Aircraft Door Camera System for External Environment Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to provide comprehensive and reliable visualization of the aircraft's external environment, especially in emergency situations or degraded weather conditions, which is crucial for safe evacuation, collision avoidance, and maintaining aircraft trajectory.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that replaces a window with a camera lens aperture in an aircraft door, coupled with directive lighting in specific radiation ranges based on visibility and meteorological conditions, transmitting video signals to display screens for real-time information on safety zones and aircraft operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a window is used for external vision, then direct view of the environment is achieved, but the field of vision is limited and visibility in degraded conditions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the radiation parameter by using multiple radiation ranges (visible and infrared) to adapt to different weather and lighting conditions. The illuminator switches between visible and infrared radiation depending on whether it is day or night, and whether visibility conditions require enhanced illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it captures visible light during the day, captures infrared radiation at night or in degraded conditions, and works in conjunction with the illuminator to provide active illumination when passive light is insufficient. This multi-functionality ensures reliable visualization across all environmental conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If directive lighting is added to illuminate safety zones, then visibility in degraded conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the illuminator and camera into a single integrated unit mounted on the aircraft door. The illuminator and camera share the same mounting structure and coordinate their operations, reducing the need for separate systems and simplifying installation while providing both passive capture and active illumination capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that automatically manages the complex coordination between the illuminator and camera based on environmental conditions. It receives input from sensors about weather and lighting conditions, then automatically adjusts the illuminator's radiation range and intensity, and controls camera operation, thereby simplifying user interaction despite the system's complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras and illuminators are deployed for comprehensive coverage, then visualization coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds the infrared dimension to the traditional visible light dimension. By incorporating infrared illumination and sensing capabilities, the system achieves comprehensive coverage across different spectral dimensions, allowing operation in both visible and invisible ranges depending on environmental conditions, thereby expanding effective coverage area without proportionally increasing component count.
4Measurement precision
If a camera lens aperture replaces a window, then direct capture of environmental light is achieved, but natural light transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminator provides preliminary action by pre-illuminating the environment before the camera captures the image. In degraded visibility conditions or at night, the illuminator activates first to illuminate safety zones and the surrounding environment, ensuring that sufficient light is available for the camera to capture accurate images, thereby compensating for the reduced natural light transmission through the aperture.
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 immediate and usable visualization of the aircraft's environment, including wing tips, under various conditions, facilitating safe evacuation, collision avoidance, and precise aircraft control, with adjustable lighting for day/night and weather conditions, and automatic measurement of Runway Visual Range (RVR).
Implementation Method 1
mechanically coupling a camera lens transmitting a video signal into this aperture, so that the lens directly captures light coming from said environment of the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
This environment is previously illuminated by zone with directive lighting in at least one radiation range chosen as a function of the lighting parameters
Implementation Method 3
the radiation range is located in the near IR (infrared) radiation in order to provide usable visualization when solar radiation is below a determined threshold
Implementation Method 4
When water, ice or de-icing fluid covers the sensor, a variable quantity of pulsed light is reflected and strikes a photosensitive detector - for example photodiodes - after having passed back through the optical channel
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 2a~3a
AI summary
The aim of the present invention is to produce a display of the environment of the aircraft by combining live shooting by replacing a window with a camera lens and an illumination of this environment in suitable radiation ranges, connected with a display. According to the invention, a system for displaying the environment of an aircraft comprises, in a door (4, 4i, 10) provided with a locking and opening system (41, 42, 6), at least one illumination source (7) illuminating areas of said environment in at least one radiation range, at least one video camera (1a, 1b) provided with a lens capable of capturing the external environment illuminated by the source in order to provide a video signal, and at least one display screen (8) connected with the camera (1a, 1b) for receiving the video signal. The camera (1a, 1b), the illumination source (7) and the display screen (8) are linked to a calculation unit (5) capable of receiving information concerning the state of operation of the aircraft equipment and display parameters of said environment.