Enhanced UV Emitter Module with Improved Cooling Efficiency and Flexibility

Publication ID: 24-11857686_0001_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced UV Emitter Module with Improved Cooling Efficiency and Flexibility,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857686_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857686_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,686.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An advanced UV emitter module designed to provide enhanced cooling efficiency, reduced air resistance, and improved flexibility for various applications, building upon the original UV lamp module concept.

Background and Problem Solved

The original UV lamp module patent had limitations in terms of cooling efficiency, air resistance, and flexibility. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing curved side walls, vibration-damping platforms, temperature-sensing devices, anti-reflective coatings, and interchangeable UV lamps, ensuring improved performance and adaptability.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced UV emitter module comprises a lamp arrangement with multiple low-pressure mercury lamps, each having a longitudinal axis, surrounded by a waterproof housing with curved side walls to minimize air resistance and improve cooling efficiency. The lamp arrangement is mounted on a vibration-damping platform to reduce the impact of external vibrations. The housing features a temperature-sensing device to monitor internal temperature and adjust the cooling system accordingly. The beam exit window is coated with an anti-reflective material to minimize UV radiation loss. Furthermore, the lamp arrangement is designed to accommodate interchangeable UV lamps with different spectral characteristics, allowing for flexible adaptation to various applications.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces novel features such as curved side walls, vibration-damping platforms, temperature-sensing devices, anti-reflective coatings, and interchangeable UV lamps, which provide a non-obvious improvement over the original patent. These features collectively enhance the UV emitter module's performance, efficiency, and adaptability, thereby providing a significant inventive step.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include varying the curvature of the side walls, using different materials for the vibration-damping platform, or integrating additional temperature control mechanisms. The interchangeable UV lamps could be designed with different spectral characteristics, power levels, or geometries to cater to diverse applications.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced UV emitter module has significant commercial potential in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, surface treatment, and medical device sterilization. The improved cooling efficiency, reduced air resistance, and increased flexibility make it an attractive solution for various applications, offering a competitive edge in the market.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61L2/10
H H01 H01J61/523
H H01 H01J61/72

Field of Art

Ultraviolet lamp technology, specifically low-pressure mercury lamp modules for substrate irradiation, involving thermal management, optical design, and mechanical engineering in photochemical and industrial processing applications

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled engineer with expertise in UV lamp design, thermal engineering, optical systems, and mechanical packaging, typically holding a BS/MS in engineering with 3-5 years of experience in photochemical equipment design

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering improvements to the source patent's UV lamp module design, utilizing standard design optimization techniques such as aerodynamic shaping, vibration mitigation, and thermal monitoring that are well-known in precision optical and thermal engineering systems.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Waterproof housing with side walls surrounding multiple low-pressure mercury lamps
PTD Variation
Curved side walls designed to reduce air resistance and improve cooling efficiency
Obviousness Reasoning
Aerodynamic shaping of structural elements is a standard design optimization technique for reducing fluid resistance, which would be an obvious approach for a PHOSITA seeking to improve thermal management and energy efficiency
Source Patent Element
Lamp arrangement within a fixed housing
PTD Variation
Mounting lamp arrangement on a vibration-damping platform
Obviousness Reasoning
Vibration isolation is a known technique in precision optical systems to reduce mechanical interference, representing a predictable engineering solution for improving system stability
Source Patent Element
Basic UV lamp module housing
PTD Variation
Temperature-sensing device to monitor internal temperature and adjust cooling system
Obviousness Reasoning
Active thermal monitoring is a standard control strategy in precision thermal systems, representing an obvious enhancement for managing equipment performance and reliability
Source Patent Element
Beam exit window in UV lamp module
PTD Variation
Anti-reflective coating on beam exit window to minimize UV radiation loss
Obviousness Reasoning
Optical coatings to improve transmission and reduce reflective losses are well-established techniques in optical engineering, representing a predictable optimization approach
Source Patent Element
Fixed lamp configuration in UV module
PTD Variation
Interchangeable UV lamps with different spectral characteristics
Obviousness Reasoning
Modular design allowing component substitution is a standard engineering approach for increasing system flexibility, representing an obvious extension of existing design principles
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857686 and the published technical disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed variations to be obvious modifications representing predictable engineering improvements. The disclosed technical variations constitute prior art demonstrating that the claimed innovations would have been obvious to a skilled practitioner at the time of invention, lacking the requisite non-obviousness for patent protection.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,686
TitleUV emitter module and use thereof
Assignee(s)HERAEUS NOBLELIGHT GMBH