Aircraft Reading Light Optics for Uniform Mixed-Color Illumination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft passenger reading lights do not provide satisfactory light color adaptability and uniformity, often resulting in unpleasant color fringing at the periphery of the reading zone due to parallax-shift of multiple light sources with a single optical system.

Innovation Solution

The use of pairs of light sources with distinct colors, each paired with dedicated optical systems, to create a mixed-color reading light output with minimized spatial offset and overlap, ensuring homogeneous color mixing and adaptability to desired illumination properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light sources with different colors are used to improve light color adaptability, then the ability to provide desired illumination properties is improved, but color fringing and non-uniformity occur at the periphery of the reading zone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight color adaptabilityVSAvoidcolor fringing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting system into multiple pairs of light sources, where each pair is dedicated to illuminating a specific reading zone. Each pair consists of light sources with different color temperatures (e.g., warm white and cool white LEDs) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows each pair to provide balanced color mixing for its specific zone, preventing color fringing while maintaining overall light color adaptability across different reading zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single optical system is used for multiple light sources to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but spatial offset and parallax-shift cause non-uniform light output

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical system structureVSAvoidlight output uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns a dedicated optical system to each pair of light sources for its specific reading zone. This segmentation ensures that each optical system is optimized for its particular light sources and reading zone geometry, eliminating parallax-shift and spatial offset issues that would arise from using a single optical system for multiple light sources. The modular nature of these segmented optical systems actually simplifies manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If light sources are positioned to cover multiple reading zones to reduce the number of light sources, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide adaptable illumination for different seating arrangements is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of light sourcesVSAvoidillumination adaptability to seating arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the reading light system with multiple pairs of light sources, where each pair can independently illuminate a specific reading zone. This configuration provides multi-functionality, as the same reading light device can adapt to different seating arrangements (e.g., 2-2 configuration, 3-1 configuration, or mixed configurations) by selectively activating appropriate pairs of light sources. The system universally serves multiple seating configurations without requiring repositioning or replacement of the reading lights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach reduces or eliminates unpleasant color fringing, providing a pleasant and adaptable reading light experience by allowing for a wide range of color temperatures and intensities, suitable for various seating arrangements without requiring repositioning or replacement of the reading lights.

Implementation Method 1

a first light source for emitting light having a first color, and a second light source for emitting light having a second color

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a first optical system for forming a first light output from the light emitted by the first light source; and a second optical system for forming a second light output from the light emitted by the second light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical direction and focusing: Lens

Data Source

PatentUS20250353431A1Aircraft passenger reading light, aircraft comprising an aircraft passenger reading light, and method of operating an aircraft passenger reading light

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 GOODRICH LIGHTING SYST GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft passenger reading light comprises a plurality of pairs of light sources. Each of the plurality of pairs of light sources includes: a first light source for emitting light having a first color, and a second light source for emitting light having a second color, wherein the second color differs from the first color. The aircraft passenger reading light further comprises, for each of the plurality of pairs of light sources: a first optical system for forming a first light output from the light emitted by the first light source, and a second optical system for forming a second light output from the light emitted by the second light source.