Aircraft Lighting Control for Phase-Adaptive Spectral Scenes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft lighting systems fail to effectively enhance the overall flight experience by not adapting to different phases of flight, such as taxiing, takeoff, cruising, and landing, which can impact passenger well-being and alertness.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a control system that emits light of specific wavelengths (blue, red, and green) during different phases of flight, tailored to improve passenger experience through scheduled light scenes, promoting alertness, relaxation, and circadian rhythm alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional aircraft lighting systems use fixed white light throughout the flight, then the lighting system is simple to operate, but it fails to improve passenger well-being and alertness during different flight phases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts the spectral composition and intensity of light based on the current flight phase. During takeoff and landing phases, the system increases blue light content to enhance alertness, while during cruise phases, it adjusts lighting to promote relaxation. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to changing operational conditions without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of the lighting system by varying the intensity ratios of different wavelength LEDs (blue, green, red) according to flight phase. The control system modifies these parameters automatically based on flight data, enabling the lighting to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining system simplicity through automated parameter adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting system uses multiple wavelengths to improve passenger well-being, then passenger experience is enhanced, but the system requires complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system operates autonomously by receiving flight phase information from the aircraft's flight management system and automatically selecting appropriate lighting scenes. The control system processes flight data and adjusts lighting parameters without requiring pilot or crew intervention, making the complex multi-wavelength system as easy to operate as a single-switch system while providing advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from the flight management system to continuously monitor flight phase and adjust lighting accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the lighting system responds appropriately to changing flight conditions, maintaining optimal lighting scenes for each phase while eliminating the need for manual control of multiple lighting parameters.
3Reliability
If the lighting system adjusts light wavelengths to promote alertness during critical phases, then safety is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system applies periodic adjustments to spectral composition, intensifying blue light content specifically during critical phases such as takeoff and landing, while using lower energy consumption settings during cruise phases. This periodic modulation of lighting characteristics aligns energy consumption with safety requirements, providing enhanced alertness only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies excessive blue light intensity only during critical flight phases where alertness is paramount, rather than maintaining high intensity throughout the entire flight. During non-critical phases, the system reduces intensity to appropriate levels, thereby minimizing overall energy consumption while ensuring safety during critical operations through targeted partial action.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for managing lighting during different periods. Light is emitted from a lighting system comprised of light devices. Operation of the lighting system is controlled to create different light scenes comprising light with different spectral distributions during different periods.