Apparatus and Method Pertaining to Light-Based Power Distribution in a Vehicle

• US 20100214131A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WARRIOR IP-1
• Original Assignee: Embedded Control Systems
• Inventors: Vlad, Ovidiu Gabriel, Stoner, Paul Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,888,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2808 using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal

Abstract

A vehicle (400) such as an aircraft is provided (101) with a source of light (401) that provides both a power wavelength component (404) as well as a safety-pilot wavelength component (102, 415). An optical conduit (405) is then used (104) to couple this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus. So configured, the optical conduit delivers light from this source of light to the light-to-electricity conversion apparatus such that the light source then serves as a source of electricity in the vehicle while the safety-pilot wavelength component serves, at least in part, as a visual warning and/or beneficial reaction-inducement to onlookers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in an aircraft;

providing a source of light wherein the light comprises both a power wavelength component and a safety-pilot wavelength component;

using an optical conduit to transport the light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus that converts the power wavelength component into electricity to power at least one electrically powered aircraft component;

such that the safety-pilot wavelength component serves, at least in part, as a visual warning to onlookers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical conduit comprises, at least in part, an optical fiber.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the optical conduit comprises, at least in part, a plurality of the optical fibers.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of the optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical fibers that are each comprised of a polymer material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical fibers that are each about 1 millimeter in diameter, such that a power density as corresponds to the power wavelength component is relatively low and hence poses no more than minimal risk to an onlooker.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises from about 2 to about 100 optical fibers.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical fibers that are each about 0.1 to about 5 millimeters in diameter, such that a power density as corresponds to the power wavelength component is relatively low and hence poses no more than minimal risk to an onlooker.

8. An aircraft power distribution system comprising:

in an aircraft;

a source of light wherein the light comprises both a power wavelength component and a safety-pilot wavelength component;

an optical conduit configured and arranged to transport the light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus that converts the power wavelength component into electricity to power at least one electrically powered aircraft component;

such that the safety-pilot wavelength component serves, at least in part, as a visual warning to onlookers.

9. The aircraft power distribution system of claim 8 wherein the optical conduit comprises, at least in part, an optical fiber.

10. The aircraft power distribution system of claim 9 wherein the optical conduit comprises, at least in part, a plurality of the optical fibers.

11. The aircraft power distribution system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of the optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical fibers that are each comprised of a polymer material.

12. The aircraft power distribution system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical fibers that are each about 0.1 to about 5 millimeters in diameter, such that a power density as corresponds to the power wavelength component is relatively low and hence poses no more than minimal risk to an onlooker.

13. The aircraft power distribution system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises from about 2 to about 100 optical fibers.

14. An aircraft comprising:

an onboard source of light wherein the light comprises both a substantially invisible power component and a visible safety-pilot wavelength component;

an optical conduit configured and arranged to transport the light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus that converts the power component into electricity to power at least one electrically powered aircraft component;

such that the safety-pilot wavelength component serves, at least in part, as a visual warning to onlookers.