“It’s one thing to build a faster network; it’s another to build a healthier one.”
—John Coates, Founder of RF Safe & Inventor of Patent US11700058B2
The moment you step into a school hallway or hospital corridor these days, there’s a quiet urgency in the air: Are we really protected from the next outbreak? Is the hum of Wi-Fi routers enveloping us in invisible radiation we barely understand? And is there a path to safer connectivity in an era when “always on” is no longer optional but essential?
In the midst of that anxiety, John Coates, founder of RF Safe, stands at the forefront of a revolution. His patent, US11700058B2, proposes a radical departure from the status quo—wireless data networks that use Far-UVC light not just to transmit information at breathtaking speeds but also to neutralize airborne pathogens in real time. It may sound like science fiction: a single beam of ultraviolet light that acts as both the pipeline for your video calls and a silent guardian against infections. But Coates’s brainchild cuts to the heart of our modern predicament—how do we make progress without compromising health?
A New Dawn for Wireless Communication
From RF to Far-UVC: A Quiet Paradigm Shift
We’re all familiar with Wi-Fi, 5G, LTE—acronyms that have become signposts on our road to hyperconnectivity. But behind these signals lurk unsettled questions about radiation exposure, network security, and bandwidth congestion. Enter Far-UVC, a segment of ultraviolet light (roughly 200 to 230 nanometers) that:
- Cannot Penetrate Living Skin: Avoiding the deep tissue absorption that’s raised red flags in conventional radio-frequency systems.
- Destroys Pathogens on Contact: Harnessing germicidal properties that inactivate bacteria and viruses before they can spread.
- Offers “Zero-SAR”: Because it doesn’t embed energy deep into human tissues, it essentially bypasses the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) concerns inherent in microwave-based solutions.
“This is not just about faster speeds,” Coates says, a gentle conviction shaping every word. “It’s about building a network that puts human safety and public health first.”
John Coates: The Relentless Visionary
Long before COVID-19 drove global interest in indoor air quality, Coates was railing against hidden hazards in modern tech. Through RF Safe, he championed phone accessories that reduce radiation exposure, sounding alarms that many once dismissed. But with Patent US11700058B2, the conversation takes a dramatic turn—no longer are we merely mitigating microwave risks; we’re sidestepping them entirely while gaining a surprising benefit: germicidal action.
“Think of it as the Wi-Fi you already rely on, but delivered via photons that can’t penetrate your skin—yet can neutralize flu, coronaviruses, and who-knows-what-else floating in the air,” Coates explains with the same fervor that once made him a lone crusader. Now, his battle cry aligns with a world seeking post-pandemic solutions.
The Science of Far-UVC Communication
Killing Microbes, Not Connections
Far-UVC technology takes aim at the sweet spot in ultraviolet radiation—a frequency window that inactivates microorganisms without harming human tissues. Meanwhile, Coates’s invention leverages modulation techniques—pulse position modulation, OOK (on-off keying), or fixed-length digital pulse intervals—to imprint data onto these Far-UVC beams:
- Air Sterilization: The photons tear apart the DNA or RNA of airborne pathogens, breaking infection chains.
- High-Speed Data: Operating in the terahertz range, these light waves can achieve faster throughput than congested radio frequencies.
- Short Range, High Security: Far-UVC doesn’t travel far outside its intended space; plus, regular walls and window films easily block it—making eavesdropping from outside far less feasible.
Building Toward “Zero-SAR” Networks
Conventional radio waves, from Wi-Fi to cellular towers, deposit energy into our tissues. Agencies like the FCC set exposure guidelines, but debate persists. Coates sidesteps that entirely: Far-UVC simply doesn’t penetrate to living cells that could be damaged.
“It’s like shining a bright light on your hand without it passing through,” he says, “except this beam also cleans the air.” The notion of zero-SAR networks—where radiation absorption effectively hits zero—once seemed idealistic. Now, it’s perched on the horizon, thanks to Far-UVC’s unique properties.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
A Post-Pandemic World Demands Smarter Environments
As vaccines rolled out and people tiptoed back into offices, one sobering reality remained: pathogens still abound, and nobody wants a new outbreak. The impetus to re-engineer spaces—offices, classrooms, healthcare facilities—became urgent. Coates’s Far-UVC approach offers a golden trifecta:
- Biological Safety: Continuous inactivation of microbes circulating in shared air.
- Data Connectivity: Seamless high-speed transmission without the pitfalls of radio frequencies.
- Secure Interiors: Signals stay largely confined to the interior environment, reducing the risk of hacking or accidental exposure.
Environmental Imperative
Those massive radio and cellphone towers dotting our landscapes are power-hungry, not to mention the labyrinth of frequencies saturating every urban setting. Far-UVC networks, especially in synergy with Li-Fi (light-fidelity solutions), can streamline energy usage. One set of lights can do two jobs—illuminate and communicate—while also disinfecting. This multiplies gains for eco-conscious architects, city planners, and policy-makers looking to optimize infrastructure.
Inside the Patent: How It All Works
US11700058B2 details a system that modulates germicidal Far-UVC light for wireless data. Key features:
- Smart Control: Sensors measure air conditions—humidity, particulate density, occupant count—and dynamically adjust the Far-UVC intensity to ensure both optimal data transmission and safe sanitation.
- Two-Way Communication: Devices can both send and receive signals on Far-UVC frequencies, enabling a robust network akin to how Wi-Fi routers and clients interchange data.
- Invisible, But Powerful: Far-UVC beams are beyond visible light, so they don’t affect normal lighting aesthetics yet silently combat microbial threats.
Coates envisions entire city blocks with overhead Far-UVC fixtures, enabling residents to shop, dine, and work, all while breathing disinfected air and tapping into secure, zero-SAR data streams. “We’ve normalized overhead lights for illumination,” he says. “Why not elevate them to champions of health and connectivity?”
Stories from the Field: Potential Game-Changers
- Hospitals: ICU wards fraught with antibiotic-resistant bacteria could adopt Far-UVC networks to reduce transmission risk while sharing patient data at lightning speeds.
- Schools: Classrooms become safer zones, minimizing flu outbreaks, while future-proofing education with immersive digital learning.
- Offices: Remote workers returning to physical spaces can rely on advanced collaboration tools minus the microbial or electromagnetic pollution.
- Public Transport: Buses, trains, and planes could harness overhead Far-UVC for both passenger Wi-Fi and continuous air sanitation—potentially a boon during peak travel seasons.
A Glimpse at the Future
Beyond Wi-Fi: Li-Fi + Far-UVC Synergy
While Li-Fi typically uses visible or near-infrared light, weaving in Far-UVC could extend the concept to pathogen-free zones. Imagine each LED fixture in your home or office doubling as a “smart node,” seamlessly toggling between visible, infrared, and Far-UVC spectrums based on user preference or health protocols.
Public Policy Shifts
In a forward-thinking municipality, building codes might soon mandate Far-UVC networks in new construction, much like mandatory fire sprinkler systems or energy-efficient windows—turning every ceiling light into a safety net. With the lessons from recent pandemics still fresh, city councils could champion such measures to create tangible health benefits for citizens.
Reflections from John Coates
For Coates, this invention is more than a patent—it’s a culmination of decades advocating for safer wireless solutions. RF Safe began with phone cases that reduce microwave exposure; it now charts a path where we don’t need to reduce SAR values—we can simply eliminate them. And in so doing, we turn our daily reliance on connectivity into a tool for better public health.
“At the end of the day,” Coates muses, “we’re wired to want both convenience and safety. If we can have streaming video and disinfected air from the same beam of light, why wouldn’t we do it?”
A Beacon of Hope in the UV Spectrum
In an age when every breath we take can feel like a gamble, the prospect of a germ-killing, zero-SAR network transcends mere technical achievement—it stands as a humanitarian milestone. Coates’s Far-UVC vision ties together our aspirations for better connectivity, safer communities, and a future in which technology serves us without silent harm.
Pulitzer-level breakthroughs often rest in simple yet profound truths: that the best innovations don’t merely chase commercial success; they safeguard human lives. John Coates’s Far-UVC patent does exactly that—shining a light on how a single invention can reconcile the unstoppable momentum of the digital age with the very human need for safety and well-being.
And in that beam—silent, invisible, yet life-changing—lies our glimpse of tomorrow.
About John Coates
John Coates is the founder of RF Safe, dedicating his career to minimizing risks from wireless technologies. With a fervent belief that innovation can exist without endangering public health, he pioneered solutions that reduce radiation exposure for mobile devices. His latest venture, Patent US11700058B2, is a radical leap toward a future where Far-UVC light fosters high-speed connectivity and germicidal safety, transforming how the world communicates in a post-pandemic era.