OLED Illumination Panel for Avionic Keypanel Backlighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighted switch panels in aircraft are unreliable, complex, and expensive due to the need for custom waveguides and lighting solutions, which also consume critical space and complicate individual key or symbol illumination.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated avionics keypanel using an OLED illumination panel with a control circuit to provide uniform illumination to input devices, allowing for customizable and efficient backlighting without the need for complex waveguides, enabling individual control of each symbology and color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LED lighting with waveguides is used to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to custom waveguide requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the waveguide component from the illumination system and replaces it with individual LED modules positioned directly behind each key. This eliminates the complex waveguide structure while maintaining LED power efficiency, as each LED illuminates its corresponding key without requiring light redistribution through a waveguide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the illumination system into individual LED modules, each responsible for illuminating a specific key or region. This segmentation removes the need for a common waveguide that would require complex tuning and customization, while still achieving low power consumption through efficient LED technology.
2Area of stationary object
If a common waveguide is used to provide illumination across multiple keys, then illumination coverage is improved, but individual key illumination control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into separate LED modules, with each module controlling illumination for a specific key or group of keys. This segmentation enables independent control of individual keys while collectively providing coverage across the entire keypanel, eliminating the need for a common waveguide that would distribute light uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each LED module is positioned and configured to provide optimized illumination for its specific target key or region. This local quality approach allows different illumination characteristics (intensity, color, timing) for different keys, enabling individual key control while maintaining adequate coverage across the entire panel.
3Illumination intensity
If incandescent lighting is used to provide high illumination, then brightness is improved, but power consumption and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces incandescent lighting (thermal radiation mechanism) with LED technology (electroluminescence mechanism). This substitution maintains adequate illumination brightness while dramatically reducing power consumption and improving reliability, as LEDs are solid-state devices without fragile filaments or flex cables.
4Ease of manufacture
If a common waveguide is used for illumination, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but customization for different applications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses modular LED modules that can be independently configured for different applications. Each module can be customized for specific keys or regions without requiring custom waveguide design and tuning. This modular approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling easy adaptation to different keypanel layouts and illumination requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED modules are designed with universal applicability, where the same basic module design can be used across different keypanel configurations and applications. This universality eliminates the need for application-specific waveguide customization while maintaining the ability to tailor illumination characteristics through simple module placement and control.
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 provides a cost-effective, space-efficient, and reliable illumination system that allows for precise control of each key or symbol, improving user experience and reducing complexity in aircraft cockpits.
Implementation Method 1
an OLED illumination panel, the OLED illumination panel comprising a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the OLED panel coupled to the bezel structure and having at least one active portion
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated keypanel includes an input device. The input device has control symbology. The illuminated keypanel also includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) sheet. The OLED sheet provides illumination to the control symbology of the input device.