LED Flash Light Source With Shock-Absorbing Sheets for Runway Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional xenon flash lighting devices for runways are heavy, have short lifespans, low luminous intensity, cannot adjust intensity, and are power-intensive, with added risks from aircraft impact.

Innovation Solution

An LED flash light source comprising an LED module, a frame-shaped attaching plate with a lens member for uniform illuminance, and shock-absorbing sheets for impact resistance, which is lighter, longer-lasting, and capable of adjusting luminous intensity while reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a xenon flash light source is used in a runway-embedded flash lighting device, then the device can provide high luminous intensity, but the device becomes heavy, has short life, and consumes large power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminous intensityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the xenon discharge lamp with an LED light source, substituting a mechanical/electrical discharge system with a solid-state electroluminescent system. This substitution eliminates the heavy xenon gas filling and discharge mechanism while maintaining luminous output through LED chips that convert electrical energy directly to light, thereby reducing device weight and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the light source by transitioning from xenon discharge (high current, high pressure gas discharge) to LED electroluminescence (low current, solid-state). This parameter change enables the system to achieve comparable or superior luminous intensity with significantly reduced weight, longer operational life, and lower power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If a xenon flash light source is used, then high luminous intensity can be achieved, but the device has short service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminous intensityVSAvoidservice life

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the vulnerable xenon discharge system with a robust LED system that has no moving parts, no gas to leak, and no filament to burn out. The solid-state LED architecture eliminates the mechanical and chemical degradation pathways that limit xenon lamp life, providing significantly longer operational duration while maintaining high luminous output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Illumination intensity

If a xenon flash light source is used, then high luminous intensity can be provided, but the device cannot switch between different luminous intensities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminous intensityVSAvoidintensity switching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic control capability to the lighting system through the LED's electrical characteristics. By varying the drive current to the LED array, the system can dynamically adjust luminous output across multiple levels (high, medium, low intensity) in real-time. This dynamic electrical control enables versatile intensity switching that is inherently impossible with fixed-output xenon discharge lamps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Power

If a xenon flash light source is used, then the device can operate, but it consumes large amount of power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpower dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the inefficient xenon discharge process with LED electroluminescence, which converts electrical energy to light more efficiently. The LED's direct electroluminescent mechanism avoids the energy losses associated with gas discharge, arc formation, and thermal conversion that plague xenon systems, resulting in lower power consumption and reduced energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Ease of operation

If a flash light source is embedded under the runway, then the lighting function is provided, but the light source may be damaged by aircraft landing impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting functionVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates shock-absorbing sheets positioned between the LED module and the embedding structure. These sheets act as a cushioning layer that absorbs and dissipates impact energy from aircraft landings before it reaches the fragile LED components, protecting them from damage while allowing the lighting function to continue uninterrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible shock-absorbing sheets as a protective interface between the rigid embedding structure and the sensitive LED module. These thin-film shock absorbers flex and deform under impact loads, absorbing mechanical energy while maintaining the optical pathway and electrical connections of the LED system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 LED solution provides a lightweight, high-intensity, long-lasting, and impact-resistant flash light source with adjustable luminosity and low power dissipation, improving upon the limitations of xenon-based systems.

Implementation Method 1

an LED module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a lens member; wherein the lens member is attached to a hollow portion in s frame of the frame-shaped attaching plate, the lens member is a lens member that allows an emission surface of flash emitted from the LED to have a uniform illuminance distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

a shock-absorbing sheet, wherein the shock-absorbing sheet includes: a lower shock-absorbing sheet; and an upper shock-absorbing sheet, the lower shock-absorbing sheet is placed on the LED module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12122533B2LED flash light source and runway-embedded flash lighting device

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 HOTALUX LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a new LED flash light source that is light, has a long life, has high effective luminous intensity, can switch the luminous intensity, is low in power dissipation, and is excellent in impact resistance. An LED flash light source (10) for a runway-embedded flash lighting device includes: an LED module (11); a frame-shaped attaching plate (12); a lens member (13); and a shock-absorbing sheet. The lens member (13) is attached to a hollow portion in s frame of the frame-shaped attaching plate (12), the lens member (13) is a lens member (13) that allows an emission surface of flash emitted from the LED (11b) to have a uniform illuminance distribution, the shock-absorbing sheet includes a lower shock-absorbing sheet (14a) and an upper shock-absorbing sheet (14b), the lower shock-absorbing sheet (14a) is placed on the LED module (11), the frame-shaped attaching plate (12) to which the lens member (13) is attached is placed on the lower shock-absorbing sheet (14a), and the upper shock-absorbing sheet (14b) is placed on the frame-shaped attaching plate (12).