Patents Assigned to Lighting Systems
  • Publication number: 20140252977
    Abstract: A dimmable LED reading light unit includes comprises a dimming module and an LED module, connected in series. The dimming module has an input being connectable to a power supply supplying direct voltage and includes a potentiometer allowing section of a dimming rate and a current controller providing an operating current for the LED module. The LED module includes at least one LED and a current consumer connected in parallel and the current controller is configured to supply direct current to the LED module that substantially corresponds to the sum of the driving current necessary for driving the at least one LED to emit light with an intensity of illumination corresponding to the dimming rate of the potentiometer, and the current consumption of the current consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: ROBERT TRINSCHEK, TOMASZ KORDECKI, FRANK KLEIN, RALF REHBEIN
  • Publication number: 20140252951
    Abstract: A dimmable LED reading light unit according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, in particular for a passenger transportation vehicle, such as an airplane, a ship, a bus, or a railcar, comprises an input connectable to a potentiometer being supplied with a constant supply voltage and outputting a direct voltage having a voltage intensity corresponding to a selected dimming rate; an electronic measuring and control unit connected to at least one LED and providing an operating current to the at least one LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: STEFFEN ROEBKE
  • Patent number: 8814404
    Abstract: Feeding device for a geometrically closed lightguide (1) of the signal lamps of motor vehicles placed on both sides of the vehicle comprising a light feeder (4) and a geometrically closed lightguide (1). The two parts are joined and form a single plastic molding. A prism-shaped cavity (9) with total internal light reflection for a uniform light distribution at both sides of the enclosed lightguide (1) is formed at the site of their joint. A semi-transparent insert (16) is inserted in the prism-shaped cavity (9), made of material with a precise ratio of transparent and cloudy components to control the amount of unwanted light arising on the planar surfaces (10;11) of the prism-shaped cavity (9) with total internal light reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, S.R.O.
    Inventors: Jan Martoch, Tomas Nejezchleba
  • Publication number: 20140233251
    Abstract: A light module for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The light module includes a light source and a reflecting unit. The light module also includes an optical waveguide, wherein the waveguide is formed by a plate-shaped body having an L-shaped cross section, the light-reflecting unit comprises a reflector arranged in front of a shorter input part of the waveguide, and wherein at a place where a shorter inlet part of the waveguide passes into a longer outlet part of the waveguide, an angled surface is provided for total reflection of light passing through the shorter inlet part of the waveguide to the longer outlet part of the waveguide, wherewith a bottom area and an adjacent face of the outlet part of the waveguide are provided with a white coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Varroc Lighting Systems s.r.o.
    Inventors: Miroslav Kropac, Ludek Mazal, Tomas Mateju, Libor Juttner
  • Patent number: 8801240
    Abstract: An aircraft light, particularly for emitting light onto a runway during takeoff or landing and/or onto the ground during taxi, comprises a light source (30), a reflector (12), a support frame (18) for the reflector (12), and an adjustable bearing arrangement (20) including at least two joints (22) pivotably supporting the reflector (12). The adjustable bearing arrangement (20) comprises at least one extendable and retractable adjustment element (24) guided at the support frame (18) along a movement axis (26). At least one of the two joints (22) is formed as a ball-type joint. The ball-type joint (22), to compensate for a change of the distance (A,A?) between the at least two joints (22) of the bearing arrangement (20) upon movement of the adjustment elements (24) for tilting the reflector (12), slidably engages the reflector substantially orthogonal to the movement axis (26) of the adjustment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Aravind Edupalli, Peter Sterghos
  • Publication number: 20140210507
    Abstract: A fault detecting circuit in a string of LEDs D1-Dc containing comparing operational amplifiers IC1/IC2 connected to a current source is divided into sections, D1-Da, D2-Db, and D3-Dc, wherein the common between the Da cathode and the D2 anode is connected to the noninverting input of IC1, while the common between the Db cathode and the D3 anode is connected to the noninverting input of IC2, and to the string D1-Db is connected in parallel to a divider comprising R1/R2, while the string comprising D2-Dc is connected in parallel to a divider comprising R3/R4, and the common of R1/R2 is connected to the inverting input of IC1 and the common of R3/R4 is connected to the inverting input of IC2, while the outputs of IC1/IC2 are connected to the bases of corresponding transistors T1/T2, whose emitters are connected to ground and collectors are connected to the voltage source and also to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Varroc Lighting Systems s.r.o.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Jezersky, Matej Smrek
  • Publication number: 20140198511
    Abstract: A fixing system for lighting fixture parts, especially the lights of an automobile, includes a thermoplastic outer lens (2), which is installed in a thermoplastic encircling housing (3) by means of a sealing adhesive (4) and secured by fastening elements. The fixing element is a brad pin (1) which is shot through a groove (31) of the encircling housing (3) and a lug (21) of the outer lens (2), with a profile in the shape of a circle flattened at least at two diametrically opposite places, having a longitudinally smooth brad pin shank (14) along its entire length, which is covered by an adhesive (112) to hold the brad pins (1) together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o
    Inventors: Milan Cejnek, Jindrich Chylek, Robert Rysavy
  • Patent number: 8770764
    Abstract: A light projector for operation during a show that contains theatrical haze. The light projector may include a light source, a lens, a fan, and a housing having an inner chamber. The lens may have a first side and a second side. The first side of the lens may be contained within the inner chamber of the housing. The second side the lens may be outside of the inner chamber of the housing. The fan may be configured to be operated to generate air flow inside the inner chamber of the housing. A substantial portion of the air flow may be directed to impinge upon the first side of the lens to cause de-fogging of theatrical haze condensate on the first side of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Barco Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, David R. Dahly, David Karl Peck
  • Patent number: 8773044
    Abstract: An anti-collision aircraft light comprises at least one LED and a control unit for operating the at least one LED in a pulsed manner. In this anti-collision aircraft light, the control unit comprises an ambient temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature and an adjustable current control for setting an LED operating current depending on the sensed ambient temperature. The control unit further includes a light intensity sensor for sensing the intensity of the light emitted from the at least one LED, an integrator connected to the light sensor for integrating the sensed light intensity, and a comparator for comparing the integrated light intensity to a threshold value. The operating current for the at least one LED is interrupted as soon as the integrated light intensity is equal to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Hessling
  • Publication number: 20140166260
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mechanical vibrating element driven by a driving means includes operating the driving means at an operation frequency for stimulating the vibrating element to oscillate at this frequency. The method also includes adjusting the operation frequency of the driving means for stimulating the vibration element at different frequencies and of determining a respective energy consumption of the driving means depending on the frequency at which the vibrating element oscillates. The resonance frequency of the oscillation of the vibrating element is identified as the frequency at which the energy consumption of the driving means is lowest and the driving means for stimulating the vibrating element can be operated at the resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Roebke
  • Publication number: 20140166235
    Abstract: The device for generating an air flow for cooling a heat dissipating electronic element such as an LED comprises a channel (12,56) extending between an inlet portion (18) upstream of the air flow to be generated and an outlet portion (20) downstream of the air flow to be generated, wherein the channel (12,56) comprises at least two substantially opposite side surfaces (14). Moreover, the device is provided with a first bendable air ventilating blade (10,58) arranged within the channel (12,56) and having an overall longitudinal extension substantially coinciding with the extension of the channel (12,56), with a first longitudinal end (24,62) arranged upstream of the air ventilating blade (10,58) flow to be generated and a second end (28,70) arranged downstream of the air flow to be generated. The first air ventilating blade (10,58) with its first end (24,62) is fixedly arranged and has its second end (28,70) is reciprocatingly arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Andre HESSLING von HEIMENDAHL, Anil Kumar JHA, Christian SCHOEN, Jan Frederik HILDEBRANDT, Lars Christian SCHROEDER
  • Publication number: 20140160774
    Abstract: A dual-color aviation Anti Collision Light (ACL) has a first set of LEDs that emit a substantially white beam of light and a second set of LEDs that emit a substantially red beam of light. The ACL can be operated in a first mode in which the red LEDs are excited by themselves so that the ACL produces a red beam of light In a second mode, the white LEDs and the red LEDs are excited simultaneously to produce a white beam of light having a chromaticity within the definition of Aviation White. Operating the red LEDs in the white mode has two synergistic effects. First, the red LEDs augment the luminous output of the white LEDs so that fewer white LEDs are required, thus saving cost and space. Second, the red LEDs shift the chromaticity of total light output toward the red region. This has the effect of compensating for the tendency of the white LEDs to become greener with age.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Philippe LAPUJADE
  • Patent number: 8750159
    Abstract: A system for self-organizing and auto-configuring mesh networks is disclosed. Special nodes (deemed special for their topological significance) are used as a starting point for forming clusters of fully connected nodes. Here, all nodes can communicate directly with one another and links are scheduled to meet the traffic requirements as indicated by their individual configuration and topological positions. Links that do not interfere with each other are scheduled to operate concurrently, thereby increasing the bandwidth offered by the whole system. When a node leaves or is introduced to the system, the system will adjust with minimum impact on its operation. Once all of the clusters are formed in a system, the clusters are now capable of inter-cluster communications with an increase in bandwidth for such communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Natural Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Cheng, Zhifeng Tao
  • Patent number: 8740424
    Abstract: A light for an aircraft comprises a holder for carrying a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along a curvilinear line and a first optical unit comprising an elliptic reflective partial surface defining a plurality of focal points forming a first curvilinear focal line extending along the light emitting sites of the light emitting diodes, and a plurality of second focal points. The light further includes a second optical unit comprising a single further focal point or a plurality of further focal points forming a further curvilinear focal line. The plurality of the second focal points of the first optical unit coincide and are identical to the single further focal point of the second optical unit or are located along the further curvilinear focal line of the second optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Hessling, Enrico Beier
  • Patent number: 8721114
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a space comprising is discussed. In one variation, the device includes: a central body portion, with a length and a width, and including two plates running along the length of the central body portion wherein the two plates are separated by a spacer; an opening for the removal of heat during operation of the device that extends along a portion of the length of the central body portion, a light emitting diode on the central body portion; a reflector, extending from the central body portion, for reflecting light emitted by the light emitting diode towards the illuminated space. Other variations are also discussed as are methods for using suitable variations for retrofitting existing non-light emitting diode light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Appalachian Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Wassel, R. Douglas Falk
  • Publication number: 20140056015
    Abstract: Feeding device for a geometrically closed lightguide (1) of the signal lamps of motor vehicles placed on both sides of the vehicle comprising a light feeder (4) and a geometrically closed lightguide (1). The two parts are joined and form a single plastic molding. A prism-shaped cavity (9) with total internal light reflection for a uniform light distribution at both sides of the enclosed lightguide (1) is formed at the site of their joint. A semi-transparent insert (16) is inserted in the prism-shaped cavity (9), made of material with a precise ratio of transparent and cloudy components to control the amount of unwanted light arising on the planar surfaces (10;11) of the prism-shaped cavity (9) with total internal light reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Varroc Lighting Systems s.r.o.
    Inventors: Jan Martoch, Tomas Nejezchleba
  • Patent number: 8646954
    Abstract: An adaptive projection system for the headlights of motor vehicles consists of a reflector (6) with light source (11), a lens (10), and a diaphragm system with a fixed screening diaphragm in the shape of a cradle and with a movable optical diaphragm (1) in the shape of a hyperboloid, cylindrical or conical sector (17, 18), which rotates at the same time as the shaft of the motor (3), on which it is firmly fastened at both sides by means of stanchions (2), and by its controlled stopping in certain positions it produces the required light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O.
    Inventor: Petr Smajser
  • Patent number: 8593264
    Abstract: A remote lighting control system is for remote lighting control of a plurality of discharge lamps. This system has the installed electronic ballasts of each discharge lamp. Each electronic ballast has a transceiver and a controller, the transceiver exchanges control information with the controller. The control command contains the identifiable information to specify one of a plurality of electronic ballasts. When the transmitter is received the control command, the transceiver transfers the received control command to other electronic ballasts further. Moreover, if the control command is the one that the identifiable information specifies own ballasts, the control information based on the received control command is send to own controller, and the controller control the discharge lamp. According to this system, when a lot of lamps was arranged the factory etc. comparatively widely, the user's remote control is not limited to the narrow scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Eye Lighting Systems Corporation, Nippon Antenna Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Umezawa, Ichirou Terayama, Masakazu Ikeda, Yusuke Tainaka
  • Publication number: 20130300296
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method for indicating that an LED flash light for an aircraft such as an anti-collision or beacon or strobe LED light has reached a near-end-of-life status, wherein the LED flash light under normal operational condition within a given time interval generates a predetermined number of normal flashes with the number being one or more than one, e.g. two. The method comprises the steps of determining the actual photometric condition of the LED flash light, and comparing the actual photometric condition to a given condition in a normal flashing mode. If the actual condition deviates from the given condition by more than a predetermined amount, the LED flash light is operated in order to generate within the given time interval one additional near-end-of-life-indicating flash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 8579479
    Abstract: The warning lamp for an aircraft is provided with a housing (10) which possesses a light permeable cover (12) that is exposed to the surrounding air when the housing is mounted on the aircraft, with a frontal cover area and a rear cover area, a mounting element (44) to fasten the cover to a lower part (14) of the housing (10), wherein one edge (41) of the cover (12) is covered by an edge of the mounting element (44) and protrudes from it, a lamp with at least one LED (42,46,58,60), which is arranged within an area that is covered by the cover (12), and a cooling body (18) for the at least one LED (42,46,58,60), wherein the cooling body (18) possesses a cooling surface (32) that is exposed to the surrounding air when the housing (10) is mounted on the aircraft. The frontal cover area is formed by a frontal cover element (22) which is made from a light permeable first material. The rear cover area is formed by a rear cover element (28), which is made from a light permeable second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Kohlmeier-Beckmann, Martin Griesbach, Bernhard Müller, Sonja Ferling, Andre Hessling, Sascha Lüder