Exterior aircraft light unit and aircraft comprising the same
First Claim
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1. An exterior aircraft light unit comprising:
- at least two light sources;
at least two temperature detectors; and
at least one control unit,wherein each light source is provided with a variable current bypass component which is configured to allow bypassing an adjustable electric current by the respective light source,wherein one of the temperature detectors is associated with each of the light sources, respectively, and configured for detecting the temperature of the respectively associated light source and for providing a corresponding temperature indicating signal;
wherein the at least one control unit comprises a comparison unit, which is configured for comparing the temperature indicating signals which each other and determining the light source having the lowest temperature, which is set as a reference temperature; and
wherein the at least one control unit is configured for controlling the variable current bypass components based on the temperature indicating signals provided by the temperature detectors so that the temperature of each light source does not deviate more than 10% from said reference temperature.
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Abstract
An exterior aircraft light unit includes at least two light sources. Each light source is provided with a variable current bypass component. Each variable current bypass component is configured to allow bypassing an adjustable electric current by the respective light source.
36 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An exterior aircraft light unit comprising:
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at least two light sources; at least two temperature detectors; and at least one control unit, wherein each light source is provided with a variable current bypass component which is configured to allow bypassing an adjustable electric current by the respective light source, wherein one of the temperature detectors is associated with each of the light sources, respectively, and configured for detecting the temperature of the respectively associated light source and for providing a corresponding temperature indicating signal; wherein the at least one control unit comprises a comparison unit, which is configured for comparing the temperature indicating signals which each other and determining the light source having the lowest temperature, which is set as a reference temperature; and wherein the at least one control unit is configured for controlling the variable current bypass components based on the temperature indicating signals provided by the temperature detectors so that the temperature of each light source does not deviate more than 10% from said reference temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating an exterior aircraft light unit comprising at least two light sources, each light source being provided with at least one variable current bypass component, which allows bypassing an adjustable current by the respective light source;
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wherein the method includes; detecting the temperature of each light source; comparing the detected temperatures with each other and determining the lowest detected temperature; setting the lowest detected temperature as a reference temperature; and controlling the variable current bypass components so that the temperature of each light source does not deviate more than 10% from the reference temperature. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification