Optical signaling apparatus with precise beam control

• US 7,378,983 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Qun, Wang, Sean Xiaolu, Li, Qingxiong, Tian, Rongsheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHMOOD, JENNIFER
• Application Number:
  US11/382,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.4, 34081573-81577, 340/815.49, 340/815.5, 362/612, 362/632, 362/459, 362543-545, 359/475, 359529-533
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/04 the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/047 for light-buoys
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) signaling apparatus for navigational aids is provided. The signaling apparatus comprises a plurality of high intensity LEDs with their output beams individually controlled by high precision optical beam transformers. The transformed LED beams are mixed in a predetermined manner by controlling the relative position, angular orientation, and other parameters of the LEDs to produce a desired illumination pattern.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) signaling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) for producing a plurality of light beams; and

a plurality of optical beam transformers, positioned in a path of the light beams, for individually controlling a set of properties of the light beams and producing a plurality of transformed light beams;

wherein each optical beam transformer among the plurality of optical beam transformers is associated with a respective LED among the plurality of high intensity LEDs to individually control the set of properties of one associated light beam;

wherein both the plurality of high intensity light emitting diodes and the optical beam transformers are pre-adjusted or pre-disposed within the signaling apparatus for mixing the transformed light beams to produce a desired illumination pattern.

2. The signaling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical beam transformer comprises at least one non-imaging optical lens.

3. The signaling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical beam transformer comprises at least one optical diffuser.

4. The signaling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the optical diffuser anisotropically alters the divergence angle of the light beam.

5. The signaling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the optical diffuser is a holographic diffuser.

6. The signaling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the optical diffuser comprises micro-lens arrays.

7. The signaling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensor elements to monitor and control the performance of the LEDs.

8. The signaling apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor elements comprises a photo detector.

9. The signaling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving remote monitoring and control signals.

19. The signaling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling apparatus is formed within a navigational aid.

10. A method for forming a light beam with a required intensity distribution, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of high intensity LEDs for producing a plurality of light beams;

providing a plurality of optical beam transformers for individually controlling the properties of the plurality of light beams and producing a plurality of transformed light beams; and

mixing the transformed light beams in a precisely controlled manner by adjusting the position or the spatial distribution and angular orientation of the plurality of high intensity LEDs and the plurality of optical beam transformers to produce a resultant light beam with a desired intensity distribution;

wherein each optical beam transformer among the plurality of optical beam transformers is associated with a respective LED among the plurality of high intensity LEDs to individually control the set of properties of one associated light beam.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical beam transformer comprises at least one non-imaging optical lens.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical beam transformer comprises at least one optical diffuser.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical diffuser anisotropically alters the divergence angle of the light beam.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical diffuser is a holographic diffuser.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical diffuser comprises micro-lens arrays.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of providing a plurality of sensor elements for monitoring and controlling the performance of the LEDs.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensor elements comprises a photo detector.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of providing a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving remote monitoring and control signals.