NEAR END-OF-LIFE INDICATION FOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION LIGHT
First Claim
1. A method for alerting personnel when a light emitting diode (LED) lighting component is reaching a predefined limit, the method comprising:
- determining an elapsed illumination time of the LED lighting component; and
providing a visual indication that the determined elapsed illumination time has exceeded a first predefined threshold, wherein the provided visual indication is performed by a visible indicator different than the LED lighting component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining when a LED-based position light is nearing its end of life by providing to maintenance personnel visible indication that end of life is approaching. An example system includes a controller, a main LED light, an indicator LED light, a first elapsed time counter, a second elapsed time counter, and an oscillator. The first elapsed time counter recognizes when a first time threshold is exceeded, causing the indicator LED light to flash and triggering the second elapsed time counter to start counting. The second elapsed time counter recognizes when a second time threshold is exceeded, disabling both the indicator LED light and the main LED lights, thereby notifying maintenance personnel that the main LED lights have reached their end of life.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for alerting personnel when a light emitting diode (LED) lighting component is reaching a predefined limit, the method comprising:
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determining an elapsed illumination time of the LED lighting component; and providing a visual indication that the determined elapsed illumination time has exceeded a first predefined threshold, wherein the provided visual indication is performed by a visible indicator different than the LED lighting component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A light emitting diode (LED) position lighting apparatus comprising:
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an LED lighting component; a visible indicator component; and a controller in signal communication with the LED lighting component and the visible indicator component, the controller comprising; a first component in signal communication with the LED lighting component and configured to measure an elapsed illumination time of the LED lighting component; and a second component in signal communication with the first component and the visible indicator component, and configured to enable the visible indicator component when the first component determines the elapsed illumination time of the LED lighting component exceeds a pre-defined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A light emitting diode (LED) position/navigation lighting system comprising:
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a means for visibly designating an aircraft position; a means for determining a first illumination time of the means for visibly designating an aircraft position; a means for indicating that the means for visibly designating an aircraft position is exceeding a first threshold, wherein the means for indicating is enabled when the means for visibly designating an aircraft position exceeds a first threshold; a means for determining a second illumination time of the means for visibly designating an aircraft position; and a means for indicating that the means for visibly designating an aircraft position is exceeding a second threshold, wherein the means for indicating is disabled when the means for visibly designating an aircraft position exceeds a first threshold.
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Specification