Patent Application
20080025032
The invention is now explained in more detail on the basis of
The aircraft light source 1 comprises a diffuser 4 with a first body 14 of material with a first index of refraction. The diffuser 4 further comprises a plurality of second bodies 6 of material with a second index of refraction, which in the shown embodiment are received in the first body 14. The aircraft light source further comprises at least one LED, in the shown embodiment three LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c. As mentioned above, the thickness of the diffuser is about 1 mm to about 3 mm, preferably about 2 mm. The size of the second bodies 6 is for instance about 10 μm to about 70 μm, preferably about 40 μm.
The first body 14 can have a plastic, e.g. polycarbonate. The second bodies 6 can be of spherical shape and comprise glass. The first index of refraction of the first body 14 differs from the second index of refraction of the second bodies 6. The second index of refraction can be higher than the first index of refraction, resulting in a high refraction and/or deflection of a light beam passing through the second body. However, configurations in which the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction are also possible.
On the basis of
The aircraft light source according to the invention can also mix light of different colors. For instance, the first LED 2a can emit red light, the second LED 2b yellow light, and the third LED 2c blue light. The edge beam 26a of the light cone which the first LED 2a emits enters the first body 14 of the diffuser 4. The edge beam 26a is refracted by one of the plurality of second bodies 6 into the edge beam 24, and by another of the second bodies 6 into the edge beam 22, and exits from the first body 14 of the diffuser 4. The light cone which the third LED 2c generates has an edge beam 8b, which enters the first body 14 of the diffuser 4 and is there refracted by one of the second bodies 6 outward, away from the axis of symmetry of the light cone, and which enters the first body 14 from the second body as edge beam 20. The edge beam 20 enters another of the second bodies 6, and is again refracted away from the axis of symmetry of the light cone, and again enters the first body as edge beam 30 and exits from the first body 14 out of the diffuser (not shown). The edge beams 28a, 28b of the light cone which the second LED 2b generates are also refracted in the diffuser 4 away from the axis of symmetry by the second bodies 6, which are received in the first body 14. On the light emergence area 12 of the diffuser 4, therefore, the light cones which the first, second and third LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c emit overlap. The result is effective mixing of the colors which the LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c emit. By varying the intensity of the individual LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c, the color temperature can be varied. As described above, an increased proportion of red light can be wanted if the passengers in an aircraft want to relax, or on the other hand, a higher proportion of blue light can be wanted if the passengers have to concentrate. Additionally, a tone which the user wants in each application case can be given to the light which is emitted into the cabin.
The edge beams of
Because of its small size, the aircraft light source according to the invention can be integrated in an overhead panel or side panel. Because the first body 14 of the diffuser 4 is made of plastic, and the panels of the aircraft cabin also consist of plastic, the aircraft light source according to the invention can be seamlessly integrated in the panels of an aircraft cabin. In this way, disturbing interruptions in the optical design of such panels, such as can occur with traditional lighting means and traditional light emission openings, are avoided.
It can be seen that the light cones which the LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c emit do not overlap on the light entry side of the diffuser 4. Because of the refraction properties of the diffuser 4 with its first body 14 and the second bodies 6 which are arranged in it and have a different index of refraction than the first body 14, the light cones are broadened by refraction in such a way that the light cones on the light emission area of the diffuser overlap at the light emission side 12. The result is particular uniform light emission. If LEDs 2a, 2b, 2c, which each emit light of a different color, are used, color mixing also occurs in the diffuser 4, as described above. The light which the diffuser 4 emits on the light emission area 12 is particularly uniform with respect to location and color.
Also, the first body 14 of the diffuser and/or the plurality of second bodies 6 can be produced from a flame-retardant and/or flame-resistant material, so that use in the aircraft is possible without problems.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10 2006034817.6 | Jul 2006 | DE | national |
