Aircraft Cabin Lighting Control via Distributed Scene Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lighting systems in aircraft cabins require high data rates for processing scene programs, leading to reduced data exchange speed and potential interference with flight safety control data, especially when a large number of lighting units are used.
Innovation Solution
The method involves storing scene programs in each lighting unit's controller, with the central processor transmitting only scene program identification and synchronization information, reducing data transmission requirements and allowing for synchronized processing with longer intervals, and enabling scene program speed and brightness adjustments through control data records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scene programmes are transmitted continuously to all lighting units, then the lighting system can be controlled synchronously, but the data rate requirement increases and bus loading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scene programmes are segmented and stored distributedly in the memory of each lighting unit controller rather than being transmitted continuously from a central location. Each controller holds a copy of the scene programme locally, eliminating the need for continuous high-rate transmission while maintaining synchronous execution through periodic control data records.
2Area of stationary object
If a large number of lighting units are used, then the lighting system can cover the entire aircraft cabin, but the data rate requirement for processing scene programmes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent lighting units, each with its own controller and local storage. This segmentation allows each unit to operate autonomously with locally stored scene programmes, so the total data rate requirement does not scale linearly with the number of units. Instead, only synchronization commands need to be transmitted to each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lighting unit controller is equipped with local memory capable of storing scene programmes locally. This local quality enables each controller to execute scene programmes independently without requiring continuous data transmission from a central processor, thereby reducing the overall data rate requirement while maintaining system-wide coordination.
3Ease of operation
If high data rate is used for lighting control, then the lighting system can be controlled in detail, but the speed of data exchange for flight safety control data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The scene programme data is extracted from the central control system and stored locally in each lighting unit controller. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous high-rate transmission of scene programme data over the bus. Only essential synchronization commands and control parameters are transmitted at low data rates, preserving bus bandwidth for flight safety critical data while maintaining detailed lighting control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a lighting system in an aircraft cabin is provided. The lighting system has lighting units each including a controller for controlling RGB light-emitting diodes, and a central processor connected to each controller for data exchange. Each controller has a storage unit for storing scene programs each controlling a respective scene. Control data records are transmitted to the controllers from the central processor for controlling an overall luminous behavior generated by the lighting units. The control data records have scene program identification information and synchronization information for controlling the sequence of the scene program corresponding to the scene program identification information with time.