The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for performing
exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user. More particularly, the present disclosure
relates to the system and method of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet
(UV) rays to the user.
BACKGROUND
UV radiation is an essential for various health purposes including, such as but not
limited to, production of Vitamin ‘D’, regulation of insulin level, diabetes control,
supporting lung function, and controlling the expression of genes in cancer. In case,
a person is deprived from sufficient amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiations, the
person may be subject to rickets, bone weakening, muscle pain, and body aches.
Sunlight being a good source of UV radiations, people are frequently advised by
doctors to be exposed to the sunlight for obtaining sufficient amount of ultraviolet
(UV) radiations. However, in today’s busy era, people do not get sufficient time to be
exposed to the sunlight. Therefore, there exists a need for ultraviolet (UV) exposure
systems that artificially expose a user to the UV rays, for providing sufficient amount
of UV rays to the user.
Conventionally, a UV exposure system is equipped with a UV light source that
provides UV rays to the user, upon activation. However, such UV exposure system
are not equipped with a control system to control and deliver optimum amount of
UV rays to the user. In particular, there may be situations when the user may be
excessively exposed to the UV rays. In such situations of excessive exposure to the
UV rays, there exists many associated risk factors, including skin cancer, pre-mature
3
aging, skin damage, skin burns, eye damage, and immune suppression. Furthermore,
in conventional method of operating known UV exposure systems, an operator
manually activates the UV exposure system to expose the user for a predefined
amount of time, and thereafter manually deactivates the UV exposure system upon
completion of the predefined amount of time. Such manual control of the UV
exposure system may be inaccurate and subject to errors. Moreover, in such UV
exposure system, it may be required for the user to dedicate the time for being
exposed to the UV rays. Furthermore, in case the user wishes to be exposed to the
UV rays in a number of small dosages, the operator may cause a manual error in
recording the dosage already delivered to the user.
In addition to aforementioned drawbacks of the method of operating the UV
exposure system, there is a well felt need of an improved method of operating the
UV exposure system to perform controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the
user.
SUMMARY
One object of the present disclosure relates to a method of performing controlled
exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user, comprising: capturing, with use of a
camera unit, an image of the user positioned opposite to a camera unit; performing
face recognition on the captured image, with use of a microcontroller, to identify a
user profile of the user; obtaining, with use of the microcontroller, information on a
dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount
of dosage time period; comparing, with use of the microcontroller, the dosage value
with a threshold value; and performing an action, with use of the microcontroller,
on the UV source based on the comparison between the dosage value and the
threshold value. Notably, the method is initiated upon detection of a presence of a
4
user opposite to the camera unit, with use of the camera unit. The action performed
by the microcontroller includes: activating the UV source, with use of the
microcontroller, to expose the user with UV rays in case the dosage value is below
the threshold value; and deactivating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller,
in case the dosage value is above the threshold value.
Another object of the present disclosure relates to an ultraviolet (UV) exposure
system for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to a user. The UV
exposure system comprising a camera unit, a UV source, and a microcontroller. The
camera unit being adapted to capture an image of the user positioned opposite to
the camera unit. The UV source adapted to expose the user with UV rays when
actuated. The microcontroller being adapted to: perform face recognition on the
captured image to identify a user profile of the user; obtain information on a dosage
value delivered to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of
dosage time period; compare the dosage value with a threshold value; and perform
an action on the UV source based on the comparison between the dosage value and
the threshold value. The action performed by the microcontroller includes:
activating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller, to expose the user with
UV rays in case the dosage value is below the threshold value; and deactivating the
UV source, with use of the microcontroller, in case the dosage value is above the
threshold value.
Yet another object of the invention relates to integrally installing of the ultraviolet
(UV) exposure system for performing the controlled exposure of the UV rays to the
user, on to a furniture unit. The furniture unit is either of a household furniture unit
including a mirror, a headboard of a bedding arrangement, and/or a television unit;
or a hospital furniture unit, such as but not limited to, an incubator, a hospital
bedding arrangement, and/ or a hospital headwall. In such systems, each of the
5
camera unit, the UV source, and the microcontroller of the UV exposure system are
integrally installed on the furniture unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together
with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the
following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. These
and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the
accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in
limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of a household furniture unit implemented with an
ultraviolet (UV) exposure system, illustrating various components of the UV
exposure system, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of performing controlled exposure of
ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user, as employed by the UV exposure system of Figure 1,
in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the
present invention. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described
hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination
of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems
discussed above or might address only one of the problems discussed above. Some
6
of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features
described herein. Example embodiments of the present invention are described
below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
the same parts throughout the different drawings.
The present disclosure discloses an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] for
performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to users. Furthermore, the present
disclosure also discloses a method [104] employed by the UV exposure system [102],
for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the users. Moreover, the
present disclosure discloses a furniture unit [100] that integrally installs the UV
exposure system [102] for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the
users. Although, the present disclosure hereinafter will describe the furniture unit
[100] and integral installation of the UV exposure system [102] on the furniture unit
[100], it may be obvious to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the concepts of
the present disclosure may also extend to a bathing unit and integral installation of
the UV exposure system [102] on the bathing unit. In particular, integral installation
of the UV exposure system [102] on the bathing unit also lies within a scope of the
present disclosure, wherein the bathing unit may embody a bathing shower, a
bathing tub, a jacuzzi, and/or a bathing cabinet. For ease in reference and
understanding, while concepts of the present disclosure will be described as applied
to the furniture unit [100] and installation of the UV exposure system [102] on the
furniture unit [100], similar concepts of the present disclosure may be envisioned to
be applied to the bathing unit and installation of the UV exposure system [102] on
the bathing unit.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic of the furniture unit [100] employing the ultraviolet (UV)
exposure system [102], for performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to the
users. The UV exposure system [102] is integrally installed on the furniture unit
7
[100], to facilitate controlled exposure of the UV rays to a user, while the user uses
the furniture unit [100]. In an embodiment, the furniture unit [100] may embody,
any household furniture unit, such as but not limited to, a headboard of a bedding
arrangement, a vanity mirror, a study table, a kitchen cabinet, and the like. With
such embodiment of the furniture unit [100], the users are able to perform a
household task and concurrently get exposed to the UV rays. In another
embodiment, the furniture unit [100] may embody, any hospital furniture unit, such
as but not limited to, an incubator, a hospital bedding arrangement, a hospital
headwall, and the like. Concepts of the present disclosure hereinafter will be
defined as UV exposure system [102] been integrally installed on to the vanity
mirror [100] as a preferred embodiment, however it may be obvious to a person
ordinarily skilled in the art that the concepts of the present may also be applied to
the UV exposure system [102] been integrally installed on other aforementioned
examples of the furniture unit [100]. For ease in reference and understanding, the
furniture unit [100] may be referred to as the vanity mirror [100], interchangeably
hereinafter.
The vanity mirror [100], as is conventionally known, may be used while applying
make-ups or getting ready for a party, and the like. The vanity mirror [100] may be
any silver polished mirror that reflects an image of a user to be viewed by the user.
The vanity mirror [100] may include any shape, profile, and structure, defining a
peripheral portion [106].
The UV exposure system [102] is integrally installed on the vanity mirror [100].
Notably, as the vanity mirror [100] is frequently used by users, integrally installing
the UV exposure system [102] on to the vanity mirror [100] corresponds to relatively
promised exposure of the UV rays to the users. The UV exposure system [102]
includes a UV source [108], a camera unit [110], and a microcontroller [112].
8
The UV source [108] is a part of a light unit [114] installed along the peripheral
portion [106] of the vanity mirror [100]. In particular, the light unit [114] has
alternate portions of a light source [114a] and the UV source [108]. The light source
[114a] outputs visible light to be projected on to the user’s body using the vanity
mirror [100], for improved illumination. The visible light outputted by the light
source [114a] is within a range of 400 – 700nm. The UV source [108] outputs UV
light to output the UV rays be projected on to the user’s body for exposure to the
UV rays. The UV rays outputted by the UV source [108] to be exposed to the user is
within a range of 280 – 320 nm. Each of the UV source [108] and the light source
[114a] may be controlled for activation and/ or deactivation by the microcontroller
[112], as and when required.
The camera unit [110] is positioned on a top center position of the vanity mirror
[100]. The camera unit [110] is adapted to detect a presence of a user positioned in
front of the vanity mirror [100]. The camera unit [110] is suitably positioned to
capture images of a user positioned opposite the camera unit [110] (and opposite
thus the vanity mirror [100]). It may be noted that the camera unit [110] is suitably
positioned on the vanity mirror [100], such that the camera unit [110] is focused on
and captures the images of a single user, even in case of presence of multiple users
positioned opposite therefrom. The camera unit [110] may further be controlled by
the microcontroller [112], for capturing the images of the user positioned in front of
the vanity mirror [100].
The microcontroller [112] is electrically connected to each of the light source [114a]
and the UV source [108] of the lighting unit [114], and the camera unit [110], to
control each of the light source [114a], the UV source [108], and the camera unit
[110], in accordance to a method [104] of performing controlled exposure of the UV
rays to the user as disclosed in the present disclosure. As is conventionally known,
9
the microcontroller [112] is a combination of a memory unit, a processor, and a
number of other electronic components, capable of performing the method [104] of
controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user. The microcontroller [112] may
embody either of an 8-bit microcontroller, 16-bit microcontroller, a 32-bit
microcontroller, and/or a 64-bit microcontroller. Examples of the microcontroller
[112] includes, such as but not limited to, an 8081 microcontroller, an 8085
microcontroller, a PIC2x, an Intel 8096, and/or MC68HC12 families.
The microcontroller [112] is adapted to perform the method [104] of performing
controlled exposure of the UV rays to the user. For such purposes, the
microcontroller [112] stores an information on a dosage value delivered to a
number of users corresponding to a number of user profiles in a defined amount of
dosage time period. In particular, the microcontroller [112] has a database that
stores information for a number of users, including a user profile (for example a user
profile ID), and a dosage value delivered in a defined amount of dosage time period,
for each user. The dosage time period is a time period between a preset time
instance and a current. In a preferred embodiment, the microcontroller [112] may
be programmed to define 00:00 A.M. as the preset time instance, for storing the
dosage value delivered to the users in a single day time period. In such
embodiments, the dosage time period is the time period between the start of the
day instance and the current time period, for each user. With such storage of
information on user profile (for example a user profile ID), and the dosage value
delivered in the dosage time period, the microcontroller [112] is capable of
performing the method [104] of performing controlled exposure of the UV rays to
the users. In particular, the microcontroller [112] is programmed and adapted to
perform the following: perform face recognition on the captured image to identify a
user profile of the user; obtain a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified
10
user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period; compare the dosage value
with a threshold value; and perform an action on the UV source [108] based on the
comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. Moreover, the
microcontroller [112] performs actuation of the UV source [108] in case the dosage
value is below the threshold value, and performs deactivation of the UV source
[108] in case the dosage value is above the threshold value. ‘Activation’ of the UV
source [108] herein refers to adjusting the UV source [108] to the ‘ON’ mode, in
which the UV source [108] exposes the user with UV rays. ‘Deactivation’ of the UV
source [108] herein refers to: adjusting the UV source [108] in the ‘OFF’ mode, in
which the UV source [108] stops exposing the user with UV rays. Moreover,
‘Deactivation’ of the UV source [108] herein refers to: adjusting the UV source [108]
in the ‘OFF’ mode if the UV source [108] is previously in the “ON’ mode; and keeping
the UV source [108] in the ‘OFF’ mode if the UV source [108] is previously in the
OFF’ mode.
The method [104] followed by the microcontroller [112] of the UV exposure system
[102], to perform the controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to users. Although
the present disclosure describes the threshold value as a prestored value that is
constant for all user profiles, it may be obvious to person ordinarily skilled in the art
that the threshold value may be a value dependent on the user profile, i.e., each
user profile may have a different threshold value for each user. Moreover, the
threshold value may also be a user-customizable value in place of the prestored
value, which can be changed if required.
Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the method [104] of performing the controlled
exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the users. The method [104] initiates at step
[202]. At step [202], as a user steps in front of the vanity mirror [100], the camera
unit [110] detects the presence of the user opposite to the camera unit [110]. The
11
camera unit [110], upon detection of the presence of the user opposite to the
camera unit [110] signals the microcontroller [112] to initiate the method [104] of
performing the controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the user. The method
[104] then proceeds to step [204].
At step [204], the microcontroller [112] sends a signal to the camera unit [110], to
capture an image of the user positioned opposite to the camera unit [110]. The
camera unit [110] is suitably positioned on the vanity mirror [100] to capture the
image of a single user positioned opposite to the camera unit [110]. Therefore, in
case of presence of multiple users positioned opposite to the camera unit [110], the
camera unit [110] capture the image of the single user positioned opposite to the
camera unit [110]. The camera transfers the captured image to the microcontroller
[112]. The method [104] then proceeds to step [206].
At step [206], the microcontroller [112] performs face recognition on the captured
image, to identify a user profile of the user whose image is captured. In particular,
the microcontroller [112] runs the face recognition algorithm to identify the user
profile of the user whose image is captured. Notably, the microcontroller [112]
stores algorithm for face recognition algorithm to perform the face recognition on
the captured image. Furthermore, the microcontroller [112] also has a database of
user database that stores information for a number of users, including a user profile
(for example a user profile ID), and a dosage value delivered in a defined amount of
dosage time period, for each user. At this step, the microcontroller [112] performs
face recognition relative to the entire database, to identify a user profile of the user
positioned opposite the camera unit [110]. The method [104] then proceeds to step
[208].
12
At step [208], the microcontroller [112] obtains a dosage value delivered to the user
of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage time period. The defined
amount of dosage time period is a time period between a preset time instance and a
time instance during initiation of the method [104]. In a preferred embodiment, the
preset time instance is 00:00 A.M. Therefore, in such embodiments, the defined
amount of dosage time period defines the time period elapsed in the day of
performing the method [104] until the method [104] is initiated. Moreover, the
dosage value obtained at step [208], in such embodiments, is the dosage delivered
to the user of the identified user profile during the same day until the method [104]
is initiated. The method [104] then proceeds to step [210].
At step [210], the microcontroller [112] compares the dosage value with a threshold
value. In particular, the microcontroller [112] identifies if the dosage value delivered
to the user of the identified user profile in the defined amount of dosage time
period is above/below the threshold value. The method [104] then proceeds to step
[212].
At step [212], the microcontroller [112] performs an action on the UV source [108]
based on the comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value. In
particular, based on the comparison, the method [104] proceeds to either of step
[212a] or step [212b]. At step [212a], the microcontroller [112] deactivates the UV
source [108] in case the dosage value is above the threshold value. After step
[212a], the method [104] is terminated. Moreover, at step [212b], the
microcontroller [112] activates the UV source [108] to expose the user with UV rays
in case the dosage value is below the threshold value. In particular, the
microcontroller [112] activates the UV source [108] for at least a defined amount of
active time period. After, the defined amount of active time period, the method
[104] proceeds to step [212c]. At step [212c], the microcontroller [112] deactivates
13
the UV source [108] for at least a defined amount of halt time period. After step
[212c], the method [104] proceeds to step [212d]. At step [212d], the
microcontroller [112] increments the dosage value delivered to the user of the
identified user profile. After step [212d], the method [104] proceeds to perform
step [202] again.
It may be noted that as the method [104] disclosed in the present disclosure
provides for deactivating the UV source [108] in case the dosage value reaches
above the threshold value, the method [104] provides for limiting the exposure of
the user to the UV rays from the UV source [108] upto the threshold value.
Therefore, over exposure of the UV rays from the UV source [108], is avoided.
Moreover, as the method [104] disclosed in the present disclosure activates the UV
source [108] for the defined amount of active time period only and deactivates
thereafter, the method [104] provides for avoiding over exposure of the user to the
UV rays from the UV source [108]. Furthermore, as the method [104] provides the
UV rays exposure to the user by the UV source [108] within a range of 280 nm – 320
nm, such range is relatively safer and provides for safe exposure of the user to the
UV rays by the UV source [108]. Moreover, as the method [104] and the ultraviolet
(UV) exposure system [102] are integrally installed on the furniture unit [100], such
arrangement provides for exposure of the users to the UV rays by the UV source
[108] while the user uses the furniture unit [100]. In particular, in one embodiment,
the method [104] and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] is integrally
installed on the vanity mirror [100]. Therefore, such arrangement of the method
[104] and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] with the vanity mirror [100],
provides for controlled exposure of the UV rays by the UV source [108] of the
ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] and concurrent use of the vanity mirror
[100]. In nutshell, such arrangement provides for controlled exposure of the UV rays
from the UV source [108] to the user while using the vanity mirror [100]. Similar to
14
the embodiment of the vanity mirror [100], in an alternated embodiment, the
method [104] and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] may be integrally
installed on a bathing shower. Therefore, such arrangement of the method [104]
and the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] with the vanity mirror [100],
provides for controlled exposure of the UV rays by the UV source [108] of the
ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] and concurrently using the bathing shower
for bathing purposes. In nutshell, such arrangement provides for controlled
exposure of the UV rays from the UV source [108] to the user while using the
bathing shower.
Further, it may be noted that as an ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] and the
method [104] as disclosed in the present disclosure provides for performing
controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a user. With such exposure to the UV
rays by use of the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] and the method [104] as
disclosed herein, the user is able to produce enough Vitamin ‘D’, which provides for
improved bone strength, better regulation of insulin level, diabetes control,
improved lung function support, and controlled expression of genes in cancer. This
avoids chances of rickets, bone weakening, and muscle pain to the user. It may
further be noted that the ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] and the method
[104] as disclosed in the present disclosure provides for controlled exposure of the
user to the UV ray, while the user performs other household work of using the
furniture unit [100]. IN particular, the user may use the furniture unit [100] (for
example may use the vanity mirror unit [100]), and concurrently get exposed to the
UV rays by the disclosed UV exposure system [102] and the method [104]. While
doing so, the user is also prevented from over exposure of the UV rays, thereby
preventing the user from skin cancer, pre-mature aging, skin damage, skin burns,
eye damage, and immune suppression.
15
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described
hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the
invention and the scope of the appended claims. It will be obvious to a person
skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described
embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not
restrictive.
List of Components:
100 – Furniture Unit
100 – Vanity Mirror
102 – UV Exposure System
104 – Method
106 – Peripheral Portion of 100
108 – UV Source of 102
110 – Camera Unit of 102
112 – Microcontroller of 102
114 – Lighting Unit
114a – Light Source

We Claim:

1. A method [104] of performing controlled exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays to a
user, the method [104] comprising:
- capturing, with use of a camera unit [110], an image of the user positioned
opposite to the camera unit [110];
- performing face recognition on the captured image, with use of a
microcontroller [112], to identify a user profile of the user;
- obtaining, with use of the microcontroller [112], a dosage value delivered
to the user of the identified user profile in a defined amount of dosage
time period;
- comparing, with use of the microcontroller [112], the dosage value with a
threshold value;
- performing an action, with use of the microcontroller [112], on a UV
source [108] based on the comparison between the dosage value and the
threshold value.
2. The method [104] as claimed in claim 1, is initiated upon detection of a
presence of a user opposite to the camera unit [110], with use of the camera
unit [110].
3. The method [104] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of performing the
action on the UV source [108] comprises:
activating the UV source [108], with use of the microcontroller [112],
to expose the user with UV rays in case the dosage value is below the
threshold value, and
18
deactivating the UV source, with use of the microcontroller [112], in
case the dosage value is above the threshold value.
4. The method [104] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defined amount of
dosage time period is a time period between a preset time instance and a time
instance during initiation of the method.
5. The method [104] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method as claimed in
claim 1 provides for limiting the exposure of the user to the UV rays from the
UV source [108], upto the threshold value.
6. The method [104] as claimed in claim 3, wherein the UV source [108] is kept
activated for at least a defined amount of active time period.
7. The method [104] as claimed in claims 1-6, wherein the UV source [108] is
deactivated for at least a defined amount of halt time period after performing
the activation for at least the defined amount of active time period.
8. The method [104] as claimed in claims 1-7, wherein microcontroller [112]
increments the dosage value delivered to the user, and stores the
incremented dosage value, after activation for the defined amount of active
time period.
9. The method [104] as claimed in claims 1-6, wherein the UV rays exposed to
the user by the UV source is within a range of 280 nm – 320 nm.
10. An ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] for performing controlled exposure
of the UV rays to a user, the UV exposure system [102] comprising:
19
- a camera unit [110] adapted to capture an image of the user positioned
opposite to the camera unit [110];
- a UV source [108] adapted to expose the user with UV rays when actuated;
and
- a microcontroller [112] adapted to:
perform face recognition on the captured image to identify a user
profile of the user;
obtain a dosage value delivered to the user of the identified user
profile in a defined amount of dosage time period;
compare the dosage value with a threshold value; and
perform an action on the UV source [108] based on the
comparison between the dosage value and the threshold value.
11. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
microcontroller [112] performs actuation of the UV source [108] in case the
dosage value is below the threshold value, and performs deactivation of the
UV source [108] in case the dosage value is above the threshold value.
12. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
defined amount of dosage time period is a time period between a preset time
instance and a time instance during initiation capturing of image by the
camera unit [110].
13. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] is integrally installed on a furniture unit
[100].
20
14. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
furniture unit [100] includes a vanity mirror [100], a study table, a headboard
of a bedding arrangement, and/or a television unit.
15. The vanity mirror [100] integrally installing the UV exposure system [102] as
claimed in claims 10-14, wherein each of the camera unit [110], the UV source
[108], and the microcontroller [112] of the UV exposure system [102] are
integrally installed on the vanity mirror [100].
16. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] is integrally installed on a bathing unit.
17. The ultraviolet (UV) exposure system [102] as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
bathing unit includes a bathing shower, a bathing tub, a jacuzzi, and a bathing
cabinet.