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US 4,580,196 AGranted
Night vision compatible illumination for vehicle crewmember workspace
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorHarry L. Task
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arrangement for conveniently changing the illumination in an aircraft cockpit or other enclosure to a spectrum compatible with night vision infrared equipment including provision for easy return to the original illumination source. Selected LED elements are employed in multiple element arrays using a tether connected package that can be excited directly from existing wiring in fixtures.
Claims17
Night vision aircraft apparatus comprising:
- an aircraft cockpit enclosure including a plurality of manually operable aircraft controls, a plurality of aircraft function indicating instruments and support means for a human operator adjacent said controls and instruments;
- electrical connection means including a plurality of lamp sockets dispersed about said cockpit enclosure for receiving incandescent filament lamps capable of night illumination of said controls, instruments, and enclosure;
- an array of light emitting diode elements mounted on a portable substrate member;
- means for attaching said substrate and light emitting diode array to surfaces adjacent said lamp sockets within said cockpit enclosure;
- and
- means connected to said diode element array and to a connector receivable in one of said lamp sockets, for energizing said light emitting diode array with electrical energy;
- whereby night vision compatible illumination from said light emitting diode array is quickly and temporarily achieved without alteration of said incandescent filament lamp receiving sockets and electrical connection means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.