Recognition/anti-collision light for aircraft

A method for increasing the useful life of a recognition light of an aircraft, comprising:

• flashing a flashtube by repeatedly charging a flash capacitor to a first voltage and discharging the capacitor through the flashtube;
• monitoring the light output of the flashtube;
• comparing the measured light output of the flashtube with a reference value corresponding to a predetermined light intensity value;
• increasing the voltage to which the flash capacitor is charged to a second voltage higher than the first voltage when a specified relationship exists between the measured light output and the reference value that indicates a need to increase the light intensity of the flashtube, thereby to increase the intensity of the flashes emitted by the flashtube.

A method for increasing the useful life of a recognition light of an aircraft, comprising:

• flashing a flashtube;
• monitoring the light output of the flashtube;
• comparing the measured light output of the flashtube with a reference value corresponding to a predetermined light intensity value;
• increasing the power delivered to the flashtube when a specified relationship exists between the measured light output and the reference value indicates a need to increase the light intensity of the flashtube, thereby to increase the intensity of the flashes emitted by the flashtube;
• and
• providing a second flashtube operative to flash at a rate different than that of the first flashtube.

A method for monitoring the useful life of an aircraft recognition light, comprising:

• flashing a flashtube;
• monitoring the light output of the flashtube with a light detector that converts the detected light output into an integrated output voltage corresponding to the light output of a plurality of flashes of the flashtube;
• providing an intensity comparator for comparing the integrated output voltage to a comparator reference voltage;
• comparing the integrated output voltage to the comparator reference voltage and, if the integrated output voltage is less than the comparator reference voltage, transmitting a NOGO condition signal, and, if the integrated output voltage is greater than the comparator reference voltage, transmitting a GO condition signal;
• storing the condition signal in an intensity status latch;
• providing an intensity integrator fail counter for monitoring the GO/NOGO condition signal of the intensity status latch for a predetermined number of consecutive decreases and transmitting a boost signal or fail signal in response thereto;
• monitoring the GO/NOGO condition signal and, if the predetermined number of consecutive NOGO measurements is attained, transmitting a boost signal for initiating an increase in power corresponding to an increase in the light output of the first flashtube;
• and
• providing a second flash tube operative to flash at a rate different than that of the first flashtube, and continuing monitoring the GO/NOGO condition signal of the intensity status latch and, if the predetermined number of NOGO measurements is attained, transmitting a fail signal for initiating operation of the second flashtube at a rate substantially similar to the rate of the first flashtube.