Methods and devices for light distribution in an aircraft, and aircraft including such devices
First Claim
1. A passenger aircraft, comprising:
- a cabin floor within a passenger cabin of the passenger aircraft, wherein the cabin floor comprises an aisle having an aisle width;
a plurality of passenger seats arranged on the cabin floor, forming one or more rows of adjacent passenger seats; and
a plurality of lighting components for illuminating the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, each respective lighting component of the plurality of lighting components comprising;
a housing defining a cavity and including a light channel configured to allow light to exit the housing, wherein the housing restricts light from exiting the housing other than through the light channel;
a light source contained within the cavity of the housing and configured to emit visible light towards the light channel, wherein the light source creates a light pattern on the aisle of the cabin floor, and wherein the light pattern has a width cone that is sufficient to span the aisle width;
a reflector surface configured to reflect visible light emanating from the light source through the light channel and towards the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the reflector surface is curved and at least partially defines the light channel, and wherein the reflector surface is substantially concave facing the light channel of the lighting component; and
an optical absorber surface arranged with respect to the reflector surface such that the optical absorber surface is configured to restrict visible light emanating from the light source from exiting the light channel in a direction towards a cabin ceiling opposite the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the optical absorber surface of each respective lighting component is substantially convex facing the light channel, and wherein each respective lighting component is coupled to a respective passenger seat of the plurality of passenger seats.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Lighting components for illuminating an aisle portion of a cabin floor of an aircraft, and aircraft and passenger seats for an aircraft including the same are disclosed. Said lighting components are configured to illuminate at least a portion of the aisle, between adjacent passenger seats positioned on either side of the aisle. The lighting components are configured to direct light towards the cabin floor using a specially designed housing and reflector surface that are designed to illuminate objects in the aisle, while minimizing light pollution in the cabin and detection by passengers on board the aircraft. Said lighting components are optionally mounted on one or more passenger seats, and/or may be integrally formed with a passenger seat. Lighting components include a curved reflector surface configured to reflect light from a light source positioned within the housing such that it is directed towards the aisle to create the desired illumination.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A passenger aircraft, comprising:
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a cabin floor within a passenger cabin of the passenger aircraft, wherein the cabin floor comprises an aisle having an aisle width; a plurality of passenger seats arranged on the cabin floor, forming one or more rows of adjacent passenger seats; and a plurality of lighting components for illuminating the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, each respective lighting component of the plurality of lighting components comprising; a housing defining a cavity and including a light channel configured to allow light to exit the housing, wherein the housing restricts light from exiting the housing other than through the light channel; a light source contained within the cavity of the housing and configured to emit visible light towards the light channel, wherein the light source creates a light pattern on the aisle of the cabin floor, and wherein the light pattern has a width cone that is sufficient to span the aisle width; a reflector surface configured to reflect visible light emanating from the light source through the light channel and towards the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the reflector surface is curved and at least partially defines the light channel, and wherein the reflector surface is substantially concave facing the light channel of the lighting component; and an optical absorber surface arranged with respect to the reflector surface such that the optical absorber surface is configured to restrict visible light emanating from the light source from exiting the light channel in a direction towards a cabin ceiling opposite the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the optical absorber surface of each respective lighting component is substantially convex facing the light channel, and wherein each respective lighting component is coupled to a respective passenger seat of the plurality of passenger seats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for illuminating a cabin floor of a passenger aircraft, the system comprising:
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a plurality of lighting components, each lighting component comprising; a housing, wherein the housing defines a cavity and a light channel configured to allow light to exit the housing, wherein the housing restricts light from exiting the housing other than through the light channel; a light source contained within the cavity of the housing and configured to emit visible light towards the light channel, wherein the light source creates a light pattern on an aisle of the cabin floor, and wherein the light pattern has a width cone that is sufficient to span an aisle width of the aisle of the cabin floor; a reflector surface configured to reflect visible light emanating from the light source through the light channel and towards the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the reflector surface is curved and forms a portion of the light channel, and wherein the reflector surface is substantially concave facing the light channel of the lighting component; and an optical absorber surface arranged with respect to the reflector surface such that the optical absorber surface is configured to restrict visible light emanating from the light source from exiting the light channel in a direction towards a cabin ceiling opposite the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the optical absorber surface of each respective lighting component is substantially convex facing the light channel; and a plurality of passenger seats positioned within the passenger aircraft, wherein each passenger seat of the plurality of passenger seats includes a respective lighting component of the plurality of lighting components. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for illuminating a cabin floor of a passenger aircraft, the method comprising:
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powering a plurality of lighting components using one or more selected from the group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, solar energy, an electrical system of the passenger aircraft, and energy harvesting, wherein each lighting component of the plurality of lighting components comprises; a housing, wherein the housing defines a cavity and a light channel configured to allow light to exit the housing, wherein the housing restricts light from exiting the housing other than through the light channel; a light source contained within the cavity of the housing and configured to emit visible light towards the light channel; a reflector surface configured to reflect light emanating from the light source through the light channel and towards the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the reflector surface is curved and forms a portion of the light channel, and wherein the reflector surface is substantially concave facing the light channel of the lighting component; and an optical absorber surface arranged with respect to the reflector surface such that the optical absorber surface is configured to restrict visible light emanating from the light source from exiting the light channel in a direction towards a cabin ceiling opposite the cabin floor of the passenger aircraft, wherein the optical absorber surface of each respective lighting component is substantially convex facing the light channel; and forming a light pattern on an aisle portion of the cabin floor using the plurality of lighting components, wherein the light pattern has a width cone that is sufficient to span an aisle width of the aisle portion of the cabin floor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification