Aircraft window sidewall panel illumination systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486589-B2
Application number	US-201815895029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Feb 13, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An illuminating system includes a lighting assembly with at least one light emitting diode, a window provided in a sidewall panel of a vehicle cabin, at least one light transmissive panel with indicia, and a control unit for controlling operation of the lighting assembly. The lighting assembly mounted proximate a side of window in the sidewall panel and configured to emit light onto the sidewall panel and/or the indicia.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminating sidewall system for an internal cabin of a vehicle, the illuminating sidewall system comprising:
a sidewall panel including at least one window; and
a lighting assembly mounted to the sidewall panel at a side of the at least one window, wherein the lighting assembly is configured to emit light in a direction towards the at least one window and onto the sidewall panel.

2. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is vertically oriented.

3. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is spaced apart from the side of the at least one window.

4. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly extends one or both of a first distance above a top of the window and a second distance below a bottom of the window.

5. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is disposed at or towards a fore end or an aft end of the sidewall panel.

6. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is securely retained within a channel formed in the sidewall panel.

7. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is separate and distinct from a personal service unit.

8. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall panel comprises at least one light-transmissive indicia, wherein at least a portion of the lighting assembly is positioned behind the light-transmissive indicia, and wherein the lighting assembly is configured to emit the light through the light-transmissive indicia.

9. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

10. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting assembly is inwardly recessed from a scalloped internal edge of the sidewall panel.

11. The illuminating sidewall system of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting control unit that is coupled to the lighting assembly, wherein the lighting control unit is configured to control operation of the lighting assembly.

12. A vehicle comprising:
an internal cabin; and
an illuminating sidewall system within the internal cabin, the illuminating sidewall system comprising:
a sidewall panel including at least one window and a channel, the sidewall panel defining a scalloped internal edge;
a vertically-oriented lighting assembly mounted at or towards a fore end or an aft end of the sidewall panel at a side of the at least one window; and,
a lighting control unit configured to control the operation of the lighting assembly,
wherein the lighting assembly is securely retained within the channel and is inwardly recessed from the scalloped internal edge such that the lighting assembly extends a first distance above a top of the window and a second distance below a bottom of the window, wherein the lighting assembly is further configured to emit light in a direction towards the at least one window and onto the sidewall panel.

13. An illuminating sidewall method for an internal cabin of a vehicle, the illuminating sidewall method comprising the steps of:
providing a sidewall panel including at least one window;
mounting a lighting assembly to the sidewall panel at a side of the at least one window; and
emitting light from the lighting assembly in a direction towards the at least one window and onto the sidewall panel.

14. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting comprises:
vertically orienting the lighting assembly; and
spacing the lighting assembly apart from the side of the at least one window.

15. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting comprises extending the lighting assembly one or both of a first distance above a top of the window and a second distance below a bottom of the window.

16. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting comprises disposing the lighting assembly at or towards a fore end or an aft end of the sidewall panel.

17. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting comprises securing the lighting assembly within a channel formed in the sidewall panel.

18. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the lighting assembly is separate and distinct from a personal service unit.

19. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , further comprising emitting the light from the lighting assembly through a light-transmissive indicia of the sidewall panel.

20. The illuminating sidewall method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting comprises inwardly recessing the lighting assembly from a scalloped internal edge of the sidewall panel.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lee Sunghoon

Classifications

• B64D2203/00

  Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs · CPC title

• B64D2011/0038

  Illumination systems for cabins as a whole · CPC title

• B64D47/02

  Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices · CPC title

• B64C1/1492

  Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen · CPC title

• B60Q3/43 Primary

  General lighting · CPC title