Patent ID: 7192155

Claim:
An airfield light assembly system, comprising: a housing; a base mounted inside the housing; a side emitting light emitting diode mounted on the base; a translucent cover mounted on the housing, optically coupled to the side emitting light emitting diode; a heating circuit, disposed within the cover and in close communication with the base coupled in series with the side emitting light emitting diode and configured to operate while the light emitting diode is producing light, the heating circuit comprising a heating element and a thermostat for controlling the heating element coupled in parallel to the heating element; and a constant current source supplying a constant current to electronics coupled to the side emitting light emitting diode and heating circuit; wherein the shape of the cover is adapted to direct the light from the light emitting diode in a desired pattern; wherein the color of the translucent cover is matched to the wavelength of the side emitting light emitting diode to provide maximum light output; and wherein the side-emitting light emitting diode and cover are suitably adapted to emit at least 2.0 candela of light between approximately 0 to 6 degrees from a horizontal plane parallel with the base.