Elmsford, NY and Hamburg/Mainz (Germany), April 16, 2013 - The first joint development between the German high-tech companies SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik, the LED-based cabin lighting solution HelioJet, has now been qualified for use in aircraft in its white version. First installation is expected in an Airbus during summer 2013. The partners are also introducing their newest innovation, HelioJet TCS (True Color Stabilization), to the aviation industry.
With HelioJet, SCHOTT and Lufthansa Technik have engineered an innovative lighting solution that offers passengers a comfortable atmosphere on board of an aircraft. Additional benefits arise from this new technology: HelioJet requires only about a fifth as many light diodes as other LED solutions. This has a positive effect on the reliability, maintenance and costs and makes HelioJet attractive for all airlines.
HelioJet in its white version is based on an optical light converter at the ends of which two LEDs feed white light. Unlike conventional LED solutions, light is not generated by several connected diodes, but rather evenly mixed in the optical light converter. For this reason, HelioJet shines as homogeneously and brilliantly as a gas-filled fluorescent tube, yet is much more durable and energy-efficient. In addition, the light beam and aperture angle can be adjusted rather precisely with HelioJet.
HelioJet (TCS) is also based on an optical light converter at the ends of which four LEDs each in the colors red, green, blue and white (RGBW) generate light. Unlike conventional LED strips, this technology allows for every individual LED in the lighting system to be controlled and regulated. This, in turn, eliminates the main weakness of LEDs, namely the instable way in which they render colors. The individual LEDs in RGBW generate the primary colors that are later mixed into an even color shade inside the light converter. Any desired color shade can be produced and maintained at a consistent defined color level throughout all of the HelioJet (TCS) units. Color gradients and scenarios are also possible.
The uniqueness of HelioJet (TCS) lies in its innovative sensor technology. It ensures that every LED installed in the system is perfectly in tune and produces the desired color temperature extremely accurately, both inside a HelioJet (TCS) unit and with all of the light units inside the cabin. In this case, the light is subjected to online control to make sure it retains the desired setpoint value. This play with colors can be controlled using the cabin management system "nicemood" from Lufthansa Technik, for instance.
The companies are confident that their product development work, including testing of HelioJet (TCS), will be completed by the end of 2013.
HelioJet lighting solutions are currently on display at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany (SCHOTT booth 6B69, Lufthansa Technik booth 6B68).
Product characteristics of SCHOTT� HelioJet:
- Extremely homogeneous light dispersion
- Consistently high light stability
- Low maintenance
- High MTBF (mean time between failure)
- The LEDs are exchangeable
- Environmentally friendly
SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging, a Business Unit of SCHOTT AG, has been active in the area of cabin lighting for 20 years. Today, its product portfolio includes basic illumination, ambient scenario and seat lighting solutions such as seat-integrated reading lights. In Japan, SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging operates through its sister company MORITEX of which it holds 70.8% of the shares. Moritex Corporation is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The Lufthansa Technik Group, with its more than 30 subsidiaries and over 26,000 employees all over the world, is one of the leading manufacturer-independent providers of services for the aviation industry. Lufthansa Technik's portfolio encompasses the entire spectrum of services for commercial aircraft in the areas of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, as well as engines and components.
About SCHOTT
SCHOTT is an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glasses and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, solar power, transportation and architecture industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers' success and making SCHOTT an important part of people's lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales units in all major markets. Its workforce of around 16,000 employees generated worldwide sales of $2.6 billion (approximately 2.0 billion euros) for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.
