# US 12,759,729 B2 · Methods and systems for executing a lighting scheme for a vertical take-off and landing vehicle using a controller

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,759,729 B2
- Document ID: US12759729B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 19/280,992
- Filed: 2025-07-25
- Published: 2025-11-20
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-10-28
- Assignees: Supernal, LLC
- Applicants: Supernal, LLC
- Inventors: Alexander Pozzi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759729B2

## CPC

- B64D 47/06: for indicating aircraft presence
- B60Q 3/54: Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
- F21S 41/125: Coloured light
- F21S 41/151: arranged in one or more lines
- F21S 41/663: by switching light sources (by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162)
- H05B 47/13: by using passive infrared detectors
- F21W 2102/40: the light being emitted to facilitate access to the vehicle
- F21W 2103/60: Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road
- F21W 2106/00: Interior vehicle lighting devices
- F21W 2107/30: for aircraft
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for lighting a vehicle. A system includes a plurality of lights disposed on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle configured to turn on and off, change color, and/or change intensity. The system further includes a controller configured to determine a lighting scheme for the plurality of lights, the lighting scheme including a setting for the plurality of lights, the setting including one or more of turning the plurality of lights on or off, setting a color of the plurality of lights, and setting an intensity of the plurality of lights, determine a location in or associated with the VTOL vehicle, wherein the lighting scheme is configured to guide a person to the location, and transmit a signal to the one or more lights to execute the lighting scheme to guide the person to the determined location.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of lights disposed on or within the vehicle, wherein each light of the plurality of lights is configured to be turned on or off, emit colored light, emit light at a plurality of intensities, or a combination thereof;
one or more sensors; and
a controller configured to execute a lighting scheme for the plurality of lights, wherein the lighting scheme is configured to convey a direction to a predetermined vehicle;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive data indicating a location of a passenger;
determine a configuration of the lighting scheme based on the location of the passenger and an identifier associated with the passenger, wherein the identifier includes an associated color; and
execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme so as to modify at least one of the plurality of lights from a first state to a second state different from the first state, including causing the at least one of the plurality of lights to change to the color associated with the identifier, wherein the at least one of the plurality of lights in the second state provides a directional cue indicating to the passenger the direction of travel towards the predetermined vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the direction to the predetermined vehicle corresponds to the direction to an open door of the predetermined vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme by causing the at least one of the plurality of lights to emit a projection that provides a directional indicator from the location of the passenger to the predetermined vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The light system of claim 3, wherein the projection corresponds to one or more arrows projected onto a surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme by causing a sequential activation of the at least one of the plurality of lights to indicate the direction of travel from the location of the passenger to the predetermined vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme by causing an increase to the intensity of the at least one of the plurality of lights in response to the data indicating a decreasing distance of the passenger to the predetermined vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the location of the passenger is determined based on data received from a mobile device associated with the passenger.

### Claim 8

A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of lights disposed on or within the vehicle, wherein each light of the plurality of lights is configured to be turned on or off, emit colored light, emit light at a plurality of intensities, or a combination thereof; and
a controller configured to execute a lighting scheme for the plurality of lights, wherein the lighting scheme is configured to convey a direction to the vehicle;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive passenger-specific data indicating an identifier associated with a passenger assigned to the vehicle;
determine a configuration of the lighting scheme based on the identifier, wherein the identifier associated with the passenger includes an associated color; and
execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme so as to modify at least one of the plurality of lights from a first state to a second state different from the first state, including causing the at least one of the plurality of lights to change to the color associated with the identifier, wherein the at least one of the plurality of lights in the second state is configured to: i) visually distinguish a portion of the vehicle from another portion of the vehicle or from another vehicle, and ii) provide a visual cue indicating that the lighting scheme corresponds to the identifier associated with the passenger.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme by projecting an image on a landing pad comprising at least one of: a directional arrow, at least one alphanumeric character, a flight or vehicle identifier, or a designated passenger symbol.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a signal from a component fault detection system indicating a malfunctioning part associated with the vehicle; and
execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme to guide the passenger away from a region of the vehicle associated with the malfunctioning part.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive status information indicating that one or more doors of the vehicle is closed or inoperable; and
execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme to guide the passenger toward a different, operable door.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a vehicle maintenance status signal identifying at least one component of the vehicle undergoing maintenance; and
execute the determined configuration of the lighting scheme to guide the passenger away from the at least one component of the vehicle undergoing maintenance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing vehicle.

### Claim 14

A method for controlling a lighting system for a vehicle to guide a passenger on a landing pad having a plurality of vehicles, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller associated with the vehicle, passenger-specific data including a location of the passenger on the landing pad and an identifier associated with the passenger, wherein the identifier associated with the passenger includes an associated color;
determining, by the controller, a lighting scheme for a plurality of lights disposed on or within the vehicle, the lighting scheme comprising one or more of: turning on or off at least one of the lights, setting a color of at least one of the lights, and setting an intensity of at least one of the lights;
executing, by the controller, the determined lighting scheme so as to modify at least one of the lights of the plurality lights from a first configuration to a second configuration different from the first configuration, wherein the second configuration conveys a direction of travel towards the vehicle and wherein executing the determined lighting scheme comprises causing the at least one of the lights to emit light of the color associated with the passenger.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein executing the determined lighting scheme comprises illuminating a path on the landing pad between the passenger's location and the vehicle associated with the identifier.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising projecting, using the at least one of the lights, an image on the landing pad indicating a direction toward the vehicle or a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein executing the determined lighting scheme comprises activating at least a subset of the plurality of lights in succession to create a pulsing effect indicating a direction toward the vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein determining the lighting scheme comprises determining the lighting scheme based on identifying both the passenger's location and a presence of other passengers or obstacles on the landing pad.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein determining the lighting scheme comprises:
identifying a change of the location of the passenger with respect to the vehicle; and
adjusting the lighting scheme based on the identified change.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing vehicle.