Aircraft Status Light Unit Power Draw Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems in passenger transport vehicles, such as aircraft, road vehicles, and ships, lack an effective method to convey operational status information to the power supply, particularly when LEDs become defective or age, leading to changes in power consumption that are difficult for the system to detect.
Innovation Solution
A status indicating light unit with two operational modes: continuous power draw mode for normal operation and pulsed power draw mode to signal maintenance needs, where the power draw pattern conveys information about the light unit's status to the external power supply without additional wiring or control lines, using a mode selection switch and pulsed power reception circuit to create distinct power transfer patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If LED light units are designed for a particular power consumption, then the power reception is stable and predictable, but the system cannot detect changes in operational status such as LED defects or ageing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the LED light unit monitors its own power consumption and compares it to a reference value. When the power consumption deviates from the reference (indicating LED defect or ageing), the system generates a status signal that is transmitted back to the control unit. This feedback loop enables the system to detect and report operational status changes without requiring additional sensors on the LED itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement of power consumption as a mediator between the LED light unit and the control system. Instead of directly monitoring LED performance, the system uses power consumption data as an intermediate indicator to infer operational status. This intermediary approach allows indirect detection of LED defects and ageing through changes in electrical characteristics.
2Reliability
If additional sensors or monitoring components are added to detect LED status, then operational status can be detected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the LED light unit to perform self-diagnosis by monitoring its own power consumption characteristics. The system uses internally available electrical measurements rather than requiring external sensors or monitoring equipment. This self-service approach allows the LED unit to detect its own operational status changes and communicate this information through existing control interfaces, avoiding additional hardware complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If the power consumption of LED light unit increases to maintain constant output light intensity despite ageing, then illumination quality is maintained, but the power reception changes making status detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control to monitor power consumption and detect deviations from expected patterns. Even when the LED unit adjusts its power consumption to maintain constant light output, the feedback mechanism compares actual power usage against reference values stored in memory. This allows the system to distinguish between intentional power adjustments for light quality and abnormal power changes indicating defects or ageing.
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
Enables reliable detection of the light unit's operational status by the power supply, allowing for timely maintenance and reducing the need for scheduled maintenance, while maintaining continuous illumination and low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination circuit (6), having at least one light emitting diode (LED)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A status indicating light unit (2) includes a power input terminal (4), adapted to be coupled to an external power supply (50), an illumination circuit (6), comprising at least one LED (61, 62, 6n), a continuous connection circuit (8), coupled to the illumination circuit (6) and configured to effect a continuous power transfer from the power input terminal (4) to the illumination circuit (6), a pulsed power reception circuit (10), coupled to the illumination circuit (6) and configured to draw power from the power input terminal (4) in a pulsed manner and to continuously emit power to the the illumination circuit (6), and a mode selection switch (30) adapted to couple the continuous connection circuit (8) to the power input terminal (4) in a continuous power draw mode, resulting in a continuous power draw pattern of the status indicating light unit (2), and adapted to couple the pulsed power reception circuit (10) to the power input terminal (4) in a pulsed power draw mode, resulting in a pulsed power draw pattern of the status indicating light unit (2). The respective power draw patterns of the status indicating light unit (2) indicate an operational status of the status indicating light unit (2) to the external power supply (50).