Flexible Silicone Light Guide for Aircraft Edge Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current edge lighting solutions for aircraft are complicated due to spatial and wiring limitations, and existing materials like polycarbonate have high transmission loss, making them unsuitable for aviation industry standards.
Innovation Solution
A flexible light guide system using a silicone substrate with controlled light extraction features, such as bubbles, arranged for uniform light emission, which can be formed to fit complex aircraft curvatures and meet aviation standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polycarbonate is used for the light guide, then flame retardancy is improved, but light transmission loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses silicone rubber as the light guide material, which is a composite material that inherently provides flame retardancy while maintaining excellent light transmission properties. This resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that combines both fire safety requirements and optical performance, eliminating the need to choose between polycarbonate's flame retardancy or acrylic's low transmission loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the material composition parameters by incorporating specific flame retardant additives and adjusting the silicone rubber formulation to achieve optimal balance between flame resistance and light transmission. This allows the material to meet aviation standards while maintaining low transmission loss.
2Loss of energy
If acrylic is used for edge lighting, then light transmission is improved, but flame retardancy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs silicone rubber, a composite material that inherently combines the low transmission loss characteristics of acrylic with the flame retardant properties of polycarbonate. This resolves the contradiction by providing a material that simultaneously achieves both optical performance and fire safety without requiring additional modifications.
3Illumination intensity
If light extraction features are added to the light guide, then uniform light emission is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates light extraction features in the form of pores or cavities within the silicone rubber light guide. These porous structures extract light from the internal total internal reflection paths and redirect it toward the viewing surface, achieving uniform light emission. The porous structure is integrated into the molding process, avoiding additional manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The light extraction features are pre-formed during the silicone rubber molding process itself, rather than being added as a separate post-processing step. This preliminary action integrates the light extraction function into the base material fabrication, eliminating additional manufacturing complexity while achieving uniform light emission.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide is made flexible to fit aircraft curvatures, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible silicone rubber light guide that can be formed into curved and contoured shapes to fit aircraft interior surfaces. The flexible nature of silicone rubber allows the light guide to conform to complex geometries while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for installation and operation in aviation environments.
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 flexible light guide system provides consistent and controlled color accuracy, dimming capabilities, and meets aviation industry standards for fire, smoke, and toxicity requirements, simplifying installation and enhancing aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide transmits light from the light source to a light emitting surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light extraction features formed within the flexible substrate in between the two outer surfaces. The light extraction features are arranged according to a controlled distribution that affects a propagation of light in between the two outer surfaces and an emission of light from the light emitting area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure a light guide includes a flexible substrate having two outer surfaces with at least one of the two outer surfaces defining a light emitting area. At least one edge of the flexible substrate is configured to receive light from a light source coupled to the edge. The light guide further includes a plurality of light extraction features formed within the flexible substrate in between the two outer surfaces. The light extraction features may be arranged according to a controlled distribution that affects a propagation of light in between the two outer surfaces and an emission of light from the light emitting area.