Method of illumination for in-flight refueling

• US 7,690,599 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hewitt, Gordon S., Shoore, Joseph David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tien
• Application Number:
  US12/237,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 244/135.A, 244/135.R, 356/141.1, 356/141.2, 356/141.3
• US Class Current: 244/135.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

An illuminating system, device, and method are provided to illuminate an in-flight refueling operation involving a first aircraft, serving as a tanker aircraft and carrying the illuminating system of the present invention, and a second aircraft, entering an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft. The system, device, and method of the present invention provide eye-safe, covert illumination suitable for illuminating the in-flight refueling position such that the second aircraft is illuminated upon entering the in-flight refueling position.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating an in-flight refueling operation between a first aircraft and a second aircraft comprising:

providing a generating device both within an interior of the first aircraft and within a refueling operator station such that the generating device is accessible by an operator of the first aircraft while the first aircraft is in flight;

generating an emission with the generating device that is predominantly in a near infra-red spectrum and such that the emission is eye-safe to an operator of the second aircraft;

directing the emission with a directing device operably engaged with and disposed proximate to an outer surface of the first aircraft, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an emission envelope containing the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft so as to illuminate the second aircraft as the second aircraft enters the in-flight refueling position; and

transmitting the emission from the generating device to the directing device located remote from the generating device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an adjustable emission envelope.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising adjusting a breadth of the emission envelope of the emission.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength of between about 810-812 nanometers.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising capturing an image of at least a portion of the emission envelope.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the directing step comprises directing the emission to define a plurality of different emission envelopes, and wherein said capturing step comprises capturing respective images within different ones of the emission envelopes.

8. A method for illuminating an in-flight refueling operation between a first aircraft and a second aircraft comprising:

providing a generating device both within an interior of the first aircraft and within a refueling operator station;

generating an emission with the generating device that is predominantly in a near infra-red spectrum and such that the emission is eye-safe to an operator of the second aircraft;

directing the emission with a directing device, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an emission envelope containing the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft so as to illuminate the second aircraft as the second aircraft enters the in-flight refueling position; and

transmitting the emission from the generating device to the directing device located remote from the generating device.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an adjustable emission envelope.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising adjusting a breadth of the emission envelope of the emission.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength of between about 810-812 nanometers.

13. A method according to claim 8 further comprising capturing an image of at least a portion of the emission envelope.

14. A method according to claim 8 wherein the directing step comprises directing the emission to define a plurality of different emission envelopes, and wherein said capturing step comprises capturing respective images within different ones of the emission envelopes.

15. A method for illuminating an in-flight refueling operation between a first aircraft and a second aircraft comprising:

providing an emission from a refueling operator station within the first aircraft that is predominantly in a near infra-red spectrum and such that the emission is eye-safe to an operator of the second aircraft;

directing the emission with a directing device, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an emission envelope containing the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft so as to illuminate the second aircraft as the second aircraft enters the in-flight refueling position; and

transmitting the emission from the refueling operator station to the directing device located remote therefrom.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein directing the emission comprises directing the emission to define an adjustable emission envelope.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising adjusting a breadth of the emission envelope of the emission.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the providing step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the providing step further comprises generating the emission such that the emission is further adapted to predominantly have a single wavelength of between about 810-812 nanometers.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein the directing step comprises directing the emission to define a plurality of different emission envelopes, and wherein the method further comprises capturing respective images within different ones of the emission envelopes.