VISUAL SIGNALLING OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20150232198A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Seibt, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

This relates to an aircraft providing visual signalling of an aircraft. An aircraft for providing visual signalling is provided with at least one multifunctional light unit comprising at least one light source for outboard light emission, which unit is provided on sideway facing areas of the aircraft. The sideway facing areas comprise lateral facing sideway surface areas and/or forward and backwards facing surface areas of the aircraft. The at least one multifunctional light unit is configured to provide i) directional signalling of the aircraft, or ii) status signalling of the aircraft, wherein the status signalling relates to at least one of the group of status of the aircraft, status of the current flight mission, and status of the traffic situation; and/or iii) identification signalling of the aircraft.

Claims

8. (canceled)

9. Aircraft according to claim 8, wherein the multifunctional light unit is integrated in a window construction;

wherein the at least one light source is provided at least behind an outer windowpane; and

wherein the at least one light source is provided in a circumferential frame area.

10. Aircraft according to claim 9, wherein an intermediate frame structure is provided between the fuselage structure and a window frame;

and

wherein the multifunctional light unit is provided in the intermediate frame structure.

11. Aircraft according to claim 10, wherein reflector means are provided for preventing inboard light emission.

12. Aircraft according to claim 11, wherein a control unit is provided to activate at least one parameter of the group of:

light colour;

light brightness/intensity; and

flashing/blinking frequency.

13. Aircraft according to claim 12, wherein as the multifunctional light unit, there is provided at least one of the group of the following:

lighting surface areas on the outside of the fuselage structure; and

a plurality of lighting spots distributed across surface areas of the fuselage.

15. A method for providing visual signalling of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

a) activating at least one multifunctional light unit; and

b) providing at least one of the group of the following signalling;

b1) directional signalling of the aircraft;

wherein the directional signalling relates to at least one of the group of;

movement of the aircraft in an airborne state, and movement of the aircraft in an on-ground state,

b2) status signalling of the aircraft, wherein the status signalling relates to at least one of the group of;

status of the aircraft, status of the current flight mission, and status of the traffic situation; and

b3) identification signalling of the aircraft, wherein the identification signalling relates to at least one of the group of;

type and specific model of the aircraft, operating airline, flight number, and destination and origin.

14. Aircraft according to claim 15, wherein at least one multifunctional light unit is provided as an adaptable graphical user interface on sideway facing surfaces of at least one of the group of:

wing structures;

vertical stabilizer; and

engine housings.

16-1. An aircraft according to claim 16 wherein directional signalling of the aircraft comprises at least one of the group of:

movement of the aircraft in an airborne state, and movement of the aircraft in an on-ground state;