Abstract: System that monitors and manages a network of smart filtering containers, such as water pitchers with integrated sensors. Measurements are collected from the containers and forwarded to a centralized system, such as an Internet server; data may be analyzed to determine performance modifications or recommendations for selected containers. Centralizing the data enables discovery of patterns and correlations across containers; for example, abnormal measurements from multiple pitchers in an area may suggest contamination of the area's water supply. The centralized system may automatically update settings of containers to optimize their performance. It may send messages to users suggesting different usage patterns or configurations. It may automatically order components such as replacement filters or upgrades.

Abstract: A container for liquids that measures flow using capacitive sensor strips. Capacitance data is processed to identify points in time when liquid levels reach or pass specified levels, and flow metrics may be calculated from these points in time. Embodiments may use one or more horizontal capacitive strips, which may be located in a removable sensing package that is not in contact with the liquid in the container. Because discrete points in time are used instead of analog fluid level measurements, flow metrics are more robust than previous approaches that use vertical parallel capacitors within the container to continuously measure fluid levels. The container may have a filter, and capacitance data may be used to calculate metrics such as filter flow rate and cumulative volume through the filter, and to identify when the filter needs to be replaced. Embodiments may use UV light to sanitize the liquid or the filter.

Abstract: A liquid treatment device includes a base with a power source, a UV-LED module for providing UV-B or UV-C light to liquid, an LED for providing visible light, and a processor for selectively powering the UV-LED module and the LED, and having a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted from the base housing, and a liquid storage housing removably coupled to the base housing with a storage portion configured to hold liquid and having a bottom portion comprising a UV transmissive material for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted into the liquid, and an output coupled for restricting outflow of the liquid from the storage portion.

Abstract: A method for a water bottle comprising, coupling a cap to bottle housing such that an interior of the water bottle and the cap form a water-tight region, receiving a button push on the cap, determining with a light sensor whether visible light is present in a vicinity of a UV LED light source disposed within the cap, in response to the push of the button, initiating providing with a UV LED light source UV light to the interior in response to the push of the button and in response to absence of the visible light within the vicinity of the UV LED light source, and inhibiting providing with the UV light to the interior after a period of time after the initiating providing UV light to the interior or in response to determining the visible light being present in the vicinity of the UV LED light source.

Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.

Abstract: A liquid treatment device includes a base with a power source, a UV-LED module for providing UV-B or UV-C light to liquid, an LED for providing visible light, and a processor for selectively powering the UV-LED module and the LED, and having a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted from the base housing, and a liquid storage housing removably coupled to the base housing with a storage portion configured to hold liquid and having a bottom portion comprising a UV transmissive material for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted into the liquid, and an output coupled for restricting outflow of the liquid from the storage portion.

Abstract: A treatment device includes a base having a battery, a UV-LED for providing UV-C light during a UV sterilization process, LEDs for providing visible light during the UV sterilization process, and a controller for initiating the UV sterilization process, a translucent ring on the base for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user, a first coupling structure on the base, a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module, and a water storage removably coupled to the base having a sidewall structure for confining water, a second coupling structure below the sidewall structure for coupling with the first coupling structure to thereby create a water-tight seal between the water storage and the base, and a translucent material disposed upon the top opening of the water storage for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user.

Abstract: A liquid treatment device includes a base with a power source, a UV-LED module for providing UV-B or UV-C light to liquid, an LED for providing visible light, and a processor for selectively powering the UV-LED module and the LED, and having a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted from the base housing, and a liquid storage housing removably coupled to the base housing with a storage portion configured to hold liquid and having a bottom portion comprising a UV transmissive material for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted into the liquid, and an output coupled for restricting outflow of the liquid from the storage portion.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting device includes receiving a UV transmissive substrate, forming a first UV transmissive layer comprising aluminum nitride upon the UV transmissive substrate using a first deposition technique at a temperature less than about 800 degrees Celsius or greater than about 1200 degrees Celsius, forming a second UV transmissive layer comprising aluminum nitride upon the first UV transmissive layer comprising aluminum nitride using a second deposition technique that is different from the first deposition technique, at a temperature within a range of about 800 degrees Celsius to about 1200 degrees Celsius, forming an n-type layer comprising aluminum gallium nitride layer upon the second UV transmissive layer, forming one or more quantum well structures comprising aluminum gallium nitride upon the n-type layer, and forming a p-type nitride layer upon the one or more quantum well structures.

Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.

Abstract: A method for a hand-held device comprising illuminating, with a first UV LED associated with the hand-held device, a surface of an object with UV light, acquiring with a visible-light image sensor on the hand-held device, a first image of the surface of the object while the surface of the object is illuminated by the first UV LED, performing with the processor in the hand-held device, a function upon the first image to determine a type of contaminant disposed upon the surface of the object, determining with the processor in the hand-held device, sanitation techniques to perform in response to the type of contaminant that is determined, and displaying with a touch-screen display on the hand-held device, the sanitation techniques to the user.

Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.

Abstract: An water providing apparatus includes a input portion for receiving untreated water, a treatment portion for treating and outputting treated water having a UV treatment module for reducing pathogens, a filtering mechanism for reducing physical and chemical impurities, a UV analysis module for determining levels of the impurities in the untreated water and for determining levels of impurities in the treated water, a processing unit for determining whether the levels of impurities in the treated water exceed a threshold, a reporting module for outputting the levels of the impurities in the untreated and treated water to a remote monitoring service, and a water output portion for providing the treated water if safe, and for inhibiting output of the treated water if unsafe.

Abstract: A portable baby bottle sterilization device includes a housing having disposed therein an inner lining defining a bottle sterilization cavity, wherein the bottle sterilization cavity includes an opening, and wherein the inner lining is configured to receive one or more baby bottles therein through the opening, a power source, a plurality of UV LEDs coupled to the power source and to the inner lining, wherein the plurality of UV LED configured to provide UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a processor coupled to the power source and to the plurality of UV LEDs, wherein the processor is configured to control intensity and duration of the UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover is repositionable relative to the housing, wherein the cover can be positioned to removably cover the opening of the bottle sterilization cavity.

Abstract: A portable baby bottle sterilization device includes a housing having disposed therein an inner lining defining a bottle sterilization cavity, wherein the bottle sterilization cavity includes an opening, and wherein the inner lining is configured to receive one or more baby bottles therein through the opening, a power source, a plurality of UV LEDs coupled to the power source and to the inner lining, wherein the plurality of UV LED configured to provide UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a processor coupled to the power source and to the plurality of UV LEDs, wherein the processor is configured to control intensity and duration of the UV-C light within the bottle sterilization cavity, and a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover is repositionable relative to the housing, wherein the cover can be positioned to removably cover the opening of the bottle sterilization cavity.

Abstract: A method for a hand-held device comprising illuminating, with a first UV LED associated with the hand-held device, a surface of an object with UV light, acquiring with a visible-light image sensor on the hand-held device, a first image of the surface of the object while the surface of the object is illuminated by the first UV LED, performing with the processor in the hand-held device, a function upon the first image to determine a type of contaminant disposed upon the surface of the object, determining with the processor in the hand-held device, sanitation techniques to perform in response to the type of contaminant that is determined, and displaying with a touch-screen display on the hand-held device, the sanitation techniques to the user.

Abstract: A UV illumination method includes moving a UV peripheral separate from a smart device to location associated with a plurality of target surfaces, selecting a UV illumination application executing upon the smart device, selecting an icon from within the UV illumination application, sending via a wireless communication mechanism of the smart device to the UV peripheral, instructions to turn on a UV light disposed in the UV peripheral in response to the selection of the icon, receiving via a wireless communication mechanism disposed in the UV peripheral, the instructions to turn on the UV light, illuminating, with the UV light within the UV peripheral, sanitizing UV light to the plurality of target surfaces other than surfaces of the smart device in response to the instructions, and thereafter terminating illuminating, with the UV light within the UV peripheral, the sanitizing UV light from the plurality of target surfaces.