Architecture and method for aircraft lighting system using a centrally located red, green, and blue (rgb) light source subsystem and a plurality of distributed passive light-heads

A method for aircraft lighting system (ALS) in an aircraft, comprising:

• co-locating a central light source subsystem including a blue light generator, a red light generator, a green light generator, and a light generating control unit (LGCU) comprising a processor,
• distributing a plurality of passive light-heads around an external surface of the aircraft;
• operationally coupling each light transmission element on a first side to the central light source subsystem, such that at least one light transmission element is operationally coupled to the red light generator, at least one light transmission element is operationally coupled to the green light generator, and at least one light transmission element is operationally coupled to the color mixing element;
• operationally coupling each light transmission element on a second side to an associated passive light-head of the respective plurality of passive light-heads;
• uploading a load profile for the passive light-heads into the LGCU;
• receiving navigation data and sensor data and processing it with the load profile in the LGCU;
• and
• commanding, by the LGCU, the central light source subsystem to generate red light, green light, and blue light, as a function of the load profile and sensor data.

An aircraft lighting system (ALS) for an aircraft, comprising:

• a central light source subsystem co-locating a blue light generator, red light generator, and green light generator on the aircraft;
• a plurality (N) of passive light-heads, distributed around the aircraft;
• N light transmission elements;
• N light switches, each of the N light switches operationally coupled between the central light source subsystem and a respective one of the N light transmission elements, at a first side of the light transmission element;
• each of the N light transmission elements operationally coupled on a second side to a respective one of the N passive light-heads;
• a light generating control unit (LGCU) coupled to the central light source subsystem, comprising a processor, and programmed to:
• receive navigation data, FMS data, and sensor data;
• control the red light generator, the green light generator, and the blue light generator;
• and
• generate, as a function of a load profile, navigation data, FMS data, and sensor data, independent switch commands for the N light switches, the switch commands cause each of the N light switches to move between an open position, in which the light switch optically prevents light from the central light source subsystem from reaching the associated light transmission element, and a closed position, in which the switch optically directs light from the central light source subsystem to the associated light transmission element.