Patent Description:
Lighting systems are used to provide lighting or illumination in various spaces. For example, an aircraft may include a lighting system to provide lighting at various locations throughout the interior of the cabin of the aircraft. As lighting systems age, the light output coming from one or more light units may change due to degradation of color, degradation of light intensity, and various other aging effects. Such effects may result in uneven lighting in the cabin and detract from the experience of the passenger in the cabin. However, typical lighting systems, particularly those used in aircraft, are not able to adapt or adjust their light output after installation.

<CIT> discloses a lighting system comprising a programmer connected to a lighting unit, Lighting information is input into the programmer, and data representing the lighting information is transmitted from the programmer to the lighting unit.

<CIT> discloses a system for monitoring a light transmissive cover of a light.

Particularly, in the words of the cited patent document, it discloses detection means which is configured to check integrity of a light permeable cover on the basis of a field intensity measured by a sensor and reference data indicative of one or more reference conditions of integrity of the cover.

This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

The disclosure concerns an aircraft lighting system as defined by the features of claim <NUM>.

In some cases, the portable measurement device includes a sensor, a visual display, and a communication module. In various aspects, the portable measurement device further includes a power source and a status indicator. According to various cases, the at least one attribute of the light emitted from the light unit includes an intensity of the light or a color of the light. In certain aspects, the light unit includes a plurality of light units, where the portable measurement device is configured to measure the at least one attribute of the light emitted from each light unit, and where the control unit is configured to control each light unit based on the measured attribute corresponding to each light unit. In various examples, the control unit is configured to control each light unit such that the at least one attribute of the light emitted from each light unit is the same.

In various examples, the control unit is configured to control the light unit based on the measured attribute by comparing the at least one measured attribute to a predetermined attribute and controlling the light emitted from the light unit such that the measured attribute matches the predetermined attribute. According to some examples, the control unit is further configured to determine the predetermined attribute by receiving a reference signal from the portable measurement device, where the reference signal includes the predetermined attribute measured by the portable measurement device from a reference light unit.

In certain aspects, the light unit includes a plurality of light units, and the plurality of light units including at least one reference light unit. In various cases, the portable measurement device is configured to measure the at least one attribute of the light emitted from the reference light unit, and the control unit is configured to control each light unit based on the measured attribute from the reference light unit. In various aspects, one of the plurality of light units includes a first type of light source and another of the plurality of light units includes a second type of light source different from the first type of light source. In some examples, the light unit includes a unique identifier, and the portable measurement device is configured to receive the unique identifier before measuring the at least one attribute of the light emitted from the light unit and output the measured attribute of the light with the unique identifier in the output signal.

The disclosure concerns a method defined by the features of claim <NUM>.

In various examples, the light unit includes a plurality of light units, and the plurality of light units includes a reference light unit. In some aspects, measuring includes measuring the at least one attribute of light of the reference light unit, and controlling includes controlling the plurality of light units based on the measured attribute from the reference light unit. According to certain examples, controlling includes controlling each light unit such that the at least one attribute of the light emitted from each light unit is the same.

In certain aspects, the light unit includes a plurality of light units, measuring includes measuring the at least one attribute of light of each of the plurality of light units, and controlling includes controlling each of the plurality of light units based on the measured attribute from that light unit. According to various examples, controlling includes controlling each light unit such that the at least one attribute of the light emitted from each light unit is the same.

In certain cases, measuring includes measuring at least one of an intensity of the light or a color of the light. In some aspects, controlling includes comparing the measured attribute to reference data and adjusting the light emitted from the light unit based on a difference between the measured attribute and the reference data. In various cases, the method includes displaying a last color measured on the portable measurement device. In certain examples, the method includes measuring a color of an illuminated surface with the portable measurement device, and controlling the light unit such that a color of the light emitted from the light unit matches the color of the illuminated surface.

Various implementations described in the present disclosure can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures can be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as "up," "down," "top," "left," "right," "front," and "back," among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing. References herein to "consisting of" may, in at least some circumstances, encompass "consisting essentially of" or "comprising.

In some aspects, disclosed is a lighting system, including, but not limited to, a lighting system used in aircraft. The lighting system includes a portable measurement device that is independent from and freely movable relative to light units of the aircraft (or other environment). In some aspects, the portable measurement device includes a light sensor, a communication module, and a visual display. In certain cases, the portable measurement device includes a power source and a status indicator. In some aspects, the portable measurement device includes control buttons. The portable measurement device is configured to measure at least one attribute of the light emitted from a light unit with the sensor. In certain cases, the portable measurement device is configured to detect a color and/or a light intensity of the light. In certain examples, based on the measured data, the portable measuring device can calculate different attributes of the light, including, but not limited to, color rendering index (CRI), correlated color temperature (CCT), color coordinates, etc. The portable measurement device is further configured to output the measured attribute in an output signal, and transfer the output signal to a control unit of the lighting system. Optionally, the portable measurement device is configured to display a last color that was measured, provide status information about the portable measurement device, provide numeric data of measurements, provide text messages to the user, and/or provide various other features as desired.

The control unit of the lighting system receives the output signal from the portable measurement device, which includes the measured attribute data, and controls the light unit based on the measured attribute data (and/or based on the attribute data determined by the portable measurement device based on the measured attribute data). In some cases, the controller compares the measured attribute data with reference data (which may be stored in the system) to detect deviations from predetermined light color and/or light intensity values, among others. In various examples, the control unit controls the light units such that one or more light units are synchronized. In certain cases, the control unit controls the light units such that one or more light units are adjusted.

The lighting system includes at least one light unit configured to emit light, and in many examples includes a plurality of light units. In some examples, the light units are LED light units, although they need not be. The light units may be various types of light sources. For example, the light units may be strip light units, dome light units, spot light units, or various other types of light sources. As some non-limiting examples, in an aircraft cabin, different light units optionally include spot light units for the passenger seats, strip light units for ceiling and sidewalls, dome light units for the galley and entry threshold, etc. In other examples, different light units may be provided in different parts of the aircraft cabin.

In some examples, with the lighting system, the light unit and system settings can be adjusted as desired. For example, the light unit and system settings may be adjusted during aircraft maintenance, by flight attendants during travel, etc. The light unit and system settings can be adjusted by using the portable measurement device such that light settings can be changed, adapted, and synchronized according to customer needs at any time. In some examples, the customers (e.g., airlines or other aircraft operators) may change the lighting system parameters to achieve a fleet-wide commonality of output (e.g., with airline brand colors), even if the customer has different aircraft models with cabin interiors and light units of different states and ages.

<FIG> are schematics of a lighting system <NUM> according to aspects of the current disclosure. The lighting system <NUM> is in the cabin of an aircraft. The lighting system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM>, and in certain aspects may include a plurality of controllers. In some examples, the controller <NUM> is an independent component; however, in other examples, the controller <NUM> may be a component of a light unit <NUM> (i.e., one or more light units <NUM> may include a controller on the light unit <NUM> itself).

The controller <NUM> is coupled to one or more light units <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> is communicatively connected to four light units 104A-D. The controller <NUM> may be connected to the light units <NUM> through various suitable mechanisms including, but not limited wireless communication, wired communication, Bluetooth, WiFi, infrared communication, etc. In some optional examples, the controller <NUM> is connected to the same type of light unit <NUM> (e.g., all of the light units are strip lights, dome lights, spot lights, etc.). In other optional examples, the controller <NUM> is connected to at least two different types of light units <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the light units 104A-C are a first type of light unit (e.g., a spot light unit) and the light unit 104D is a second type of light unit different from the first type of light unit (e.g., a dome light unit).

A portable measurement device <NUM> is also provided with the lighting system <NUM>. The portable measurement device <NUM> is independent from and freely movable relative to the light units <NUM>. In various aspects, the portable measurement device <NUM> includes at least one sensor such that the portable measurement device <NUM> can detect the light emitted by at least one of the light units <NUM>. In some examples, the portable measurement device <NUM> detects the light emitted by more than one light unit <NUM> (e.g., by light unit 104B and 104D as illustrated in <FIG>); however, in other examples, one of the light units <NUM> (e.g., light unit 104A) is a reference light unit <NUM>, and the portable measurement device <NUM> detects the light emitted by the reference light unit <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>). In certain aspects, the portable measurement device <NUM> is configured to measure at least one attribute of the light, including, but not limited to, light intensity, light color, CRI, CCT, color coordinates, etc..

In certain examples, after detecting the light, the portable measurement device <NUM> transfers the measured data to the controller <NUM>. In some optional examples, the portable measurement device <NUM> may store the measured data for later transfer and/or documentation. The data transfer between the portable measurement device <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may include various suitable communication mechanisms including, but not limited to, a wired connection, wireless connection, Bluetooth, WiFi, infrared communication, etc..

Based on the measured data, the controller <NUM> controls the light units <NUM>. In some examples, the controller <NUM> controls the light units <NUM> by sending control data to each light unit <NUM>. The control data may include at least color and brightness information. In various examples, the controller <NUM> compares the measured data with reference data to detect deviations from predetermined light color and/or intensity values. In various examples, the reference data may include data from a reference light unit or predetermined data (e.g., predetermined color and/or brightness). In some examples, the light units <NUM> are controlled such that at least two light units <NUM> are set to be the same color as the reference light unit. In other examples, the light units <NUM> are controlled such that at least two light units <NUM> are set to the same light intensity and/or brightness. In certain cases, the light units <NUM> are controlled such that the light units <NUM> have a predetermined pattern of color and/or brightness. In some examples, the portable measurement device <NUM> measures the light as it is actually perceived and the light units <NUM> are controlled as the light is actually perceived rather than as the light is emitted, although it need not.

In various examples, the measured data includes a unique identifier. In some non-limiting examples, the unique identifier includes an identification number. In various examples, before taking the measurement, the portable measurement device <NUM> determines the identification number (or other unique identifier), and then transmits the unique identifier to the controller with the measured data. In some examples, the unique identifier is a light signal emitted by the light unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of the portable measurement device <NUM>. The portable measurement device <NUM> is independent from and freely movable relative to the light units <NUM>. In certain aspects, a single portable measurement device <NUM> may be used for a plurality of light units <NUM>. In addition, the portable measurement device <NUM> does not necessarily need to travel everywhere that the light units <NUM> go. As one non-limiting example, in an aircraft, the portable measurement device <NUM> may be utilized while the aircraft is on the ground, and then removed from the aircraft before the aircraft is in the air. As such, the portable measurement device <NUM> does not need to be a flying piece of equipment (although it could be included to change or adjust light units <NUM> midflight as desired by the customer).

As illustrated, the portable measurement device <NUM> includes a sensor <NUM>, a visual display <NUM>, and a communication module <NUM>. The portable measurement device <NUM> may also include a power source <NUM> and/or a status indicator <NUM>. The portable measurement device <NUM> also includes a controller having a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. In some examples, the sensor <NUM> is a light sensor configured to detect various attributes of light. In various examples, the visual display <NUM> is configured to provide information to the user of the portable measurement device <NUM>. For example, in some non-limiting cases, the portable measurement device <NUM> may display the last color that was measured, numeric data of measurements, text messages, or other information to the user through the visual display <NUM>. In some cases, the communication module enables communication between the portable measurement device <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. Optionally, the communication module <NUM> includes a communication interface <NUM> (see <FIG>). In various aspects, the power source <NUM> may include batteries or other suitable power sources.

In certain aspects, the status indicator <NUM> may be a component of the visual display <NUM> or may be a separate component. In various cases, the status indicator <NUM> provides status information about the portable measurement device <NUM> to the user, including, but not limited to, a ready to measure indication, a not ready to measure indication, a battery low indication, a measurement data okay indication, an error indication, etc. The controller may be configured to perform initial analysis of the measured data (e.g., calculate CCT, color coordinates, CRI, etc.). In various aspects, the controller includes a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. The controller may further be configured to control various aspects of the portable measurement device <NUM>. As one non-limiting example, the controller may control when data transmissions are sent between the portable measurement device <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. Optionally, buttons <NUM> or other features (e.g., a keypad or other input device) may be provided such that the user of the portable measurement device <NUM> can perform various tasks on or with the portable measurement device <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate another example of a portable measurement device <NUM> that is substantially similar to the portable measurement device <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an example of the lighting system <NUM> with the reference light unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a non-limiting example of a method of controlling a light unit <NUM> is also provided. In some examples, in a step <NUM>, the method includes measuring the light from the light unit <NUM> of the lighting system <NUM> with the portable measurement device <NUM>. In various examples, the method includes measuring the light from a plurality of light units <NUM>. In certain cases, measuring the light includes measuring at least one attribute of the light, such as an intensity or color of the light, among others. Optionally, the method includes calculating an aspect about the light, such as light intensity, light color, CRI, CCT, color coordinates, etc. The method includes transmitting the measured data from the portable measurement device <NUM> as an output signal to the controller <NUM>.

In some examples, the method includes controlling one or more of the light unit <NUM> based on the measured data. In certain examples, controlling the light unit <NUM> includes adjusting a color or a brightness of the light. In various examples, controlling the light unit <NUM> includes synchronizing, controlling, and/or adjusting at least two light units <NUM> based on the measured data. In various cases, in a step <NUM>, controlling the light unit <NUM> includes comparing the measured data to reference data, and after determining whether there is a difference between the measured data and the reference data in a step <NUM>, adjusting the light emitted from the light unit <NUM> based on a difference between the measured attribute and the reference data in a step <NUM>. Optionally, in a step <NUM>, it is determined whether other light units <NUM> in the lighting system <NUM> need to be checked for controlling, synchronizing, and/or adjusting. In some cases with a plurality of light units <NUM>, controlling and adjusting the light includes comparing the measured data for each light unit to the reference data and adjusting the light emitted from a particular light unit <NUM> based on a difference between the measured attribute from that light unit <NUM> and the reference data. With a plurality of light units <NUM>, controlling and adjusting the light includes comparing the measured data from a reference light unit <NUM> to the reference data and adjusting each light unit <NUM> based on a difference between the measured data from the reference light unit <NUM> and the reference data. In various examples, the method includes measuring light from another light unit <NUM> with the portable measurement device <NUM> and controlling that light unit <NUM>. In some examples, the next light unit <NUM> is in the same aircraft cabin, while in other examples the next light unit <NUM> is in a different aircraft cabin.

Claim 1:
An aircraft lighting system (<NUM>) comprising:
a light unit (<NUM>, 104A, 104B, 104D) positionable in an aircraft and configured to emit light;
a portable and handheld measurement device (<NUM>, <NUM>) independent from and freely movable relative to the light units (<NUM>), the portable and handheld measurement device (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a sensor (<NUM>), a communication module (<NUM>), a visual display (<NUM>) on the portable and handheld measurement device (<NUM>, <NUM>), and a controller having a processor (<NUM>) and memory (<NUM>), wherein the portable and handheld measurement device (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to measure at least one attribute of the light emitted from the light unit (<NUM>, 104A, 104B, 104D) and output the measured attribute of the light in an output signal; and
a control unit (<NUM>) connected to the light unit (<NUM>, 104A, 104B, 104D) via wireless communication and configured to receive the output signal and control the light unit (<NUM>, 104A, 104B, 104D) based on the measured attribute; and
wherein, when the control unit (<NUM>) receives the measured attribute, the control unit (<NUM>) compares the measured attribute to reference data and adjusts the light emitted from the light unit (<NUM>, 104A, 104B, 104D) based on a difference between the measured attribute and the reference data.