Solid state tail light for aircraft
AssigneeGodfrey Engineering, Inc.
InventorsAnish Vikram Patel, Timothy Scott Kielbon, Gregory Alfred Bernotas, Todd Christopher Knight, Raymond Henry Draves
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention includes a vehicle light and method for use in applications experiencing vibrational loading and wide temperature variations. The light includes a solid state illumination device and a thermal compensator in thermal communication with the solid state illumination device. The thermal compensator operates to maintain the solid state illumination device above a temperature threshold.
Claims21
A vehicle light for use in applications experiencing wide temperature variations and vibrational loading, comprising:
- a solid state illumination device including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);
- and
- a thermal compensator in thermal communication with the solid state illumination device, wherein the thermal compensator maintains the solid state illumination device above a temperature threshold.
A method of providing a positional indicia on a vehicle component, comprising the steps of:
- illuminating an area local to the vehicle component using a solid state illumination device including a plurality of light emitting diodes;
- and
- maintaining the solid state illumination device above a predetermined temperature threshold by monitoring a temperature at or near the solid state illumination device and controlling the temperature at or near the solid state illumination device based on the monitored temperature.
A vehicle light for use in application experiencing vibrational loading, comprising:
- a solid state illumination device including
- a reflector having a convex reflective surface, and
- a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to the convex reflective surface,
- wherein each light emitting diode has an illumination axis, and wherein the illumination axes extend generally perpendicular to the convex reflective surface.
A light unit, comprising:
- a housing;
- a solid state illumination device coupled to the housing;
- an optical window coupled to the housing and providing light from the solid state illumination device to pass therethrough;
- and
- a heater coupled to the housing for maintaining a temperature of the solid state illumination device above a temperature threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.