Ceiling illumination for aircraft interiors

Abstract

Interior lighting and illumination systems for aircraft, particularly commercial passenger airplanes. Opposing pairs of LED lamps are positioned in the ceiling panels above the aisles between sets of seats in the passenger cabins. One set of LED lights are directed to illuminate the ceiling panels and may be in a particular color. The other set of LED lights are positioned to shine their lights on storage / stowage bins positioned across the aisles, thus creating a cross-bin lighting system. This enhances the cabin architecture and provides cabin illumination. A reflector can be positioned to direct the light and reduce possible glare to the passengers. The reflector directs the light rays from the LED lights which emanate from the top of the reflector to shine on the lowest part of the bins. The light rays leaving the reflector cross in front of the reflector.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to interior illumination systems for aircraft, particularly interior illumination and lighting systems for the passenger cabins in commercial passenger airplanes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The interior configuration, architecture, and illumination of airplanes has become relatively standardized today. The arrangement of passenger seats, passenger cabins, bulkheads, lavatories, serving areas, and the like have become developed for convenience and accommodation of both passengers and crew. The passenger compartments have sidewall members with a plurality of windows, a floor member and a ceiling member or assembly of some type. In addition, pluralities of rows of stowage or storage bins are positioned on the aircraft generally at the position between the sidewalls and the ceilings. For larger twin-aisle aircraft, rows of inboard stowage bins are also positioned over the seats positioned along the center of the passenger cabi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide products and systems which improve the configuration, architecture, illumination and aesthetics of passenger cabins for airplanes. It is also an object of the present invention to provide products and systems which improve the perception and aesthetics of the passenger space and provide a more pleasing atmosphere and situation for the passengers.

[0006] These and other objects and purposes of the present invention are met by the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the illumination systems and lighting in the passenger cabins are improved. In the ceiling structures between the outboard storage bins and inboard storage bins in twin-aisle aircraft, and between the two sets of outboard storage bins in single-aisle aircraft, lighting fixtures are provided which provide color and illumination in a significantly different manner than with present airliners and passenger cabins. The lighting fixtures are preferably LED lighting fixtures and two sets are provided on either side of the ceiling structures adjacent and above the storage / stowage bins. One set of lights direct their illumination toward the ceiling structure and provide uniform illumination of the ceiling structure. In this regard, the illumination can have a certain color or have the color change depending on the ritual or situation in the passenger cabin.

[0007] A second sets of lights on each side of the ceiling structures direct their illumination across the ceiling space to the opposite sets of storage / stowage bins. The illumination from these lights is directed across and under the ceiling to illuminate the storage / stowage bins (or monument or surface) located opposite from the light fixture. Preferably, the light from these second sets of lights is white light or nature light color. Together, the illumination from the two sets and two pairs of lights provides a soft or infinity appearance to the ceiling while allowing the rest of the passenger cabin to be lighted naturally.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a deflector is utilized relative to the light sources on the two sides or edges of the ceiling structures. The reflectors direct the light across the ceiling spaces to the specific areas desired and reduce the tendency of the light to shine past the bins or monuments and create glare for the passengers. One deflector embodiment has the general shape of a conic section.

Problems solved by technology

In general, the space in the passenger cabins in airplanes is limited and can be called claustrophobic at times. In this regard, the design, architecture, and lighting of the interiors of passenger aircraft, particularly the passenger cabins, have remained typically constant for a long period of time and have not had a significant variety of changes or updates as common in many industries.

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