IP Library Granted Patent US 10,494,120
Granted Patent B2
US 10,494,120 · App. 14/541,596 · Granted Dec 3, 2019

Optical lighting system for an aircraft

Inventors: Edouard Bonnefous (Saint-Mande, FR); Frédéric Dratz (Paris, FR); Christian Tsao (Rosny sous Bois, FR)
Assignee: Zodiac Aero Electric
B64D47/04B64D47/02F21S41/657
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,494,120
App. No.
14/541,596
Granted
Dec 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical lighting system for an aircraft includes an optical unit that can be configured according to the phases of flight or taxiing of the aircraft in order to emit a beam of light the spread and aim characteristics of which are dependent on the said phases of flight or of taxiing.

Claims (17)

1. An optical lighting system for an aircraft, comprising:

an optical unit that can be configured according to the phases of flight or taxiing of the aircraft and the angular variations of the aircraft's attitude angle in order to emit a beam of light (F) the spread and aim characteristics of which are dependent on the said phases of flight or of taxiing and the angular variations of the aircraft's attitude angle;

a detection device capable of detecting the phases of flight or of taxiing of the aircraft by measuring the attitude of the aircraft, wherein the detection device comprises an accelerometer and a gyrometer, and wherein data measurements from the accelerometer and the gyrometer are used to determine an absolute angular position of the airplane with respect to horizontal; and

a modification device capable of modifying the spread and aim characteristics of the beam of light emitted as a function of the phases detected and according to the angular variations of the aircraft's attitude angle with respect to horizontal;

wherein a high-pass filter is applied to data obtained from the gyrometer and a low-pass filter is applied to data obtained from the accelerometer, and wherein filtered data measurements from the accelerometer and the gyrometer are used to determine an absolute angular position of the airplane with respect to horizontal; and

wherein the cut off frequency of the low-pass filter is the same as the cut off frequency of the high-pass filter.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device is capable of measuring the attitude of the aircraft.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the detection device comprises an inclination sensor capable of measuring the inclination of the beam of light with respect to an axis of the aircraft.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device includes a sensor capable of determining contact of the aircraft landing gear with the ground.

5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixed support for mounting the optical system on the aircraft and a mobile support that can be moved with respect to the fixed support and on which a configurable element of the optical unit is fixed, and a controller configured to control the movement of the mobile support as a function of the phases of flight or of taxiing of the aircraft.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the optical unit assembly is mounted on the mobile support so that it can be oriented according to the phases of flight or of taxiing.

7. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the optical unit comprises a mobile reflector mounted on the mobile support.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the source (S) is mounted on the mobile support.

9. The system according to claim 5 , further comprising an optical device placed in the path of the beam of light emitted by the light source, the said device constituting a light beam deflecting device and being mounted on the mobile support.

10. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the light source comprises a set of electronic light-emitting diodes that can be actuated selectively according to the phases of flight or of taxiing.

11. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a reduction motor actuator.

12. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a bistable electromagnet.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2026
From: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE COCKPIT SOLUTIONS
To: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
Reel/Frame 075645/0681 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: ZODIAC AERO ELECTRIC
To: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE COCKPIT SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 055177/0037 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2015
From: BONNEFOUS, EDOUARD; DRATZ, FRÉDÉRIC; TSAO, CHRISTIAN
To: ZODIAC AERO ELECTRIC
Reel/Frame 036693/0905 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 13 61178 · Nov 15, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150146442A1 · May 28, 2015