Night vision compatible illumination for vehicle crewmember workspace
First Claim
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1. Night vision aircraft apparatus comprising:
- an aircraft cockpit enclosure including a plurality of manually operable aircraft controls, a plurality of aircraft function indicating instruments and support means for a human operator adjacent said controls and instruments;
electrical connection means including a plurality of lamp sockets dispersed about said cockpit enclosure for receiving incandescent filament lamps capable of night illumination of said controls, instruments, and enclosure;
an array of light emitting diode elements mounted on a portable substrate member;
means for attaching said substrate and light emitting diode array to surfaces adjacent said lamp sockets within said cockpit enclosure; and
means connected to said diode element array and to a connector receivable in one of said lamp sockets, for energizing said light emitting diode array with electrical energy;
whereby night vision compatible illumination from said light emitting diode array is quickly and temporarily achieved without alteration of said incandescent filament lamp receiving sockets and electrical connection means.
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Abstract
An arrangement for conveniently changing the illumination in an aircraft cockpit or other enclosure to a spectrum compatible with night vision infrared equipment including provision for easy return to the original illumination source. Selected LED elements are employed in multiple element arrays using a tether connected package that can be excited directly from existing wiring in fixtures.
233 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Night vision aircraft apparatus comprising:
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an aircraft cockpit enclosure including a plurality of manually operable aircraft controls, a plurality of aircraft function indicating instruments and support means for a human operator adjacent said controls and instruments; electrical connection means including a plurality of lamp sockets dispersed about said cockpit enclosure for receiving incandescent filament lamps capable of night illumination of said controls, instruments, and enclosure; an array of light emitting diode elements mounted on a portable substrate member; means for attaching said substrate and light emitting diode array to surfaces adjacent said lamp sockets within said cockpit enclosure; and means connected to said diode element array and to a connector receivable in one of said lamp sockets, for energizing said light emitting diode array with electrical energy; whereby night vision compatible illumination from said light emitting diode array is quickly and temporarily achieved without alteration of said incandescent filament lamp receiving sockets and electrical connection means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification