Aircraft Interior Lighting Assembly With Hidden Reflective Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directly visible light sources in aircraft interiors, such as LEDs, cause discomfort and irritation due to their intensity, especially in limited spaces where they are often placed in passengers' and crew's line of sight.
Innovation Solution
A lighting assembly for aircraft interiors that utilizes a recessed light source arrangement, where light is emitted through a gap between a backing structure and a bezel, reflected onto a hidden backing surface, and then directed into the interior as indirect light, avoiding direct visibility of the light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources (LEDs) are placed overhead in aircraft interiors to provide illumination, then visibility and ambient lighting are improved, but the light sources become directly visible to passengers and crew causing discomfort and irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective surface (interior panel) as an intermediary between the light source and the passengers. The light source is positioned above the panel, and the panel reflects the light downward into the cabin space. This intermediary surface allows the light to be distributed throughout the cabin without the light sources being directly visible to passengers, thereby maintaining illumination while eliminating the harmful direct visibility effect
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directing light directly from the source toward the passengers (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by positioning the light source above the interior panel and using the panel to reflect light downward. This inversion of the light delivery path achieves the same illumination goal while avoiding direct exposure of passengers to the light sources
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
Provides ample illumination without the discomfort and irritation associated with directly visible light sources, ensuring passenger comfort and visibility.
Implementation Method 1
A lighting assembly for an interior of an aircraft includes a light source disposed between a backing structure and a bezel and covered by a wall so as to be hidden from the interior. The light source is operative to produce light
Implementation Method 2
The light is reflected onto a hidden backing surface, and then directed into the interior as indirect light
Data Source
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AI summary
Lighting assemblies (16) for interiors (14) of vehicles (10,12), interior panels (24) for interiors of vehicles (10,12), and vehicles (10,12) are provided herein. In one example, the lighting assembly (16) includes a backing structure (40) having a first backing surface (46) configured to face the interior (14) when the lighting assembly (16) is mounted in the vehicle (10,12). A bezel (44) comprises a wall (62) that extends from an outer edge portion (64) to an inner edge portion (66). The inner edge portion (66) is spaced apart from the first backing surface (46) to define a gap (76) and surrounds an opening (28) that is configured to expose at least a portion of the first backing surface (46) to the interior (14). A light source (41) is disposed between the backing structure (40) and the bezel (44) and is covered by the wall (62). The light source (41) is operative to produce light that passes from the light source (41) through the gap (76) onto the first backing surface (46) and is reflected therefrom through the opening (28) to the interior (14).