Lighting device for aircraft allowing the integration of additional functions at its center

• US 10,246,199 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense Cockpit Solutions
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Aero Electric
• Inventors: Millet, Philippe, Doule, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan P
• Application Number:
  US15/167,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/04 the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/934 on airport surfaces, e.g. while taxiing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/02 Automatic approach or landing aids, i.e. systems in which flight data of incoming planes are processed to provide landing data landing aids fitted in or to aircraft B64D45/04; visual or acoustic landing aids B64F1/18

Abstract

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light for an aircraft includes a hollow cylindrical body, a plurality of LEDs mounted in the hollow body, and at least one reflector to receive light beams emitted by the LEDs and configured to direct the light beams in a lighting direction of the LED light. The LEDs are mounted on a cylindrical support and disposed radially in the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical support has a polygonal contour.

Claims

1. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light for an aircraft, comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body attached to the aircraft'"'"'s exterior;

a plurality of LEDs, mounted in the hollow cylindrical body, to illuminate an area outside the aircraft; and

at least one reflector to receive light beams emitted by the LEDs and configured to direct the light beams in a lighting direction of the LED light,

wherein;

the LEDs are (i) mounted on a cylindrical support and (ii) disposed on an external peripheral wall of the support radially in the hollow cylindrical body, the cylindrical support having a polygonal contour;

at least one piece of equipment to execute an auxiliary function is mounted at a center of the support;

the at least one piece of equipment is selected from the group consisting of a radar and a sensor; and

the at least one piece of equipment and the LEDs are configured to function independently.

2. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein:

the external peripheral wall of the support is composed of multiple sides, angled relative to one another, that together form the polygonal contour of the support; and

each side of the cylindrical support having the polygonal contour comprises multiple LEDs of the plurality of LEDs.

3. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the piece of equipment is covered by a glass that is transparent to light.

4. The LED light according to claim 3, wherein the glass comprises a de-icer.

5. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the support includes a front face comprising a radiator for dissipating thermal energy, and the radiator is annular or disk shaped.

6. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the diodes are mounted on at least one printed circuit board fixed on the support.

7. The LED light according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic power supply card for powering the diodes mounted to and housed by the support in the body, the electronic power supply card being configured to supply power to the plurality of LEDs and the piece of equipment.

8. The LED light according to claim 7, wherein the electronic power supply card is housed between the external peripheral wall of the support and an internal wall of the support.

9. The LED light according to claim 8, wherein the electronic power supply card is annular in shape.

10. The LED light according to claim 1, further comprising an annular glass sealably covering the diodes and the reflector.

11. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a rear face comprising a radiator for dissipation of thermal energy.

12. The LED light according to claim 1, further comprising a set of juxtaposed reflector elements of revolution having a typically parabolic generatrix.

13. The LED light according to claim 12, wherein each diode is associated with a reflecting element.

14. The LED light according to claim 12, further comprising reflector elements inclinedly mounted with respect to the lighting direction of the LED light.

15. The LED light according to claim 14, wherein the reflector elements comprise injection molded plastic covered with a layer of light-reflecting aluminum.