Multi-platform LED-based aircraft rear position light

• US 20050201112A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Singer, Jeffrey M., Machi, Nicolo F., McKenzie, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/470
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/046 the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An aircraft rear position light device (1) has a modular configuration. The device utilizes solid-state light sources. In an exemplary embodiment, the light sources are side-emitting light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (40), which are attached to a heat sink (30). A reflector (200) is positioned next to each of the LEDs. The device further includes an outer lens (10) with an integrated cut-off shield (110) and optical treatments (120). The configuration of LEDs and reflectors, in conjunction with the cut-off shield and optical treatments, allows the emitted light to satisfy predetermined minimum and maximum angular intensity requirements. An electronics module (50) is also attached to the heat sink to connect the LEDs to a power source in the aircraft. Electronic updates may be made by replacing the electronics module.

Claims

1. A rear position lighting device configured to be installed on an aircraft having a particular mounting platform, the device comprising:

a plurality of modular components including a heat sink and one or more solid-state light sources fastened to the heat sink,

wherein the modular components are configured so that the device is operably compatible with multiple types of mounting platforms.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the solid-state light sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit a white light.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein at least two of the LEDs are side-emitting LEDs.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising an outer lens,

wherein an emitter in each of the side-emitting LEDs is oriented to emit light from the emitter'"'"'s sides through the outer lens.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising at least two reflectors, each corresponding to one of the side-emitting LEDs,

wherein each reflector is configured to redirect light from the sides of the emitter in the corresponding side-emitting LED, so that the redirected light is transmitted through the outer lens.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising at least two fastening modules, each configured to fasten one of the side-emitting LEDs to the heat sink,

wherein each of the reflectors is attached to a corresponding one of the fastening modules.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein dimensions of the heat sink and the outer lens are compatible with each of the multiple types of mounting platforms, thereby allowing the device to be mounted to the mounting platform without retrofitting the device or modifying the mounting platform.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the outer lens includes optical treatments.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the outer lens module includes

a cut-off shield configured to limit the light transmitted through the outer lens according to predetermined angular cut-off parameters.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an interchangeable electronics module operably attached to the heat sink, the electronics module including circuitry configured to electrically connect the solid state light sources to a power source of the aircraft.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module is one of the following two interchangeable types:

a first type whose electronic circuitry is passive, and a second type whose electronic circuitry is active.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the electronics module is of the second type, the active electronic circuitry being configured as a current control device for distributing a constant current to the solid state light sources as the power source voltage fluctuates.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a casting of the heat sink comprises cooling fins incorporated in the casting of the heat sink module.

14. A rear position lighting device for an aircraft, which is configured to emit light satisfying a minimum intensity within an angular range, the device comprising:

a heat sink;

two side-emitting LEDs operably connected to the heat sink, each having an emitter configured so that light is emitted from the emitter'"'"'s sides within the angular range; and

two reflectors, each corresponding to one of side-emitting LEDs, the reflector being configured to reflect light from the sides of the emitter in the corresponding side-emitting LED, so that the reflected light is transmitted within the angular range.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

two fastening modules, each fastening module being configured to clamp one of the side-emitting LEDs against the heat sink,

wherein each of the reflectors is operably attached to a corresponding one of the fastening modules.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising

a cut-off shield configured to limit the emitted light of the device according to angular cut-off parameters.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the angular cut-off parameters is configured to limit overlapping between the emitted light and forward position lights of the aircraft.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the cut-off shield is operably attached to an outer lens of the device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the outer lens is operably attached to the heat sink, and the dimensions of the outer lens and heat sink are compatible with each of a plurality of distinct mounting platforms, thereby allowing the device to be mounted to the distinct mounting platform without retrofitting the device or modifying the mounting platform.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein a shape of each reflector is determined based on light-emitting characteristics of the corresponding side-emitting LED.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein each of the reflectors include a curved reflective surface, which is substantially concave with respect to the aft of the aircraft.

22. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

an interchangeable electronics module operably attached to the heat sink, the electronics module including electronic circuitry for electrically connecting the side-emitting LEDs to a power source within the aircraft, the electronics module being interchangeable with another electronics module having different electronic circuitry.

23. Then device of claim 14, wherein a casting of the heat sink incorporates cooling fins.