Modern technologies are increasingly permeating daily life, becoming an invisible yet pivotal element of the spaces where we live and work. Access control systems, touch panels, and numeric keypads—once treated solely as technical infrastructure—are now at the center of discussions regarding security, hygiene, and accessibility. Their growing use in residential buildings, offices, and public institutions has turned them into high-traffic contact points prone to biological contamination, while simultaneously serving as critical interfaces between humans and technology.

Recent years have clearly demonstrated that traditional cleaning methods are not always sufficient, particularly where devices are used by hundreds of people daily. In this context, solutions that not only fulfill their primary utility but also actively address health and safety challenges are gaining importance. The automation of disinfection processes, the elimination of manual user intervention, and the utilization of physical methods over chemical cleaning agents are becoming the new frontier in consumer electronics. Technologies based on physical phenomena, such as cold plasma, play a unique role here, enabling the effective destruction of pathogens without degrading materials or compromising user comfort.

The intersection of these market needs and technological possibilities led to the development of the CODI LINEA AZZURRO product line by Grupa Techniczna CODI Jacek Rydzewski. The cold plasma self-disinfecting keypad is the result of years of research and development, as well as the consistent refinement of intercom systems and access interfaces. This solution is not merely an innovative disinfection mechanism; it is part of a broader philosophy of designing devices that are safe, durable, and accessible to a wide range of users, including people with disabilities.

In recent years, the way we use public and semi-public spaces has shifted significantly. What was previously regarded as mere technical infrastructure is now increasingly viewed through the lens of safety, hygiene, and accessibility for diverse user groups. Touch panels, keypads, and entry interfaces have become staples of our daily interaction with buildings, yet they also serve as potential vectors for biological hazards. The post-pandemic era has highlighted that manual disinfection methods often fail to keep pace with the intensity of device usage, making the need for automated, human-independent solutions a genuine technological challenge.

Products developed under the CODI LINEA AZZURRO line, including the self-disinfecting cold plasma keypad, represent a direct response to these needs. This solution combines decades of experience in intercom system design with advanced knowledge of electronics and plasma physics, offering a new standard in user safety. At the crossroads of technology, hygiene, and responsible design begins the story of a product that not only meets current market demands but also sets the course for the future of intelligent access interfaces.

Revolutionary Cold Plasma Technology

At the heart of the project lies a novel technology: self-disinfecting surfaces activated by cold plasma. This innovation integrates two seemingly conflicting functions — capacitive touch keyboard functionality and a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma generator. The user interacts with the panel as they would with any standard touch interface; however, once the interaction ends, an automatic disinfection cycle is initiated.

Technical Implementation and Design

The design employs a multilayer metal-ceramic composite (LTCC), enabling the generation of an electric field of several tens of kV/cm, without the risk of electrical breakdown or shock. A key challenge was to develop an electrode and dielectric system capable of operating in both touch and plasma modes.

For this purpose, a programmable high-voltage power supply with leakage and breakdown detection was designed, which cuts off voltage within fractions of a second in case of anomalies — ensuring full user safety.

Rigorous Testing and Validation

The project team conducted extensive laboratory tests, including:

These rigorous tests were crucial in verifying whether the design could withstand mechanical damage, variable weather conditions, and acts of vandalism typical in public environments.

Universal Design and Accessibility

Simultaneously, work was carried out to ensure universal design principles aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The developed panel accommodates users who are blind or hard of hearing, featuring:

Advanced Electronics and Control Systems

From an electronics perspective, the challenge lay in integrating traditional transistor driver functionality of the HV converter with low-level operational monitoring — including leakage current measurement, breakdown detection, and dynamic power shutoff.

Patent Protection and Innovation

This solution has been submitted for patent protection. Its innovation stems not only from using plasma for disinfection but especially from integrating this function with a conventional touch interface within a single electrode structure.

Previous disinfection methods, such as UV-C systems, are expensive, difficult to miniaturize, and come with significant safety and material degradation limitations. In contrast, cold plasma is safe for users, energy-efficient, and fully integrable with existing systems.

Commercial Implementation and Applications

It is worth noting that the project was implemented under the "Fast Track" program of the National Centre for Research and Development and was designed from the outset for practical implementation — both as an OEM solution for manufacturers of public-use equipment and as an upgrade component for existing infrastructure.