Avionics News June 2014 - 30

AeroLEDs' Sunspot 64

NEW PRODUCTS

Aerospace Optics
The industry's need for innovative
aircraft illumination isn't limited to just
AeroLEDs
position lights or strobes. In the cockpit
External aircraft lighting is a
and cabin, properly illuminating system
market segment casual observers
controls and switches is just as important
might not think of as being on
to operators and regulators as ensuring an
the cutting-edge of technology. With
aircraft's exterior can be seen at night on a busy
AeroLEDs' entry into the market a few
taxiway. To meet this need, a wide array of switches,
years ago, however, it might be time for the casual
controls and indicators are available to installers,
observers - and the naysayers - to re-think their conclusion.
allowing them to configure systems and circuits for
The company's broad line of electronic aircraft lighting
optimal utility and safety. One of the long-time suppliers
products was highlighted for AEA Convention attendees in a
of configurable switches and controls is Aerospace
video presented by Nate Calvin, AeroLEDs president.
Optics, which manufactures the popular VIVISUN
The company's first products were developed for the nonproducts. Joe Stiffler introduced his company's newest
certified, experimental market and included position lighting
additions to the market during the AEA Convention.
and landing/taxi lights. Customers sought the new, high-tech
The VIVISUN line of illuminated push-button
products as a way to simplify their aircraft construction, thanks
switches and controls removes circuit logic decisions
to the much-lower power consumption of LED technologies,
from wiring harnesses and discrete components, placing
which mean lighter wiring requirements, easier allocation of
them in the switch itself or in a behind-the-panel logic
limited electrical power and elimination of dedicated power
module, Stiffler told attendees. The company's LOGIC
supplies. Soon, and with the FAA's TSO approval, AeroLEDs'
series of switches can be thought of as a series of
products moved beyond the experimental market and began
building blocks, which integrate common components
finding themselves aboard personal and business aircraft.
and can be used to create up to 600,000 electronic
In recent years, the basic technology of LED-based aircraft
switching solutions. According to Stiffler, these can
lighting has proven a worthy successor to earlier incandescent
include electronic latching, flip-flops, Boolean logic,
and halogen-based products, as well as to venerable Xenonsolid-state relays, diodes and many others.
tube-based strobe lights. Some of the advantages of using
The latest addition to VIVISUN's product line is the
LEDs in appropriate lighting applications include long-life
LOGIC series DC voltage sensor, a compact, solid-state
and the ability to incorporate advanced capabilities - like
switching component allowing simple integration into nonsequential flashing, pulsing and synchronization - controlled
standard systems like cabin entertainment, special-mission
by built-in circuitry. AeroLEDs also has worked to develop
and aeromedical, and comes in two versions. The VSD1 DC
products designed to fit in the same mounting configuration
voltage sensor allows installers to choose 1-volt increments
as the legacy products they replace, including position lights,
between 2 and 50 volts and can be used for bus monitoring
landing/taxi lights and strobes.
or as a voltage-level trigger. The result can be as simple
Today, AeroLEDs offers a full line of all-electronic,
as energizing an indicator light. Meanwhile, the
LED-based and FAA-approved external lighting for
VSD2 voltage sensor is a wide
certified and experimental aircraft.
hysteresis device, affording the
According to the company, its
designer separate pull-in
SunSpot 46 and SunSpot 64 landing
and drop-out logic,
lights are drop-in replacements
plus immunity to bus
for PAR46 and PAR64 bulbs,
fluctuation. It can be
respectively, with significantly
used for automatic
lower current draw, longer life
VIVISUN's
LOGIC Series
power switchover
and superior reliability.
switches include
To learn more, visit
integrated electronics,
Continued on page 32
such as latching flip-flops,
www.aeroleds.com.
Continued from page 29

avionics news

june

2014

Boolean logic and the new DC
voltage sensor component.

http://www.aeroleds.com

Avionics News June 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News June 2014