Abstract: Pilot Director Lights (PDLs) mounted on the exterior of a refueling tanker aircraft utilize visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) and infrared LEDs as light sources to provide visual information to the pilot of an approaching aircraft The PDLs are switchable between a visible mode that uses the visible LEDs and a covert mode that uses the infrared LEDs. The PDLs may include a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in arrays, rows, or other patterns, each light emitting device being configured to illuminate a particular symbol/pattern in one example. Each light emitting device may include a plurality of modular banks of LEDs which are configured to emit light through a clear lens within a particular field of view. The PDL arrays may provide visual feedback regarding the elevational and fore-aft position of the approaching aircraft relative to the boom envelope of the tanker aircraft.

Abstract: Pilot Director Lights (PDLs) mounted on the exterior of a refueling tanker aircraft utilize visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) and infrared LEDs as light sources to provide visual information to the pilot of an approaching aircraft The PDLs are switchable between a visible mode that uses the visible LEDs and a covert mode that uses the infrared LEDs. The PDLs may include a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in arrays, rows, or other patterns, each light emitting device being configured to illuminate a particular symbol/pattern in one example. Each light emitting device may include a plurality of modular banks of LEDs which are configured to emit light through a clear lens within a particular field of view. The PDL arrays may provide visual feedback regarding the elevational and fore-aft position of the approaching aircraft relative to the boom envelope of the tanker aircraft.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp (HID) (200) includes an electrically powered lamp (200) having a lamp exterior (220) and at least one lead (226) extending outside of the lamp. An electrical interface (202) includes a male connector (204) fastened at its base (302) to one of the leads (226), an insulate housing (206) having an inner contour (402) shaped to fittedly encompass therein the male connector and at least a portion of the lead, and a cement contact (208) that fastens the housing to the lamp exterior without air gaps. A boot (212) hermetically seals the insulate housing. A female connector (210) is mated to the male connector within the boot, and a feed line (501) having an insulating cover (502) is electrically connected at one end to the female connector and to a power source at the other end.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp (HID) (200) is disclosed. The high intensity discharge lamp (200) includes an electrically powered lamp (200) having a lamp exterior (220) and at least one lead (226) extending outside of the lamp (200), a male connector (204) that is fastened at its base (302) to one of the leads (226) of the lamp (200), an insulate housing (206) having an inner contour (402) shaped to fittedly encompass therein the male connector (204) and at least a portion of the lead (226) of the lamp (200), and a cement contact (208) that fastens, without air gaps, the housing (206) to the lamp exterior (220).

Abstract: A holder for one end of a bi-pin fluorescent lamp has slots for slidably receiving the pins. The pins abut and then move electrical contacts against spring bias thereon as the received pins move in the slots. After sufficient movement of the pins and contacts, a slide is moved by a spring to block reverse movement of the pins and contacts. Rotation of a lever on the holder reversely moves the slide to permit the contacts to eject the pins from the slots.