Helicopter Light Unit Adaptive LED Dimming for Reflection Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helicopter headlamps are inadequate as they often cause blinding reflections from illuminated areas, distracting pilots and leading to missed obstacles due to non-uniform light intensity distribution, which prioritizes ground structures over distant objects.
Innovation Solution
An exterior helicopter light unit with dynamically adjustable LED light intensity, where each LED is dimmable based on its specific output direction and distance to the ground, ensuring a more uniform illumination of the surroundings by reducing bright reflections from close objects and maintaining sufficient illumination of distant features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a uniform light intensity distribution is provided for the entire opening angle of the light unit, then the ground close to the helicopter is illuminated brightly, but obstacles farther away are less visible and the pilot is distracted by bright reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the light unit into multiple individually controllable LED sections, each illuminating a specific angular region. The control unit adjusts the light intensity of each LED independently based on the distance to ground in its respective output direction region, creating non-uniform local illumination that adapts to terrain variations and eliminates blinding reflections from close ground while maintaining visibility of distant obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the light intensity distribution dynamically adjustable through the control unit. The system continuously monitors distance to ground and automatically modifies the illumination pattern in real-time, transitioning from a static uniform distribution to a dynamic adaptive distribution that responds to changing flight conditions and terrain proximity.
2Illumination intensity
If the light intensity is increased to illuminate distant obstacles, then visibility of far objects improves, but reflections from close ground structures become blinding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different light intensities to different angular regions. LEDs directing light toward close ground structures operate at reduced intensity to prevent blinding reflections, while LEDs illuminating distant regions maintain higher intensity for obstacle visibility. This spatially differentiated approach allows simultaneous optimization of both close and distant illumination without the trade-off present in uniform lighting systems.
3Illumination intensity
If individual LEDs are dimmable based on distance to ground, then illumination uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the light unit into multiple independently controllable LED sections, each with its own dimming control. This segmentation allows the control unit to manage complexity by treating each LED as an independent controllable element rather than managing a single complex uniform lighting system, making the overall control architecture more manageable through modular organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automatic control where the control unit autonomously adjusts the dimming levels of individual LEDs based on real-time distance measurements to ground. The system eliminates the need for manual adjustment or complex external control mechanisms by automatically sensing terrain proximity and independently regulating each LED's output, reducing operational complexity while achieving uniform illumination.
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
This solution enhances pilot awareness by providing a uniform and adaptive illumination, reducing distractions from bright areas and ensuring visibility of both close and distant obstacles, thereby improving safety during low-altitude flights.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention is in the field of exterior helicopter lighting. In particular, it is in the field of helicopter light units that are used for illuminating the helicopter environment
Implementation Method 2
an optical system for shaping the output light intensity distribution from light emitted by the plurality of LEDs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An exterior helicopter light unit (2) with a dynamic output light intensity distribution includes a plurality of LEDs (30), and an optical system (32) for shaping the output light intensity distribution from light emitted by the plurality of LEDs (30), wherein each of the plurality of LEDs (30) contributes to the output light intensity distribution in an LED-specific output direction region, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs (30) are individually dimmable, with a level of dimming for each of said portion of the plurality of LEDs (30) in operation being set depending on a distance of the exterior helicopter light unit (2) to ground (200) in the respective LED-specific output direction region.