CROSS BIN ILLUMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20090103320A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Clark, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/470
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/43 General lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

An illumination system for an aircraft passenger cabin has a first illumination source positioned between a ceiling structure and a first row of stowage bins. A first light direction assembly is positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins. The first light direction assembly is used to direct emitted light from the first illumination source onto a face of a luggage bin of a second row of stowage bins. A second light direction assembly is also positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins and is used to direct emitted light from the first illumination source into a passenger cabin. A second illumination source is positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to illuminate the ceiling structure.

Claims

1. An illumination system for an aircraft having a ceiling structure and at least a first and second row of stowage bins adjacent to the ceiling structure, the illumination system comprising:

a first illumination source positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins;

a first light direction assembly positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to direct emitted light from the first illumination source onto a face of a luggage bin of the second row of stowage bins;

a second light direction assembly positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to direct emitted light from the first illumination source into a passenger cabin area of the aircraft; and

a second illumination source positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to illuminate the ceiling structure.

2. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a valence area is formed below a first end of the ceiling structure and above the first row of storage bins and having an opening, the valence area used for housing the illumination system.

3. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a third light direction assembly positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to direct emitted light from the second illumination source onto the ceiling of the aircraft.

4. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a blocking diffuser positioned between the ceiling structure and the first row of stowage bins to block the emitted light from the first illumination source from illuminating the ceiling.

5. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first light direction assembly comprises a first light diffuser to direct the emitted light from the first illumination source onto the face of the luggage bin of the second row of stowage bins.

6. An illumination system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first light direction assembly further comprises a first light director to direct the emitted light from the first illumination source to the first light diffuser.

7. An illumination system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the first light diffuser is a narrow angle diffuser.

8. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second light direction assembly comprises a second light diffuser to direct the emitted light from the first illumination source into the passenger cabin area of the aircraft.

9. An illumination system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the second light direction assembly further comprises a second light director to direct the emitted light from the first illumination source to the second light diffuser.

10. An illumination system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the second light diffuser is a wide angle diffuser.

11. An illumination system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the third light direction assembly comprises optical surfaces to direct the emitted light from the second illumination source onto the ceiling of the aircraft.

12. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first illumination source and the second illumination source are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

13. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first illumination source emits a white light.

14. An illumination system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second illumination source emits a blue light.

15. An illumination system for an aircraft having a ceiling structure and at least a first and second row of stowage bins adjacent to the ceiling structure, a valence area formed below a first end of the ceiling structure and above the first row of storage bins and having an opening, the valence area used for housing the illumination system, the illumination system comprising:

a first Light Emitting Diode (LED) source positioned in the valence area;

a first light direction assembly positioned in the valence area to direct emitted light from the first LED source through the opening and onto a face of a stowage bin of the second row of stowage bins;

a second light direction assembly positioned in the valence area to direct emitted light from the first LED source through the opening and into a passenger cabin area of the aircraft;

a second LED source positioned in the valence area to illuminate the ceiling structure; and

a third light direction assembly positioned in the valence area to direct emitted light from the second LED source onto the ceiling of the aircraft.

16. An illumination system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the first light direction assembly comprises:

a first light diffuser to direct the emitted light from the first LED source through the opening and onto the face of the luggage bin of the second row of stowage bins; and

a first light director to direct the emitted light from the first LED source to the first light diffuser.

17. An illumination system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the second light direction assembly comprises:

a second light diffuser to direct the emitted light from the first LED source into the passenger cabin area of the aircraft; and

a second light director to direct the emitted light from the first LED source to the second light diffuser.

18. An illumination system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the third light direction assembly comprises optical surfaces to direct the emitted light from the second LED source onto the ceiling of the aircraft.

19. An illumination system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a blocking diffuser positioned in the valence area to block the emitted light from the first LED source from illuminating the ceiling.

20. An illumination system for an aircraft having a ceiling structure and at least a first and second row of stowage bins adjacent to the ceiling structure, a valence area formed below a first end of the ceiling structure and above the first row of storage bins, the valence area having an opening, the illumination system comprising:

a first Light Emitting Diode (LED) source positioned in the valence area;

a first light diffuser positioned in the valence area to direct the emitted light from the first LED source through the opening and onto the face of the luggage bin of the second row of stowage bins;

a second light diffuser positioned in the valence area to direct the emitted light from the first LED source into the passenger cabin area of the aircraft;

a first light director positioned in the valence area to direct the emitted light from the first LED source to the first light diffuser;

a second light director positioned in the valence area to direct the emitted light from the first LED source to the second light diffuser;

a second LED source positioned in the valence area to illuminate the ceiling structure;

a blocking diffuser positioned in the opening of the valence area to block the emitted light from the first LED source from illuminating the ceiling; and

a light direction assembly positioned in the valence area to direct emitted light from the second LED source onto the ceiling of the aircraft.