Tapered LED Light Indicator Without Deflection Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light indicators for landing platforms have inefficiencies due to the use of metal extrusion support tubes with prismatic shapes, requiring deflection lenses for LED light sources, which reduce brightness and overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light indicator design with a tapered support body having tilted LED light sources on a lateral surface, eliminating the need for deflection lenses by orienting the optical emission axis partially upward, and incorporating a thermally conductive metal structure for heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deflection lenses are mounted on LED light sources to tilt light beams upward, then the light beams can be seen by aircraft pilots, but the brightness of the light beams is reduced and overall LED efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tilting the LED light sources themselves or using deflection lenses to redirect light upward, the patent inverts the approach by tilting the transparent cap downward relative to the horizontal plane. This allows the LEDs to emit light horizontally while the tilted cap redirects the light upward toward aircraft pilots, eliminating the need for deflection lenses and maintaining LED efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent cap serves as an intermediary element between the horizontally-emitting LED light sources and the aircraft pilots. By tilting the cap, it mediates the redirection of light from horizontal emission direction to upward viewing angle, achieving visibility without modifying the LED orientation or adding deflection lenses.
2Ease of manufacture
If a prismatic support tube with multiple lateral faces is used to mount LED light sources, then the structure is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but deflection lenses are required which reduce light efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the deflection lenses from the system by changing the orientation of the transparent cap. This removal of the problematic component (deflection lenses) resolves the energy loss issue while maintaining the simple prismatic support tube structure for mounting LEDs.
3Device complexity
If LED light sources are oriented horizontally on vertical lateral faces, then the support tube structure is simplified, but light beams cannot be seen by aircraft pilots without deflection lenses
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tilting the LEDs or adding lenses to redirect light upward, the patent inverts the solution by tilting the transparent cap downward. This allows horizontally-oriented LEDs on vertical faces to project light that is redirected upward by the tilted cap, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving visibility.
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
Enhances light efficiency and reliability by maintaining brightness without deflection lenses, while providing structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the light sources are of LED type, since they demonstrate greater light efficiency with respect to most of the light sources of conventional type
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a thermally conductive metal structure for heat dissipation
Data Source
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AI summary
Light indicator (1) comprising a containment casing (2), a support body (6) and multiple light sources (10). The containment casing (2) is provided with a base body (3) and with a closure body (4) fixed to the base body (3), delimiting a housing volume therewith and having a transparent portion (5) susceptible of being traversed by the light. The support body (6) is placed inside the housing volume of the containment casing (2), is extended along a vertical extension direction (X) between a base portion (7) and an opposite top portion (8) and is provided with a lateral surface (9) extended around the extension direction (X) between the base portion (7) and the top portion (8). The light sources (10) are mounted on the lateral surface (9) of the support body (6), are placed around the extension direction (X) and are each provided with a first optical emission axis (Y) thereof which intercepts the transparent portion (5) of the closure body (4). In addition, the support body (6) is extended, at least partially along the extension direction (X), with shape tapered from the base portion (7) towards the top portion (8), and the lateral surface (9) is tilted with respect to the extension direction (X) and supports the first light sources (10) with their first optical emission axis (Y) oriented partially upward.