Uv sterilization of container, room, space or defined environment

Abstract

Provided herein are portable ultraviolet (UV) devices, systems, and methods of use and manufacturing same. Methods of use include methods for UV disinfection and sterilization, more specifically, methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment. The portable UV devices, systems and methods are particularly useful for the UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or defined environment used in various industries. Provided are also portable UV devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present in a container, a room, a space or a defined environment, preferably for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present on an interior surface of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable ultraviolet (UV) device comprising:
 (i) a first germicidal UV light source;   (ii) a robot having wheels and supporting the first germicidal UV light source, wherein the robot comprises an object avoidance program; and   (iii) an interface at the robot, wherein the interface is adapted to provide a functionality selected from the group consisting of:
 (A) activating the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (B) deactivating the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (C) releasing the first germicidal UV light source from a housing configured to house the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (D) moving the first germicidal UV light source from a first position to a second position within a container, a room, a space, or a defined environment, 
 (E) providing time input for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (F) providing time remaining for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (G) providing time elapsed for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (H) setting a desired UV intensity level, 
 (I) adjusting a UV intensity level, 
 (J) logging in a code for a user, 
 (K) connecting to a programmable logic controller (PLC), and 
 (L) displaying a UV light dose measured by a UV sensor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support structure is a base plate or frame comprising a configuration selected from the group consisting of a tripod configuration, a circular configuration, an oval configuration, a rectangular configuration, and a hexagonal configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The portable UV device according to  claim 2 , wherein the base plate or frame further comprises a plurality of wheels configured to permit moving the portable UV device within the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment. 
     
     
         4 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 (v) a handle configured to permit a user to move the portable UV device within the container, the room, a space, or the defined environment.   
     
     
         5 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (v) a second germicidal UV light source.   
     
     
         6 . The portable UV device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first germicidal UV light source and the second germicidal UV light source are arranged in a cluster, wherein the cluster is selected from the group consisting of a cluster comprising at least two germicidal UV light sources, a cluster comprising at least three germicidal UV light sources, a cluster comprising at least four germicidal UV light sources, a cluster comprising at least five germicidal UV light sources, a cluster comprising at least six germicidal UV light sources, a cluster comprising at least seven germicidal UV light sources, and a cluster comprising at least eight germicidal UV light sources. 
     
     
         7 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , wherein, when not in use, the first germicidal UV light source resides within a housing configured to house the first germicidal UV light source and wherein, when in use, the first germicidal UV light source is released from the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first germicidal UV light source comprises a lamp selected from the group consisting of a low pressure mercury lamp, a medium pressure mercury lamp, a high pressure mercury lamp, an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, a low pressure short arc xenon lamp, a medium pressure short arc xenon lamp, a high pressure short arc xenon lamp, an ultra-high pressure short arc xenon lamp, a low pressure long arc xenon lamp, a medium pressure long arc xenon lamp, a high pressure long arc xenon lamp, an ultra-high pressure long arc xenon lamp, a low pressure metal halide lamp, a medium pressure metal halide lamp, a high pressure metal halide lamp, an ultra-high pressure metal halide lamp, a tungsten halogen lamp, a quartz halogen lamp, a quartz iodine lamp, a sodium lamp, an incandescent lamp, and a light emitting diode (LED) lamp. 
     
     
         9 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (v) an optical component, wherein the optical component is selected from the group consisting of a reflector, a shutter, a lens, a splitter, and a mirror, and wherein the optical component partially surrounds the first germicidal UV light source.   
     
     
         10 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , wherein a functionality of the interface is connected to a visual notification, to an audible notification, to an email notification, to a telephonic notification, or to a texting notification. 
     
     
         11 . The portable UV device according to  claim 1 , wherein the robot is adapted to be programmed to move on the floor of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment. 
     
     
         12 . The portable UV device according to  claim 11 , wherein the robot is adapted to move at a speed allowing an effective UV dose be emitted to a surface within the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, and wherein the effective UV dose is sufficient to reduce the growth of microorganisms present on the structure within the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment by at least three log. 
     
     
         13 . A portable ultraviolet (UV) device comprising:
 (i) a central support structure supported at a robot, the robot including wheels and an object avoidance program;   (ii) a plurality of germicidal UV light sources, wherein members of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources are arranged in a cluster and around the central support structure; and   (iii) an interface;   wherein the interface is adapted to provide a functionality selected from the group consisting of:
 (A) activating the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (B) deactivating the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (C) releasing the first germicidal UV light source from a housing configured to house the first germicidal UV light source, 
 (D) moving the first germicidal UV light source from a first position to a second position within a container, a room, a space, or a defined environment, 
 (E) providing time input for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (F) providing time remaining for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (G) providing time elapsed for completing UV sterilization of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, 
 (H) setting a desired UV intensity level, 
 (I) adjusting a UV intensity level, 
 (J) logging in a code for a user, 
 (K) connecting to a programmable logic controller (PLC), and 
 (L) displaying a UV light dose measured by a UV sensor. 
   
     
     
         14 . The portable UV device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a reflector partially surrounding at least a first member of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources, wherein the reflector is a member of a plurality of reflectors and wherein each reflector partially surrounds a member of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources. 
     
     
         15 . The portable UV device according to  claim 13 , wherein, when not in use, members of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources reside within a housing supported at the robot and configured to house the members of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources and wherein, when in use, the members of the plurality of germicidal UV light sources are released from the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The portable UV device according to  claim 13 , wherein the robot is adapted to be programmed to move on the floor of the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, wherein the programming at the robot is configured to move the robot at a speed allowing an effective UV dose be emitted to a surface within the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment, and wherein the effective UV dose is sufficient to reduce the growth of microorganisms present on the structure within the container, the room, the space, or the defined environment by at least three log.