Aircraft Light Support Board With Integrated Heat-Spreading Core

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft lights generate heat during operation, necessitating efficient heat dissipation to prevent overheating and maintain thermal operating conditions for a long lifetime of the light source.

Innovation Solution

An aircraft light design featuring a light source support board with a layered structure comprising a first metallic layer, an isolating layer, a second metallic layer, and a support board core layer, incorporating a cavity for a metallic body that absorbs and distributes heat, with a heat sink for enhanced heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light source is operated to generate light output, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat is generated causing temperature to increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight outputVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the light source into a beneficial effect by using it to pre-heat the metallic body before the light source is fully activated. This reduces thermal shock and allows the metallic body to gradually reach operating temperature, extending the light source lifetime while maintaining high illumination intensity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Temperature

If heat dissipation structures are added to cool the light source, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the existing support board structure by integrating a metallic body into the support board core layer. This eliminates the need for separate heat sinks or cooling structures, achieving effective heat dissipation while maintaining simple device structure and reducing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If the metallic body is embedded in the support board, then heat dissipation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidassembly precision

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-forming cavities in the support board core layer during the manufacturing process. These cavities are precisely formed beforehand to accommodate the metallic body, ensuring proper positioning and thermal contact without requiring complex post-assembly adjustments or high-precision field assembly operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The design effectively dissipates heat generated by the light source, ensuring mechanical stability and thermal conductivity, facilitating efficient heat transfer and extending the light source's lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

The light source support board allows for dissipating heat, which is generated when the light source of the aircraft light is operating, into the metallic body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The isolating layer is arranged between the first metallic layer and the second metallic layer, isolating the second metallic layer from the first metallic layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation:

Implementation Method 3

Soldering the metallic body to the second metallic layer provides for a mechanically stable and thermally conductive coupling between the metallic body and the second metallic layer, which may allow for efficiently transferring heat from the light source to the metallic body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12576988B2Aircraft light, aircraft comprising an aircraft light, and method of assembling an aircraft light

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 GOODRICH LIGHTING SYST GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft light comprises a light source support board, having a light source side and a back side; and a light source, arranged on the light source side of the light source support board; wherein the light source support board comprises a first metallic layer, the first metallic layer forming conductive traces on the light source side of the light source support board; an isolating layer; a second metallic layer, wherein the isolating layer is arranged between the first metallic layer and the second metallic layer and isolates the second metallic layer from the first metallic layer; and a support board core layer. A cavity is provided in the support board core layer.