US 11,865,218 B2
Targeted approach for ultraviolet disinfection of surfaces
Kristoffer Karl Hauser, Bloomington, IN (US); Joao Marcos Correia Marques, Urbana, IL (US); and Zherong Pan, Urbana, IL (US)
Assigned to The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (US)
Filed by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/085,416.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/082,410, filed on Sep. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0088237 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. G06N 20/00 (2019.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 2/10 (2013.01) [G06N 20/00 (2019.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01); A61L 2202/16 (2013.01); A61L 2202/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
obtaining a three-dimensional image map of m surfaces within an environment, wherein the surfaces are respectively associated with importance weights, and wherein the importance weights represent how frequently the surfaces are expected to be touched;
determining a set of n vantage points for a light source within the environment;
calculating an m×n irradiance matrix representing irradiance presented to each of the surfaces when the light source is in each of the vantage points, wherein each entry in the m×n irradiance matrix is determined by: (i) rasterizing the three-dimensional image map for a given candidate vantage point, (ii) identifying a set of visible surfaces from the three-dimensional image map as rasterized, and (iii) calculating an amount of light-based power that would reach each of the visible surfaces;
determining a set of n dwell times, one associated with each of the vantage points, using linear programming over the m×n irradiance matrix, the importance weights, and an overall time constraint; and
providing instructions, to a disinfecting agent, to traverse at least a subset of the vantage points, pausing at each in accordance with the associated dwell times and illuminating at least some of the surfaces while paused.