Aircraft Cabin Illumination Mapping for Flexible Light Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft interior lighting systems lack the flexibility and efficiency to create complex illumination patterns without individually controlling each light module, limiting their ability to convey specific information or enhance passenger experience.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows for holistic control of aircraft cabin illumination by mapping images to the spatial distribution of light modules, enabling the creation of various illumination patterns without individualized control of each module. This involves receiving an image, mapping it to the light module distribution, generating an illumination command set, and issuing it to the light modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual control of each light module is implemented, then precise illumination control is achieved, but system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft cabin is divided into multiple zones, each controlled by a separate control unit. Each zone contains multiple light modules that can be controlled collectively rather than individually, reducing control complexity while maintaining illumination precision within each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple light modules within the same zone are merged into a single controllable group. The control units manage groups of light modules collectively, combining individual module control into zone-based control to simplify the overall system while preserving illumination control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex illumination patterns are created through individual module control, then illumination flexibility is improved, but control time and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Illumination patterns are pre-defined and stored in the control units. When a pattern is needed, the control unit retrieves and executes the pre-programmed sequence, avoiding real-time complex calculations and reducing control processing time while maintaining pattern flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects from multiple pre-defined illumination patterns based on operational requirements. Different zones can simultaneously display different patterns, allowing flexible adaptation to various situations without requiring complex real-time control calculations.
3Area of stationary object
If more light modules are distributed across the cabin, then illumination coverage is improved, but system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The large number of light modules is segmented into multiple zones, each managed by a dedicated control unit. This segmentation allows the system to handle extensive illumination coverage by dividing it into manageable sections, reducing the control complexity that would arise from managing all modules centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control unit is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple light modules within its zone. The control units can operate independently or in coordination, providing multi-functional capability that scales with the number of zones without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an aircraft cabin illumination system (2), having a plurality of light modules (40) with a set spatial distribution across an aircraft cabin (102), includes receiving an image (50); mapping the image (50) to the set spatial distribution of the plurality of light modules (40); generating an illumination command set, including an operating command for each of the plurality of light modules (40), on the basis of the mapping of the image (50) to the set spatial distribution of the plurality of light modules (40); and issuing the illumination command set to the plurality of light modules (40).