Runway sign having a replaceable single LED lamp

• US 9,103,523 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Tessnow, Thomas, Albright, Kim, Boyd, Ronald E. Jr., Plaza, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, ZHENG B
• Application Number:
  US13/743,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 36221701-225, 362/217.04, 362/217.07, 362/218, 362/220, 362/223, 362/224, 362/249.02, 362/291, 362/334, 362/335, 362/367, 362/812, 362/612, 362/613, 362/311.01, 362/311.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A two-sided airfield runway sign with direct illumination by a single LED lamp. Light is produced by a linear array of white-light LEDs. A cylindrical lens is mounted longitudinally adjacent to the LEDs, and collects a central portion of the light emitted from the LEDs. A pair of inclined surfaces extend from the lateral edges of the LEDs to respective lateral edges of the cylindrical lens. The inclined surfaces have a rough surface texture and reflect light diffusely. The inclined surfaces collect a peripheral portion of the light emitted from the LEDs, and direct the reflected light toward the cylindrical lens. The LEDs, cylindrical lens and inclined surfaces are all mechanically supported by a heat sink. The replacement lamp is placed into a runway sign near its top or bottom edge, and illuminates both viewing surfaces of the runway sign simultaneously without a diffuser.

Claims

1. A two-sided airport runway sign (10), comprising:

a rectangular, translucent front face (11),

a rectangular, translucent rear face (11) generally parallel to the front face (11) and longitudinally separated from the front face (11) by first and second longitudinal edges (17, 16), the front and rear faces (11) and the first and second longitudinal edges (17, 16) bounding an interior volume of the runway sign (10); and

a single LED lamp (1) being electrically energized in operational use, the LED lamp (1) being disposed proximate the first longitudinal edge (17) of the interior volume, the LED lamp (1) being selectively removable from and replaceable into the runway sign (10), the LED lamp (1) having a plurality of spaced LEDs (2);

wherein the energized LED lamp (1) provides direct illumination to both the front and rear faces (11) simultaneously along a direct optical path between the lamp (1) and the front and rear faces (11) that is unobstructed by interaction with any further optical element; and

wherein the interior volume that is spaced away from both said single LED lamp (1) and said front and rear faces (11) is devoid of a diffuser (130) optically adjacent the LED lamp (1).

2. The sign (10) of claim 1, wherein the LED lamp (1) comprises a linear array of LEDs (2).

3. The sign (10) of claim 2, wherein the LEDs (2) are spaced along a line parallel to an intersection of the first longitudinal edge (17) with the front face (11).

4. The sign (10) of claim 2, wherein the LED lamp (1) further comprises a cylindrical lens (4) that receives light emitted from the LEDs (2) and produces a light output having angular peaks on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis (A) of the LED lamp (1).

5. The sign (10) of claim 2, wherein the LED lamp (1) further comprises a cylindrical lens (4) that receives a central portion of light emitted from the LEDs (2).

6. The sign (10) of claim 5, wherein the LED lamp (1) further comprises a pair of inclined reflecting surfaces (3) extending from a position proximate an outer edge of the LEDs (2) to a position proximate an outer edge of the cylindrical lens (4).

7. The sign (10) of claim 6, wherein the inclined reflecting surfaces (3) reflect a peripheral portion of the light emitted from the LEDs (2) toward the cylindrical lens (4).

8. The sign (10) of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical lens (4) transmits the central portion and the reflected peripheral portion to form a light output.

9. The sign (10) of claim 8, wherein the light output comprises a power per unit angle exiting the LED lamp (1) that has peaks at the front and rear faces (11) at locations proximate the second longitudinal edge (16) of the runway sign (10), the second longitudinal edge (16) being opposite the first longitudinal edge (17).

10. The sign (10) of claim 9, wherein the light output that misses the front and rear faces (11) and strikes a second longitudinal edge (16) of the runway sign (10) is less than the peaks.

11. The sign (10) of claim 6, wherein the LEDs (2) are white-light LEDs.

12. The sign (10) of claim 6, wherein the inclined reflecting surfaces (3) and the cylindrical lens (4) are devoid of wavelength conversion material.

13. The sign (10) of claim 6, wherein the reflecting surfaces (3) are flat and diffusely reflecting.

14. The sign (10) of claim 1, wherein the illumination comprises a uniform incident power per area on the front and rear faces (11).

15. The sign (10) of claim 1, wherein

the interior volume is devoid of a diffuser (130) that is at least partially light transmissive;

and

the LED lamp (1) further comprises a pair of inclined reflecting surfaces (3) extending away from a position proximate an outer edge of the LEDs (2), said inclined reflecting surfaces (3) opening further away from each other at positions more remote from the LEDs (2), said reflecting surfaces (3) being flat and diffusely reflecting.

16. A two-sided airport runway sign (10), comprising:

a rectangular, translucent front face (11),

a rectangular, translucent rear face (11) generally parallel to the front face (11) and longitudinally separated from the front face (11) by first and second longitudinal edges (17, 16), the front and rear faces (11) and the first and second longitudinal edges (17, 16) bounding an interior volume of the runway sign (10); and

a single LED lamp (1) being electrically energized in operational use, the LED lamp (1) being disposed proximate the first longitudinal edge (17) of the interior volume, the LED lamp (1) being selectively removable from and replaceable into the runway sign (10), the LED lamp (1) having a plurality of spaced LEDs (2) and a lens (4) that receives a central portion of light emitted from the LEDs (2);

wherein light emitted from said lens (4) from the energized LED lamp (1) provides direct illumination to both the front and rear faces (11) simultaneously along a direct optical path between the lens (4) and the front and rear faces (11) that is unobstructed by interaction with any further optical element.

17. The sign (10) of claim 16, wherein the lens (4) is a cylindrical lens that receives light emitted from the LEDs (2) and produces a light output having angular peaks on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis (A) of the LED lamp (1).

18. The sign (10) of claim 16, wherein the LED lamp (1) further comprises a pair of inclined reflecting surfaces (3) extending from a position proximate an outer edge of the LEDs (2) to a position proximate an outer edge of the lens (4).

19. The sign (10) of claim 18, wherein the light output comprises a power per unit angle exiting the LED lamp (1) that has peaks at the front and rear faces (11) at locations proximate the second longitudinal edge (16) of the runway sign (10), the second longitudinal edge (16) being opposite the first longitudinal edge (17).