Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomously operating a retractable lighting arrangement. One method involves obtaining a current speed of the vehicle when the lighting arrangement is in an extended state, and when the current speed is greater than a threshold when the lighting arrangement is in the extended state, verifying one or more illumination elements associated with the lighting arrangement are in a deactivated state and thereafter automatically signaling an actuation arrangement associated with the lighting arrangement to transition the lighting arrangement from the extended state to a retracted state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for slewing a light beam axis directly between points on the ground. One method involves determining a first position associated with a beam axis of a lighting arrangement in a Cartesian reference frame based on an initial orientation of the lighting arrangement in a spherical reference frame, determining an adjustment for the lighting arrangement in the Cartesian reference frame in response to a user input, determining an updated position for the beam axis in the Cartesian reference frame based on the first position and the adjustment in the Cartesian reference frame, transforming the updated position for the beam axis in the Cartesian reference frame to an updated orientation of the lighting arrangement in the spherical reference frame, and concurrently commanding actuators associated with the lighting arrangement to slew the lighting arrangement from the initial orientation to the updated orientation in the spherical reference frame.

Abstract: A method for controlling an orientation of a searchlight on a vehicle is provided. The method comprises: obtaining a target range to a point of interest (POI) at a target; determining a searchlight position and attitude; calculating a three dimensional position at the POI using searchlight azimuth and tilt actuator angles, the target range, and the searchlight position and attitude, while a searchlight light head continues to point at the 3D target position despite changes in movement or orientation of the vehicle; calculating a desired searchlight orientation including azimuth angle and tilt angle to point the light head at the target through inverting a kinematic relationship between the vehicle and the searchlight; calculating compensatory actuator angles for a plurality of searchlight actuators to achieve the desired searchlight orientation based on error measurements calculated from a current orientation; and commanding the plurality of searchlight actuators to the compensatory actuator angles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomously operating a retractable lighting arrangement. One method involves obtaining a current speed of the vehicle when the lighting arrangement is in an extended state, and when the current speed is greater than a threshold when the lighting arrangement is in the extended state, verifying one or more illumination elements associated with the lighting arrangement are in a deactivated state and thereafter automatically signaling an actuation arrangement associated with the lighting arrangement to transition the lighting arrangement from the extended state to a retracted state.

Abstract: A search and landing light for a vehicle includes a light emitting element having an output primarily along a first axis and a canopy surrounding the light emitting element. The search and landing light includes a housing to enclose one or more electrical components associated with the search and landing light. The housing and the canopy extend along a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The search and landing light includes an actuator coupled between the canopy and disposed in the housing. The actuator is disposed along the longitudinal axis and is configured to rotate the canopy relative to the housing.

Abstract: A laser light assembly includes a substrate, a reflective phosphor plate, a plurality of laser diodes, a light shield, at least one mirror, a plurality of beam-shaping lenses, and a first lens. The reflective phosphor plate is coupled to the substrate and converts incident blue laser light into white light. The laser diodes emit the blue laser light. The light shield prevents the blue laser light emitted by the laser diodes from escaping the assembly. The mirror reflects the blue laser light emitted from each laser diode toward a predetermined position on the reflective phosphor plate, whereby the reflective phosphor plate emits white light. The beam-shaping lenses are disposed between a different one of the laser diodes and the mirror. The first lens receives the white emitted from the reflective phosphor plate.

Abstract: A search and landing light for a vehicle includes a light emitting element having an output primarily along a first axis and a canopy surrounding the light emitting element. The search and landing light includes a housing to enclose one or more electrical components associated with the search and landing light. The housing and the canopy extend along a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The search and landing light includes an actuator coupled between the canopy and disposed in the housing. The actuator is disposed along the longitudinal axis and is configured to rotate the canopy relative to the housing.

Abstract: A lighting device including a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices. The light-emitting semiconductor devices are separated into at least two subgroups. The lighting device further includes a plurality of optics separated into at least two subgroups, which are arranged relative to the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices such that each one of the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices of a first subgroup is located at a focal point of a respective optic of a first subgroup of the plurality of optics, and such that each one of the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices of a second subgroup is located at a focal point of a respective optic of a second subgroup of the plurality of optics. The optical properties of the first subgroup and second subgroup of the plurality of optics are different.

Abstract: A searchlight assembly has a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has operably secured to form an enclosed space: a heat sink, a reflector and a lens. The first housing portion and the second housing portion being are joined to form a housing assembly. The first housing portion heat sink and the second housing portion heat sink are disposed adjacent to one another and form a cooling medium flow path there between, and the heat sink elements of each heat sink thermally communicate with the flow path. A first LED is directly thermally coupled to the heat sink within in the first housing portion enclosed space and a second LED is directly thermally coupled to the heat sink within the second housing portion enclosed space.

Abstract: A searchlight assembly has a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has operably secured to form an enclosed space: a heat sink, a reflector and a lens. The first housing portion and the second housing portion being are joined to form a housing assembly. The first housing portion heat sink and the second housing portion heat sink are disposed adjacent to one another and form a cooling medium flow path there between, and the heat sink elements of each heat sink thermally communicate with the flow path. A first LED is directly thermally coupled to the heat sink within in the first housing portion enclosed space and a second LED is directly thermally coupled to the heat sink within the second housing portion enclosed space.

Abstract: A system for wireless optical data communications comprises a first gateway device including a processor onboard a first aircraft, and a first set of light sources onboard the aircraft in operative communication with the gateway device. The light sources comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes. A first optical receiver is onboard the aircraft and in operative communication with the gateway device. In a transmission mode, the gateway device is configured to monitor a databus onboard the aircraft for digital data selected for wireless optical transmission, encode the digital data selected for wireless optical transmission with a compatible optical modulation scheme, and broadcast the encoded digital data through modulated light emitted from the set of light sources. In a reception mode, the gateway device is configured to decode digital data from modulated light captured by the optical receiver from a wireless optical transmission from the ground or another aircraft.