Architecture and method for aircraft lighting system using a centralized blue light source and a plurality of distributed passive light-heads

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

• locating a central light source subsystem including a blue light generator and a light generating control unit (LGCU) comprising a processor, on the aircraft;
• distributing a plurality of passive light-heads around an external surface of the aircraft;
• operationally coupling a light transmission element on a first side to the blue light generator;
• operationally coupling each light transmission element on a second side to a passive light head of the plurality of passive light heads;
• coupling the LGCU to the central light source subsystem;
• uploading a load profile needed for the functionality of passive light-heads into the LGCU;
• receiving navigation data and processing it with the load profile in the LGCU;
• commanding, by the LGCU, as a function of the load profile and data from aircraft on-board systems, the blue light generator to generate blue light;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of passive light heads comprises a respective light conversion element, converting, by at least one of the light conversion elements, received blue light to aviation green light, converting, by at least one of the light conversion elements, received blue light to aviation red light, and converting, by at least one of the light conversion elements, received blue light to aviation white light.

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

• a blue light generator located 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 blue light generator, comprising a processor, and programmed to:
• control the blue light generator;
• and
• generate, as a function of a load profile, 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 the blue light from the central light source subsystem to the associated light transmission element;
• and
• wherein each of the N passive light-heads comprises a respective light conversion element, and at least one of the light conversion elements converts blue light to aviation green light, at least one of the plurality of light conversion elements converts blue light to aviation red light, and at least one of the plurality of light conversion elements converts blue light to aviation white light.