NVIS Lighting Control With Adjustable Melanopic-Photopic Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional NVIS-compatible lighting systems for aircraft require expensive optical filters that increase manufacturing time and cause light loss, and cannot configure a single lighting unit into both NVIS compatible and non-restricted visible modes.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system using a single light source or light source cluster, controlled by a processor to achieve target light colors within NVIS radiance limits, allowing for dynamic adjustment of Melanopic-Photopic ratios and operation in multiple modes, including NVIS compatible and visible modes, without the need for optical filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional NVIS-compatible lighting uses optical filters to remove unwanted wavelengths, then NVIS compatibility is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and light loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the optical filter component from the lighting system. Instead of using filters to achieve NVIS compatibility, the system directly generates light with the appropriate spectral characteristics using specific LED combinations, eliminating the filter and its associated light loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical filtering system with an electronic control system that adjusts LED output. The controller selectively activates specific LEDs (530-540nm green LEDs and 440-470nm blue LEDs) to generate NVIS-compatible light directly, substituting physical filtration with electronic spectral management.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical filters are used to achieve target color in NVIS lighting, then color accuracy is maintained, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the optical filter assembly from the manufacturing process. By using LEDs that inherently emit the required wavelengths, the system eliminates the need for filter installation, alignment, and testing, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining color accuracy through precise LED wavelength selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary spectral configuration by selecting LEDs with specific wavelength ranges (530-540nm for green, 440-470nm for blue) before the lighting system is assembled. This preliminary selection ensures color accuracy is built into the system design, eliminating the need for post-assembly filter calibration.
3Reliability
If a single lighting unit is designed for NVIS compatibility with fixed spectral output, then NVIS performance is optimized, but adaptability to different modes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the lighting unit with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple LED types (green 530-540nm, blue 440-470nm, and optionally red 610-680nm LEDs) that can be selectively activated. The controller enables the same physical unit to operate in NVIS-compatible mode by activating only the green and blue LEDs, or in unrestricted visible mode by activating all LEDs, achieving universal adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through the controller that can adjust LED activation in real-time. The system transitions from static, fixed spectral output to dynamic, adjustable spectral output by selectively turning on/off specific LED groups based on the required operating mode, enabling adaptability while maintaining NVIS performance when needed.
4Reliability
If multiple separate lighting devices are used for NVIS mode and visible mode, then mode-specific performance is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lighting functions into a single integrated lighting unit. By combining green LEDs (530-540nm), blue LEDs (440-470nm), and optionally red LEDs (610-680nm) in one device with a unified controller, the system eliminates the need for separate NVIS and visible lighting devices, reducing complexity while maintaining mode-specific performance through selective LED activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal lighting device that performs both NVIS-compatible illumination and unrestricted visible illumination functions. The single device contains all necessary LED types and uses a controller to switch between modes, replacing multiple specialized devices with one multi-functional unit that maintains optimized performance for each mode.
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 solution reduces costs, simplifies procurement and assembly, eliminates light loss, and enables a single lighting unit to operate in both NVIS compatible and visible modes, meeting MIL-STD-3009 requirements while promoting alertness or restfulness based on melanopic responses.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting system includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting system and assembly comprising a controller (114) in operable communication with a light unit. The controller (114) is configured to apply a lighting condition using the light unit for a target light color below an upper level of NVIS radiance while controlling a Melanopic-Photopic (M/P) ratio associated with the target light color, and also determine a color mixing for producing NVIS Green A light and NVIS white light for a plurality of levels of NVIS radiance which are less than a maximum NVIS radiance level for a set of M/P ratio values at an upper allowable limit and a set of M/P ratio values at a lower limit.