Aircraft lighting means compatible with a night vision imaging system

• US 6,758,586 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilcom International Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Wilcom International Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wilhem, Jean-Marc, Prandi, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/636,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 362/471, 362/230, 362/231, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/471
• 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The invention concerns lighting means compatible with a light-intensifying night vision imaging system, comprising at least an electroluminescent source of polychromatic white light (15) with high radiant energy in violet/blue wavelength band of and with low residual energy in red wavelength band.

Claims

1. A combination of lighting means and of a light intensifier night imaging vision system,

the lighting means comprise a white light-emitting source that is not filtered in the red wavelengths, the light-emitting source including at least a white light-emitting diode or a white light-emitting panel which emits polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the lighting means being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the white light-emitting source is not filtered in the red wavelengths.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source emits polychromatic white light that furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source has an emission spectrum comprising a dominant in the violet/blue wavelengths band and a dominant in the green/yellow wavelengths band.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source has a bichromatic-dominant emission spectrum with a violet/blue chrominance peak and a very wide range of chrominance from the green to the orange.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source has an emission spectrum with a main peak wavelength of less than 492 nanometers, the main peak being a narrow, high-intensity peak, and a secondary peak wavelength ranging from 492 to 622 nanometers, the secondary peak being a wide, medium-intensity peak, with very low residual intensity at wavelengths of over 622 nanometers.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source gives direct lighting.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the white light-emitting source gives ambient lighting or indirect lighting.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting source of white light gives lighting guided in a translucent board of the instruments panel.

9. The combination according to claim 1, to form a colored indicator, especially a green, yellow or red indicator, wherein the light-emitting source comprises a white light-emitting diode covered with a colored hood that is not filtered in the red wavelengths band.

10. The combination according to claim 1, especially to form position indicators, landing lights, anti-collision lights or flight training lights in an aircraft, wherein the light-emitting source comprises a plurality of white light-emitting diodes arranged on a printed circuit.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the printed circuit is fixedly joined to a screw-in or bayonet type socket.

12. The combination according to claim 1, especially to illuminate a cockpit or an instrument panel, wherein the light-emitting source comprises a ramp of white light-emitting diodes.

39. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

13. A method to illuminate an aircraft instrument panel or an element in a pilot'"'"'s field of vision when the pilot uses a light intensifier night vision imaging system, the method comprising:

using, as illumination means, a white light-emitting source that is not filtered in the red wavelengths, the white light-emitting source including at least a white light-emitting diode or a white light-emitting panel which emits polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the illumination means being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the white light-emitting source is not filtered in the red wavelengths.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source emits polychromatic white light that furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source has an emission spectrum comprising a dominant in the violet/blue wavelengths band and a dominant in the green/yellow wavelengths band.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source has a bichromatic-dominant emission spectrum with a violet/blue chrominance peak and a very wide range of chrominance from the green to the orange.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source has an emission spectrum with a main peak wavelength of less than 492 nanometers, the main peak being a narrow, high-intensity peak, and a secondary peak wavelength ranging from 492 to 622 nanometers, the secondary peak being a wide, medium-intensity peak, with very low residual intensity at wavelengths of over 622 nanometers.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source gives direct lighting.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the white light-emitting source gives ambient lighting or indirect lighting.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting source of white light gives lighting guided in a translucent board of the instruments panel.

21. The method according to claim 13, to form a colored indicator, especially a green, yellow or red indicator, wherein the white light-emitting source comprises a white light-emitting diode covered with a colored hood that is not filtered in the red wavelengths band.

22. The method according to claim 13, especially to form position indicators, landing lights, anti-collision lights or flight training lights in an aircraft, wherein the white light-emitting source comprises a plurality of white light-emitting diodes arranged on a printed circuit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the printed circuit is fixedly joined to a screw-in or bayonet type socket.

24. The method according to claim 13, especially to illuminate a cockpit or an instruments panel, wherein the white light-emitting source comprises a ramp of white light-emitting diodes.

40. The method according to claim 13, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

25. A method for retrofitting an aircraft lighting system originally including incandescent lamps so as the aircraft lighting system is compatible with a light intensifier night vision imaging system, the method comprising:

replacing at least some of the incandescent lamps with white light-emitting diodes that are not filtered in the red wavelengths and that emit polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the white-light-emitting diodes being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the white light-emitting diodes are not filtered in the red wavelengths.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the white light-emitting diodes furthermore have high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

41. The method according to claim 25, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

27. A method for retrofitting a system of position lights, landing lights, anti-collision lights or flight training lights comprising incandescent lamps, so that the system is compatible with a light intensifier night vision imaging system, the method comprising:

replacing each incandescent lamp with a plurality of white light-emitting diodes that are not filtered in the red wavelengths and that emit polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the plurality of white light-emitting diodes being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the plurality of white light-emitting diodes is not filtered in the red wavelengths.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the white-light-emitting diodes furthermore have high radiant energy in the green/yellow wavelengths band and the orange wavelengths band with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

29. Method according to claim 27, wherein the light emitted by the white light-emitting diodes is not filtered in the red wavelengths band.

42. The method according to claim 27, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

30. Lighting means for aircraft lights, compatible with a light intensifier night vision imaging system, especially for position lights, landing lights, anti-collision lights or flight training lights, comprising a plurality of white light-emitting diodes arranged on a printed circuit,

the lighting means not being filtered in the red wavelengths and emitting polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the lighting means being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the lighting means are not filtered in the red wavelengths.

31. The lighting means according to claim 30, wherein the printed circuit is fixedly joined to a screw-in or bayonet type socket.

32. The lighting means according to claim 30, wherein the white light-emitting diodes furthermore have high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

33. The lighting means according to claim 30, wherein the white light-emitting diodes have an emission spectrum comprising a dominant in the violet/blue wavelengths band and a dominant in the green/yellow wavelengths band.

43. The lighting means according to claim 30, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

46. The lighting means according to claim 33, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the orange wavelengths band.

34. Lighting means for an aircraft cockpit or instrument panel, compatible with a light intensifier night vision imaging system, the lighting means comprising:

a ramp of white light-emitting diodes that are not filtered in the red wavelengths and that emit polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and low residual energy in the red wavelengths band,

the ramp of white light-emitting diodes being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the ramp of white light-emitting diodes is not filtered in the red wavelengths.

35. The lighting means according to claim 34, wherein the white light-emitting diodes furthermore have high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

36. The lighting means according to claim 34, wherein the white light-emitting diodes have an emission spectrum comprising a dominant in the violet/blue wavelengths band and a dominant in the green/yellow wavelengths band.

44. The lighting means according to claim 34, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

37. A lighting system comprising:

means of lighting in the visible range including at least one white light-emitting diode that is not filter in the red wavelengths and that emits polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and low residual energy in the red wavelengths band, the means of lighting in the visible range being configured not to disturb the light intensifier night vision imaging system when the at least one white light-emitting diode is not filtered in the red wavelengths;

means of lighting in the infrared range; and

switching means to make a choice between a lighting position in the visible range and a lighting position in the infrared range.

38. The lighting system according to claim 37, wherein the while light-emitting diode furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow and orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

45. The lighting system according to claim 37, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the green/yellow or orange wavelengths bands with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band.

47. The lighting means according to claim 37, wherein the polychromatic white light furthermore has high radiant energy in the orange wavelengths band.

48. A system having a light intensifier night vision imaging system wherein the improvement comprises:

at least one light-emitting source of polychromatic white light that is not filtered in the red wavelengths with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band, the at least one light-emitting source being configured not to disturb a light intensifier night vision imaging system when the at least one white light-emitting source is not filtered in the red wavelengths, and

the at least one light-emitting source illuminating one of an indicator lens, a position indicator, a landing light, an anti-collision light, a flight training light, a cockpit, an instrument panel and a translucent board.

49. A system having a light intensifier night vision imaging system wherein the improvement comprises:

at least one white light-emitting diode that is not filtered in the red wavelengths which emits polychromatic white light with high radiant energy in the violet/blue wavelengths band and with low residual energy in the red wavelengths band, the at least one white light-emitting diode being configured not to disturb a light intensifier night vision imaging system when the white light-emitting diode is not filtered in the red wavelengths, and

the at least one white light-emitting diode illuminating one of an indicator lens, a position indicator, a landing light, an anti-collision light, a flight training light, a cockpit, an instrument panel and a translucent board.