Aerial Spotlight Beam Divergence Control for Constant Spot Size
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spotlight implementations on aerial vehicles suffer from a flaw where the illuminated area changes size with altitude, affecting the ability to maintain a visual connection with the target.
Innovation Solution
An illumination apparatus for aerial vehicles that adjusts the light spot size based on altitude using sensors and a controller to maintain a consistent spot size on the target, featuring a housing, light source, lens system, position sensors, and a mechanical drive motor to adjust the angular divergence of the light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional spotlight is used on an aerial vehicle, then the light source can illuminate the target, but the spot size on the target changes with altitude
Solution Approach 1:
The spotlight system dynamically adjusts the beam divergence angle based on real-time altitude measurements from the altitude sensor. The controller modifies the angular spread of the light beam to compensate for altitude changes, maintaining a consistent spot size on the target regardless of the aerial vehicle's height above the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback loop where the altitude sensor continuously monitors the aerial vehicle's altitude, the controller processes this information, and the lens system adjusts the beam divergence accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the spot size remains constant by automatically compensating for altitude variations.
2Reliability
If the beam divergence is adjusted to maintain spot size, then the visual connection with target is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system serves multiple functions: it focuses the light beam, adjusts the beam divergence angle, and maintains the spot size on the target. By making the lens system adjustable rather than fixed, it becomes a multi-functional component that handles both illumination and spot size control, reducing the need for separate adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives altitude data from the altitude sensor and translates it into appropriate lens system adjustments. This intermediary component coordinates the interaction between the sensor and the optical system, enabling automatic spot size maintenance without requiring complex direct coupling between components.
3Illumination intensity
If sensors and control systems are added to maintain spot size, then the spot size control improves, but the weight of the aerial vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is self-regulating through the integrated sensor-controller-lens system. The altitude sensor automatically detects altitude changes, the controller processes this information, and the lens system self-adjusts the beam divergence to maintain the desired spot size. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention or additional heavy mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces potential heavy mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an optical control approach. Instead of physically moving the spotlight or using complex mechanical lens assemblies, the invention uses electronic sensors and control signals to adjust the beam divergence optically, significantly reducing the overall weight of the illumination apparatus.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the illumination apparatus to maintain a static spot size on the target regardless of changes in altitude, enhancing the ability to effectively illuminate and track subjects in low light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a lens system coupled to the housing and at least partially covering the light source, the lens system configured to adjust an angular divergence of light from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination apparatus comprises a housing configured to be coupled to an aerial vehicle. Coupled to the housing are a light source and a lens system at least partially covering the light source and configured to adjust an angular divergence of light therefrom. At least one position sensor is positioned within the housing and generates signals corresponding to an altitude of the illumination apparatus, a distance between the illumination apparatus and a ground surface, and/or a multi-axis angular position of the illumination apparatus relative to the ground surface. A controller within the housing adjusts the angular divergence of the light from the light source using the lens system based at least in part on monitored data from the at least one position sensor and a selected spot size of the light on a target wherein an actual spot size on the target is approximately equal to the selected spot size.