Aircraft Beacon Light With Booster LEDs for Cover Erosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft beacon lights face deterioration of light emission due to erosion of the light transmissive cover caused by impinging streams of ambient air, which can lead to non-compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) requirements.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft beacon light system with primary and booster light sources, where the booster light sources are activated independently to enhance light emission in the forward sector when the transmissive cover is eroded, ensuring compliance with FAR requirements by maintaining or exceeding minimum illumination intensities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the aircraft beacon light uses a light transmissive cover to protect the light sources, then the light sources are protected from environmental damage, but the cover erodes over time due to impinging streams of ambient air, causing deterioration of light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light transmissive cover by incorporating erosion compensation features into its design. The cover includes optical compensation elements that adjust the light transmission characteristics to compensate for erosion-induced losses, maintaining the required illumination intensity despite material degradation over time.
2Device complexity
If the beacon light operates with primary light sources only, then the device complexity is minimized, but the light output becomes insufficient when the transmissive cover is eroded, leading to non-compliance with FAR requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by incorporating booster light sources that are activated in advance or automatically when erosion is detected. These additional light sources are prepared and positioned to provide immediate compensation when the primary light output becomes insufficient due to cover erosion, ensuring continuous FAR compliance without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The light transmissive cover serves multiple functions: it protects the light sources from environmental damage, transmits light to provide the required illumination, and incorporates erosion compensation features that actively maintain light output levels. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the light transmissive cover is made more durable to resist erosion, then the protection against environmental factors is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the light transmissive cover by selecting materials and designing structures that optimize the balance between erosion resistance and manufacturability. The cover incorporates specific material compositions and structural features that provide adequate protection against impinging streams of ambient air while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes.
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
The system maintains FAR-compliant light output by compensating for erosion-induced reductions, extending the beacon light's lifetime and reducing maintenance costs through intelligent activation of booster sources based on erosion detection.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmissive cover, which covers the plurality of primary light sources
Implementation Method 2
an erosion detector, which is configured for determining a state of erosion of the light transmissive cover
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft beacon light (120, 120a, 120b) comprises a plurality of primary light sources (6) for emitting light into at least two spatial sectors (12-18), wherein the at least two spatial sectors (12-18) include a forward sector (12) and at least one of an aft sector (14), a starboard lateral sector (16), and a portside lateral sector (18); and a light transmissive cover (4), which covers the plurality of primary light sources (6). The plurality of primary light sources (6) are arranged and configured for providing an FAR-compliant aircraft beacon light output of the aircraft beacon light (120, 120a, 120b), in case of the light transmissive cover (4) being in a non-eroded state. The aircraft beacon light (120, 120a, 120b) further comprises at least one booster light source (20) for selectively emitting a booster light output into the forward sector (12). The at least one booster light source (20) is controllable independently of the plurality of primary light sources.