DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of sanitisation, and particularly it relates to a LED device suitable for the safe sanitisation of a room.

Definitions

In the present document, the expression "UVA ray-emitting LED" or derivatives is used to indicate a LED suitable to emit electromagnetic radiations with a wavelength comprised between 316 nm and 400 nm.

In the present document, the expression "UVB ray-emitting LED" or derivatives is used to indicate a LED suitable to emit electromagnetic radiations with wavelength comprised between 315 nm and 281 nm.

In the present document, the expression "UVC ray-emitting LED" or derivatives is used to indicate a LED suitable to emit electromagnetic radiations with wavelength comprised between 100 nm and 280 nm.

In the present document, the expression "visible light-emitting LED" or derivatives is used to indicate a LED suitable to emit electromagnetic radiations with wavelength comprised between 401 nm and 780 nm.

In the present document, the expression "operative connection" or derivatives referring to two or more parts is used to indicate a connection between said parts of any type, whether it is of a physical type by means of cables or wireless, for example by means of radio waves, infrared rays or lasers, suitable to ensure the interaction thereof.

State of the Art

Devices which use LEDs and LED strips capable of emitting electromagnetic radiations of different wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, and in particular LEDs which emit visible light or UV rays, be they UVA, UVB or UVC rays are known.

Depending on the wavelength, UV rays have more or less impact on viruses and bacteria, thus preventing the reproduction or harmfulness thereof. Devices using such LEDs are therefore used to sanitise a room.

To date, such devices are activated selectively.

The disadvantage of using such devices lies in the fact that UV rays are harmful. Therefore, the activation thereof exposes the person found in the room where the device is installed to the exposure of such rays.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a LED device for sanitising room, that is highly functional and cost-effective.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a particularly safe sanitisation LED device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a particularly compact sanitisation LED device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide LED device that is highly resistant and durable over time.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a LED device as described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of the device 1;

FIG. IB is a rear schematic view of the device 1;

FIG. 1C is an axonometric view of the front part of the device 1;

FIG. ID is an axonometric view of the rear part of the device 1;

FIG. 2A is a lateral schematic view of the device 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device 1, wherein FIG. 2C is the enlargement of some details;

FIG. 2D is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the device 1;

FIG. 2E is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the device 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views of the operation of the device 1 arranged in a room A respectively when the LED strip 13 or the LED strip 13' is supplied exclusively.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a device 1 for sanitising a room A, in particular a unit or premises, such as for example a bathroom, a restaurant or bar hall, an office, a company meeting room, a domestic room or the like.

The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated using a single reference number, it being clear that the described technical features are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.

Preferably, such device 1 may be in the form of a lamp, possibly a portable lamp or a lamp that can be attached to the ceiling as a ceiling light.

In such case, the device 1 may for example have overall dimensions equal to 250-290 mm in width, 140-180 mm in height and 20-60 mm of thickness, with a weight equal to about 1 - 4 kg.

Suitably, the device 1 may comprise a shell 10, which may be substantially planar to define a p plane, and it may possibly be made of a thermally conductive material, for example polymeric or metallic. Such material may for example have a minimum thermal conductivity of 1 W/m K.

For example, the shell 10 may be made of aluminium or polypropylene, polycarbonate, ABS, polyurethane or EPDM, possibly filled. On the other hand, the shell 10 may be made of non-conductive polymer, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

The shell 10 may comprise dissipating means 11, such as for example a plurality of dissipation fins known from the prior art, for example made of metal material. Suitably, the dissipator 11 will be defined by a plurality of fins 111 extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane p plane.

The dissipation fins may be monolithic with the shell 10, and they may be made of the same material as the shell or a different material.

Preferably, the device 1 may comprise at least two pluralities or arrays of LEDs 13, 13', for example of the LED strips, each with the printed circuit board 121 thereof and relative electric power-supply circuit 12, 12'.

It is clear that even though for the sake of simplicity hereinafter reference will be made to LED strips, the pluralities or arrays of LEDs may be configured in any way without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims. It is also clear that within the plurality of LEDs the latter may be all equal or different from each other, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In order to concentrate the emitted radiation, the device 1 may comprise optical concentration means 17' and 17, which - in the non-exclusive embodiment illustrated herein - may be defined by reflectors, arranged at the LED strips 13' and/or 13.

This will allow to maximise the concentration of the rays emitted by the LED strips 13 and 13'.

This is particularly useful with reference to the radiations emitted by the strips 13', given that the presence of the reflectors increases the effectiveness of sanitising the surface hit by the emitted ray.

The LED strips 13 and 13' may emit freely in the air without any covering. Possibly, however, respective optically transparent covers may be provided for.

Suitably, the device 1 may comprise an electric power-supply unit 14 connected, by means of a power supply cable, to a source of electrical energy C, for example domestic or industrial mains.

Preferably, the power-supply unit 14 can convert the supply voltage, which in the case of the domestic power mains is about 220-240 V (AC), into a predetermined voltage and/or current intensity, for example with a value comprised between 3 -5 V and 50 - 60 mA.

In order to ensure the operation of the device 1 even in the event of power blackout, a battery pack and/or a connection with an uninterruptible power-supply unit may be provided for.

According to an embodiment, there may be provided for means 60 for switching on the device 1, such as for example a power button connected to the power-supply unit 14 and provided directly on the shell 10 or provided on the wall or in a remote operating module, for example in the case of home automation systems.

However, it is clear that the device 1 may be in normally on status without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Suitably, the device 1 may comprise support means 50, such as for example a bracket connected to the support structure 10.

As a matter of fact, the device 1 may be portable.

Such support means 50 may facilitate the transportation of the device 1, the resting thereof on the ground or the attachment to the wall or to the ceiling.

As a matter of fact, the device 1 may act as a ceiling light, remaining at a distance from the ground equal to 1.5 m - 2.70 m.

According to an embodiment, particularly illustrated in FIG. 2B, the shell 10 may comprise a LED strip 13 and a LED strip 13', whose LEDs are supplied respectively by the circuits 12 and 12'.

Although for the sake of simplicity reference will be made hereinafter to a single LED strip 13 and a single LED strip 13', it is clear that the number thereof may vary without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Preferably, the LED strip 13 may emit UVB and/or UVC rays, and preferably only UVC rays, while the LED strip 13' may emit UVA rays.

In another preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, for example illustrated in FIG. 2D, the device 1 may include an LED strip 13 whose LEDs may emit UVC and/or UVB rays, and two LED strips 13' in which a first group of LEDs 130' may emit visible rays and a second group of LEDs 130" may emit UVA rays.

It is clear that the distribution of the groups of LEDs 130', 130" may be the same for both strips 13' or they may be different, same case applying to the device 1 which may include a single LED strip 13' with groups of LEDs 130', 130", without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

In particular, the LEDs of group 130' may emit white light, preferably warm 2500 -

2700 K.

Depending on the desired colour temperature, one may choose from LED strips of six different temperature ranges, from 2500 K, warm tone, to over 8000 K, cold tone.

In another preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, for example illustrated in FIG. 2E, the device 1 may include a LED strip 13 whose LEDs may emit UVC and/or UVB rays, and two LED strips 13' in which a first group of LEDs 130' may emit visible rays, a second group of LEDs 130" may emit UVA rays and a further group of LEDs 130'" may emit rays with a wavelength comprised between 285 nm and 315 nm, whose function will be clearer hereinafter.

Preferably, the device 1 may comprise detection means 20 suitable to emit an alarm signal linked to the presence of at least one human or animal in the room. Suitably, such detection means 20, which will detect the human or animal presence in the room at predetermined time intervals, for example 1 or 2 seconds, may be integrated in the shell 10.

The detection means 20 may vary, provided that they are suitable to emit an alarm signal linked to the presence of at least one human and/or animal in the room. For example, the detection means 20 may include or be defined by biometric sensors suitable to detect, for example by means of a Doppler radar, human or animal heartbeat, and/or motion sensors suitable to detect human or animal movement, and/or temperature sensors suitable to detect human or animal body temperature.

The device 1 may comprise control means, for example a logic control unit 15. The latter may be provided on a special PCB dedicated or integrated in one or both of the PCBs 121.

Although for the sake of simplicity reference will be made hereinafter to a single logic control unit 15, it is clear that the control means may comprise several logic control units, each possibly dedicated to a special control, same case applying to control means which may be of any type, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Suitably, the logic control unit 15 may be operatively connected with the detection means 20 and with the electrical circuits 12, 12' to selectively power-supply the LED strips 13 or 13' respectively when the detection means 20 do not detect or detect human or animal presence in the room.

The logic control unit 15 may be configured to normally power-supply - that is in case of failure to receive the alarm signal coming from the detection means 20 - the LED strip 13, so that the LEDs which emit UVB and/or UVC rays of the latter sanitise the room in which the device 1 is arranged.

In particular, the logic control unit 15 may be configured to modulate the power- supply of the LED strip 13, for example in terms of the current intensity supplied thereto, so that the UVB and/or UVC radiations emitted by the LEDs sanitise the room over a more or less long period of time.

For example, there may be provided for a first sanitising mode with low environmental impact in which the logic control unit 15 modulates the power-supply of the LED strip 13 so that the UVB and/or UVC radiations emitted by the LEDs sanitise a room of predetermined dimensions, for example 16 m ² , in a first relatively long predetermined working time, for example comprised between 2 hours and 10 hours.

On the other hand, there may be provided for a second quick sanitising mode wherein the logic control unit 15 modulates the power-supply of the LED strip 13 so that the UVB and/or UVC radiations emitted by the LEDs sanitise the aforementioned room of predetermined dimensions within a second predetermined working time which is shorter than the first, for example comprised between 1 min and 90 min.

By way of example, the aforementioned modulation may be controlled by the logic control unit 15 by power-supplying the LED strip 13 with a higher or lower current intensity. By way of example, for the first mode the logic control unit 15 may power-supply - to the LEDs - only 10% of the current intensity it receives from the power supply unit 14, while for the second mode it can supply 100% of the current intensity.

To switch from one mode to the other, there may be provided for selective or programmable activation means, for example a manual switch 65 mounted in the shell 10 or separated therefrom or a programmable timer, operatively connected with the logic control unit 15.

It is clear that even though the present document describes only two modes for modulating the power-supply of the LED strip 13, various modes for modulating the power- supply of the LEDs may be provided for without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

As mentioned above, the LED strip 13 may exclusively include LEDs which emit UVC rays, so as to ensure the maximum effectiveness of sanitisation against viruses and bacteria. Thanks to such characteristic, the device 1 is highly effective also against the Coronavirus.

When the logic control unit 15 receives an alarm signal coming from the detection means 20, which occurs when a person or animal enters the room, it may automatically command the exclusive power-supply of the LED strip 13'.

More particularly, when the alarm signal is received while the LED strip 13 is power- supplied, the logic control unit 15 may automatically cut off the power-supply of the latter after a relatively short time interval, for example comprised between 1 second and 10 seconds, preferably comprised between 1 second and 5 seconds and even more preferably comprised between 2 seconds and 5 seconds, and subsequently automatically command the exclusive power-supply of the LED strip 13'. In this manner, maximum safety will be ensured for persons or animals present in the room, whose exposure to UVB and/or UVC rays of the LED strip 13 is minimal. In order to safeguard the persons or animals, the emissions of the LEDs of the LED strip 13' may be calculated within safety limits, for example in compliance with the relevant regulations or laws.

The UVA rays of the LEDs of the LED strip 13' will contain the bacterial load and will prevent or at least minimise the onset of viruses in the room.

During the exclusive operation of the LED strip 13' , once the logic control unit 15 no longer receives the alarm signal from the detection means 20, which happens when the room is empty, the logic control unit 15 may automatically cut off the power-supply of the LED strip 13' after a relatively longer time interval with respect to one mentioned above, for example comprised between 1 minute and 10 minutes, preferably comprised between 2 minutes and 8 minutes and even more preferably comprised between 3 minutes and 7 minutes, and subsequently it may automatically power-supply the LED strip 13, preferably exclusively.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the shell 10 may include light-warning means 22, for example an intermittent light, which may operate automatically during the relatively longer time interval mentioned above.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the shell 10 may include measuring means, for example a radar 25, operatively connected with the detection means 20 to automatically measure the distance d of a person detected by the latter from the shell 10.

In such embodiment, the logic control unit 15 may be operatively connected with the measuring means 25 to automatically modulate the power-supply of the LED strip 13', for example in terms of the current intensity supplied to the LEDs of the latter, depending on the detected distance d.

More particularly, the power-supply may be such that the irradiance measured on a surface p' substantially parallel to the floor of the room arranged at the detected distance d remains below a predetermined safety value. Suitably, the latter may be chosen according to the relevant regulations or laws in force.

Advantageously, the aforementioned safety value may be such that the irradiance measured on a surface p" substantially parallel to the floor of the room and passing through the eyes of the at least one detected person is less than 10 W/m ² .

The embodiment that provides for the measuring means 25 may be implemented in the case of LED strip 13' with LEDs which exclusively emit UVA rays, for example as illustrated in FIG. 2B, in the case of LED strip 13' with LEDs 130" which emit UVA rays and LEDs 130' which emit visible light, for example as illustrated in FIG. 2D, in the case of LED strip 13' with LEDs 130" which emit UVA rays, LEDs 130' which emit visible light and LEDs 130'" which emit electromagnetic radiations with a wavelength comprised between 285 nm and 315 nm, for example as illustrated in FIG. 2E.

Where present, the LEDs 130', preferably with white light, balance the blue light of the LEDs 130".

In the embodiment of FIG. 2E, which includes - in the LED strip 13' - the groups of visible light LEDs 130', those which emit UVA 130" and those 130'" which emit electromagnetic radiations with a wavelength comprised between 285 nm and 315 nm, the latter - which are astride the UVA-UVB emission spectrum - will stimulate the production of vitamin D in a person.

As known, the need for the latter varies with the pigmentation of the skin of the person. In order to modulate the right amount of electromagnetic radiation to be administered to the individual person, there may be provided for reading means 27, for example a video camera and/or a scanner, integrated in the shell 10 or separated therefrom, operatively connected to the detection means 20 to read the pigmentation of the skin of the person in the room A.

Suitably, the logic control unit 15 may be operatively connected the reading means 27 to modulate the power-supply of the LED strip 13', for example in terms of current intensity, depending on the pigmentation read by the latter.

Advantageously, the logic control unit 15 may be programmed so that the amount of radiation emitted by the LED strip 13' remains below a second predetermined safety value.

It is clear that the device 1 may comprise the LEDs of the group 130'" only combined with those of the unit 130" without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

The effectiveness of the sanitisation may be modulated by coupling several devices 1.

In light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives. The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants. All details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.