Flight indication apparatuses, systems and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10899471-B2
Application number	US-201815993499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	Jan 24, 2017
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for indicating a moveable device such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are disclosed herein. The present technology provides an illumination system having a light source and an illuminating component. In a representative embodiment, the light source is carried by a UAV and positioned to emit a light ray in a first direction. The illuminating component is carried by a propeller of the UAV. The illuminating component can include a light entrance portion, a light transmission portion, and a light exit portion. The light entrance portion is positioned to receive the light ray from the light source, the light transmission portion is positioned to transmit the light ray to the light exit portion, and the light exit portion is positioned to direct the light ray in a second direction so as to form a visual indication corresponding to the UAV.

First claim

We claim:

1. A propelling apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),
the propelling apparatus comprising:
a light entrance portion configured to receive a light ray from a light source coupled to the UAV;
a light exit portion configured to direct the light ray away from the propelling apparatus; and
a light transmission portion connecting the light entrance portion and the light exit portion and configured to transmit the light ray from the light entrance portion toward the light exit portion through an interior of the propelling apparatus,
wherein the light entrance portion, the light exit portion, and the light transmission portion are located within the propelling apparatus.

2. The propelling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the propelling apparatus is a propeller, and wherein the light entrance portion, the light transmission portion and the light exit portion together form at least part of the propeller.

3. The propelling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light exit portion is positioned to direct light outwardly relative to an edge of the propelling apparatus.

4. The propelling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light exit portion is positioned to direct light upwardly relative to the propelling apparatus.

5. The propelling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light exit portion is positioned to direct light downwardly from the propelling apparatus.

6. The propelling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light transmission portion includes at least one of a light guide component or a light-reflective component, and wherein the light transmission portion includes a tubular shape and is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the propelling apparatus.

7. A system for indicating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:
an airframe;
a light source positioned to emit a light ray in a first direction;
a motor assembly disposed on the airframe; and
a propeller coupled to the motor assembly, the propeller further comprising:
a light entrance portion configured to receive the light ray from the light source;
a light transmission portion positioned to transmit the light ray through an interior of the propeller; and
a light exit portion positioned to direct the light ray in a second direction different than the first direction,
wherein the light entrance portion, the light exit portion, and the light transmission portion are located within the propeller.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light source is carried by the motor assembly.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first direction is adjustable during operation of the UAV.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first direction corresponds to an orientation of the light entrance portion.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light entrance portion comprises at least one of a solid portion or a hollow portion configured to receive incoming light rays, the solid portion being made of a transparent material or a translucent material, the hollow portion defining a hole.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light exit portion includes a transparent portion of the propeller.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light transmission portion includes at least one of a light guide component or a light-reflective component, and wherein the light transmission portion has a tubular shape and is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the propeller.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light source has an annular structure.

15. The system of claim 7 , wherein the light source is configured to generate the light ray in a first color under a first predetermined condition, and wherein the light source is configured to generate the light ray in a second color under a second predetermined condition.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first predetermined condition corresponds to a normal status of the UAV, and where the second predetermined condition corresponds to an abnormal status of the UAV.

17. A system for indicating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV having a main body and a propeller coupled to the main body, the system comprising:
a light source carried by the UAV and positioned to emit a light ray in a first direction; and
an illuminating component carried by the propeller and having a light entrance portion, a light transmission portion, and a light exit portion, the light entrance portion being positioned to receive the light ray from the light source, the light transmission portion being positioned to transmit the light ray to the light exit portion through an interior of the propeller, and the light exit portion being positioned to direct the light ray in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the light entrance portion, the light exit portion, and the light transmission portion are located within the propeller.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the light exit portion is positioned to direct light outwardly relative to an edge of the propeller.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
the illuminating component is a first illuminating component;
the light ray is a first light ray;
the system further comprises a second illuminating component carried by the propeller;
the light source is positioned to emit a second light ray to the second illuminating component; and
the second illuminating component is positioned to receive the second light ray and direct the second light ray in a third direction.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the light source is configured to generate the light ray in a first color under a first predetermined condition, and wherein the light source is configured to generate the light ray in a second color under a second predetermined condition.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Wanqi
• Huang Huai
• Zhou Changxing
• Lan Qiu

Classifications

• B64U10/10

  Rotorcrafts · CPC title

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B64U50/13

  using external fans or propellers · CPC title

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• G09F21/10

  illuminated · CPC title