can exert the desired effect of the present invention as long as it is blended in the fluorescent glass even in small amounts (dispersed throughout the entire glass, or at least throughout the portion in which it is desired to emit the desired ultraviolet light); however, from the viewpoint of ultraviolet fluorescence and transparency (ultraviolet transmittance), it is preferable that the blending amount be in the range of, for example, 0.01% to 10% by weight relative to the entire glass.
• Electrode space Representative examples of ultraviolet emitting devices formed by the space forming body include discharge lamps such as deuterium lamps, excimer lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, mercury lamps, and fluorescent lamps.
• discharge lamps such as deuterium lamps, excimer lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, mercury lamps, and fluorescent lamps.
• excimer lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LEDs are preferably used in the present invention because they can select from a wide variety of ultraviolet rays with a not-too-wide spectral distribution and are easy to handle.
• a variety of fluorescent materials exist, and from the selection of these, a fluorescent lamp having the characteristic of being able to emit a variety of light in the ultraviolet region is preferred. From this perspective, a discharge gas is selected.
• discharge gas In this embodiment, a fluorescent lamp is used, and the discharge gas used in the fluorescent lamp may be xenon, helium, neon, argon, krypton, or the like, and preferably contains at least xenon.
• fluorescent material In this embodiment, the fluorescent member 3 is shown as an example in which the powder fluorescent material is arranged in a line of a predetermined width, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fluorescent material may be arranged in a predetermined shape other than a line (for example, an ellipse or a plurality of lines).
• the fluorescent material may also be arranged throughout the entire interior of the space forming body and installed on the entire inner surface. In this case, the fluorescent material needs to be installed with a density and thickness that does not hinder the passage of ultraviolet light to the outside of the space forming body.
• the fluorescent materials constituting the fluorescent member 3 (hereinafter, this fluorescent material is referred to as the "first fluorescent material") are LaPO4 :Pr, LaPO4 :Ce, LaPO4:Eu, YPO4 :Ce, YPO4 :Eu, YPO4 :Nd, YPO4 : Pr , YPo4 : Bi, LuPO4 : Nd, LuPO4 :Pr, LuPO4 :Ce, LiYP4O12:Nd, LiYP4O12 : Pr, LiY4PO12 : Ce, LuxSc1 - xPO4 (0 ⁇ x ⁇ 1), LaMgAl11O19 :GD, LaMgAl11O19 : GD
• the phosphor examples include various phosphors using rare earth elements as activators, such as LaMgAl11O19 :Eu, LiPO4O12 :Pr, and sialon phosphors. Among them, phosphors that emit light when exposed to xenon discharge light or the discharge light of the above-mentioned discharge gas are preferred. As the first phosphor, a material that emits a large amount of light components in the range of 200 to 230 nm is preferred.
• the first phosphor When the first phosphor is mixed, it is preferable to add a suitable amount of a binder for the phosphor (a glass material having a low melting point and allowing ultraviolet light to pass through easily, such as calcium borate or calcium phosphate) in accordance with a conventional method.
• the first phosphor is mixed in an amount according to the desired amount of ultraviolet light.
• the shape of the space forming body is not limited to a round straight pipe, but may be an ellipse, a flattened shape, a square shape, a spherical shape, or even a complicated shape such as a spiral shape.
• the electrodes are flat and placed parallel to the outer surface of the fluorescent glass tube, but this is not limited to this.
• the electrode shape may be linear or mesh-like, and the placement may be inside the fluorescent glass tube or at the end of the fluorescent glass tube.
• the electrodes may be metal electrodes such as copper, carbon electrodes, or transparent electrodes such as ITO, as appropriate.
• the first fluorescent material is placed at the bottom of the tube, but this is not restrictive.
• a thin dielectric layer may be provided on the surface of the round straight tube in order to prevent light reflection and damage caused by noble gas discharge light.
• materials for the dielectric thin film include fluorides such as MgF2 , LaF2 , AlF3 , CaF2 , BaF2 , Na3AlF6 , ThF4 , YF3, etc.
• oxides such as MgO, SiO , SiO2 , Al2O3 , Sc2O3 , HfO2, Y2O3, ZrO2 , Ta2O5 , Nb2O5 , TiO2, ZnO, etc., nitrides such as Si3N4 , carbides such as SiC, sulfides such as ZnS, CdS , Sb2S3 , selenium compounds such as ZnSe, CdSe, tellurium compounds such as ZnTe, CdTe, etc.
• the number of thin films may be one or more, and the number of types of thin films may be one or more.
• a space forming body 5A is formed to have a portion 5A-1 made of fluorescent glass and a portion 5A-2 made of other components.
• a portion 5A-1 made of fluorescent glass functions as an ultraviolet light emitting portion
• the fluorescent member 3 is provided in the portion 5A-2 made of other components, so that the generation and irradiation of ultraviolet light can be performed more efficiently.
• the ultraviolet light emitter 1 of the first and second embodiments uses a fluorescent component formed from a first fluorescent material and fluorescent glass containing a second fluorescent material, so that the ultraviolet light generated by the fluorescent component, which is particularly harmful to the human body and which has been removed by interference filters or the like in conventional ultraviolet irradiation devices, in the range of 230 to 300 nm, can be converted by the fluorescent glass containing the second fluorescent material into light of 300 nm or more which is less harmful to the human body.
• conversion means absorbing light of a certain wavelength and emitting light of another wavelength with the energy of the absorbed light, but it does not apply to all absorbed light.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of this embodiment is useful as an emitter that does not emit ultraviolet light that is harmful to the human body.
• the amount of light is less attenuated, as with attenuation by filters, so it is believed that ultraviolet rays of the required wavelength (especially ultraviolet rays of 200 to 230 nm) can be sufficiently emitted. Therefore, it is believed that the energy required for irradiating the required amount of ultraviolet rays of the required wavelength can be reduced, and sufficient irradiation of ultraviolet rays of the relevant wavelength can be performed even if the irradiation time is shortened.
• the first fluorescent material one of the above-mentioned fluorescent materials that emits a large amount of light components in the range of 200 to 230 nm, and to use as the second fluorescent material rare earth element ions or oxides, halides, etc. of rare earth elements that are suitable in fluorescent glass that does not contain phosphor crystals.
• the ultraviolet ray emitter of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is configured such that the fluorescent glass is installed in the direction in which the ultraviolet ray travels, and the irradiation direction of the ultraviolet ray can be controlled in a desired direction.
• the fluorescent glass can be the same as the fluorescent glass containing the second fluorescent material in the ultraviolet ray emitter of the first embodiment, but the shape is not particularly limited to the shape shown in Fig. 3 and can be any shape according to the desired application.
• the part that emits ultraviolet light is flat and plate-shaped, and the part other than the light-emitting surface is covered by a housing 90.
• the light-emitting surface is made of fluorescent glass (space forming body) 10 and electrodes 40A, 40B.
• the electrodes 40A and 40B are wired to a high-frequency power source (not shown) so as to form a pair.
• a plurality of electrode pairs 40A, 40B are provided, the number is not limited and they may be arranged one by one, or a plurality of electrodes may be arranged. By arranging a plurality of electrodes at appropriate positions as in this embodiment, it is possible to design the device to emit light in a preferable manner.
• the fluorescent glass 10 may be coated with an anti-reflection film 50.
• the electrodes 4A, 4B are embedded in a dielectric layer 60A for controlling discharge characteristics.
• the dielectric layer 60A is also protected by a dielectric layer 60B for suppressing damage caused by noble gas discharge.
• the fluorescent glass 10 as the light-emitting surface and the housing 90 form a discharge space, in which the noble gas 20 is sealed.
• the surface of the housing 90 is covered with a non-conductive material 80 such as a metal oxide.
• a partition 70 made of a non-conductive material such as metal oxide glass is provided in the flat discharge space. Both ends of the partition 70 may be in contact with both the light-emitting surface and the surface on the housing side, or may not be in contact with the light-emitting surface. In this embodiment, the partition 70 is not in contact with the light-emitting surface.
• the partition 70 is effective in stabilizing the light emission and improving the physical strength of the discharge space.
• An electrode 40C is provided on the surface on the housing side as necessary. It is used when applying a voltage between electrodes 40A and/or 40B and 40C.
• Materials for dielectric thin films used for the purpose of preventing light reflection and damage due to noble gas discharge include fluorides such as MgF2 , LaF2 , AlF3 , CaF2 , BaF2 , Na3AlF6 , ThF4 , YF3, etc.
• oxides such as MgO, SiO, SiO2 , Al2O3 , Sc2O3 , HfO2, Y2O3, ZrO2 , Ta2O5 , Nb2O5, TiO2 , ZnO, etc., nitrides such as Si3N4 , carbides such as SiC, sulfides such as ZnS, CdS, Sb2S3 , selenium compounds such as ZnSe, CdSe, tellurium compounds such as ZnTe, CdTe, etc.
• the number of thin films may be one or more, and the number of types of thin films may be one or more.
• the housing does not need to transmit light, it is common to use metals, ceramics, plastics, wood, etc., prioritizing physical strength, heat resistance, aesthetics, and other characteristics.
• Materials for the metal oxides on the housing surface and the metal oxide glass for partitioning the discharge space include alkali metal oxides and alkaline earth metals such as SiO2, Na2O , K2O, Li2O , Na2O, K2O , CaO, MgO, ZnO, BaO, B2O3 , and Al2O3 , as well as phosphorus compounds such as P2O5 , fluorine compounds such as MgF2 , CaF2 , SrF2 , AlF3 , and BaF2 , and chlorides such as BaCl2 .
• alkali metal oxides and alkaline earth metals such as SiO2, Na2O , K2O, Li2O , Na2O, K2O , CaO, MgO, ZnO, BaO, B
• the first fluorescent material is placed on the entire surface opposite the light-emitting surface, but is not particularly limited to this position.
• the characteristics of the light emitted from the fluorescent glass have almost no directional dependency, and there is an advantage that light with the intended characteristics can be emitted in a wide range. In other words, there is no drawback that light with the intended characteristics is emitted only in a narrow direction, as with light created using an interference filter. This leads to the great advantage of greatly increasing the degree of freedom in designing ultraviolet light emitters.
• FIG. 13a is a top view (perspective view) of the ultraviolet light emitter, and FIG.
• the ultraviolet light emitter 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 has a shape similar to that of the space forming body of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, specifically, it has a space forming body 311 having a hollow and flat rectangular parallelepiped shape.
• the light emitting surface 302 located on the upper surface is made of fluorescent glass, and the other five surfaces 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 are made of a material having ultraviolet resistance such as glass or ceramics. In addition, it is preferable that the surfaces 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 are made of glass or ceramic material that does not transmit ultraviolet light.
• the fluorescent glass of the light emitting surface 302 on the upper surface can be the same as the fluorescent glass containing the second fluorescent material in the ultraviolet light emitter of the first embodiment.
• the shape is not particularly limited to the shape shown in FIG. 13, and in addition to the shape shown in FIG. 4, any desired shape depending on the desired application may be used.
• the first fluorescent material 308 in the ultraviolet ray emitter of the first embodiment is disposed inside the glass phosphor of the upper light emitting surface 302 at a density that does not hinder the passage of ultraviolet rays to the outside of the space forming body.
• the arrangement position of the fluorescent material 308 is not necessarily limited to the position shown in FIG. 13, and it can be disposed inside the lower surface 304 of the space forming body, or it can be disposed inside not only the upper surface 302 and the lower surface 304 but also the side surfaces 303, 305, 306, and 307.
• a noble gas 312 is sealed inside the space forming body 311.
• the noble gas used here can be the same as the noble gas in the ultraviolet ray emitter of the first embodiment.
• a plurality of electrodes 309a and 309b are disposed on the substrate 310 facing each other with an appropriate gap therebetween.
• Both electrodes 309a and 309b may be wired to a high frequency power source (not shown), or either one of electrodes 309a and 309b may be wired to a high frequency power source (not shown) and the other may be grounded.
• a plurality of electrodes 309a and 309b are provided, the number of electrodes is not particularly limited. By arranging a plurality of electrodes at appropriate positions as in this embodiment, it is possible to design the device so as to emit light in a desired manner.
• a material that does not transmit ultraviolet light metal, ceramics, plastics, wood, etc. can be used as necessary.
• the same materials as those for the housing surface in the ultraviolet light emitter of the first embodiment can be used alone or in appropriate combination.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention can be inserted into a desired housing and used as an ultraviolet light emitter in a predetermined manner.
• it can also be configured to be battery-powered, which is effective when used as a mobile type light emitter.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention does not require the use of components that require a certain amount of installation volume, such as an interference filter, so the light emitter can be made compact. It can also be configured as a battery-powered type such as a portable battery.
• the ultraviolet light emitting device of the second embodiment of the present invention includes an ultraviolet light emitter 1 and a flat wavelength conversion unit 9 that absorbs a part of the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitter 1 and emits light with a different optical spectrum from that of the ultraviolet light.
• the wavelength conversion unit is made of fluorescent glass.
• the fluorescent glass may be the same as the fluorescent glass constituting the space forming body described above.
• the shape of the wavelength conversion unit is not limited to a flat plate shape, and may be various shapes. Unlike the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention described above, the ultraviolet light emitter in this embodiment does not use fluorescent glass containing a second fluorescent material. Therefore, the ultraviolet light emitter itself does not convert light of 230 to 300 nm into light of 300 nm or more that is less harmful to the human body and emit it.
• Such an ultraviolet light emitter can be any conventionally known ultraviolet light emitter without any particular restrictions, and specific examples include conventional excimer lamps, fluorescent lamps, LEDs, lasers, etc.
• the sterilization and disinfection apparatus of the present invention is characterized by using the ultraviolet light emitting device described above.
• air sterilization and disinfection devices in which the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is embedded inside an air purifier or air conditioner, devices for sterilizing and disinfecting the interior space of an automobile in which the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is installed in the form of a ceiling lamp, sterilization and disinfection devices in which the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is installed in the form of a lighting device and sterilizes and disinfects indoor spaces, working spaces in hospitals and factories, and living spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms, and sterilization and disinfection devices in which the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is arranged for spot sterilization and disinfection with a clear intention of sterilization and disinfection (including handy sterilization and disinfection devices used like flashlights and portable sterilization and disinfection devices that emit ultraviolet light from a flat display (FPD)).
• FPD flat display
• the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention mounts on a self-propelled robot-type sterilization and disinfection device.
• the installation of the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention inside a hand dryer has the following advantages. The difference is whether ultraviolet light is emitted when the user's hands are inside the hand dryer or after the user's hands are removed, but in the former case, sterilization and disinfection of the user's hands and the inside of the hand dryer can be performed simultaneously.
• a nurse cart equipped with a small, battery-powered ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is also useful for medical staff.
• Small FPD type or flashlight type ultraviolet light emitting devices are convenient for frequent sterilization and disinfection in hospital rooms, and a cylindrical sterilization device with an ultraviolet light emitting device inside is useful for on-the-spot hand disinfection and medical equipment disinfection for medical staff.
• FIG. 10B the apparatus includes a hot air nozzle 110, an ultraviolet ray emitting device 120 of the present invention, a detection sensor 130, a drying tank 140, a filter 150, a fan 160, and the like. It is also possible to place an ultraviolet ray emitter as it is, instead of the ultraviolet ray emitter.
• the ultraviolet ray emitter 120 is one, but the number of ultraviolet ray emitters may be multiple.
• the ultraviolet ray emitter can be placed so that ultraviolet rays are irradiated all over the hands, and from that point of view, multiple ultraviolet ray emitters can be placed on the inner wall of the drying tank so as to surround the hands.
• a straight tube type space forming body is used for the ultraviolet ray emitter in the ultraviolet ray emitter, but it may be vertical or oblique as necessary, and the arrangement form is not particularly limited.
• the straight tube type it may be a circular type, or various shapes such as a U-shape may be used, and the shape is not particularly limited.
• the surface of the drying tank 140 may be a reflecting mirror to enhance the ultraviolet ray irradiation effect.
• the detection sensor 130 detects when a human hand enters and leaves the dryer, and this may be linked to turning on/off the ultraviolet light emitting device, or may be linked to a timer as appropriate.
• the ultraviolet ray light emitting device of the present invention is arranged on a wagon body 210, and a battery 205 is mounted on the wagon, and the battery 205 and the light emitting device 201 are connected via a wiring 209.
• the ultraviolet ray light emitting device of the present invention as a wagon in this way, the battery can be made large-capacity if necessary, and the hands, fingers, various instruments, etc. can be easily and appropriately disinfected in various treatment situations.
• the reason why these various sterilization and disinfection devices are possible is that the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention has a small amount of ultraviolet light with wavelengths that are harmful to the human body, and the adverse effects on the human body are minor.
• a timer or a human presence detector can be installed to prevent the human body from being exposed to excessive amounts of ultraviolet light.
• Example 1 ultraviolet ray emitter used in the light emitting device of the present invention (light emitting device of the second embodiment)
• light emitting device of the second embodiment light emitting device of the second embodiment
• the fluorescent member is formed using LaPO4 :Pr as the first fluorescent material
• the wavelength conversion section is formed from ultraviolet-transmitting fluorescent glass containing Eu as the second fluorescent material (the compounding concentration of the second fluorescent material is about 0.2 wt% as oxide with respect to the whole glass)
• the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention is created using a mixed gas of xenon and neon as the noble gas.
• the emission spectrum of the obtained ultraviolet light emitting device is shown in Fig. 5.
• FIG. 12 shows the emission spectrum of the ultraviolet light emitter itself. From the results shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the ultraviolet light emitting device of the present invention absorbs a portion of the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light emitter (fluorescent member) and emits light different from the original ultraviolet light.
• Example 2 In the ultraviolet light emitter shown in Fig. 1, the fluorescent member is formed using LaPO4 :Pr as the first fluorescent material, the space forming body is formed from ultraviolet-transmitting fluorescent glass containing Eu (the compounding concentration is about 0.2% by weight as oxide relative to the entire glass, sometimes called Eu activator) as the second fluorescent material, and an ultraviolet fluorescent lamp as the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention is produced using a mixed gas of xenon and neon as the noble gas.
• the emission spectrum of the obtained ultraviolet fluorescent lamp is shown in Fig. 6. From the results shown in Figure 6, it can be seen that the ultraviolet ray emitter of the present invention absorbs a part of the ultraviolet ray emitted by the fluorescent material and emits light different from the original ultraviolet ray.
• the ultraviolet ray emitter of the present invention emits almost no harmful ultraviolet ray in the range of 230 to 300 nm.
• Example 3 The ultraviolet emitter of the present invention was created by increasing the concentration of the Eu activator in the fluorescent glass (the compounding concentration was about 0.8% by weight as oxide relative to the entire glass) in the ultraviolet emitter of Example 2. The spectrum of ultraviolet light emitted by the obtained ultraviolet emitter is shown in Figure 7. It can be seen that the ultraviolet emitter of the present invention has almost no harmful ultraviolet light in the range of 230 to 30 nm.
• Example 4 The spectrum of ultraviolet light emitted by a fluorescent lamp in which the concentration of Eu activator in the fluorescent glass was further increased (the compounding concentration was about 1.5% by weight of oxide relative to the entire glass) in the ultraviolet light emitter of Example 3 is shown in Figure 8. It can be seen that the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention has almost no harmful ultraviolet light in the range of 230 to 300 nm.
• Example 5 The ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention was produced by using LaPO4 :Pr as the first fluorescent material in the fluorescent lamp of Example 2, Tb as the fluorescent activator in the fluorescent glass constituting the space forming body, and a mixed gas of xenon and neon as the noble gas.
• the spectrum of ultraviolet light emitted by the obtained ultraviolet light emitter is shown in Figure 9.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention has almost no harmful ultraviolet light in the range of 230 to 300 nm.
• the space forming body is formed from ultraviolet-transmitting fluorescent glass containing Eu (the compounding concentration is 0.2 wt% as Eu oxide relative to the entire glass; Eu was used in this embodiment, but an Eu activator may also be used) as the second phosphor
• an ultraviolet fluorescent lamp as the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention is produced using a mixed gas of xenon and neon as the noble gas.
• the emission spectrum of the obtained ultraviolet fluorescent lamp is shown in Fig. 14.
• fluorescent glass containing Eu 2+, i.e., rare earth element ions, as a fluorescent activator is placed on the outside of a fluorescent lamp, it is possible to create ultraviolet light with a spectral distribution different from that emitted by the first fluorescent material LaPO4:Pr.
• the spectral distribution of the generated ultraviolet light is not very wide, but has a continuous distribution. In other words, it is not a single light or a collective light of multiple single lights.
• the six types of ultraviolet light shown in Examples 1 to 6 have clearly different spectral distributions. These were obtained by changing the type of fluorescent activator in the fluorescent glass and the concentration of the fluorescent activator. In other words, it can be seen that by utilizing fluorescent glass, it is possible to generate various ultraviolet light while leaving some or all of the wavelengths of the ultraviolet light generated by the first fluorescent material installed in the discharge space.
• the ultraviolet rays produced in the examples contain almost no ultraviolet rays with wavelengths of 230 nm to 300 nm, which are considered to have adverse effects on the human body, and are mainly ultraviolet rays with wavelengths of 200 nm to 230 nm, which are recognized to be highly germicidal and have only minor adverse effects on the human body.
• the ratio of ultraviolet rays with wavelengths of 200 nm to 300 nm is 90% in Example 1, 97% in Example 2, 98% or more in Example 3, 98% or more in Example 4, 93% in Example 5, and 97% in Example 6.
• the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention When the ultraviolet light emitter of the present invention is used for sterilization and disinfection in spaces where people are present, such as hospitals, offices, schools, theaters, halls, amusement parks, swimming pools, ball fields, shopping centers, restaurants, stations, airports, etc., it is preferable that the light emitted to the outside from the emitter contains ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm for its high bactericidal properties, and that the intensity of ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm in that wavelength range is 80% or more of the intensity of ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm for safety to the human body, in consideration of the ultraviolet light exposure tolerance allowed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). It is even more preferable that it is 90% or more, and most preferably 93% or more.
• ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

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