DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a switching device and more particularly, relates to an Ultra-Violet (UV) disinfection enabled switching device.

BACKGROUND

Electrical switches are frequently used for controlling the operation of connected electrical appliances. For example, fans and light sources, such as bulbs need to be frequently switched ON and OFF in a day. Particularly, in public places, these switches are operated by multiple people within a day. While hygiene has always been important, it has become paramount in the recent times, particularly, owing to the pandemic. Since these switching devices are operated by multiple people in a day, it is relevant to ensure that these are frequently sanitised to minimize the possibility of transmission of communicable diseases.

Further, it is generally known that Ultra-Violet (UV) light can be used in the germicidal range, for example, of about 254 nm to 400 nm, to disinfect surfaces. Currently, there are existing handheld devices that are to be exposed to infected surfaces or products for disinfection by the UV light. However, sanitising all such surfaces every day becomes a cumbersome, costly, time-intensive, and inconvenient task. Therefore, it may not be possible to ensure regular sanitisation of such devices, particularly, when this has to be manually done on a regular basis.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a switching device is disclosed. The switching device includes a base plate assembly, a light source disposed on the base plate assembly and adapted to emit Ultra-Violet (UV) light, and a switch assembly adapted to be movably disposed on the base plate assembly and having a top surface. An operational state of the switching device is selected based on a position of the switch assembly that is changed by a user input received through the top surface. The switch assembly includes a light diffuser plate forming the top surface of the switch assembly and adapted to receive the UV light emitted by the light source. The UV light exhibits Total Internal Reflection (TIR) within the light diffuser plate, disinfecting the top surface of the switch assembly.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1A illustrates a side schematic view of an Ultra-Violet (UV) disinfection enabled switching device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 1B illustrates a side schematic view of the switching device when the UV disinfection in enabled, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 2 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of the switching device depicting a light source and other components guiding emitted UV light into a light diffuser plate for disinfection, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more element is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1A illustrates a side schematic view of an Ultra-Violet (UV) disinfection enabled switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, UV disinfection is disabled. Further, for the sake of readability, the UV disinfection enabled switching device 100 is hereinafter interchangeably be referred to as the switching device 100.

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may be disposed on a wall. In another embodiment, the switching device 100 may be installed on any other supporting surface, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The switching device 100 may be adapted to control mains supply to a corresponding electrical appliance. The electrical appliance may include, but is not limited to, a fan, a bulb, a tube-light, a chimney, an air conditioner, a television, and a charging kiosk.

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may have an operational mode and a non-operational mode. In the operational mode of the switching device 100, the connected electrical appliance may be provided with mains supply. On the other hand, in the non-operational mode of the switching device 100, the mains supply to the electrical device may be disrupted. The operational mode and the non-operational mode may also interchangeably be referred to as an ON mode and an OFF mode, respectively.

The switching device 100 may include, but is not limited to, a base plate assembly 102, a light source 104 disposed on the base plate assembly 102, and a switch assembly 106 adapted to be movably disposed on the base plate assembly 102. Therefore, the light source 104 may be understood to be disposed between the base plate assembly 102 and the switch assembly 106. In an embodiment, the light source 104 may be a Light Emitting Diode (LED) adapted to emit Ultra-Violet (UV) light. The light source 104 is adapted to operate in the operational mode as well as non-operational mode of the switching device 100. The light source 104 is adapted to be illuminated for disinfection of the switching device 100.

In an embodiment, the switch assembly 106 may be a rocker-type switch assembly. The switch assembly 106 may include a top surface 108. The top surface 108 may receive a user input for changing a position of the switch assembly 106 for selecting one of the operational modes of the switching device 100. For example, the user may contact the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106 to switch between an ON position and an OFF position. The switch assembly 106 may be in the ON position for activating the operational mode of the switching device 100. Further, the switch assembly 106 may be in the OFF position for activating the non-operational mode of the switching device 100.

In an embodiment, the switch assembly 106 may include a light diffuser plate 110 forming the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106. The light diffuser plate 110 may be adapted to receive the UV light emitted by the light source 104 for disinfecting the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106. Figure 1B illustrates a side schematic view of the switching device 100 when the UV disinfection in enabled, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, most of UV light emitted by the light source 104 exhibits Total Internal Reflection (TIR) within the light diffuser plate 110 to generate evanescent waves for disinfecting the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106. In an embodiment, the light diffuser plate 110 may include a lens.

Figure 2 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of the switching device 100 depicting the light source 104 and other components guiding the UV light into the light diffuser plate 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1A, Figure 1B, and Figure 2, the light diffuser plate 110 may include, but is not limited to, a front surface forming the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106, and a back surface 202 formed opposite to the front surface 108. The back surface 202 may be adapted to receive the UV light emitted by the light source 104.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light source 104 may be disposed towards a bottom end 112 of the base plate assembly 102. The light source 104 may be disposed such that the emitted UV light enters the light diffuser plate 110 through the back surface 202 of the light diffuser plate 110.

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may include a grating portion 204 formed at the back surface 202 of the light diffuser plate 110. The grating portion 204 may be formed to have a zig-zag profile. The grating portion 204 may be adapted to receive the UV light emitted from the light source 104 for TIR into the light diffuser plate 110. The UV light may be diffracted by the grating portion 204 so that it does not directly contact the front surface 108. Therefore, the grating portion 204 is positioned to avoid direct exposure of the UV light through the front surface 108 to a user. This would eliminate the possibility of any harm to the user owing to the direct exposure to the UV light.

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may also include a reflector 206 disposed between the light source 104 and the back surface 202 of the light diffuser plate 110. The reflector 206 may be disposed such that the reflector 206 surrounds an exposed portion of the light source 104. Therefore, the reflector 206 reflects the UV light to enter through the grating portion 204. This would ensure that almost all the UV light emitted from the light source 104 is utilized to enter the light diffuser plate 110 through the grating portion 204 for disinfection

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may include an indicator 114 disposed at a top end 116 of the switch assembly 106. The indicator 114 may be positioned such that the indicator 114 is visible through the front surface 108 of the light diffuser plate 110. The indicator 114 may be adapted to indicate activation of the light source 104 for disinfecting the top surface 108 of the switch assembly 106.

In an embodiment, the indicator 114 may be a fluorescent indicator. Further, the indicator 114 may always be positioned at an end of the switch assembly 106 that is opposite to an end from where the UV light is received into the light diffuser plate 110. Therefore, in an alternate embodiment, when the UV light enters the back surface 202 towards a top end for TIR into the light diffuser plate 110, the indicator 114 may be positioned towards a bottom end of the switch assembly 106.

In an embodiment, the light source 104 may be illuminated for disinfection based on predefined time intervals, say, after every 10 minutes. Therefore, after every 10 minutes, the light source 104 may be automatically illuminated for disinfection. In another embodiment, the light source 104 may be illuminated whenever a user operates the switch assembly 106 to switch between the ON position and the OFF position, say, based on a sensor-initiated signal. For example, a sensor (not shown) may detect the touch of the user on the switch assembly 106, based on which the light source 106 may be automatically illuminated for disinfection.

As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, while the proposed mechanism of UV disinfection is explained with respect to the switching device 100 in the present disclosure, this mechanism can be implemented in any other device or unit of similar nature, say, by making device-specific modifications in the proposed mechanism, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the application of the present mechanism shall not be considered limited to only the application explained in the present disclosure. This mechanism is equally implementable in any other device of similar nature, where disinfection could be required.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the UV disinfection enabled switching device 100 that is ergonomically designed for continuous disinfection of the front surface 108 that comes in contact with users. The light source 104 is adapted to emit the UV light into the light diffuser plate 110 ensuring that the top surface 108 is regularly disinfected. Further, the grating portion 204 formed on the back surface 202 of the light diffuser plate 110 allows for effective entry of the UV light into the light diffuser plate 110 for exhibiting TIR to generate evanescent waves for disinfection. Moreover, the reflector 206 ensures that the UV light emitted from the light source 104 completely enters into the light diffuser plate 110.

Also, since the light source 104 is adapted to operate in the operational mode as well as non-operational mode of the switching device 100, it ensures continuous disinfection of the switching device 100. In addition, the indicator 114 informs the user whether the disinfection is enabled or not. Furthermore, the switching device 100 and the constituent components and circuits are adapted to operate on AC. Therefore, the implementation of the present invention does not need a new circuitry. As would be gathered, the switching device 100 of the present disclosure is operation-effective, cost-effective, and offer significant convenience to the consumer at least in terms of hygiene.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A switching device (100) comprising:
a base plate assembly (102);
a light source (104) disposed on the base plate assembly (102) and adapted to emit Ultra-Violet (UV) light; and
a switch assembly (106) adapted to be movably disposed on the base plate assembly (102) and having a top surface (108), wherein an operational state of the switching device (100) is selected based on a position of the switch assembly (106) that is changed by a user input received through the top surface (108), the switch assembly (106) comprising:
a light diffuser plate (110) forming the top surface (108) of the switch assembly (106) and adapted to receive the UV light emitted by the light source (104), wherein the UV light exhibits Total Internal Reflection (TIR) within the light diffuser plate (110), disinfecting the top surface (108) of the switch assembly (106).

2. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffuser plate (110) comprising:
a front surface (108) forming the top surface (108) of the switch assembly (106); and
a back surface (202) formed opposite to the front surface (108) and adapted to receive the UV light emitted by the light source (104).

3. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light source (104) is disposed towards a bottom end (112) of the base plate assembly (102) such that the emitted UV light enters the light diffuser plate (110) through the back surface (202) of the light diffuser plate (110).

4. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a grating portion (204) formed at the back surface (202) of the light diffuser plate (110) and adapted to receive the UV light emitted from the light source (104) for TIR into the light diffuser plate (110), wherein the grating portion (204) is positioned to avoid direct exposure of the UV light through the front surface (108) to a user.

5. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a reflector (206) disposed between the light source (104) and the back surface (202) of the light diffuser plate (110) such that the reflector (206) surrounds an exposed portion of the light source (104).

6. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an indicator (114) disposed at a top end (116) of the switch assembly (106) such that the indicator (114) is visible through the front surface (108) of the light diffuser plate (110), wherein the indicator (114) is adapted to indicate activation of the light source (104) for disinfecting the top surface (108) of the switch assembly (106).

7. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicator (114) is positioned at an end of the switch assembly (106) that is opposite to an end from where the UV light is received into the light diffuser plate (110).

8. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch assembly (106) is a rocker-type switch assembly.

9. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffuser plate (110) comprising a lens.

10. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicator (114) is a fluorescent indicator (114).