Description: 

Battery powered multi-color LED marking system, utilized for Airfields, Airports, Landing Zones (LZs), Drop Zones (DZs), or Helicopter Landing Zones (HLZs).  The lighting system can be used for continuous ‘steady’, or flash modes of operation. Composed of a main control board, switch board and three LED array boards, connected using state-of-the-art rigid/flex (proprietary) technology for durability and reliability. Two LED arrays (one horizontal and one vertical) have five different colors, (red, green, blue, white and Infrared). One array (forward facing), has 5 colors, as well, but has two IR LED’s versus just one as in the other two arrays. This allows the user to select this array when a higher level of Infrared (IR) output is required.

Dimensions: 

The dimensions of the Lodestar V1 unit is 5 inches in diameter by 1.35 inches tall. The unit housing is made from a proprietary glass reinforced polymer designed to resist mechanical effects of rollover by heavy rubber wheeled machinery / aircraft. 

Weight: 

The weight of the production Lodestar V1 unit is 18 ounces including batteries. 

Power: 

(2) AA batteries.  The electronics were designed with lithium battery chemistry as the desired type however, the unit will run as well on any alkaline cell just at a reduced performance level. 

Operational Modes: 

1. Standby (unit off with batteries installed) 

2. Continuous On 

Estimated Battery Life: 

Standby (OFF) = 220,000 hrs. with 50% capacity remaining (220,000 hrs. = 25 yrs.) 

Continuous (Color Dependent) = IR – 9 hrs. 

Red – 14 hrs. 

White – 14 hrs. 

Blue – 18 hrs. 

Green – 18 hrs. 

Flash (color dependent) = IR – 15 hrs. 

Red – 22 hrs. 

White – 26 hrs. 

Blue – 38 hrs. 

Green – 38 hrs. 

Environmental limits: 

Operational temperature -40C to +80C 

Storage Temperature -40C to +80C 

Water proof depth* TBD 

Operation (EXAMPLE ONLY): 

➢ There are two push button switches located on the exterior surface of the Lodestar housing labeled “MODE” and “COLOR”. 

• The mode button cycles the unit through the modes: These modes are customer specific and are selected by each customer at the time of manufacture. A “mode” can be whether the light output is steady or flash, or the combination of arrays in use, IE – front and rear on with top off, top and rear with front off, top only…etc.) 

The color button cycles the unit through the various colors (including IR)

1. Start at Infrared (IR)
2. Red 
3. White 
4. Blue 
5. Green 
6. Back to Infrared (IR)
   

Turn the unit on: This is defined by each customer and can be customized through programming at the time of manufacture. A typical “turn on” sequence might be: hold both Mode and Color buttons for 5 seconds. The unit will flash GREEN 3 times and go out after which the unit will default to IR / 3 array / steady mode 

From here, pushing either the mode or color button individually will cycle the unit accordingly. Stop pushing all buttons when the desired color and mode are obtained. 

Turn the unit off: Same as for turning the unit on, this can be customer configured to each customers need and/or desires.