Contamination Load Sensing Device

Abstract

Systems and methods for bacterial load sensing devices are disclosed. An example contamination sensing device may comprise a body, a light emitter disposed on the body and configured to emit an excitation wavelength of light toward a surface, a sensor disposed on the body, configured to detect light, and directed toward the surface, and a filter adjuster configured to determine, based on the excitation wavelength of light, a filter configured to remove light outside of an emission wavelength range, wherein the emission wavelength range corresponds to wavelengths of light emitted by contamination upon exposure to the excitation wavelength of light, and adjustably move the filter in front of the sensor.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A contamination sensing device comprising:
 a first body;   a second body remote from the first body;   at least one processor;   at least one light emitter disposed on the first body and configured to emit a light comprising an excitation wavelength toward a surface; and   at least one sensor disposed on the second body;   wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect emissions data comprising an emission wavelength range corresponding to wavelengths of light emitted upon exposure of the surface to the excitation wavelength; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect a change in contamination over time.   
     
     
         18 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one light emitter comprises an array of light emitters; and   the light comprises a plurality of different excitation wavelengths of light emitted by the respective emitters of the array of light emitters.   
     
     
         19 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed on the second body, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a different emission wavelength range corresponding to respective wavelengths of light emitted upon exposure of the surface to the excitation wavelengths. 
     
     
         20 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a plurality of filters;   wherein each filter is associated with a different sensor of the plurality of sensors; and   wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect the different emission wavelength range based on the associated filter removing light outside of the different emission wavelength range.   
     
     
         21 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to:
 detect emissions data comprising an emission wavelength range corresponding to wavelengths of light emitted by contamination on the surface upon exposure to the emitted light; and   detect emissions data comprising an emission wavelength range corresponding to the wavelengths of light emitted by surface materials not associated with contamination upon exposure to the emitted light.   
     
     
         22 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine non-contaminated surface materials based on trends in detections of emission wavelength ranges corresponding to the wavelengths of light emitted by surface materials not associated with contamination over time. 
     
     
         23 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one occupancy sensor configured to collect occupancy data. 
     
     
         24 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to collect occupancy data from the at least one occupancy sensor; and
 wherein the occupancy data is combined with the emissions data to determine a relationship between occupancy and contamination over time.   
     
     
         25 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to generate a contamination map to show the change in contamination over time; and 
 wherein the generated contamination map comprises colors indicating relative contamination.   
     
     
         26 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to employ a digital filter configured to remove light outside a filtered wavelength range. 
     
     
         27 . The contamination sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein the first body and the second body are comprised of a plurality of enclosures. 
     
     
         28 . A contamination sensing system comprising:
 a light emitting device configured to emit a light comprising an excitation wavelength toward a surface; and   a light detecting device, in communication with the light emitting device, comprising at least one sensor directed toward the surface, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect an emission wavelength range corresponding to the wavelengths of light emitted upon exposure of the surface to the emitted light; and   a processing device, in communication with the light emitting device and light detecting device, wherein the processing device is configured to detect a change in contamination over time.   
     
     
         29 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the light emitting device comprises an array of light emitters; and   the light comprises a plurality of different excitation wavelengths of light emitted by the respective emitters of the array of light emitters.   
     
     
         30 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein the light detecting device comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a different emission wavelength range corresponding to respective wavelengths of light emitted upon exposure of the surface to the excitation wavelengths. 
     
     
         31 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein the excitation wavelength is emitted periodically to collect emission data over time. 
     
     
         32 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , further comprising an occupancy sensing device, in communication with the light emitting device, light detecting device, and processing device, wherein the occupancy sensing device is configured to collect occupancy data. 
     
     
         33 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 32 , wherein the processing device is configured to collect occupancy data from the occupancy sensing device; and
 wherein the occupancy data is combined with emissions data to determine a relationship between occupancy and contamination over time.   
     
     
         34 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein the processing device is configured to generate a contamination map to show the change in contamination over time; and 
 wherein the generated contamination map comprises colors indicating relative contamination.   
     
     
         35 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein the processing device is further configured to employ a digital filter configured to remove light outside a filtered wavelength range. 
     
     
         36 . The contamination sensing system of  claim 28 , wherein the light detecting device is configured to:
 detect emissions data comprising an emission wavelength range corresponding to wavelengths of light emitted by contamination on the surface upon exposure to the emitted light; and   detect emissions data comprising an emission wavelength range corresponding to the wavelengths of light emitted by surface areas not associated with contamination upon exposure to the emitted light.