Aeroplane cabin lighting arrangement

• US 6,203,180 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Company KG (Diehl VA Systeme Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Company KG (Diehl VA Systeme Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Fleischmann, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/372,302
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 362/471, 362/479, 362/478, 362/800, 362/147, 362/219, 362/490, 362/488, 362/545, 362/483, 362/470
• US Class Current: 362/471
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/43 General lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/46 Emergency lighting, e.g. for escape routes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/47 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/008 for simulation of a starry sky or firmament
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Proposed is a lighting arrangement which is mounted at or in the ceiling (4) preferably of an aeroplane cabin (2), comprising a plurality of punctiform light sources (8), wherein the punctiform light sources (8) have at least one light emitting diode (LED) (9) and are at least partially connected together in parallel or in series and are connected to at least one power supply unit (14). A Zener diode (15) is connected in parallel in the reverse direction in relation to each light emitting diode or light emitting diode group. The power supply unit (14) is such that it provides for a constant current flow. The light emitting diodes used are preferably white light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A lighting arrangement mounted at or in the ceiling of a vehicle, in particular a cabin overhead lighting arrangement in an aeroplane cabin, wherein the lighting arrangement comprises a plurality or spot light sources (8) each comprising at least one white light emitting diode (LED) (9), holders (10) each having respectively one said diode (LED) (9) fixed therein, said holders being introduced from above into bores located at or in said ceiling (4), said diodes being at least partially connected to each other in parallel or in series relationship and connected to at least one power supply unit (14).

2. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that a Zener diode (15) is connected in the reverse direction in parallel with each light emitting diode or light emitting diode group.

3. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the power supply unit (14) is such that it provides for a constant current flow.

4. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the lighting arrangement is disposed above the gangways (7) between the rows of seats (5) or above other gangways (7) and serves as emergency lighting.

5. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the spotlight light sources (8) each comprise a respective light emitting diode (9), in relation to which a Zener diode (15) is connected in parallel in the reverse direction, and they are at least partially connected in series with each other and are connected to at least one power supply unit (14).

6. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 5 characterised in that the spacing between adjacent light emitting diodes (9) is about between 25 and 50 cm.

7. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the white light emitting diodes are formed from two or more coloured light emitting diodes.

8. A vehicle lighting arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the white light emitting diodes are luminescence conversion diodes.