Aircraft exterior lighting multi-emitter array for variable beam profile

Abstract

An aircraft exterior lighting multi-LED array for variable beam profile enables illumination of landing and taxi lights from a common fixture. An optic enables direction of luminance emitted from at least one central emitter (or cluster of emitters) along steradians illuminated when landing while directing luminance emitted from at least one peripheral emitter (or cluster of emitters) along steradians illuminated when taxiing.

Claims

1. An aircraft exterior lighting multi-LED array enabling variable beam profiles for both landing and taxi lights upon an aircraft, said exterior lighting multi-LED array comprising: a fixture; at least one central emitter disposed centrally in the fixture under at least a first collimator; and at least one peripheral emitter disposed off-center in the fixture under at least a second collimator; wherein a single circuit controls switching between landing lighting and taxi lighting on the aircraft exterior by activating and deactivating the at least one peripheral emitter in lieu of, and in addition to, the at least one central emitter.

2. The multi-LED array of claim 1 wherein the at least one peripheral emitter includes a plurality of emitters diametrically situated on either side of the at least one central emitter.

3. The multi-LED array of claim 1 wherein the at least one peripheral emitter includes a plurality of emitters radially disposed circumferentially around the at least one central emitter.

4. The multi-LED of claim 1 wherein the collimator associated with the at least one central emitter is a lens integral with the collimator associated with the at least one peripheral emitter.

5. The multi-LED of claim 1 wherein the collimator associated with the at least one central emitter and the collimator associated with the at least one peripheral emitter are separate lenses.

6. An aircraft exterior lighting multi-LED array enabling variable beam profiles for both landing and taxi lights upon an aircraft, said exterior lighting multi-LED array comprising: a fixture; at least one condenser interior to the fixture; at least one central cluster of emitters disposed within the condenser and centrally in the housing under at least a first collimator; and at least one peripheral cluster of emitters disposed within the condenser off-center in the fixture and under at least a second collimator; wherein a single circuit controls switching between landing lighting and taxi lighting on the aircraft exterior by activating and deactivating the at least one cluster of peripheral emitters in lieu of, and in addition to, the at least one cluster of central emitters.

7. The multi-LED array of claim 6 wherein the at least one peripheral cluster of emitters includes a plurality of clusters diametrically situated on either side of the at least one central cluster of emitters.

8. The multi-LED array of claim 6 wherein the at least one peripheral cluster of emitter includes a plurality of emitters radially disposed circumferentially around the at least one central cluster of emitters.

9. The multi-LED of claim 6 wherein the collimator associated with the at least one central cluster of emitters is a lens integral with the collimator associated with the at least one peripheral cluster of emitters.

10. The multi-LED of claim 6 wherein the collimator associated with the at least one central cluster of emitters and the collimator associated with the at least one peripheral cluster of emitters are separate lenses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top elevation view of an example embodiment of an aircraft exterior multi-emitter array for variable beam profile fixture with an optic removed to illustrate at least one central emitter and at least one peripheral emitter situated thereabouts.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of an example embodiment of the aircraft exterior multi-emitter array for variable beam profile fixture with the optic removed to illustrate at least one central emitter surrounded by a plurality of peripheral emitters.

(4) FIG. 3 is a transverse section view, taken along a line 3-3 of FIG. 1 bisecting the fixture to show, diagrammatically, the light path produced by each of the emitters through the optic.

(5) FIG. 4 is transverse section view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating idealized and simplified collimators that direct illuminance within a condenser wherein each of the emitters is disposed.

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the fixture installed upon the exterior of an aircraft with all emitters illuminated to demonstrate the collimation of the beams produced.

(7) FIG. 6 is a simplified circuit diagram view illustrating the common circuit running each of the emitters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) The present aircraft exterior multi-emitter array for variable beam profile 10 has been devised to enable independent illumination and control of landing and taxiing lights for an aircraft run on a common circuit and illuminated within a common light fixture 100. Combining dual lighting capabilities within one light fixture 100 requires less space on the exterior of the aircraft fuselage to mount said lights and therefore presents less circuitry rigged for the lighting systems and less drag.

(9) Further, the use of low-energy Light Emitting Diodes (“LEDs”) enables illuminance at relatively lower power demands and increases lifespan of the lights. The variable beam profile enabled by the instant multi-emitter array 10 is accomplished by situating at least one central emitter 50 beneath an optic and placing at least one peripheral emitter 70 spaced-apart from the said at least one central emitter 50 such that illuminance from the at least one peripheral emitter 70 is collimated and/or reflected and/or refracted and/or focused (collectively, herein throughout, “directed”) into a more lateral aspect relative the aircraft proper (that is, in a coronal plane relative to the aircraft's longitudinal axis for use when taxiing) versus a central beam, directed from the at least one central emitter 50, forwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft (for use when landing).

(10) Referring to FIG. 1, an example of the instant multi-emitter array 10 is illustrated with optic 20 removed to show at least one central emitter 50 disposed, in this example embodiment, between two diametrically disposed peripheral emitters 70 in condenser 22. It should be noted that any plurality of peripheral emitters 70 is contemplated as within the scope of this disclosure, in any peripheral arrangement as surrounding or spaced-apart from the at least one central emitter 50. In the example embodiment depicted, each of the emitters 50, 70 shown is contemplated to be an LED. However, other emitters are contemplated as within scope of this invention (including, for example, Organic Light Emitting Diodes (“OLEDS”); compact fluorescents (“CFLs”); halogens; metal halides; and other sources of electrically producible light operable in circuit), the principal inventive step contemplated herein being the relative arrangement of emitters comprising a multi-emitter array, and not a particular source of light.

(11) In this example embodiment, at least one central emitter 50 includes four emitters disposed in adjacent proximity. The number of emitters comprising the at least one central emitter 50 may include such plurality as is adapted to meet FAA standards of luminous intensity along a given steradian at a desired power or in creating a desired hue. Further, including a plurality of emitters ensures multiple points of failure before the at least one central emitter 50 goes dark. Further, some of the emitters comprising the at least one central emitter 50 may be independently operable—that is, when a first central emitter is illuminated a second central emitter may not be illuminated. When the first central emitter is not illuminated, but power is fed to the branch wherein the at least one central emitter is disposed, then the second central emitter is illuminated. In other words, the at least one central emitter 50 may include central emitters capable of illuminating in the alternative when power is fed to the circuit and at least one of the central emitters fails. Additionally some emitters may be operable to create a desired luminous intensity or particular hue, say, intermittently or consistently.

(12) In this example embodiment depicted, the at least one peripheral emitter 70 includes two clusters of peripheral emitters disposed diametrically apart on either side of the at least one central emitter 50. In this example embodiment, each of the two clusters of emitters includes at least two emitters each, for the same reasons as described above, thereby providing multiple points of failure. Each of these emitters may illuminate together, to create a desired intensity or range of hues, or in the alternative as set forth regarding the at the at least one central emitter above. It should be noted, of course, that additional emitters may be included in each cluster of the peripheral emitters, the intent being to provide an array of emitters whence luminance is directable along desired steradians in creating the variable beam profile the said light fixtures are herein devised to produce.

(13) FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of fixture 100 wherein the at least one peripheral emitter 70 is disposed as a plurality of emitters circumferentially disposed surrounding the at least one central emitter 50. Alternative embodiments are contemplated as within scope of this disclosure, including for example peripheral emitters disposed at repeating segments around the at least one central emitter, as for example, at 90° increments, 120° increments, 45° increments, 72° increments, and so on. Additionally, the shape shown herein is circular, however the distribution of the at least one peripheral emitter is contemplated to occupy any shape wherein the said at least one peripheral emitter 70 is able to illuminate along a directed beam in contrast to the directed beam illuminated by the at least one central emitter 50, whereby the at least one peripheral emitter 70 is suited for use when taxiing and the at least one central emitter 50 is suited for use when landing.

(14) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of an idealized, simplified form of the instant multi-emitter array 10, taken in cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a simplified view of an example embodiment of the various beam profiles the instant light fixture 100 enables. In this simplified rendering, luminance emitted from the at least one central emitter 50 is directed into beam 102 directed forward in a capacity suited for landing. Conversely, luminance emitted from the at least one peripheral emitter 70 is directed into beam 104 separate from and distinct beam 102 directed from the at least one central emitter 50. Optic 20 and condenser 22 are adapted to direct the various beams according to steradians appropriate for use during landing (in the case of the at least one central emitter 50) and taxiing (in the case of the at least one peripheral emitter 70). It should be noted that the optic 20 and condenser 22 may be devised to enable multiple beam profiles adapted to the number and placement of the at least one peripheral emitter 70 in relation to the at least one central emitter 50. Nonetheless, luminance is directed along such steradians as meet the FAA standards required for landing and taxiing lights.

(16) FIG. 4 is a transverse view of an example embodiment of fixture 100 illustrating idealized collimators associated with each emitter. In this idealized figure, emitters 70A, 70B, and 50 are disposed in condenser 22 in association with corresponding collimators A, B, and C respectively. Each of the said collimators A, B, and C is devised to direct light emitted by the associated emitter 70A, 70B, and 50, into equivalent beams 104 and 102 shown in FIG. 3. The term collimator is used herein to mean any physical structure by which emittance is directable (focused, reflected, refracted, collimated, and/or directed) into a desired beam profile, and may consist entirely of surfaces and sections of optic 20 and or condenser 22. Each collimator, however, may include additional structures not shown that enable the direction of light to produce beams 102 and 104, and may include use of lenses, reflectors, refractors, or other physical structures enabling translucence and/or the direction and collimation of light into distinct beams. In an example embodiment contemplated herein and shown, each collimator A, B, and C, is producible by condenser 22 surface surrounding each associated emitter reflecting light generally toward an associated section of optic 20, which then focuses the incident rays upon said associated section into an associated beam (see also FIG. 3).

(17) FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an example embodiment of the multi-emitter array fixture 100 in-use on the exterior of an aircraft 700. Fixtures 100 are overrepresented in this stylized diagram for purposes of illustration only. Axis 500 represents the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, from nose to tail. Beams are illustrated by way of example only, to show the directed landing light beam 102 relative to the taxiing beams 104.

(18) FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a simplified circuit illustrating a to possible means of connecting the various emitters 50, 70 in parallel to be independently operable while run in the same circuit. Independent switches 80 enable such independent operation. Master switch 82 may enable powering to circuit as a whole. It should be noted that additional branch circuits may be included to enable illuminating emitters in the alternative, such as when failure of one emitter causes illumination of an alternative emitter disposed in similar situation within the fixture.