LED based light guide for dual mode aircraft formation lighting
First Claim
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1. An aircraft formation light utilizing a diode light source, comprising:
- a reflective base;
a light guide configured in front of the reflective base, the light guide including a plurality of diffusing elements; and
one or more diode light sources each configured to emit light in a direction incident to a peripheral edge of the light guide,whereinthe one or more diode light sources are the primary source of light emanating from the lighting device,the diffusing elements are configured to scatter the emitted light in a plurality of directions out of a front surface of the light guide to increase a uniformity of light along the light guide, andthe aircraft formation light is mounted to the exterior of an aircraft during operation to emit light indicative of the aircraft'"'"'s position and attitude, the aircraft formation light being mounted such that the formation light protrudes no more than ½
inch from the exterior surface of the aircraft.
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Abstract
A lighting device (1) includes one or more diode light sources (32), which are configured to emit light into the peripheral edges of a light guide (20). The light guide (20) includes a set of diffusing elements (22) for scattering the emitted light in a plurality of directions out of the front surface of the light guide (20). The diffusing elements (22) are distributed on the light guide (20) so that the scattered light achieves a particular characteristic, e.g., improved uniformity.
42 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An aircraft formation light utilizing a diode light source, comprising:
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a reflective base; a light guide configured in front of the reflective base, the light guide including a plurality of diffusing elements; and one or more diode light sources each configured to emit light in a direction incident to a peripheral edge of the light guide, wherein the one or more diode light sources are the primary source of light emanating from the lighting device, the diffusing elements are configured to scatter the emitted light in a plurality of directions out of a front surface of the light guide to increase a uniformity of light along the light guide, and the aircraft formation light is mounted to the exterior of an aircraft during operation to emit light indicative of the aircraft'"'"'s position and attitude, the aircraft formation light being mounted such that the formation light protrudes no more than ½
inch from the exterior surface of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An aircraft formation light utilizing a diode light source, comprising:
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a reflective base; a light guide configured in front of the reflective base, the light guide including a plurality of diffusing elements; and one or more diode light sources each configured to emit light in a direction incident to a peripheral edge of the light guide, wherein the diffusing elements are configured to scatter the emitted light in a plurality of directions out of a front surface of the light guide, wherein the diode light sources include one or more infrared (IR) diodes configured to emit infrared light, and wherein the aircraft formation light is mounted to the exterior of an aircraft during operation to emit infrared light indicative of the aircraft'"'"'s position and attitude, the aircraft formation light being mounted such that the formation light protrudes no more than ½
inch from the exterior surface of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method comprising:
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mounting a device including one or more diode light sources and a light guide on the exterior of an aircraft at a mounting location for a formation light, the mounted device protruding no more than ½
inch from the exterior surface of the aircraft;emitting light from the one or more diode light sources in a direction incident to a peripheral edge of the light guide; scattering the emitted light with diffusing elements in the light guide, the diffusing elements being configured to scatter the emitted light out of the light guide in a plurality of directions to increase a uniformity of light along the light guide; and reflecting light that is scattered out of the light guide through a rear surface, so that the reflected light exits a front surface of the light guide; and outputting a formation light from the device indicative of the position and attitude of the aircraft, the formation light being formed by the scattering and reflecting steps, wherein the one or more diode light sources are the primary source of light for the formation light outputted from the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification