Exterior Aircraft Light With Enclosed Lens-Reflector Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior aircraft lights face challenges in achieving a high degree of freedom to shape output light intensity distribution while providing effective protection from hazardous environments, including aerodynamic forces, vibrations, temperature variations, and gases like exhaust fumes.
Innovation Solution
An exterior aircraft light design featuring a lens with a refractive outer surface and a reflector that jointly shape the output light intensity distribution, where the lens fully encloses the light source and reflector, providing protection and allowing for a high degree of freedom in directing light to desired directions, with the reflector reflecting a significant portion of light back into the lens for efficient distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lens structure is used to shape output light intensity distribution, then the degree of freedom to direct light is improved, but the protection from hazardous environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lens structure and reflector into a single integrated optical system that is fully enclosed by the lens. The reflector is positioned within the lens structure, merging multiple optical components into one unified assembly that maintains both optical flexibility and environmental protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector is nested within the lens structure, with the lens fully enclosing the light source and reflector. This nesting arrangement allows the optical components to be housed within a protective enclosure that shields them from aerodynamic forces, vibrations, temperature variations, and hazardous gases while maintaining the desired light distribution capabilities.
2Productivity
If a reflector is added to reflect light back into the lens, then light output efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is integrated within the lens structure rather than being a separate external component. This merging of the reflector and lens into a single assembly reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the light reflection and redistribution functionality that improves light output efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector is nested within the enclosed space of the lens structure, utilizing the existing optical path without requiring additional external mounting structures or complex alignment mechanisms. This nested arrangement adds light reflection capability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
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 design achieves a high light yield in desired directions with efficient light output and effective protection from harsh conditions, meeting regulatory requirements for various aircraft light types.
Implementation Method 1
The reflector is arranged to reflect at least part of the light, emitted by the light source into the first lens portion, towards the second lens portion
Implementation Method 2
The lens has a refractive outer surface, and the reflector is arranged to reflect at least part of the light, emitted by the light source into the first lens portion, towards the second lens portion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3A
AI summary
An exterior aircraft light (1) comprises a mounting board (10), a light source (12) arranged on the mounting board (10), a lens (14) arranged over the light source (12), the lens (14) comprising a first lens portion (14a) on a first side of a cross-sectional center plane (20), which is orthogonal to the mounting board (10) and which runs through the light source (12), and comprising a second lens portion (14b) on a second side of the cross-sectional center plane (20), and a reflector (16), arranged to reflect light, emitted by the light source (12) into the first lens portion (14a), towards the second lens portion (14b), wherein the lens (14) fully encloses the light source (12) and the reflector (16).