Aircraft Tail Navigation Light With Low-Glare Orientation Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft tail navigation lights can glare the pilot of a trailing aircraft during nighttime refueling, leading to eye fatigue and reduced dark adaptation, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

An aircraft tail navigation light with a switchable navigation and orientation light mode, where the orientation light intensity is lower than the navigation light intensity, reducing glare and maintaining dark adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the navigation light intensity is increased to make the aircraft visible over large distances, then the visibility of the aircraft is improved, but the glare to the pilot of a trailing aircraft increases causing eye fatigue and reduced dark adaptation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation light intensityVSAvoidglare to trailing aircraft pilot

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation light system is segmented into two distinct lighting assemblies: a primary navigation lighting assembly for long-distance visibility and a secondary orientation lighting assembly for close-proximity guidance. This segmentation allows each assembly to operate at optimized intensity levels for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between visibility and glare.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the lighting system are assigned different light intensities according to their specific functional requirements. The primary navigation lights maintain high intensity for long-distance visibility, while the orientation lights use lower intensity to prevent glare during close-proximity operations such as refueling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a single high-intensity navigation light is used, then the aircraft visibility is maintained, but the pilot's dark adaptation is reduced during nighttime refueling operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft visibilityVSAvoidpilot dark adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system dynamically switches between different operational modes (primary navigation mode and orientation mode) based on the operational context. During nighttime refueling, the system transitions to orientation mode with lower intensity lights, preserving pilot dark adaptation while maintaining sufficient visibility for safe operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system is designed to perform multiple functions: long-distance navigation visibility and close-proximity orientation guidance. By integrating both high-intensity and low-intensity lighting capabilities into a single system, it adapts to different operational requirements without compromising either aircraft visibility or pilot comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If dimming or filters are added to reduce light intensity, then the glare is reduced, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglare reductionVSAvoidlighting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the existing navigation light system with dimming or filtering components, the invention extracts the glare-reduction function into a separate, independent orientation lighting assembly. This approach achieves glare reduction without adding complexity to the primary navigation lighting system, as each assembly operates independently at its optimal intensity level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 significantly reduces the risk of glaring while ensuring safe navigation and maintaining pilot awareness during refueling by providing a lower intensity orientation light mode without the need for dimming or filters, thus enhancing safety and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

a navigation lighting assembly (4) configured for emitting a regular navigation light output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

an orientation lighting assembly (6) configured for emitting an orientation light output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS20260049704A1Aircraft tail navigation light, aircraft comprising an aircraft tail navigation light, and method of operating an aircraft tail navigation light

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 GOODRICH LIGHTING SYST GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft tail navigation light comprises: a navigation lighting assembly for emitting a regular navigation light output; and an orientation lighting assembly for emitting an orientation light output. The aircraft tail navigation light is switchable between emitting the regular navigation light output having a navigation light intensity and emitting the orientation light output having an orientation light intensity, with the navigation light intensity being larger than the orientation light intensity