Y-Shaped LED Landing Light Distribution for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft landing lights, including HID and sealed beam types, suffer from inefficient light distribution, leading to wasted light due to shading and insufficient intensity, and fail to provide a reliable oblique downward view, causing uneven illumination and 'finger' effects during landing approaches, which limits the pilot's field of view and visibility.
Innovation Solution
An LED landing light arrangement with a non-rotationally symmetric, Y-shaped light distribution is implemented, featuring LED light sources on wing roots and landing gears, providing a spread light pattern that diverges laterally and downward, ensuring comprehensive illumination of the landing strip and surrounding areas, with a focus on maintaining low contrast ratios for uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional HID or sealed beam landing lights are used, then the aircraft has basic landing illumination, but the light distribution is narrow and rotationally symmetric causing wasted light due to shading and insufficient intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from traditional rotationally symmetric landing light distributions to an asymmetric light distribution pattern. The light distribution is shaped to follow the cockpit's field of view, with enhanced illumination in lateral regions and reduced illumination in central regions where the cockpit structure blocks the view. This asymmetric distribution eliminates wasted light on shaded areas while concentrating intensity where the pilot can actually see it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the light distribution characteristics across different spatial regions. Specifically, the light intensity is enhanced in lateral regions corresponding to the pilot's peripheral vision and reduced in central regions blocked by the cockpit structure. This localized optimization ensures that light energy is distributed according to the actual visibility requirements at each location, eliminating waste while maintaining necessary illumination levels.
2Device complexity
If narrow light strips are used in conventional landing lights, then the light source is compact, but the illumination creates a finger effect with high differences in illuminating light causing areas to dance on the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the light distribution into multiple distinct regions: a first lateral region, a second lateral region, and a central region. Each region is independently optimized for its specific function - lateral regions provide enhanced illumination for oblique downward views, while the central region provides forward illumination. This segmented approach eliminates the unstable finger effect by ensuring continuous, uniform light distribution across all illuminated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by expanding the light distribution from narrow one-dimensional strips to two-dimensional regions with specific angular spreads. The light distribution covers a first lateral-angle region and a second lateral-angle region, creating broad illuminated areas rather than thin lines. This dimensional expansion ensures that illumination remains stable and continuous across the ground, eliminating the dancing finger effect.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional landing lights are oriented for forward illumination, then the touchdown point is illuminated, but the pilot cannot obtain an obliquely downward view of the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional light distribution system that simultaneously provides forward illumination, lateral illumination, and oblique downward illumination. The single light source arrangement generates a comprehensive light pattern that covers multiple viewing angles and regions, making the landing light system adaptable to various pilot viewing directions and aircraft configurations without requiring multiple separate light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a light distribution that adapts to the pilot's field of view and aircraft orientation. The asymmetric light pattern dynamically covers lateral regions corresponding to peripheral vision and adjusts illumination based on the aircraft's approach angle. This dynamic light distribution ensures optimal illumination regardless of whether the pilot is viewing forward, laterally, or obliquely downward.
4Area of stationary object
If turn-off and taxi lights with wide light distribution are used, then lateral visibility during taxiing is improved, but they cannot enlarge the pilot's illuminated field of view during landing approach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing enhanced lateral illumination specifically during the landing approach phase before touchdown. The asymmetric light distribution proactively illuminates lateral regions corresponding to the pilot's field of view during approach, allowing the pilot to assess lateral conditions before actually needing to taxi. This preliminary illumination of the relevant field of view enhances landing safety without relying on taxi lights that are optimized for post-landing operations.
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
This solution enhances the pilot's field of view by providing a homogeneous, uniform illumination, allowing for quick visual perception of reference objects and improved visibility of the landing strip, while also enhancing external visibility of the aircraft, reducing light waste and ensuring adequate illumination during turbulent approaches.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of LED light sources for arrangement on an aircraft, primarily on the wing roots, on the front edges of the wings and/or on the landing gears
Data Source
AI summary
An LED landing light arrangement for an aircraft comprises a plurality of LED light sources (12,14,16) for arrangement on an aircraft (24), primarily on the wing roots (20), on the front edges of the wings (22) and/or on the landing gears (18). The LED light sources (12,14,16) are operative to generate, relative to the central axis of the aircraft (24), a light distribution (10) ahead of the aircraft (24) that is spread substantially in a Y-shaped configuration in an obliquely downward direction. The light distribution (10) comprises two converging lateral regions (34,36) arranged laterally ahead of the aircraft (24), and a central region (40) running from said converging lateral regions (34,36) along an extension of said central axis and oriented in a direction away from the aircraft (24).