Germicidal Apparatuses with Configurations to Selectively Conduct Different Disinfection Modes Interior and Exterior to the Apparatus

摘要

Apparatuses are provided which include one or more germicidal sources, power circuitry coupled to the germicidal source/s, and a shield. The shield and/or at least one of the germicidal source/s are moveable within the apparatus and the apparatus is configured such that the shield and/or the germicidal source/s may be brought in and out of proximity with the other and upon doing so germicide projected from one or more of the germicidal source/s is either substantially contained in the apparatus or is projected exterior to the apparatus for different disinfection modes of the apparatus. The apparatuses include a processor and processor-executable program instructions for activating the power circuitry to operate the at least one germicidal source when the germicidal source is not encased within the apparatus and for activating the power circuitry to operate at least one germicidal source when the germicidal source/s are encased within the apparatus.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a germicidal source; power supply circuitry coupled to the germicidal source; a shield, wherein the shield and/or the germicidal source are moveable relative to each other, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that:
the shield and/or the germicidal source may be brought in proximity to the other such that germicide projected from the germicidal source is substantially contained within an interior cavity of the apparatus; andthe shield and/or the germicidal source may be brought out of proximity with the other such that germicide projected from the germicidal source is projected into an ambient of the apparatus; a sensor to detect whether the germicidal source and the shield are said in proximity with each other and/or to detect whether the germicidal source and the shield are said out of proximity with each other; an electronic user interface comprising input controls allowing selection of different disinfection modes conducted by the apparatus, wherein the different disinfection modes comprise a first disinfection mode for primarily disinfecting a medium inside the apparatus and a second disinfection mode for primarily disinfecting a medium exterior to the apparatus; a processor; and a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for:
receiving input from the electronic user interface regarding a selected disinfection mode;upon receiving input of the first disinfection mode:
determining whether the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other or said out of proximity with each other;upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said out of proximity with each other, activating a corrective action for the germicidal source and/or the shield to be moved said in proximity with the other; andupon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other, activating the power supply circuitry in accordance with a predetermined first set of operating parameters for the apparatus; andupon receiving input of the second disinfection mode:
determining whether the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other or said out of proximity with each other;upon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said in proximity with each other, activating a corrective action for the germicidal source and/or the shield to be moved said out of proximity with the other; andupon determining the shield and the germicidal source are said out of proximity with each other, activating the power supply circuitry in accordance with a predetermined second set of operating parameters for the apparatus different from the first set of operating parameters.