Intelligent LED Solutions

If the coronavirus pandemic taught us anything, it is that bacteria is everywhere. Every day, we are constantly at risk of contact with bacterial and viral infections. This risk is particularly prevalent when passing through places that have a lot of footfall such as public transport offices, and supermarkets.

This is why UVC disinfection is increasingly popular and becoming more widely used. It is no longer solely used in large-scale industrial and medical settings. It is becoming part of our daily lives.

Bacteria and viruses indoors

Much of our usual day is spent indoors, whether that be at work or at home. Within public spaces like offices, shops or hospitals, the risk of encountering bacteria is high. We frequently encounter bacteria and viruses as they multiply on surfaces such as supermarket merchandise, elevator buttons, escalator belts, tables, chairs, and even droplet infection during conversation.

Manual chemical cleaning in these spaces is time-consuming and prone to human error. Consequently, some hospitals and other public spaces already use UVC via autonomous UVC sterilisation robots. Such innovative devices can disinfect large or small spaces more effectively than manual cleaning. The UVC radiation emitted targets and destroys harmful microorganisms, with more consistent and accurate coverage than manual cleaning.

Bacteria and viruses in the home

Even at home, bacteria and viruses are ever-present. Risk of infection and transmission is greater when rooms are limited in size and poorly ventilated. Commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, toilet flushes, taps, TV controls and light switches can harbour bacteria and viruses. Therefore, using UVC disinfection to neutralise these harmful microorganisms in our homes, can provide peace of mind.

UVC technology is used in smaller handheld devices that directly irradiate and sterilise surfaces. Such devices have been designed for easy everyday use. One key benefit of using UVC radiation to disinfect in the home is the reduced use of toxic or harsh chemicals which are commonly found in household cleaning products. UVC radiation is certainly more environmentally friendly way of eliminating 99.99% of bacteria, with immediate effect upon exposure. Therefore, it is ideal and convenient for home usage.

Bacteria and viruses on public transportation

Vast numbers of people pass through public transport every day. Particularly during popular commuting hours, when buses and trains will fill with individuals heading to and from work. Risks of bacteria transmission in these settings are high, not only from droplet infection but also from physical surfaces. Whether on a train, plane, bus or car we touch many different surfaces including handrails, ticket machines, entry barriers, and handles. This is why it is necessary to take measures to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Limited air circulation in aeroplanes and underground trains have the perfect conditions to breed and transmit airborne pathogens. UVC air purification is another growing application which helps to combat this problem. It is often used on planes and trains to effectively eliminate airborne viruses and bacteria.

Air is circulated through air filters, which is subjected to UVC radiation emitted from LEDs. This process destroys harmful microorganisms carried by air and has a 99.99% effectiveness rate. UVC LEDs can be implemented within larger systems for use indoors, as well as compact systems for small spaces and inside vehicles.

Image source: Stanley Electric Co.

ILS UVC LED modules

ILS offer three different primary lens options (60°, 90° or 130°) which control light distribution over the target area. ILS's wide range of UVB & UVC LED solutions are built using UV LEDs from TSLC, Stanley and OSRAM. The variety of module sizes, wavelengths and powers allows users to select their most optimal wavelength range. These options also give designers more flexibility to meet the power requirements for obtaining the desired level of disinfection.

Sources:

https://www.stanley.co.jp/e/product/uvc_product/sterilization/

https://www.stanley.co.jp/e/product/uvc_product/sterilization/air.html

The OSLON Square Uniform is an innovative device from amsOSRAM. These LEDs deliver superior colour uniformity, without a significant drop in brightness.

This device is primarily designed for use in indoor spotlighting, museum lighting and wall washing. Being built on a ceramic package allows for superior robustness and long lifetimes.

The OSLON Square Uniform is available in multiple white wavelengths, including 2700K, 3000K, 3500K and 4000K, all with a minimum CRI of 90. By adding a diffuser layer on top of the phosphor the colour uniformity of the LEDs has been improved, with a superior colour over angle.

So why is this important? Colour over angle is particularly important when using secondary optics with single source LEDs. As demonstrated in the illustration above, without the diffuser layer blue light from the “blue pump” has escaped from the outer edges of the LED, causing a blue “hue” or “halo” effect. The use of secondary optics multiplies this effect significantly.

The primary design application of the OSLON Square Uniform LEDs is for use in gallery/museum lighting. Previously customers may have experienced issues of artwork or displays not looking as they should do under conventional lighting. These new LEDs from amsOSRAM offer a solution for this.

Intelligent LED Solutions (ILS) have carefully selected a range of light engines that are an ideal match for this LED. These light engines are compact, powerful LED light sources, all built on aluminium substrates for optimal thermal management.

LED Modules

PowerStar modules are ideal for prototyping and integration within light fittings. They can be matched with secondary optics from LEDiL thanks to mounting holes on either side of the LED. PowerStars are supplied with 200mm wires as standard.

But if you are looking for a 24V linear design that is ideal for plug and play, the 6 strip is your solution. A compact size of 300mm, this strip can be designed easily to luminaires and can be linked to create longer chains.

Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation that sits outside of the visible light spectrum and comprises of 380-740nm. The UV spectrum of 100-400nm is invisible to the human eye. Out of the light that reaches the surface of the earth, only 5-6% of it is UV. The UV spectrum consists of four distinct categories, each with their own wavelength characteristics and applications.

• UVA = 315-400nm. The least dangerous wavelength and the wavelength we receive most strongly from the sun. The majority of UVA passes through the ozone layer and reaches the surface of the Earth. It is responsible for tanning our skin.
• UVB = 280-315nm. Slightly stronger wavelengths which are responsible for Vitamin D synthesis and skin burns. Absorbed by the ozone layer, only some passes through.
• UVC = 200-280nm. Does not typically penetrate the ozone layer. It is the wavelength most commonly used for disinfection applications.
• UVV = 100-200nm. Strongly absorbed by water and air and can only be transmitted in vacuum. Does not penetrate the ozone layer or reach the surface of the Earth.

From the two types of UV that reach the Earth's surface, UVA makes up about 90% and the remainder is UVB. Although UVC does not reach the Earth, it possesses the highest sterilisation effect compared with other types of UV light. UVC is therefore ideal for disinfection as it can cause molecular damage to cells. UVB also has this capability but to a much lesser extent. UVB radiation from natural sunlight is the main harmful component. These rays can damage human cells, causing sunburn and even skin cancer.

Unlike UVC, UVB can only disrupt DNA cells and cannot kill microorganisms efficiently. Microorganisms are significantly smaller than human cells, so in order to break through their cell structures, smaller UVC wavelengths are needed. Within a microorganism, the nucleus cell contains thymine, a chemical element of the DNA/RNA. Thymine absorbs UVC at a specific wavelength of 253.7nm, this UVC light will modify microbial DNA by thymine dimer formation. This alteration causes severe disruption in microbial replication as well as in the processes of protein expression that are vital for the survival of cells. Cellular breakdown is triggered, rendering the cell no longer able to multiply and survive.

The UVC Disinfection Process:

1. Unable to metabolise and replicate, the organism cannot cause or spread disease.
2. UVC high-energy photons are then absorbed by cell proteins and DNA/RNA.
3. The protein structures within the microorganism are damaged, causing metabolic disruption. 
4. The DNA/RNA is chemically altered, meaning that the organism can no longer replicate.
5. Unable to metabolise and replicate, the organism cannot cause or spread disease.

It should be noted that UVC light does not discriminate when it comes to ruining genetic material. This wavelength can damage human and animal skin and eye cells. Prolonged exposure to UVC radiation can cause sunburn, skin damage and conjunctivitis and even cancer. Whenever dealing with UVC light, the skin and eyes must be fully protected against exposure, and the light source should not be directed onto skin or eyes.

UVC LEDs

Widely used for their disinfection purposes, product development has advanced rapidly in recent years. LED does not use mercury, meaning that it has a low environmental burden and is distinguished by its compact size and long life. Whatever the purpose, UVC is proven as an effective method of disinfection and an efficient defence against pathogenic bacteria. UVC LED modules are available in a variety of sizes and wavelengths.

See our selection of UVC modules here 

Sources:

https://www.stanley.co.jp/e/product/uvc_product/about/

https://docs.rs-online.com/ae37/A700000008705860.pdf

What is Spectroscopy?

Spectroscopy allows the composition, physical structure and electronic structure of matter to be analysed. This is achieved through the examination of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, as a function of the wavelength or frequency of the radiation.

When electromagnetic radiation is passed through an item, the photons may be absorbed, reflected or refracted. Information about the emitted and absorbed spectra can then be used to gain information about the item. This is possible because the ratio of light that is reflected or absorbed varies from object to object, resulting in a unique molecular fingerprint for each item.

What does this mean in the modern world and in our day-to-day activities?

Picture yourself in a supermarket and you wanted to check if the strawberries in front of you were sweet without touching them. Using a broadband LED, a spectrometer and some code, your smartphone could look at the molecular structure and answer this.

How is this achieved by OSRAM’s new technology?

By utilising a blue pump and a specific mix of phosphors, OSRAM has developed a broad spectrum of 650-1050nm. A broad range of wavelengths emitted allows for a wider range of objects to be analysed more accurately.

Technology is moving forward incredibly fast and with it, things are getting smaller and more powerful. In 2017 there was the OSLON Black Flat, a 3.7x3.7mm package. The OSLON Piccalo 1616 SFH4737, this device is 3.6 times more intense and significantly smaller than its predecessor, delivering 74mW in NIR (650-1050nm).

Such a small package, but how can I use it?

With its extremely compact dimensions of just 1.6mm x 1.6mm x 0.9mm, the OSLON P1616 SFH 4737 is the world's smallest near-infrared LED (NIRED) for spectroscopy applications available in the market; it is not something that is easily handled by hand.

Intelligent LED Solutions (ILS) have introduced a LED Light engine designed specifically around the OSLON P1616 LEDs. As a result of this minuscule LED, we have developed a range of tiny MicroOSLON boards. Our MicroOSLON modules measure 11mm in diameter and are compact, powerful LED light sources built on aluminium substrates for optimal thermal management. Available with 200mm wires as standard.

Part Number	Description	Farnell	Image
ILM-IP01-BBEM-SC201-WIR200.	ILS OSLON P1616 MicroOSLON Broadband Emitter LED engine, with 200mm wires. >650-1050nm.	3782399