CA2007978A1 - Portable lighting system - Google Patents
Portable lighting systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2007978A1 CA2007978A1 CA 2007978 CA2007978A CA2007978A1 CA 2007978 A1 CA2007978 A1 CA 2007978A1 CA 2007978 CA2007978 CA 2007978 CA 2007978 A CA2007978 A CA 2007978A CA 2007978 A1 CA2007978 A1 CA 2007978A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- light
- master
- lighting system
- light unit
- slave
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A portable lighting system providing temporary lighting for a helicopter landing area or light plane landing strip. The system has a master unit which can be activated by radio and turns on a number of slave light units remotely. The lighting system has in combination a master light unit comprising a power supply means, a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal, and a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal; the slave unit comprising at least one light with power supply means, and a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unit to activate at least one light unit.
A portable lighting system providing temporary lighting for a helicopter landing area or light plane landing strip. The system has a master unit which can be activated by radio and turns on a number of slave light units remotely. The lighting system has in combination a master light unit comprising a power supply means, a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal, and a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal; the slave unit comprising at least one light with power supply means, and a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unit to activate at least one light unit.
Description
The present invention relates to a system of hlghly visible lights suitable for an aircraft landing system.
More specifically, the present invention provldes a master unit that activates and deactivates by radio remote control at least one slave light unit. :~
Lighting systems for major airports generally work off main power supplies, but always have at least one auxiliary power supply in case of power failures. For permanent installations such as major airports, this is satisfactory, however, for small or temporary landing ;~
strips, and in the case of temporary helicopter landing ~-areas, there is a need to have a portable lighting system that can either be used as an emergency llghting system, ; 15 or, alternatively, can quickly and easily be installed in the field and activated by an aircraft approaching the landing area so it does not have to be permanently manned. ;
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a highly visible lighting system that is portable to the -~
extent that it is completely self contained, and may be packaged and carried in a helicopter, truck, or even by hand, and then arranged around a landing area for a helicopter or fixed aircraft landing strip. Furthermore, it is an alm of the present invention to provide a system with one master light unit which when activated switches ~ ~ .
,.
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Z(~ 737~
on one or more slave light units by remote control. The portable system has built-in power supplies for both the master unit and the slave units.
In the case of a hellpad landing system the units may be packaged together in an easily transportable container that may be carried if necessary by helicopter to the required sight and installed during dayllght for use at night. The system may be used for emergency situations such as a temporary landing for a helicopter medical evacuation from a highway crash. It may be used for outlying communities where an emergency landing is required at night or for commercial uses such as oil rigs and the llke where a temporary helicopter landing area is required or even as an emergency lighting system for landing areas in caso of power failures.
The system may also be used for military operations to provlde landlng strlps in outlying areas, elther covert operatlons or other night time operations, where the system can be set up on the ground, left unattended and , then activated by an aircraft approaching the area.
: ~ .
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a system of individual light units, each having a light and a power supply together with a receiver to accept a radio :, ~'.~''S~ ' ' ' , ' . .. .
2007~7B
signal to activate each light unit. Also provided is a master light unit which has a light unit, a power supply, a receiver to receive a master signal from an aircraft or other location, which in turn activates the light unit on the master unit, and a transmitter to transmit a radio signal to each of the slave units. Thus the system can be operated by a single coded radio transmission from an aircraft or the like.
The system may be used for helicopter or other fixed wing aircraft landing lights. It also may be used for other areas requiring a lighting system. In one embodlment, the lights for the landing area are electroluminescent flexible light strips which are arranged around a perimeter. In another embodiment, there ~.. ~. . .
is a series of lights arranged in a strip, wherein each light is turned on in sequence to provide a best approach indicator showing an aircraft the best approach direction from the air.
The master unit preferably has a strobe light which , is easily visible from the air, whereas the perimeter lights, generally slave light units, are flexible strip electroluminescent lights. If the unit is to be used as a landing strip for fixed wing aircraft or a taxiway for ~ fixed wing aircraft, then pairs of strobe lights may be :
zoo7~a provided as ælave light units positioned on each side of the strip or taxiway.
The present invention provides a portable lighting system having in combination a master light unit and at least one slave light unit, the master light unit comprising, a) power supply means;
b) a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal; and c) a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal the slave light unit comprising, d) at least one light with power supply means; and e) a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unlt to activate at least one light.
In a preferred embodiment, the master light unit n ~ includes a high intensity light such as a strobe light.
~;i In other embodiments, it is preferred there is a , plurality of slave light units, all of which are activated by a single master light unit. The lights in the slave ; light units are preferably wafer-thin flexible lamps, so the system may be used to form a landing lighting system for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft.
~ .
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In another embodiment, one of the slave light units -~:
comprises a plurality of lights in line, which when activated flash sequentially to show a best direction of approach for an aircraft.
In drawinqs which illustrate embodiments of the present invention~
. .:
- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a master : .
light unit according to one embodiment of the present ~:
invention; .~
: ,.,. :
- Figure 2 is a diagrammatical lsometric view showing the interior of the master light unit; ;:~
:
: - Figure 3 is a block diagram for one embodiment of : the master light unit;
, - Figure 4 is a plan view showing one embodlment of a slave light unit;
., - Figure 5 is an elevational sectional view through ; the slave light unit shown in Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a block diagram for one embodiment of :~ the slave light unit;
: : ~ :,, . -Z~ 7~'7~3 - Figure 7 is a block diagram for one embodlment of a sequential best approach light unit;
- Figure 8 is a block diagram for one embodiment of a hand-held remote control unit;
- Figure 9 illustrates a plurality of slave light units in a slngle master light unit arranged to form a helicopter landing system; and - Figure 10 illustrates a plurality of slave light units arranged on each side of a runway with a single master light unit.
The master light unit 10 shown in Figure 1 has a lens 12 for a strobe light which is positioned at the top of a : cylindrlcal body 14. Beneath the strobe light is a ~:: plurality of switch rings 16 each having lndicators 18 and ~:~ locklng screws 20. The swltches 16 are provided for :~ 20 setting different functions of the master unit 10.
:j ~ ., Inside the master light unit 10 as shown in Figure 2 are four xenon strobe lights 22 to provide long distance visual location. The lights can be flashed in sequence for a coded æeries of flashes such as the letter H in morse code to represent a helicopter landing area or all ~,,""j,,",,i~",,"~", together for highest intensity. There is also provided a battery power source 24 whlch is in one embodiment a ;
lithium dry cell with a minimum five year shelf life at a temperature range from -55 to 75C. ,~
S ''.`; ~:
The cylindrical body 14 is preferably made of a :.: ~:.:. -:
suitable material such as aluminum which is light and as an electrical conductor acts as an antenna for at least short range transmissions. The power source 24 is positioned at the base of the body 14 and has a series of printed circuit boards 26 formed as doughnut rings mounted about a central conductor conduit 28. Eflach PCB provides an electroniff module for a particular function, as will be explained hereafter. An input power connector 30 is provlded on the base of the body 14 for connection to an external power source, and an output connector 32 allows cabl~e connections to slave light unlts or other unlts if it is desirable to use electrical cables infstead of the remote control system. A flexible antenna 34 is provided .
'~ ~ 20 for receiving a distant transmission signal.
,,f Whereas,the master light unit 10 shows strobe lights , ' 22 on the top and integral therewith, in some units it is '~
preferable to have a separate light unit so there is no '''~
light integral with the master light unit 10. The -~
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separate light may be a slave unit or connected to the master llght unit by electrical cable.
Figure 3 shows schematically the master unit with the different modules therein. A master receiver 40 receives a frequency C from a remote transmitter 42, shown as an aircraft transmitter. The master receiver 40 draws power from the power supply 24 through an electronic voltage regulator 44 and activates a VOR transmitter 46 to send a homing signal at a frequency D to the aircraft which is received by a VOR receiver 48 in the aircraft. The strobe light 12 is actuated as is the transmitter 50 which transmits a signal to the strobe light units on frequency B. Also illustrated as a further embodiment is a sequential best approach indicator circuit 52 which is activated and by cable 54 sets off the sequential best approach indicator 56. This operation will be described hereafter.
The pulse and continuous circuitry 58 controls the signal from the transmitter 50 to be a pulse or continuous signal so the slave llght units provide a pulse or continuous light. The ground control system activation ~ .
receiver 60 allows the complete activation of the unit by a hand-held unit which will be described hereafter. A
.
;~ ' r~.' ." " ~
20~7~
. ~
g photo-cell circuit 62 cuts off power to activate the -system in daylight. ;~
The switches indicated as switch 1 to 8 allow the unit to be preprogrammed if it is desired to deactivate .: :~, .
certain systems, i.e. the homing beacon, the switch 1, or the photo-cell switch 7.
-, , The electronic voltage regulator 44 in one embodiment has an invertor to increase the voltage which is generally 72 volts to 25 volts and a regulator to reduce it to about . .
15 volts. Thus if the battery voltage drops in coldweather, or if the voltage is low because the battery has a reduced capacity, the invertor and regulator wlll still ~ -give a 15 volt supply to the system.
:-The master receiver 40 preferably operates on at least one of the standard aircraft operating frequencies.
If a coded slgnal is transmltted, then the master recelver 40 has an encoder to ensure that spurious signals do not actlvate the system. Once the master recelver 40 has been ~i ~ activated, it actlvates the transmitter 50 within the :-: . .~
~ master unit lO which transmits a coded signal to each of ;~ the slave light units. The signal is generally a UHF
radio signal and an encoder is provided with a similar ` decoder on the slave units. These may be adjusted in the : ~ - ?
.: . ." '
More specifically, the present invention provldes a master unit that activates and deactivates by radio remote control at least one slave light unit. :~
Lighting systems for major airports generally work off main power supplies, but always have at least one auxiliary power supply in case of power failures. For permanent installations such as major airports, this is satisfactory, however, for small or temporary landing ;~
strips, and in the case of temporary helicopter landing ~-areas, there is a need to have a portable lighting system that can either be used as an emergency llghting system, ; 15 or, alternatively, can quickly and easily be installed in the field and activated by an aircraft approaching the landing area so it does not have to be permanently manned. ;
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a highly visible lighting system that is portable to the -~
extent that it is completely self contained, and may be packaged and carried in a helicopter, truck, or even by hand, and then arranged around a landing area for a helicopter or fixed aircraft landing strip. Furthermore, it is an alm of the present invention to provide a system with one master light unit which when activated switches ~ ~ .
,.
~,",,~,~,";, ~ , ,",,,,; ,": ,"~ ", ' ;' ;~
Z(~ 737~
on one or more slave light units by remote control. The portable system has built-in power supplies for both the master unit and the slave units.
In the case of a hellpad landing system the units may be packaged together in an easily transportable container that may be carried if necessary by helicopter to the required sight and installed during dayllght for use at night. The system may be used for emergency situations such as a temporary landing for a helicopter medical evacuation from a highway crash. It may be used for outlying communities where an emergency landing is required at night or for commercial uses such as oil rigs and the llke where a temporary helicopter landing area is required or even as an emergency lighting system for landing areas in caso of power failures.
The system may also be used for military operations to provlde landlng strlps in outlying areas, elther covert operatlons or other night time operations, where the system can be set up on the ground, left unattended and , then activated by an aircraft approaching the area.
: ~ .
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a system of individual light units, each having a light and a power supply together with a receiver to accept a radio :, ~'.~''S~ ' ' ' , ' . .. .
2007~7B
signal to activate each light unit. Also provided is a master light unit which has a light unit, a power supply, a receiver to receive a master signal from an aircraft or other location, which in turn activates the light unit on the master unit, and a transmitter to transmit a radio signal to each of the slave units. Thus the system can be operated by a single coded radio transmission from an aircraft or the like.
The system may be used for helicopter or other fixed wing aircraft landing lights. It also may be used for other areas requiring a lighting system. In one embodlment, the lights for the landing area are electroluminescent flexible light strips which are arranged around a perimeter. In another embodiment, there ~.. ~. . .
is a series of lights arranged in a strip, wherein each light is turned on in sequence to provide a best approach indicator showing an aircraft the best approach direction from the air.
The master unit preferably has a strobe light which , is easily visible from the air, whereas the perimeter lights, generally slave light units, are flexible strip electroluminescent lights. If the unit is to be used as a landing strip for fixed wing aircraft or a taxiway for ~ fixed wing aircraft, then pairs of strobe lights may be :
zoo7~a provided as ælave light units positioned on each side of the strip or taxiway.
The present invention provides a portable lighting system having in combination a master light unit and at least one slave light unit, the master light unit comprising, a) power supply means;
b) a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal; and c) a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal the slave light unit comprising, d) at least one light with power supply means; and e) a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unlt to activate at least one light.
In a preferred embodiment, the master light unit n ~ includes a high intensity light such as a strobe light.
~;i In other embodiments, it is preferred there is a , plurality of slave light units, all of which are activated by a single master light unit. The lights in the slave ; light units are preferably wafer-thin flexible lamps, so the system may be used to form a landing lighting system for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft.
~ .
Z0~737~
In another embodiment, one of the slave light units -~:
comprises a plurality of lights in line, which when activated flash sequentially to show a best direction of approach for an aircraft.
In drawinqs which illustrate embodiments of the present invention~
. .:
- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a master : .
light unit according to one embodiment of the present ~:
invention; .~
: ,.,. :
- Figure 2 is a diagrammatical lsometric view showing the interior of the master light unit; ;:~
:
: - Figure 3 is a block diagram for one embodiment of : the master light unit;
, - Figure 4 is a plan view showing one embodlment of a slave light unit;
., - Figure 5 is an elevational sectional view through ; the slave light unit shown in Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a block diagram for one embodiment of :~ the slave light unit;
: : ~ :,, . -Z~ 7~'7~3 - Figure 7 is a block diagram for one embodlment of a sequential best approach light unit;
- Figure 8 is a block diagram for one embodiment of a hand-held remote control unit;
- Figure 9 illustrates a plurality of slave light units in a slngle master light unit arranged to form a helicopter landing system; and - Figure 10 illustrates a plurality of slave light units arranged on each side of a runway with a single master light unit.
The master light unit 10 shown in Figure 1 has a lens 12 for a strobe light which is positioned at the top of a : cylindrlcal body 14. Beneath the strobe light is a ~:: plurality of switch rings 16 each having lndicators 18 and ~:~ locklng screws 20. The swltches 16 are provided for :~ 20 setting different functions of the master unit 10.
:j ~ ., Inside the master light unit 10 as shown in Figure 2 are four xenon strobe lights 22 to provide long distance visual location. The lights can be flashed in sequence for a coded æeries of flashes such as the letter H in morse code to represent a helicopter landing area or all ~,,""j,,",,i~",,"~", together for highest intensity. There is also provided a battery power source 24 whlch is in one embodiment a ;
lithium dry cell with a minimum five year shelf life at a temperature range from -55 to 75C. ,~
S ''.`; ~:
The cylindrical body 14 is preferably made of a :.: ~:.:. -:
suitable material such as aluminum which is light and as an electrical conductor acts as an antenna for at least short range transmissions. The power source 24 is positioned at the base of the body 14 and has a series of printed circuit boards 26 formed as doughnut rings mounted about a central conductor conduit 28. Eflach PCB provides an electroniff module for a particular function, as will be explained hereafter. An input power connector 30 is provlded on the base of the body 14 for connection to an external power source, and an output connector 32 allows cabl~e connections to slave light unlts or other unlts if it is desirable to use electrical cables infstead of the remote control system. A flexible antenna 34 is provided .
'~ ~ 20 for receiving a distant transmission signal.
,,f Whereas,the master light unit 10 shows strobe lights , ' 22 on the top and integral therewith, in some units it is '~
preferable to have a separate light unit so there is no '''~
light integral with the master light unit 10. The -~
: , - . . .
f~,s,,i",~ ,",, ~ , , , Z~)~7~7~
separate light may be a slave unit or connected to the master llght unit by electrical cable.
Figure 3 shows schematically the master unit with the different modules therein. A master receiver 40 receives a frequency C from a remote transmitter 42, shown as an aircraft transmitter. The master receiver 40 draws power from the power supply 24 through an electronic voltage regulator 44 and activates a VOR transmitter 46 to send a homing signal at a frequency D to the aircraft which is received by a VOR receiver 48 in the aircraft. The strobe light 12 is actuated as is the transmitter 50 which transmits a signal to the strobe light units on frequency B. Also illustrated as a further embodiment is a sequential best approach indicator circuit 52 which is activated and by cable 54 sets off the sequential best approach indicator 56. This operation will be described hereafter.
The pulse and continuous circuitry 58 controls the signal from the transmitter 50 to be a pulse or continuous signal so the slave llght units provide a pulse or continuous light. The ground control system activation ~ .
receiver 60 allows the complete activation of the unit by a hand-held unit which will be described hereafter. A
.
;~ ' r~.' ." " ~
20~7~
. ~
g photo-cell circuit 62 cuts off power to activate the -system in daylight. ;~
The switches indicated as switch 1 to 8 allow the unit to be preprogrammed if it is desired to deactivate .: :~, .
certain systems, i.e. the homing beacon, the switch 1, or the photo-cell switch 7.
-, , The electronic voltage regulator 44 in one embodiment has an invertor to increase the voltage which is generally 72 volts to 25 volts and a regulator to reduce it to about . .
15 volts. Thus if the battery voltage drops in coldweather, or if the voltage is low because the battery has a reduced capacity, the invertor and regulator wlll still ~ -give a 15 volt supply to the system.
:-The master receiver 40 preferably operates on at least one of the standard aircraft operating frequencies.
If a coded slgnal is transmltted, then the master recelver 40 has an encoder to ensure that spurious signals do not actlvate the system. Once the master recelver 40 has been ~i ~ activated, it actlvates the transmitter 50 within the :-: . .~
~ master unit lO which transmits a coded signal to each of ;~ the slave light units. The signal is generally a UHF
radio signal and an encoder is provided with a similar ` decoder on the slave units. These may be adjusted in the : ~ - ?
.: . ." '
2~ 797~
field to suit a wide varia~ion of signals. The distance from the transmitter 50 in the master unit 10 to the slave light units is in the order of five hundred yards, however, up to a mile is feasible.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a slave light unlt 70 whlch compriæes a plurality of lumlnescent strlps 72 contalned in a flexible sandwlch type envelope 74 with electric connectlons 76 which at one end jolns to a unlt 10containing a battery power source 78, a recelver and encoder 80 and two lndlvldual swltches 82. Each llght unit 70 is self contained and has its own power source 78.
The switches 82 are provided to turn the unit on so that when an encoded slgnal ls received by the recelver 80 on 15frequency B, it will activate the light unit.
::, :
~- The schematic illustratlon of Figure 6 shows an electronlc AC lnvertor circuit 84 whlch through an AC
invertor and regulator produces a voltage ln the range of 20about from 60 - 100 volts whlch ls requlred for the electoluminescent lamps. An additional lamp 86 is shown which may be a xenon strobe. The swltches allow either lamps or both lamps to operate.
" ~
25A sequential best approach indicator 56 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7 with a serles of :
pi!~S ~ ' ' t ' i - 11- 20~7~7~
eight individual lights 92 positioned in a row, jolned by a connector 94 to a series of outputs 90 from a sequential timing circuit 98. A power supply 78 and receiver 80 to receive frequency B similar to the slave light units 70 powers and activates the indicators 56, although a cable connection can be supplied as shown in Figure 3.
A hand-held unit 100 for testing and activating the slave light units 70 is diagrammatically shown in Figure 8 with a battery power supply 102 which powers through an electronic voltage regulator 104, a high intensity inspection lamp 106 and a transmitter 108 which can transmit on any of frequencies A, B or C by activation of one of the three frequency switches 110. The hand-held unit 100 has a transmitter 108 with a æhort range thus allowing actuatlon close to the sy#tem or allowing tests to be carried out.
Figure 9 illustrates one embodiment of a system ; , . . .
20~ comprislng twelve slave units 70 of the type illustrated ~: in Figures 4 and 5 which may include four or five ~, electroluminescent lights in a wafer-thin strip together : with a power source 78 and receiver 80. A master strobe . .
light unit 10 is mounted upon a tripod 120 positioned at a close distance to the slave units 70 so that when the ~ -master receiver 40 in the master light unit 10 is . ~
j :~ ', "' ~: :
t."~
- 12 - Z0~737~
activated, it activates the transmitter 50 whlch in turn passes a signal to activate each of the slave units 70.
At the same time, the strobe light on top of the master unit 10 is activated so that an approaching aircraft can see the strobe light from some distance away and then picks up the lights from the slave units as it approaches the landing area.
In the best approach indicator 56 as illustrated in Figure 9, each of the panels 92 light ln a sequence starting from far away and approachlng the landing area, then when all the lights have been turned on, the units turn off and start again, thus providing a directional signal pointing an aircraft to the best approach for the landlng area.
Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment wherein a plurality of slave units 70 are arranged in pairs about a runway. In this partlcular embodiment, the slave units each have a strobe light rather than the luminescent lIghts shown in Flgures 4 and 5. A master unit 10 is -, provided so that the signal from the master unit 10 activates all the strobe lights to flash at substantially the same moment.
ZC~737 The electrolumlnescent lights shown in the flexible strips of Figures 4 and 5 are capacitors with two conducting surfaces having a dielectric therebetween. The luminescent pigment is dispersed within the insulator which may be in any location in the path of the electrostatic field. In one embodiment, one electrode is translucent, but grids of various sorts have been used.
These electroluminescent lights are cold light sources operating close to ambient temperature. They may be of any light emitting colour when energized, withstand shock and vibration, thermocycling and further thermal processing. In the embodlment shown they are thin flexible inherently uniform sourcs of surface illumination and custom fabricated to specific shapes and sizes.
Advantages in the field are weight savings and easily foldable so that they may be supplied in from 12 to 4 foot strips with each strip forming a slave light unit.
' "'':~
Whereas the slave units and strobe lights generally provide light In the visual range, in one embodiment infrared lights may be provided. This is particularly useful in the case of covert operations wherein infrared sensing devices could be used to sense the landing area for a hellcopter or fixed wing aircraft, however, the infrared lights would not be visible to the human eye.
Z~ 7~
In one embodiment, a radio homing signal transmitter is included with the unit and the whole system actlvated from up to fifty miles away. This could be particularly useful in the case of a helicopter landing area or a light plane landing area. Whereas lithium batteries have been described herein, the power source may be a rechargeable nickel cadmlum battery which can compensate for extreme cold operations. The units may have solar cells provided to recharge the batteries during daylight hours, al~ernatively, provision may be made for a main power supply to either charge the batteries or, alternatively, to provide power to the unit.
The landing strip may be set up for medical emergency I5 situations such as a crash on a highway at night time.
The lighting system may be incorporated in a single package and unpacked in the particular location, installed and then either hand activated or activated by an approaching helicopter for a medical evacuation. The strobe light may be programmed to flash in morse code`
which is the international symbol for a helicopter landing , ' area. It may be appropriate for the luminescent landing ~; strips or slave units to either flash or be constant. If there are ambulances and other flashing lights in the area it might be appropriate to have a constant light and this ; ~ may be programmed either from the field of from an . i`: ;' . .' ' `I ' . '`. ' ' :, : ` ' :
zo~
aircraft. In one case, the signal from the master unit to the slave units may be a pulsed signal to provide a pulsed light or may be a pulsed signal having a different code which would activate a continuous light in the slave unit.
S ~ :
Various changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
.., ~, ' ~ ,
field to suit a wide varia~ion of signals. The distance from the transmitter 50 in the master unit 10 to the slave light units is in the order of five hundred yards, however, up to a mile is feasible.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a slave light unlt 70 whlch compriæes a plurality of lumlnescent strlps 72 contalned in a flexible sandwlch type envelope 74 with electric connectlons 76 which at one end jolns to a unlt 10containing a battery power source 78, a recelver and encoder 80 and two lndlvldual swltches 82. Each llght unit 70 is self contained and has its own power source 78.
The switches 82 are provided to turn the unit on so that when an encoded slgnal ls received by the recelver 80 on 15frequency B, it will activate the light unit.
::, :
~- The schematic illustratlon of Figure 6 shows an electronlc AC lnvertor circuit 84 whlch through an AC
invertor and regulator produces a voltage ln the range of 20about from 60 - 100 volts whlch ls requlred for the electoluminescent lamps. An additional lamp 86 is shown which may be a xenon strobe. The swltches allow either lamps or both lamps to operate.
" ~
25A sequential best approach indicator 56 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7 with a serles of :
pi!~S ~ ' ' t ' i - 11- 20~7~7~
eight individual lights 92 positioned in a row, jolned by a connector 94 to a series of outputs 90 from a sequential timing circuit 98. A power supply 78 and receiver 80 to receive frequency B similar to the slave light units 70 powers and activates the indicators 56, although a cable connection can be supplied as shown in Figure 3.
A hand-held unit 100 for testing and activating the slave light units 70 is diagrammatically shown in Figure 8 with a battery power supply 102 which powers through an electronic voltage regulator 104, a high intensity inspection lamp 106 and a transmitter 108 which can transmit on any of frequencies A, B or C by activation of one of the three frequency switches 110. The hand-held unit 100 has a transmitter 108 with a æhort range thus allowing actuatlon close to the sy#tem or allowing tests to be carried out.
Figure 9 illustrates one embodiment of a system ; , . . .
20~ comprislng twelve slave units 70 of the type illustrated ~: in Figures 4 and 5 which may include four or five ~, electroluminescent lights in a wafer-thin strip together : with a power source 78 and receiver 80. A master strobe . .
light unit 10 is mounted upon a tripod 120 positioned at a close distance to the slave units 70 so that when the ~ -master receiver 40 in the master light unit 10 is . ~
j :~ ', "' ~: :
t."~
- 12 - Z0~737~
activated, it activates the transmitter 50 whlch in turn passes a signal to activate each of the slave units 70.
At the same time, the strobe light on top of the master unit 10 is activated so that an approaching aircraft can see the strobe light from some distance away and then picks up the lights from the slave units as it approaches the landing area.
In the best approach indicator 56 as illustrated in Figure 9, each of the panels 92 light ln a sequence starting from far away and approachlng the landing area, then when all the lights have been turned on, the units turn off and start again, thus providing a directional signal pointing an aircraft to the best approach for the landlng area.
Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment wherein a plurality of slave units 70 are arranged in pairs about a runway. In this partlcular embodiment, the slave units each have a strobe light rather than the luminescent lIghts shown in Flgures 4 and 5. A master unit 10 is -, provided so that the signal from the master unit 10 activates all the strobe lights to flash at substantially the same moment.
ZC~737 The electrolumlnescent lights shown in the flexible strips of Figures 4 and 5 are capacitors with two conducting surfaces having a dielectric therebetween. The luminescent pigment is dispersed within the insulator which may be in any location in the path of the electrostatic field. In one embodiment, one electrode is translucent, but grids of various sorts have been used.
These electroluminescent lights are cold light sources operating close to ambient temperature. They may be of any light emitting colour when energized, withstand shock and vibration, thermocycling and further thermal processing. In the embodlment shown they are thin flexible inherently uniform sourcs of surface illumination and custom fabricated to specific shapes and sizes.
Advantages in the field are weight savings and easily foldable so that they may be supplied in from 12 to 4 foot strips with each strip forming a slave light unit.
' "'':~
Whereas the slave units and strobe lights generally provide light In the visual range, in one embodiment infrared lights may be provided. This is particularly useful in the case of covert operations wherein infrared sensing devices could be used to sense the landing area for a hellcopter or fixed wing aircraft, however, the infrared lights would not be visible to the human eye.
Z~ 7~
In one embodiment, a radio homing signal transmitter is included with the unit and the whole system actlvated from up to fifty miles away. This could be particularly useful in the case of a helicopter landing area or a light plane landing area. Whereas lithium batteries have been described herein, the power source may be a rechargeable nickel cadmlum battery which can compensate for extreme cold operations. The units may have solar cells provided to recharge the batteries during daylight hours, al~ernatively, provision may be made for a main power supply to either charge the batteries or, alternatively, to provide power to the unit.
The landing strip may be set up for medical emergency I5 situations such as a crash on a highway at night time.
The lighting system may be incorporated in a single package and unpacked in the particular location, installed and then either hand activated or activated by an approaching helicopter for a medical evacuation. The strobe light may be programmed to flash in morse code`
which is the international symbol for a helicopter landing , ' area. It may be appropriate for the luminescent landing ~; strips or slave units to either flash or be constant. If there are ambulances and other flashing lights in the area it might be appropriate to have a constant light and this ; ~ may be programmed either from the field of from an . i`: ;' . .' ' `I ' . '`. ' ' :, : ` ' :
zo~
aircraft. In one case, the signal from the master unit to the slave units may be a pulsed signal to provide a pulsed light or may be a pulsed signal having a different code which would activate a continuous light in the slave unit.
S ~ :
Various changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
.., ~, ' ~ ,
Claims (18)
1. A portable lighting system having in combination a master light unit and at least one slave light unit, the master light unit comprising, a) a power supply means;
b) a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal; and c) a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal;
the slave light unit comprising:
d) at least one light with power supply means; and e) a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unit to activate at least one light unit.
b) a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal; and c) a master receiver for receiving a master radio signal to activate the transmitter to transmit the radio signal;
the slave light unit comprising:
d) at least one light with power supply means; and e) a receiver for receiving the radio signal from the master light unit to activate at least one light unit.
2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the master light unit includes a high intensity light activated by the master radio signal.
3. The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the high intensity light is a strobe light.
4. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of slave light units are activated by a single master light unit.
5. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the master light unit and slave light units are arranged to form a helicopter landing lighting system.
6. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter in the master light unit has an encoder means to transmit a coded radio signal, and the receiver in the slave light unit has a decoder means for receiving the coded radio signal and activate at least one light unit.
7. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein at least one light in the slave light unit comprises at least one wafer-thin flexible lamp of the luminescent type.
8. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the master receiver in the master light unit is activated by a master radio signal transmitted from an aircraft.
9. The lighting system according to claim 5, wherein one of the slave light units comprises a plurality of lights in line, which when activated flash sequentially to show a best direction of approach for an aircraft.
10. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the slave light units are infrared lamps.
11. The lighting system according to claim 4, including an additional hand-held master light unit with a transmitter for transmitting a signal to activate the lights in the slave light units.
12. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the power supply means is selected from the group consisting of dry cell batteries, nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries, solar cells, main power supply and combinations thereof.
13. The lighting system according to claim 3, wherein the master light unit includes a light dependent resistor to inhibit activation of the strobe light and the transmitter in daylight.
14. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the lights in the slave light units have two settings, one for a continuous light and the other for a flashing light.
15. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the slave light units are arranged in pairs on either side of an aircraft runway.
16. The lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the lights in the slave light units are strobe lights.
17. The lighting system according to claim 3, wherein the master light includes a manual switch means to activate the strobe light and the transmitter for transmitting the radio signal.
18. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein a VOR homing transmitter is included in the master light unit which is activated by the master radio signal to produce a homing signal.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US29791189A | 1989-01-18 | 1989-01-18 | |
| US297,911 | 1989-01-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2007978A1 true CA2007978A1 (en) | 1990-07-18 |
Family
ID=23148239
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2007978 Abandoned CA2007978A1 (en) | 1989-01-18 | 1990-01-17 | Portable lighting system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2007978A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU737172B3 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2001-08-09 | Osborne Family Holdings Pty Ltd | Transportable power supply |
| WO2007115401A1 (en) * | 2006-04-10 | 2007-10-18 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Method and system for the wireless remote control of marker lights |
| ITRM20080666A1 (en) * | 2008-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | Biofly Srl | NETWORK OF RADIO-CONTROLLED LIGHT SIGNALING UNITS. |
| GB2504712A (en) * | 2012-08-07 | 2014-02-12 | Gerard David Moroney | Remotely operated portable runway lighting system |
| US9213084B2 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2015-12-15 | The Flewelling Ford Family Trust | Situational marking and awareness tag (SMART) beacon, system and method |
| CN107810661A (en) * | 2015-02-26 | 2018-03-16 | 本莫尔投资有限公司 | Attachable illuminator |
-
1990
- 1990-01-17 CA CA 2007978 patent/CA2007978A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU737172B3 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2001-08-09 | Osborne Family Holdings Pty Ltd | Transportable power supply |
| WO2007115401A1 (en) * | 2006-04-10 | 2007-10-18 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Method and system for the wireless remote control of marker lights |
| US8174408B2 (en) | 2006-04-10 | 2012-05-08 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Method and system for the wireless remote control of marker lights |
| ITRM20080666A1 (en) * | 2008-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | Biofly Srl | NETWORK OF RADIO-CONTROLLED LIGHT SIGNALING UNITS. |
| EP2199206A1 (en) | 2008-12-15 | 2010-06-23 | Biofly S.r.l. | Network of radio-controlled light-warning devices |
| US9213084B2 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2015-12-15 | The Flewelling Ford Family Trust | Situational marking and awareness tag (SMART) beacon, system and method |
| GB2504712A (en) * | 2012-08-07 | 2014-02-12 | Gerard David Moroney | Remotely operated portable runway lighting system |
| CN107810661A (en) * | 2015-02-26 | 2018-03-16 | 本莫尔投资有限公司 | Attachable illuminator |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |