Winglet Cap Lighting With TIR and Prismatic Lens Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft winglets lack effective illumination and decorative design, with navigation lights typically positioned at the wingtip, leading to bland appearance and missed branding opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a TIR lens and prismatic lens to redirect light through holes in the winglet cap, using LEDs for illumination, ensuring light is transmitted perpendicular to the curved surface for enhanced visibility and branding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If navigation lights are positioned at the wingtip, then visibility for pilots is improved, but the decorative appearance and branding opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple LED sources distributed along the winglet, with each LED illuminating a specific section. This allows both functional visibility and decorative customization by controlling different segments independently
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional point-source navigation lights to a distributed linear lighting arrangement along the winglet edge, adding dimensional coverage while maintaining visibility function and enabling decorative patterns
2Illumination intensity
If a TIR lens and prismatic lens are used to redirect light perpendicular to the curved winglet cap surface, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The TIR lens andprismatic lens act as intermediary optical elements between the LED light source and the winglet cap surface, mediating the light path to achieve perpendicular transmission that maximizes visibility while maintaining a clean exterior appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system changes the parameters of light transmission by using total internal reflection to redirect light at specific angles, ensuring optimal perpendicular incidence on the curved winglet cap surface for maximum light output efficiency
3Illumination intensity
If the prismatic lens bends light toward the inside surface of the winglet cap, then decorative illumination is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The prismatic lens is pre-configured with fixed geometric angles during manufacturing to automatically bend light at the correct angles toward the winglet cap surface, eliminating the need for complex field adjustments and reducing installation precision requirements
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 improved decorative lighting and visibility on aircraft winglets, promoting brand identity through controlled color patterns and enhancing aerodynamic features.
Implementation Method 1
a total internal reflection (TIR) lens positioned in proximity to the light source; and a prismatic lens positioned between the light source and the winglet cap, where light produced by the light source reflects off a surface of the TIR lens
Implementation Method 2
the prismatic lens bends the light and directs the light toward an inside surface of the winglet cap
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is provided for illuminating a winglet cap (120) of a winglet (108). The system includes the winglet cap (120), a light source (306), a total internal reflection (TIR) lens (302) positioned in proximity to the light source (306), and a prismatic lens (408) positioned between the light source (306) and the winglet cap (120). In the system, light produced by the light source (306) reflects off a surface of the TIR lens (302) and passes through the prismatic lens (408). In the system, the prismatic lens (408) bends the light and directs the bent light toward an inside surface of the winglet cap (120).