In-flight Refueling Illumination System with Eye-Safe Envelope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-flight refueling systems face limitations in illumination power due to the need for eye-safe emissions, resulting in inadequate lighting during night or bad weather conditions, which can hinder visibility and increase the risk of glare for operators and hostile detection.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a generating device for non-eye-safe light emission, combined with a directing and collecting device, and fiber optic transmission, allows for higher power illumination while ensuring eye-safety for the operator, using electroluminescent diodes, laser diodes, or their hybrids, and a holographic diffuser to create an effective illumination envelope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional illuminating systems use eye-safe light emissions, then operator safety is ensured, but illumination power is limited resulting in inadequate lighting during night or bad weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the illumination function into two separate components: a high-power non-eye-safe light source for generating sufficient illumination, and an eye-safe laser for guiding and safety. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and operator safety
Solution Approach 2:
The eye-safe laser acts as an intermediary between the high-power light source and the operator's eyes. It provides a safe visual guide while the diffuser distributes the high-power illumination across a wider area, reducing intensity at any single point and preventing eye damage while maintaining overall brightness
2Illumination intensity
If illuminating systems increase power to overcome adverse visibility conditions, then visibility is improved, but glare risk for operators and hostile detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different qualities of light to different spatial zones: the high-power illumination is diffused across a wide area to provide uniform lighting without concentrated glare, while the eye-safe laser provides a focused but low-intensity guide. This local differentiation allows high visibility without harmful glare concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial distribution parameter of the light emission by using a diffuser to spread the high-power illumination over a larger area. This parameter change reduces the intensity concentration that causes glare while maintaining total illumination levels sufficient for adverse weather conditions
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 system provides enhanced illumination for in-flight refueling operations without posing a risk to the operator, overcoming the limitations of power and visibility issues in adverse conditions while maintaining eye-safety.
Implementation Method 1
a generating device for generating a light emission; wherein the light emission generated by the generating device is non eye-safe for persons
Implementation Method 2
a collecting device for collecting the light emission generated by the generating device
Implementation Method 3
fiber optic means for transmitting the light emission collected by the collecting device to the directing device
Implementation Method 4
a directing device for directing the transmitted light emission to define an illumination envelope containing a spatial range of in-flight refueling positions
Implementation Method 5
The system is configured to provide an eye-safe light emission for persons, at the working distance of the operator at the tanker aircraft
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for illuminating an in-flight refueling operation involving a tanker aircraft (14) and a receiver aircraft (13), comprising: a generating device (2) for generating a light emission, substantially in a near infrared spectrum; a directing device (12) for directing the emission to define an emission envelope (15) containing a spatial range of in-flight refueling positions of the receiver aircraft (13) relative to the tanker aircraft (14); further comprising a collecting device (3) for collecting the light emission generated by the generating device (2) and means (5) for transmitting the light emission collected by the collecting device (3) to the directing device (12). The invention also relates to a method for illuminating an in-flight refueling operation involving a tanker aircraft (14) and a receiver aircraft (13), said method defining an emission envelope (15) which contains a spatial range of in-flight refueling positions of the receiver aircraft (13) relative to the tanker aircraft (14).