US 12,222,528 B2
Surface illuminator having a line emitter and configured to disinfect a surface
David W Baarman, Fennville, MI (US); Boyd Vern Hunter, Elmira, NY (US); Ming-Jun Li, Horseheads, NY (US); Xiao Li, Elmira, NY (US); and Stephan Lvovich Logunov, Corning, NY (US)
Assigned to CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US); and UV PARTNERS, INC., Grand Haven, MI (US)
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US); and UV PARTNERS, INC., Grand Haven, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/688,142.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/157,286, filed on Mar. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0282853 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 5/02 (2006.01); A61L 2/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/0242 (2013.01) [A61L 2/0047 (2013.01); G02B 5/0278 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An illuminator for disinfecting a surface defining a first plane, comprising:
a line emitter configured to emit light in a continuous line, the line emitter comprising a light diffusing rod structured to scatter light along its length, the light diffusing rod comprising at least one of: (i) a scattering layer, (ii) scattering particles, or (iii) voids; and
a reflector surface optically coupled to the line emitter;
wherein the light diffusing rod is optically coupled to at least one light source and has a maximum cross-sectional dimension D between 0.5 mm to 20 mm;
wherein the line emitter is structured to provide the light to at least a portion of the surface, and the light has a peak wavelength in a range of 100 nm to 400 nm;
wherein the reflector surface is configured to redirect the light from the line emitter towards the surface; and
wherein the light diffusing rod is at least partially enclosed in a jacket and wherein the jacket comprises a reflective internal surface configured to direct light at the reflector surface.