System and apparatus thereof for destroying pathogens associated with footwear

Abstract

An apparatus for destroying pathogens includes a platform and an LED matrix panel. The platform has a portion configured to permit passage of ultraviolet light therethrough. The LED matrix panel is disposed below the portion of the platform and includes a grid and a plurality of discreetly-controlled, ultraviolet light LEDs (UV LEDs). The grid defines a plurality of cells. Each UV LED is associated with one cell such that the cells direct the ultraviolet light emitted by the UV LEDs upwardly through the portion of the platform to sanitize an object supported on the portion of the platform.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for destroying pathogens, comprising:
 a platform having a portion configured to permit passage of ultraviolet light therethrough; and   an LED matrix panel disposed below the portion of the platform, the LED matrix panel including:
 a printed circuit board having at least one row of ultraviolet light LEDs (UV LEDs) extending longitudinally, wherein the UV LEDs of the printed board are configured to selectively emit ultraviolet light perpendicularly relative to the printed circuit board towards the portion of the platform to selectively sanitize an object supported on the portion of the platform. 
   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein each UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs is operably coupled to at least one pressure sensor configured to sense an object disposed on the platform, wherein each of the UV is toggled between an activated state and a deactivated state based upon the pressure sensor sensing a threshold force. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of visible light emitting LEDs (V LEDs) each electrically linked to a corresponding UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein each V LED of the plurality of V LEDs is disposed adjacent the corresponding UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs and is configured to emit visible light concurrently with the emission of ultraviolet light from the corresponding UV LED. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a processor in communication with the at least one row of UV LEDs and the plurality of V LEDS, the processor configured to selectively activate the plurality of V LEDs to emit:
 a first color of visible light upon the corresponding UV LED being in an ON state; and   a second color of visible light upon the corresponding UV LED being in an OFF state.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein a first UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs is toggled to the activated state in response to the pressure sensor sensing an object on the portion of the platform. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the pressure sensor senses the object only when the object is disposed directly above the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the platform includes:
 a frame defining a pair of openings, the frame being fabricated from a material that prevents the transmission of ultraviolet light therethrough; and   a pair of plates each disposed within a respective opening of the pair of openings, the pair of plates being fabricated from quartz that permits the transmission of ultraviolet light therethrough.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a housing assembly in which the LED matrix panel is disposed, wherein the LED matrix panel is coupled to an inner surface of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to a bottom housing of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         31 . A footwear-sanitizing system, comprising:
 a user interface to be mounted to a wall, the user interface configured to display a progress of a sanitization process; and   an apparatus to be disposed on a floor, the apparatus in communication with the user interface and including:
 a platform having a portion configured to permit passage of ultraviolet light therethrough; and 
 an LED matrix panel disposed below the portion of the platform, the LED matrix panel including:
 a printed circuit board having at least one row of ultraviolet light LEDs (UV LEDs) extending longitudinally, wherein the at least one row of UV LEDs of the printed circuit board are configured selectively emit ultraviolet light perpendicularly relative to the printed circuit board towards the portion of the platform to selectively sanitize an object supported on the portion of the platform. 
 
   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus further includes a plurality of visible light emitting LEDs (V LEDs) each electrically linked to a corresponding UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein each V LED of the plurality of V LEDs is disposed adjacent the corresponding UV LED and is configured to emit visible light concurrently with the emission of ultraviolet light from the corresponding UV LED. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 33 , further comprising a processor in communication with each UV LED of the at least one row of UVLEDs, each V LED of the plurality of V LEDS, and the user interface, the processor being configured to selectively activate each V LED of the plurality of V LEDS to emit:
 a first color of visible light upon the corresponding UV LED being in an ON state; and   a second color of visible light upon the corresponding UV LED being in an OFF state.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein each UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs is operably coupled to at least one pressure sensor, the pressure sensor configured to sense an object disposed on the platform, wherein each UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs is toggled between an activated state and a deactivated state upon the pressure sensor sensing a threshold force. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein a first UV LED of the at least one row of UV LEDs is toggled to the activated state in response to the pressure sensor of the first UV LED sensing an object on the portion of the platform. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the pressure sensor senses the object only when the object is disposed directly above the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the platform includes:
 a frame defining a pair of openings, the frame being fabricated from a material that prevents the transmission of ultraviolet light therethrough; and   a pair of plates each disposed within a respective opening of the pair of openings, the pair of plates being fabricated from quartz that permits the transmission of ultraviolet light therethrough.   
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a housing assembly in which the LED matrix panel is disposed, wherein the LED matrix panel is coupled to an inner surface of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to a bottom housing of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 the user interface including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag storing identification information of a user of the system, or   the user interface requiring input of identification information of a user of the system prior to the user using the system,   or combinations thereof.