Autonomous search light system, winch system comprising an autonomous search light system, and aircraft comprising an autonomous search light system
AssigneeGoodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
InventorsAnil Kumar Jha, Jens Leuschner, Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An autonomous search light system for being mounted to an aircraft includes a search light for emitting an adjustable light output; an RF receiver with at least two RF antennas for receiving RF signals emitted by an RF transmitter; and a controller for determining a position of the RF transmitter in relation to the search light from the received RF signals and for controlling the search light based on the determined position of the RF transmitter.
Claims24
An autonomous search light system for being mounted to an aircraft, the autonomous search light system comprising:
- a search light for emitting an adjustable light output, wherein the search light is coupled to the aircraft;
- an RF receiver with at least three RF antennas for receiving RF signals emitted by an RF transmitter, wherein the RF transmitter is attached to a target that is to be illuminated with the adjustable light output of the search light, when spaced from the aircraft;
- and
- a controller for determining a position of the RF transmitter in relation to the search light from the received RF signals and for controlling the search light based on the determined position of the RF transmitter;
- wherein the RF receiver and the RF transmitter both are RF transceivers which allow for a bi-directional communication between the RF receiver and the RF transmitter;
- and
- wherein the RF transmitter is selectively operable in a transmitting mode and in a standby mode, wherein the RF transmitter emits RF signals when operated in the transmitting mode and wherein the RF transmitter does not emit RF signals when operated in the standby mode, wherein the RF transmitter is switchable from the standby mode into the transmitting mode by a wake-up signal emitted by the RF receiver and received by the RF transmitter.
A winch system for being mounted to an aircraft, comprising:
- a stationary winch portion configured to be attached to the aircraft;
- and
- a movable winch portion, which is movable with respect to the stationary winch portion;
- a rotatable member, which is rotatable with respect to the stationary winch portion, wherein the movable winch portion is movable with respect to the stationary winch portion by rotating the rotatable member;
- a detector for detecting a rotational position of the rotatable member;
- an autonomous search light system comprising:
- a search light for emitting an adjustable light output , wherein the search light is coupled to the aircraft;
- an RF receiver with at least two RF antennas for receiving RF signals emitted by an RF transmitter, wherein the RF transmitter is attached to a target that is to be illuminated with the adjustable light output of the search light, when spaced from the aircraft;
- and
- a controller for determining a position of the RF transmitter, which is attached to the movable winch portion, in relation to the search light from the received RF signals and from the rotational position of the rotatable member detected by the detector;
- and for controlling the search light based on the determined position of the RF transmitter;
- wherein the RF receiver and the RF transmitter both are RF transceivers which allow for a bi-directional communication between the RF receiver and the RF transmitter;
- and
- wherein the RF transmitter is selectively operable in a transmitting mode and in a standby mode, wherein the RF transmitter emits RF signals when operated in the transmitting mode and wherein the RF transmitter does not emit RF signals when operated in the standby mode, wherein the RF transmitter is switchable from the standby mode into the transmitting mode by a wake-up signal emitted by the RF receiver and received by the RF transmitter.
A method of operating an autonomous search light system mounted to an aircraft, the autonomous search light system comprising a search light for emitting an adjustable light output, the search light being coupled to the aircraft, and an RF receiver with at least three RF antennas for receiving RF signals emitted by an RF transmitter, wherein the RF transmitter is attached to a target that is spaced from the aircraft and is to be illuminated with the adjustable light output of the search light;
- wherein the method includes:
- receiving RF signals emitted by the RF transmitter;
- determining a position of the RF transmitter in relation to the search light from the received RF signals;
- and
- autonomously controlling the search light based on the determined position of the RF transmitter;
- wherein autonomously controlling the search light includes at least one of:
- adjusting a light output direction of the adjustable light output;
- adjusting a light output intensity of the adjustable light output;
- and
- adjusting a focus of the adjustable light output;
- wherein the RF transmitter is selectively operated in a transmitting mode and in a standby mode, wherein the RF transmitter emits RF signals when operated in the transmitting mode and wherein the RF transmitter does not emit RF signals when operated in the standby mode, and
- wherein the RF transmitter is switched from the standby mode into the transmitting mode by a wake-up signal emitted by the RF receiver and received by the RF transmitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.