Sterilization units, systems, and methods

Abstract

A Sterilization Unit includes: a UV-C radiation source configured to emit UV-C radiation; and a room partition selectably configurable between two or more different partition geometrics and configured, in each of the two or more different partition geometrics, to (a) physically separate floor space of a room into sterilization target area and a non-target area, and (b) direct the UV-C radiation to the target area from at least two different directions while shielding the non-target area from the UV-C radiation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of disinfecting a target zone comprising:
 illuminating a target zone from a plurality of directions with UV light emitted from a plurality of UV light emitting sources;   converging at least some of the UV light in the target zone; and   controlling the convergence of at least some of the UV light by focusing UV light from the plurality of directions to achieve a targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light originates from the plurality of UV light emitting sources disposed in a plurality of different planes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light forms amplified UV light with an increased intensity relative to an intensity of UV light emitted from a single source that is an equivalent distance away from the target zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light emitted from the at least some of the plurality of UV light emitting sources form a grid of overlapping UV light throughout the target zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light comprises multivector UV-energy originating from the UV light emitting sources. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target zone has a first region adjacent the plurality of UV light emitting sources and a second region further away from the plurality of UV light emitting sources than the first region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light in the second region has an equivalent intensity as an intensity of UV light in the first region. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light in the second region has a greater intensity than an intensity of UV light in the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light emitting sources comprise at least two sources that are disposed in planes transverse to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the UV light from the at least two sources converge to provide targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light across the target zone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of UV light emitting sources are disposed along a plurality of sides of the target zone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing at least one UV light emitting source at an interior of the target zone. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising positioning a UV light emitting device in proximity to the target zone, wherein the plurality of UV light emitting sources are disposed at different positions on the UV light emitting device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the UV light emitting device comprises a plurality of support structures moveable relative to one another and the UV light emitting sources are disposed at different positions on the plurality of support structures. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disinfecting the target zone with the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light.   
     
     
         16 . A method of disinfecting in a target zone comprising:
 positioning a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light emitting sources disposed on different positions about a target zone;   illuminating the target zone from a plurality of directions with UV light emitted from at least some of the plurality of UV light emitting sources;   converging at least some of the UV light in the target zone; and   controlling the convergence of the at least some UV light by focusing UV light from the plurality of directions to achieve a targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light.   
     
     
         17 . A method of disinfecting objects in a target zone comprising:
 illuminating one or more objects in a target zone from a plurality of directions with UV light emitted from a plurality of UV light emitting sources;   creating a UV light convergence field on the one or more objects; and   controlling the UV light convergence field to disinfect the one or more objects with a target amplification of converged multivector UV light in the UV light convergence field.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning a UV light emitting device in proximity to the target zone, wherein the plurality of UV light emitting sources are disposed at different positions on the UV light emitting device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the UV light emitting device comprises a plurality of support structures moveable relative to one another and the UV light emitting sources are disposed at different positions on the plurality of support structures. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light originates from the plurality of UV light emitting sources disposed in a plurality of different planes. 
     
     
         21 . A disinfecting system comprising:
 a disinfecting device comprising a plurality of UV light emitting sources configured to illuminate a target zone from a plurality of directions with UV light emitted therefrom; and   a controller configured to:
 converge at least some of the UV light in the target zone; and 
 control the convergence of at least some of the UV light by focusing UV light from the plurality of directions to achieve a targeted amplification of converged multivector UV light.