US 12,486,052 B2
Darkfield lighting source for aircraft FOD detection
Virgil R. Watson, Trumbull, CT (US); Christian David Gerhardt, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US); David B. Tabak, Hamden, CT (US); Andrew J. Burke, Bridgeport, CT (US); Anthony Dicocco, Stratford, CT (US); William Grayson Richmond, Glen Allen, VA (US); and Thomas Lee Merrill, Clinton, CT (US)
Assigned to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/483,986.
Prior Publication US 2025/0115373 A1, Apr. 10, 2025
Int. Cl. B64F 5/60 (2017.01); F21L 4/02 (2006.01); F21V 33/00 (2006.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); F21Y 107/30 (2016.01); F21Y 113/13 (2016.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01)
CPC B64F 5/60 (2017.01) [F21L 4/02 (2013.01); F21V 33/0084 (2013.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); F21Y 2107/30 (2016.08); F21Y 2113/13 (2016.08); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lighting device for foreign object debris (FOD) detection, comprising:
a light source configured to emit light onto a surface;
a diffuser coupled to the light source and configured to cause the emitted light to impinge the surface in an at least partially planar pattern to create a darkfield lighting effect with respect to the surface;
a cylindrical rod including a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is attached to the light source and the diffuser, and wherein the second end portion is configured to be manually held by a user of the lighting device; and
one or more transparent optical light channels configured to route light from the light source to a 360-degree camera assembly to maximize the darkfield lighting effect.