Multicolored LED vehicle interior light

• US 7,168,828 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Grumet-Avallone, Amy, Schmidt, Glenn T., Zeng, Samuel, Meszaros, Lajos
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US11/246,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 362/471, 362/251, 362/394, 362/230, 362/231, 362/244
• US Class Current: 362/471
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0053 Cabin passenger reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A multicolored LED vehicle interior light is described. In various implementations, a switch is used to select one of a plurality of LED lights, in which one light is of a color, such as red, which is suitable for preserving night vision.

Claims

1. An aircraft cockpit light comprising:

a housing comprising a generally frusto-conical exterior portion and a lip that is disposed annularly about a first end of the frusto-conical portion;

a rotating bezel attached to a second end of the frusto-conical portion;

a lens coupled to the bezel;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed such that, when illuminated, light from the light-emitting diodes passes through the lens and is focused thereby, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes includes a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode, wherein each of the first and second light-emitting diodes emit light of a different color from the other; and

a switch coupled to the bezel, wherein when the bezel is rotated to a first position, the switch permits current to flow to the first light-emitting diode, but not to the second light-emitting diode, and when the bezel is rotated to a second position, the switch permits current to flow to the second light-emitting diode, but not to the first light-emitting diode.

2. The light of claim 1, wherein the light is disposed within an aircraft cockpit.

3. The light of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting diode emits red light when illuminated and the second light emitting diode emits white light when illuminated.

4. The light of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting diode emits a light that is suitable for preserving night vision.

5. The light of claim 1, further comprising an input unit electrically coupled to the switch.

6. The light of claim 5, wherein when the bezel is rotated to the first position, the switch creates an electrical path between the input unit to the first light-emitting diode.

7. The light of claim 6, wherein when the bezel is rotated from the first position to the second position, the switch breaks the electrical path between the input unit and the first light-emitting diode and creates an electrical path between input unit and the second light-emitting diode.

8. The light of claim 7, wherein the first light-emitting diode emits red light when illuminated and the second light emitting diode emits white light when illuminated.

9. The light of claim 8, wherein the light is disposed within an aircraft cockpit.

10. The light of claim 9, wherein the first light-emitting diode emits red light when illuminated and the second light emitting diode emits white light when illuminated.

11. A lighting system comprising:

an aircraft cockpit;

a reading light disposed within the aircraft cockpit, the reading light comprising;

a housing comprising a generally frusto-conical exterior portion and a lip that is disposed annularly about a first end of the frusto-conical portion;

a rotating bezel attached to a second end of the frusto-conical portion;

a lens coupled to the bezel;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed such that, when illuminated, light from the light-emitting diodes passes through the lens and is focused thereby, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes includes a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode, wherein each of the first and second light-emitting diodes emit light of a different color from the other, wherein the second light-emitting diode emits light of a color that inhibits the loss of night vision; and

a switch coupled to the bezel, wherein when the bezel is rotated to a first position, the switch permits current to flow to the first light-emitting diode, but not to the second light-emitting diode, and when the bezel is rotated to a second position, the switch permits current to flow to the second light-emitting diode, but not to the first light-emitting diode.

12. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the first light-emitting diode emits red light when illuminated and the second light emitting diode emits white light when illuminated.

13. An aircraft cockpit light comprising:

a rotating bezel;

a lens coupled to the bezel;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes, consisting of a red light-emitting diode and a white light-emitting diode, the red and white light-emitting diodes disposed such that, when illuminated, light from the light-emitting diodes passes through the lens and is focused thereby; and

a switch coupled to the bezel, the bezel having a first position and a second position, wherein when the bezel is rotated to the first position, the switch permits current to flow to the red light-emitting diode, but not to the white light-emitting diode, and when the bezel is rotated to the second position, the switch permits current to flow to the white light-emitting diode, but not to the red light-emitting diode.