Aircraft Washlight System
Aircraft washlight systems having an asymmetric lens are disclosed. An example vehicle cabin illumination system includes a light source located one side of a surface of a vehicle cabin, and an asymmetric lens through which the light passes to illuminate the surface with a substantially uniform light distribution.
1 . A vehicle cabin illumination system comprising:
a light source located only on one side of a surface having a generally flat or simple curve shape of a vehicle cabin; and
an asymmetric lens through which the light passes to illuminate the surface with a substantially uniform light distribution using only the light source.
2 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle cabin comprises an aircraft cabin, and the surface comprises a ceiling surface of the aircraft cabin.
3 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a linear array of light emitting diodes.
4 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 3 , wherein the asymmetric lens has an elongated shape.
5 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 4 , wherein in a longitudinal center line of the asymmetric lens is offset with respect to the light source.
6 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein in a center line of the asymmetric lens is offset with respect to the light source.
7 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source and the asymmetric lens are located at least partially below the surface
8 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source and the asymmetric lens are located above a storage bin along an edge of the surface.
9 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the asymmetric lens is configured and positioned to shift light toward a center of the surface.
10 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 1 , wherein:
the surface is a ceiling surface;
the light source is located above a surface of a first storage bin but does not directly illuminate the first storage bin surface; and
the first storage bin surface is illuminated primarily from light diffusing from the ceiling surface.
11 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 10 , wherein a protrusion of the first storage bin blocks light from the light source from directly reaching the surface of the first storage bin.
12 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 10 , wherein:
the light source is located above a surface of a second storage bin separated by a horizontal space from the first storage bin, but the light source does not directly illuminate the second storage bin surface; and
the second storage bin surface is illuminated primarily from light diffusing from the first storage bin surface.
13 . The vehicle cabin illumination system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first storage bin surface and the second storage bin surface are substantially curved surfaces.