Hemispherical LED Search Light with Electronic Beam Steering

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems for mobile platforms, such as rotorcraft, rely on numerous mechanical actuators to position light beams, which increases mass, requires frequent maintenance, and results in downtime due to harsh operating environments.

Innovation Solution

A search and landing light system with a hemispherical housing and a controller that uses a reduced number of mechanical actuators, incorporating light emitting elements, sensors, and an actuator assembly to position light beams through a processor-controlled system, allowing for slew, home, and object tracking modes, and adjusts light beam orientation based on sensor and imaging data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If numerous mechanical actuators are employed to position the light beam, then the light can be positioned at the desired orientation, but the mass of the lighting system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight beam positioning capabilityVSAvoidmass of lighting system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces numerous mechanical actuators with an electronic control system that selectively activates multiple light emitting elements arranged in a hemispherical pattern. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical positioning mechanisms while achieving the same light beam orientation capability through electronic selection of active LEDs, directly resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and system mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system is segmented into multiple discrete light emitting elements distributed across a hemispherical surface. By dividing the single light source into numerous individual LEDs, the system can electronically select and activate specific segments to create a directed light beam without requiring mechanical movement, thus reducing overall system mass while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If numerous mechanical actuators are employed to position the light beam, then the light can be positioned at the desired orientation, but the system requires frequent service and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight beam positioning capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces numerous mechanical actuators with an electronic control system that selectively activates multiple light emitting elements arranged in a hemispherical pattern. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical positioning mechanisms while achieving the same light beam orientation capability through electronic selection of active LEDs, directly resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and system mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The solid-state LED array and electronic control system require no mechanical maintenance, adjustment, or service under normal operating conditions. The system is inherently self-sufficient, eliminating the frequent service and replacement requirements associated with mechanical actuators, thereby significantly improving reliability and reducing maintenance frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If numerous mechanical actuators are employed to position the light beam, then the light can be positioned at the desired orientation, but downtime increases due to harsh operating environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight beam positioning capabilityVSAvoidoperational downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces numerous mechanical actuators with an electronic control system that selectively activates multiple light emitting elements arranged in a hemispherical pattern. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical positioning mechanisms while achieving the same light beam orientation capability through electronic selection of active LEDs, directly resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and system mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The solid-state LED array and electronic control system require no mechanical maintenance, adjustment, or service under normal operating conditions. The system is inherently self-sufficient, eliminating the frequent service and replacement requirements associated with mechanical actuators, thereby significantly improving reliability and reducing maintenance frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If numerous mechanical actuators are employed to position the light beam, then the light can be positioned at the desired orientation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight beam positioning capabilityVSAvoidnumber of mechanical actuators

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces numerous mechanical actuators with an electronic control system that selectively activates multiple light emitting elements arranged in a hemispherical pattern. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical positioning mechanisms while achieving the same light beam orientation capability through electronic selection of active LEDs, directly resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and system mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system is segmented into multiple discrete light emitting elements distributed across a hemispherical surface. By dividing the single light source into numerous individual LEDs, the system can electronically select and activate specific segments to create a directed light beam without requiring mechanical movement, thus reducing overall system mass while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Reduces maintenance time, decreases system weight, and enhances reliability by minimizing mechanical actuators while providing precise control over light beam positioning and orientation, improving operational efficiency and responsiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of light emitting elements coupled to the hemispherical housing and arranged about a surface of the hemispherical housing. Each of the plurality of light emitting elements is configured to output a light beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS10670249B1Systems and methods for search and landing light

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A search and landing light system for a vehicle includes a hemispherical housing adapted to couple to the vehicle and a plurality of light emitting elements coupled to the hemispherical housing and arranged about a surface of the hemispherical housing. Each of the plurality of light emitting elements is configured to output a light beam. The search and landing light system includes a controller, having a processor in communication with each of the plurality of light emitting elements and configured to output one or more control signals to selectively activate at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements to output the light beam at a selected position relative to the vehicle.