Cellphone bug detector

The microphone and earpiece cavities in a cellphone make a warm and comfy breeding ground for bacteria. Squirting germicide into the holes can damage the electronics but now Motorola has a better way to kill bugs.It has patented a phone containing an LED that radiates ultra-violet light with a wavelength of 250 nanometres which is particularly lethal to bacteria. Optical guides inside the phone body steer the UV light into the cavities. Sanitising only takes around 3 minutes, the company claims.To protect the owner against UV exposure, the light only shines when a flip cover is closed over the cavities. To save battery drain, the light is only activated when the phone is being charged. In an alternative design, the phone comes with a charger which contains a UV lamp with "light pipes" that channel light into the phone when it is sitting in its cradle.