WO2023200330A1 - Obstruction lighting optic device for aviation - Google Patents

Obstruction lighting optic device for aviation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023200330A1
WO2023200330A1 PCT/MY2023/000002 MY2023000002W WO2023200330A1 WO 2023200330 A1 WO2023200330 A1 WO 2023200330A1 MY 2023000002 W MY2023000002 W MY 2023000002W WO 2023200330 A1 WO2023200330 A1 WO 2023200330A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lens structure
light
aviation
optic device
light beam
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/MY2023/000002
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ein Li CHEW
Ah Leh CHEW
Original Assignee
Avialite Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Avialite Sdn. Bhd. filed Critical Avialite Sdn. Bhd.
Publication of WO2023200330A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023200330A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/04—Optical design
    • F21V7/048—Optical design with facets structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00—Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/04—Refractors for light sources of lens shape
    • F21V5/046—Refractors for light sources of lens shape the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
    • F21S8/08—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard
    • F21S8/081—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
    • F21S8/083—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of low-built type, e.g. landscape light of bollard type, i.e. with lighting fixture integrated into the standard or mounted on top of it and having substantially the same diameter
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0091—Reflectors for light sources using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2111/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
    • F21W2111/06—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 for aircraft runways or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2101/00—Point-like light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, particularly to an obstruction device having single or one high powered light-emitting diode (LED) only, and a lens structure having three surfaces to improve efficiency of light extraction, to reduce power consumption, and to achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device.
  • LED light-emitting diode
  • LED Obstruction Beacons are mounted to tall structures and used as collision avoidance measures for low flying aircraft. These devices enhance the visibility of the tall structures to low flying air-craft when passing over them and are commonly used at night, whilst in some circumstances they are also used in the daytime.
  • the LED Beacon lights are required to have sufficient brightness in order to be visible for miles around the structure.
  • the light beams of the light must also be focused in certain specified horizontal & vertical angles to provide optimum viewing clarity to the pilots to give early warning to the pilots to avoid collision with the structure.
  • LED Beacon lights of known designs and configurations is known in prior art. More specifically, all prior art uses multiple LEDs, a cluster or clusters of multiple LED, to achieve the desired intensities and beam spread.
  • the present invention relates to an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, or a beacon light for an aviation obstacle warning light, that meets the requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Low Intensity obstruction light using a single light-emitting diode (particularly, red coloured LED), and a specially configured and arranged polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lens structure that applies Total Internal Reflection (TIR) for the light beamed from the LED to give the required beam spread and light intensity.
  • the present invention involves only one LED to generate the light output, and the lens structure is arranged to channel the light to the required directions and in the correct proportions to give the beam spread and intensities, particularly those specified in ICAO Annex 14 Chapter VI. Further, three- dimensional (3D) lighting machine readable instructions to draw, analyse and display the beam spread of the light after going through the lens structure to output through the exit part of the lens structure are used to determine the resulting output
  • 3D three- dimensional
  • the present invention realizes that a good efficiency of transmission and reflection of the light to the desired beam angles and intensities is needed in order to improve efficiency of light extraction, to reduce power consumption, and to achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device.
  • the features and aspects of the present invention reduce the usage of LED light source from the normally multiple LED to only one single LED that reduces material cost and fabrication cost, as the present invention involves only a single LED and a precisely configured and arranged lens structure to make the construction to the simplest possible level.
  • the present invention also relates to Low Intensity Beacon that is suitable for use in Aviation Obstruction Beacons as specified in ICAO Annex 14 Chapter VI.
  • the present invention is configured and arranged to comply fully to the ICAO requirements and specifications for the class of beacon which uses only one or a single LED, which is contrary to all available LED beacons of conventional devices that uses a cluster or clusters of multiple LED to achieve the beam spread and intensities to fulfill the requirement.
  • the present invention is configured and arranged to reduce the use of multiple LEDs to only one or single LED and still manage to achieve the required angle of 360° horizontal beam spread with sufficient light intensities in the vertical and horizontal beam angles specified.
  • the present invention discloses a highly efficient light extraction from the single LED in order to achieve this desired result. Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an obstruction lighting device, or a beacon light, which can reduce the multitude of LEDs in the conventional systems to only a single LED.
  • the present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light for Low Intensity aviation obstruction comprising of a specially configured and arranged lens structure that extracts and direct the light beam generated from only one or single LED to the beam spread and intensities required.
  • Further objectives of the invention are to improve efficiency of light extraction to reduce power consumption and achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device, which subsequently reduces cost of production as well as operation and maintenance for the long life span of the device.
  • the present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, the device comprises: a high LED which is located under the center of a lens structure, the lens structure which is arranged to collect a maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED, the lens structure is arranged to direct a light beam from the high powered LED to a first surface of the lens structure, the first surface of the lens structure has a predetermined angle such that when the light beam hits the first surface, the light beam is coherently reflected to a second surface of the lens structure, the second surface of the lens structure operates on a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) mode and reflects the light beam to a third surface of the lens structure, the third surface of the lens structure facilitates exiting of the light beam from the lens structure to free air.
  • TIR Total Internal Reflection
  • the first surface is an entry surface of the lens structure where the light beam enters;
  • the second surface is a total internal reflection surface where the light beam approaches the second surface at an incident angle of >42.3° and is totally reflected to travel to the third surface; or
  • the third surface is an exiting surface where the light beam escapes from the lens structure to free air.
  • the lens structure of the present invention further comprises a hat-shaped cover on a top of the lens structure, the hat- shaped cover is in an inverted V form for preventing water from accumulating in the lens structure, the hat-shaped cover is fused to the top of the lens structure through ultrasonic welding of the two plastic materials.
  • the ultrasonic welding is a precise welding technique.
  • the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a sharp spike is attached on a tip of the hat-shaped cover, the sharp spike is arranged for preventing flying creatures from resting and leaving droppings, or for preventing soil, that may linger on the top or contaminate the lens structure thereby reducing luminous output of the lens structure.
  • the obstruction lighting optic device spreads the tight beam in accordance with the ICAO standards for low intensity obstacle warning tight.
  • the lens structure and a housing material are made of a crystal clear and UV stabilized PMMA, or of a Polycarbonate material.
  • the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a coagulated compound that facilitates sealing of electrical and electronics components in the device, the coagulated compound is an epoxy compound, polyurethane or similar compound.
  • the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises mounting bolts and nuts that are attached at a bottom body of a warning tight system for fixing the obstruction lighting optic device to a mounting bracket on a tower.
  • the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a metal anchor plate that is fully embedded in the coagulated compound as reinforcement for the mounting or attaching bolts thereto.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a 3D Polar Diagram or Perspective view of the lens optical light output in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a 2D Polar Diagram of the optical light output in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a 3D side bottom perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation, the device comprises: a high powered LED (1) which is located under the center of a lens structure (2), the lens structure (2) which is arranged to collect a maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED (1), the lens structure (2) is arranged to direct a light beam (3) from the high powered LED (1) to a first surface (4) of the lens structure (2), the first surface (4) of the lens structure (2) has a predetermined angle such that when the light beam (3) hits the first surface (4), the light beam (3) is coherently reflected to a second surface (5) of the lens structure (2), the second surface (5) of the lens structure (2) operates on a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) mode and reflects the light beam (3) to a third surface (6) of the lens structure (2), the third surface (6) of the lens structure (2) facilitates exiting of the light beam (3) from the lens structure (2) to free air.
  • TIR Total Internal Reflection
  • Fig. 1 shows the path of light beam (3) emitted from the LED emitting surface.
  • the light beam (3) hits the lens structure on the first surface or the entry surface (4).
  • the light beam (3) then travels to the second surface or the total internal reflection surface (5) where the light beam (3) approaches the surface at the correct angles (incident angle >42.3°) and where the light beam (3) is totally reflected to travel to the third surface or the exiting surface (6) which is exit surface from the lens structure (2) to free air.
  • Each of the three surfaces (4, 5, 6) plays critical roles of directing the light beams (3) from the high powered LED (1) which have a range of vertical beam spread of more than 120° to be harnessed and concentrated to a horizontal beam evenly distributed around 360° horizontal that has a vertical beam spread of 10° from 0 to 10° from horizontal line.
  • the peak value of the output beam should be at 6° from horizontal at 32 candela, while the intensity at 2° and 10° from horizontal are allowed to be at 50% or 16 candela.
  • the first surface or the entry surface (4) is where the LED light beam (3) enters the lens structure (2) from free air.
  • the curvature of the lens structure surface is highly polished, angled in such a way that the maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED (1) will be refracted to hit the second surface or the total internal reflection surface (5) at the correct angle to be totally reflected (incident angle >42.3°) It is the object of this invention to capture the maximum amount of light emitted by the high powered LED (1) using the first (entry) and second (total internal reflection) surfaces (4,5) to reach the third (exiting) surface (6) so that the light exiting from third (exiting) surface (6) obtains the required beam spread and intensity.
  • the third (exiting) surface (6) plays the final role of refracting the light beam arriving from the second (total internal reflection) surfaces (5) to the various vertical angles required in the proportions specified where at 6° from horizontal the intensity is at maximum and not less than 32 candela, and at 2° and 10° horizontal should be not less than 16 candela. These vertical beam spread are in turn to be equally distributed around 360° horizontal around the lens structure (2).
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the first surface (4) is an entry surface of the lens structure (2) where the light beam (3) enters; the second surface (5) is a total internal reflection surface where the light beam (3) approaches the second surface (5) at an incident angle of >42.3° and is totally reflected to travel to die third surface (6); or the third surface (6) is an exiting surface where the light beam (3) escapes from the lens structure (2) to free air.
  • Snell’s Law for optics a light is refracted when traveling from a less dense medium to a denser medium or vice versa.
  • TIR Total Internal Reflection
  • Nl refractive index of medium 1
  • N2 refractive index of medium 2
  • nl incident angle of light
  • n2 refracted angle of light
  • the present invention discloses that with high lumen output LEDs (1) and with appropriate lens arrangement, specified standards or requirements particularly by the ICAO are met.
  • the configuration and arrangement of the lens structure needs careful analysis of the light emitted from the LED and careful shaping of the lens structure (2) surfaces where the maximum amount of light to enter the lens structure (2) is obtained, and then is totally reflected on the next surface and travel along the same medium to where the light is to exit the lens structure (2).
  • the interplay of the three surfaces is very critical to ensure the maximum amount of light beam is extracted and directed in the correct angles to exit in the correct beam spread as required by the ICAO specifications. Certain amount of light generated by the LED of 120° beam spread cannot be captured and directed to the correct angles. There will be light loss that will reduce the intensity of light output in the desired beam spread.
  • the purpose of this arrangement is to use special optics software machine readable instructions and detailed optimisation process that involves manual and automatic steps with many iterations to minimise light loss due to wrong exit angles until a highly satisfactory light output that is sufficient to meet the requirements or standards.
  • the optics machine readable instructions help to display precisely the results of each optimisation steps and also show all the rays that are refracted, reflected and give guidance as to which part of the three surfaces should be adjusted or modified to shift the rays to the right direction.
  • the present invention set forth an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light (100) which utilises a specially designed lens structure (2) that extracts and directs the light emitted by the single LED (1) to the required beam spread and intensity under ICAO specification for Low Intensity obstacle warning lights.
  • the present invention utilizes the Total Internal Reflection (TIR) principles of light transmission inside a denser media when the light hits a surface that crosses over to a less dense media. This TIR principle works to reflect 100% of light that impinges on the surface between the denser medium and the less dense medium. By carefully configuring and arranging this junction surface that light emitted at different angles from the LED emitting surface, the device optimally directs most of the light to where it is desired with minimal light losses.
  • TIR Total Internal Reflection
  • the present invention set forth an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light (100), which utilizes a single high powered LED (1) that emits high lumen output.
  • the lens material can be crystal clear PMMA, UV stabilised to prevent clarity deterioration over a period of more than 10 years.
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the lens structure (2) further comprises a hat-shaped cover (7) on a top (8) of the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is in an inverted V form for preventing water from accumulating in the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is welded to the top (8) of the lens structure (2) through ultra sound welding of the two plastic materials.
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that a sharp spike (9) is attached on a tip of the hat-shaped cover (7), the sharp spike (9) is arranged for preventing flying creatures from resting and leaving droppings, or for preventing soil, that may linger on the top (8) or contaminate the lens structure (2) thereby reducing luminous output of the lens structure (2).
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the device (100) spreads the light beam in accordance with the ICAO standards for low intensity obstacle warning light.
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the lens structure (2) and a housing material are made of a crystal clear and UV stabilized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or of a Polycarbonate material.
  • PMMA crystal clear and UV stabilized polymethyl methacrylate
  • the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that a coagulated compound facilitates sealing of electrical and electronics components in the obstruction lighting optic device (100), the coagulated compound is an epoxy compound, polyurethane or similar compound.
  • a lens structure (2) houses electronics control circuits to regulate the voltage and current for the LED to achieve the required specifications.
  • a lens structure light output for 360° horizontal beam spread as well as the 10° vertical beam spread from horizontal line are disclosed.
  • FIG. 6 a bottom perspective view of the obstruction lighting optic device (100) with a mounting device (10) is disclosed.
  • the mounting device (10) is fully embedded in the coagulated compound as reinforcement for the mounting or attaching bolts thereto.
  • the present invention is created from a single piece of a lens material at the top that accommodates a single LED mounted on a round PCB made of FR4 material with sufficient copper plating for heat dissipation from the LED.
  • a lower body houses the required control electronics as well as mounting structure for the beacon.
  • epoxy compound is used to encapsulate all the components in the beacon housing.
  • stainless steel bracket are designed suitably to be cast together with the electrical or electronics components to form a waterproof integral structure for the beacon.
  • a hat-shaped cover (7) is arranged over the lens structure (2) at the top to prevent water getting into the V shaped lens structure (2).
  • the present invention utilizes a PMMA material for the hat-shaped cover (7) and the hat-shaped cover (7) is fabricated together with the optical body in the same mould.
  • the hat-shaped cover (7) is welded at the top of the lens structure (2) using an ultrasound technique.
  • the ultrasound technique provides a fusion seal of the same material to prevent water ingress at the V shaped part of the lens structure (2).
  • the present invention consists of one LED and is casted as an integral piece with all vital electrical and electronics parts completely sealed inside the epoxy compound as an integral solid piece together with mounting brackets (as shown in Fig. 6).
  • the LED and driver electronics are sealed for life and the light is essentially waterproofed with no ingress of dust or moisture.
  • the completed light passes IP67 certification tests that require immersion in water up to 1 meter deep.
  • the top part of the beacon is provided with a bird spike to prevent birds standing or resting on the beacon and leave droppings that may dirty the clear LED Lens surface that may cause reduction of luminous output.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation. The device comprises a high powered light-emitting diode (LED) (1) which is located under the center of a lens structure (2). The lens structure (2) has three critical surfaces configured and arranged such that the light beam (3) coherently passes. The present invention is configured and arranged to improve efficiency of light extraction, to reduce power consumption, and to achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device (100).

Description

OBSTRUCTION LIGHTING OPTIC DEVICE FOR AVIATION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, particularly to an obstruction device having single or one high powered light-emitting diode (LED) only, and a lens structure having three surfaces to improve efficiency of light extraction, to reduce power consumption, and to achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device.
BACKGROUND
LED Obstruction Beacons are mounted to tall structures and used as collision avoidance measures for low flying aircraft. These devices enhance the visibility of the tall structures to low flying air-craft when passing over them and are commonly used at night, whilst in some circumstances they are also used in the daytime. The LED Beacon lights are required to have sufficient brightness in order to be visible for miles around the structure. The light beams of the light must also be focused in certain specified horizontal & vertical angles to provide optimum viewing clarity to the pilots to give early warning to the pilots to avoid collision with the structure.
The use of LED Beacon lights of known designs and configurations is known in prior art. More specifically, all prior art uses multiple LEDs, a cluster or clusters of multiple LED, to achieve the desired intensities and beam spread.
Further, using a single LED possess challenge in fulfilling the requirements of ICAO Low Intensity requirements because a single LED generally do not emit sufficient light intensity to meet the beam spread and intensity needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, or a beacon light for an aviation obstacle warning light, that meets the requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Low Intensity obstruction light using a single light-emitting diode (particularly, red coloured LED), and a specially configured and arranged polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lens structure that applies Total Internal Reflection (TIR) for the light beamed from the LED to give the required beam spread and light intensity. The present invention involves only one LED to generate the light output, and the lens structure is arranged to channel the light to the required directions and in the correct proportions to give the beam spread and intensities, particularly those specified in ICAO Annex 14 Chapter VI. Further, three- dimensional (3D) lighting machine readable instructions to draw, analyse and display the beam spread of the light after going through the lens structure to output through the exit part of the lens structure are used to determine the resulting output
The present invention realizes that a good efficiency of transmission and reflection of the light to the desired beam angles and intensities is needed in order to improve efficiency of light extraction, to reduce power consumption, and to achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device. The features and aspects of the present invention reduce the usage of LED light source from the normally multiple LED to only one single LED that reduces material cost and fabrication cost, as the present invention involves only a single LED and a precisely configured and arranged lens structure to make the construction to the simplest possible level.
The present invention also relates to Low Intensity Beacon that is suitable for use in Aviation Obstruction Beacons as specified in ICAO Annex 14 Chapter VI. The present invention is configured and arranged to comply fully to the ICAO requirements and specifications for the class of beacon which uses only one or a single LED, which is contrary to all available LED beacons of conventional devices that uses a cluster or clusters of multiple LED to achieve the beam spread and intensities to fulfill the requirement.
The present invention is configured and arranged to reduce the use of multiple LEDs to only one or single LED and still manage to achieve the required angle of 360° horizontal beam spread with sufficient light intensities in the vertical and horizontal beam angles specified. The present invention discloses a highly efficient light extraction from the single LED in order to achieve this desired result. Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an obstruction lighting device, or a beacon light, which can reduce the multitude of LEDs in the conventional systems to only a single LED. The present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light for Low Intensity aviation obstruction comprising of a specially configured and arranged lens structure that extracts and direct the light beam generated from only one or single LED to the beam spread and intensities required.
Further objectives of the invention are to improve efficiency of light extraction to reduce power consumption and achieve compactness of the obstruction lighting device, which subsequently reduces cost of production as well as operation and maintenance for the long life span of the device.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device for aviation, the device comprises: a high LED which is located under the center of a lens structure, the lens structure which is arranged to collect a maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED, the lens structure is arranged to direct a light beam from the high powered LED to a first surface of the lens structure, the first surface of the lens structure has a predetermined angle such that when the light beam hits the first surface, the light beam is coherently reflected to a second surface of the lens structure, the second surface of the lens structure operates on a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) mode and reflects the light beam to a third surface of the lens structure, the third surface of the lens structure facilitates exiting of the light beam from the lens structure to free air.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the first surface is an entry surface of the lens structure where the light beam enters; the second surface is a total internal reflection surface where the light beam approaches the second surface at an incident angle of >42.3° and is totally reflected to travel to the third surface; or the third surface is an exiting surface where the light beam escapes from the lens structure to free air.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the lens structure of the present invention further comprises a hat-shaped cover on a top of the lens structure, the hat- shaped cover is in an inverted V form for preventing water from accumulating in the lens structure, the hat-shaped cover is fused to the top of the lens structure through ultrasonic welding of the two plastic materials. The ultrasonic welding is a precise welding technique.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a sharp spike is attached on a tip of the hat-shaped cover, the sharp spike is arranged for preventing flying creatures from resting and leaving droppings, or for preventing soil, that may linger on the top or contaminate the lens structure thereby reducing luminous output of the lens structure.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the obstruction lighting optic device spreads the tight beam in accordance with the ICAO standards for low intensity obstacle warning tight.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the lens structure and a housing material are made of a crystal clear and UV stabilized PMMA, or of a Polycarbonate material.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a coagulated compound that facilitates sealing of electrical and electronics components in the device, the coagulated compound is an epoxy compound, polyurethane or similar compound.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises mounting bolts and nuts that are attached at a bottom body of a warning tight system for fixing the obstruction lighting optic device to a mounting bracket on a tower.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the obstruction lighting optic device of the present invention further comprises a metal anchor plate that is fully embedded in the coagulated compound as reinforcement for the mounting or attaching bolts thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 illustrates a 3D Polar Diagram or Perspective view of the lens optical light output in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 illustrates a 2D Polar Diagram of the optical light output in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 illustrates a 3D side bottom perspective view of an obstruction lighting optic device in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The detailed embodiments of the present invention shall now be discussed. It should be noted however that the figures are made for the purpose of illustration only as an aid to understanding., and not necessarily to scale the principles of the present invention. Furthermore, the structural and functional details shown or described herein must not be interpreted as limiting, but simply as an aid for a person skilled in the art to understand the concept of the present invention.
Referring to Fig. 1, the present invention discloses an obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation, the device comprises: a high powered LED (1) which is located under the center of a lens structure (2), the lens structure (2) which is arranged to collect a maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED (1), the lens structure (2) is arranged to direct a light beam (3) from the high powered LED (1) to a first surface (4) of the lens structure (2), the first surface (4) of the lens structure (2) has a predetermined angle such that when the light beam (3) hits the first surface (4), the light beam (3) is coherently reflected to a second surface (5) of the lens structure (2), the second surface (5) of the lens structure (2) operates on a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) mode and reflects the light beam (3) to a third surface (6) of the lens structure (2), the third surface (6) of the lens structure (2) facilitates exiting of the light beam (3) from the lens structure (2) to free air.
Further, Fig. 1 shows the path of light beam (3) emitted from the LED emitting surface. The light beam (3) hits the lens structure on the first surface or the entry surface (4). The light beam (3) then travels to the second surface or the total internal reflection surface (5) where the light beam (3) approaches the surface at the correct angles (incident angle >42.3°) and where the light beam (3) is totally reflected to travel to the third surface or the exiting surface (6) which is exit surface from the lens structure (2) to free air. Each of the three surfaces (4, 5, 6) plays critical roles of directing the light beams (3) from the high powered LED (1) which have a range of vertical beam spread of more than 120° to be harnessed and concentrated to a horizontal beam evenly distributed around 360° horizontal that has a vertical beam spread of 10° from 0 to 10° from horizontal line. The peak value of the output beam should be at 6° from horizontal at 32 candela, while the intensity at 2° and 10° from horizontal are allowed to be at 50% or 16 candela.
The first surface or the entry surface (4) is where the LED light beam (3) enters the lens structure (2) from free air. The curvature of the lens structure surface is highly polished, angled in such a way that the maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED (1) will be refracted to hit the second surface or the total internal reflection surface (5) at the correct angle to be totally reflected (incident angle >42.3°) It is the object of this invention to capture the maximum amount of light emitted by the high powered LED (1) using the first (entry) and second (total internal reflection) surfaces (4,5) to reach the third (exiting) surface (6) so that the light exiting from third (exiting) surface (6) obtains the required beam spread and intensity. The third (exiting) surface (6) plays the final role of refracting the light beam arriving from the second (total internal reflection) surfaces (5) to the various vertical angles required in the proportions specified where at 6° from horizontal the intensity is at maximum and not less than 32 candela, and at 2° and 10° horizontal should be not less than 16 candela. These vertical beam spread are in turn to be equally distributed around 360° horizontal around the lens structure (2).
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the first surface (4) is an entry surface of the lens structure (2) where the light beam (3) enters; the second surface (5) is a total internal reflection surface where the light beam (3) approaches the second surface (5) at an incident angle of >42.3° and is totally reflected to travel to die third surface (6); or the third surface (6) is an exiting surface where the light beam (3) escapes from the lens structure (2) to free air. In application of Snell’s Law for optics, a light is refracted when traveling from a less dense medium to a denser medium or vice versa. However, when light travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium and when the incident light angle exceeds the critical angle, the light will be totally reflected and no light can exit from the denser medium to the less dense medium. This is called the Total Internal Reflection (TIR) of light from the surface that incident angle exceeded the critical angle. This will force the light to travel forward in the denser medium material until it reaches another surface that the incident angle of light is less than the critical angle. The light then exits from the lens’s denser medium in a refracted angle in accordance with Snell’s Law.
Snell’s Law:
Figure imgf000008_0001
where:
Nl = refractive index of medium 1 N2 = refractive index of medium 2 nl = incident angle of light n2 = refracted angle of light
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses that with high lumen output LEDs (1) and with appropriate lens arrangement, specified standards or requirements particularly by the ICAO are met. The configuration and arrangement of the lens structure needs careful analysis of the light emitted from the LED and careful shaping of the lens structure (2) surfaces where the maximum amount of light to enter the lens structure (2) is obtained, and then is totally reflected on the next surface and travel along the same medium to where the light is to exit the lens structure (2). There are three critical surfaces that are shaped precisely to capture as much light as possible at an entry surface (4), directed to the total internal reflection surface (5) where Total Internal Reflection occurs at a suitable angle to reach the exit surface (6) at optimum angles for refraction exit from the lens structure (2). The interplay of the three surfaces is very critical to ensure the maximum amount of light beam is extracted and directed in the correct angles to exit in the correct beam spread as required by the ICAO specifications. Certain amount of light generated by the LED of 120° beam spread cannot be captured and directed to the correct angles. There will be light loss that will reduce the intensity of light output in the desired beam spread. The purpose of this arrangement is to use special optics software machine readable instructions and detailed optimisation process that involves manual and automatic steps with many iterations to minimise light loss due to wrong exit angles until a highly satisfactory light output that is sufficient to meet the requirements or standards. The optics machine readable instructions help to display precisely the results of each optimisation steps and also show all the rays that are refracted, reflected and give guidance as to which part of the three surfaces should be adjusted or modified to shift the rays to the right direction.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention set forth an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light (100) which utilises a specially designed lens structure (2) that extracts and directs the light emitted by the single LED (1) to the required beam spread and intensity under ICAO specification for Low Intensity obstacle warning lights. To achieve this requirement, the present invention utilizes the Total Internal Reflection (TIR) principles of light transmission inside a denser media when the light hits a surface that crosses over to a less dense media. This TIR principle works to reflect 100% of light that impinges on the surface between the denser medium and the less dense medium. By carefully configuring and arranging this junction surface that light emitted at different angles from the LED emitting surface, the device optimally directs most of the light to where it is desired with minimal light losses.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention set forth an obstruction lighting optic device or a beacon light (100), which utilizes a single high powered LED (1) that emits high lumen output. Also, the lens material can be crystal clear PMMA, UV stabilised to prevent clarity deterioration over a period of more than 10 years.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the lens structure (2) further comprises a hat-shaped cover (7) on a top (8) of the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is in an inverted V form for preventing water from accumulating in the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is welded to the top (8) of the lens structure (2) through ultra sound welding of the two plastic materials.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that a sharp spike (9) is attached on a tip of the hat-shaped cover (7), the sharp spike (9) is arranged for preventing flying creatures from resting and leaving droppings, or for preventing soil, that may linger on the top (8) or contaminate the lens structure (2) thereby reducing luminous output of the lens structure (2).
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the device (100) spreads the light beam in accordance with the ICAO standards for low intensity obstacle warning light. In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that the lens structure (2) and a housing material are made of a crystal clear and UV stabilized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or of a Polycarbonate material.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention discloses the obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation characterized in that a coagulated compound facilitates sealing of electrical and electronics components in the obstruction lighting optic device (100), the coagulated compound is an epoxy compound, polyurethane or similar compound.
Referring to Figs. 2-3, a lens structure (2) houses electronics control circuits to regulate the voltage and current for the LED to achieve the required specifications.
Referring to Figs. 4-5, a lens structure light output for 360° horizontal beam spread as well as the 10° vertical beam spread from horizontal line are disclosed.
Referring to Fig. 6, a bottom perspective view of the obstruction lighting optic device (100) with a mounting device (10) is disclosed. The mounting device (10) is fully embedded in the coagulated compound as reinforcement for the mounting or attaching bolts thereto.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is created from a single piece of a lens material at the top that accommodates a single LED mounted on a round PCB made of FR4 material with sufficient copper plating for heat dissipation from the LED. A lower body houses the required control electronics as well as mounting structure for the beacon. For protection and waterproofing of the whole LED beacon including its electrical and electronics circuitry, epoxy compound is used to encapsulate all the components in the beacon housing. Further, stainless steel bracket are designed suitably to be cast together with the electrical or electronics components to form a waterproof integral structure for the beacon. Due to the V shape at the top of the lens structure, water can accumulate at the V shaped top and this can cause a major change in the refractive index of the second surface (5) of the lens structure (2) if water accumulates at the V portion. The refractive index of PMMA material from air to PMMA is 1.49, but the refractive index from water to PMMA is only 1.12. This will cause the light hitting the second surface (5) to be transmitted if the material outside the lens structure (2) surface at the V is water. The light transmitted out from second surface (5) instead of being reflected will not reach the third surface (6) and will be lost, and this will reduce severely the desired light output from the third surface (6). For this reason, a hat-shaped cover (7) is arranged over the lens structure (2) at the top to prevent water getting into the V shaped lens structure (2). The present invention utilizes a PMMA material for the hat-shaped cover (7) and the hat-shaped cover (7) is fabricated together with the optical body in the same mould. The hat-shaped cover (7) is welded at the top of the lens structure (2) using an ultrasound technique. The ultrasound technique provides a fusion seal of the same material to prevent water ingress at the V shaped part of the lens structure (2).
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention consists of one LED and is casted as an integral piece with all vital electrical and electronics parts completely sealed inside the epoxy compound as an integral solid piece together with mounting brackets (as shown in Fig. 6). The LED and driver electronics are sealed for life and the light is essentially waterproofed with no ingress of dust or moisture. The completed light passes IP67 certification tests that require immersion in water up to 1 meter deep.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the top part of the beacon is provided with a bird spike to prevent birds standing or resting on the beacon and leave droppings that may dirty the clear LED Lens surface that may cause reduction of luminous output.
In the foregoing, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, any person skilled in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Also, throughout the entire specification, expressions such as “including”, “have”, “having”, “comprising”, shall be construed in a non-exclusive manner, allowing other features, components, elements, or steps, not explicitly described as present. Furthermore, any element disclosed herein that is stated in singular, can be embodied in plural form and will not depart from the context and principles of the present invention. For example, the light can adopt other physical layouts. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation, the device comprises: a high powered light-emitting diode (LED) (1) which is located under the center of a lens structure (2), the lens structure (2) which is arranged to collect a maximum amount of light emitted from the high powered LED (1), the lens structure (2) is arranged to direct a light beam (3) from the high powered LED (1) to a first surfrice (4) of the lens structure (2), the first surface (4) of the lens structure (2) has a predetermined angle such that when the light beam (3) hits the first surface (4), the light beam (3) is coherently reflected to a second surface (5) of the lens structure (2), the second surface (5) of the lens structure (2) operates on a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) mode and reflects the light beam (3) to a third surface (6) of the lens structure (2), the third surface (6) of the lens structure (2) facilitates exiting of the light beam (3) from the lens structure (2) to free air.
2. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first surface (4) is an entry surface of the lens structure (2) where the light beam (3) enters; the second surface (5) is a total internal reflection surface where the light beam (3) approaches the second surface (5) at an incident angle of >42.3° and is totally reflected to travel to the third surface (6); or the third surface (6) is an exiting surface where the light beam (3) escapes from the lens structure (2) to free air.
3. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lens structure (2) further comprises a hat-shaped cover (7) on a top (8) of the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is in an inverted V form for preventing water from accumulating in the lens structure (2), the hat-shaped cover (7) is welded to the top (8) of the lens structure (2) through ultrasonic welding of the two plastic materials.
4. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a sharp spike (9) is attached on a tip of the hat-shaped cover (7), the sharp spike (9) is arranged for preventing flying creatures from resting and leaving droppings, or for preventing soil, that may linger on the top (8) or contaminate the lens structure (2) thereby reducing the luminous output of the lens structure (8).
5. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device (100) spreads the light beam in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for low intensity obstacle warning light.
6. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lens structure (2) and a housing material made of a crystal clear and UV stabilized poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), or of a Polycarbonate material.
7. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a coagulated compound facilitates sealing of electrical and electronics components in the obstruction lighting optic device (100), the coagulated compound is an epoxy compound, polyurethane or similar compound.
8. The obstruction lighting optic device (100) for aviation as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a mounting device (10) is fully embedded in the coagulated compound as reinforcement for the mounting or attaching bolts thereto.
PCT/MY2023/000002 2022-04-15 2023-02-21 Obstruction lighting optic device for aviation WO2023200330A1 (en)

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6607286B2 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-08-19 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Lens and lens cap with sawtooth portion for light emitting diode
US20060076568A1 (en) * 2004-10-12 2006-04-13 Cree, Inc. Side-emitting optical coupling device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6607286B2 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-08-19 Lumileds Lighting, U.S., Llc Lens and lens cap with sawtooth portion for light emitting diode
US20060076568A1 (en) * 2004-10-12 2006-04-13 Cree, Inc. Side-emitting optical coupling device

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