Adjustable Dimming Curve for LED Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dimmer switches provide only linear interpolation between minimum and maximum phase angles, which is not suitable for newer load types like LED lamps that require non-linear dimming curves.
Innovation Solution
A load control device with a user-adjustable dimming curve that includes a controllably conductive device and a controller to generate control curves with different slopes between minimum and maximum power levels, allowing for non-linear relationships between phase angles and lighting intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a linear dimming curve is used between minimum and maximum phase angles, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability to different load types (especially LED lamps) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple selectable dimming curves (first control curve with linear relationship, second control curve with non-linear relationship) that can be dynamically switched based on load type. The controller generates different control curves with different slopes to match different load characteristics, particularly for LED lamps versus traditional incandescent bulbs, thereby improving adaptability without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the control curve by adjusting the slope between minimum and maximum phase angles. The second control curve uses a different slope configuration compared to the first control curve, allowing optimization for specific load types. This parameter adjustment enables the system to adapt to different load characteristics while maintaining a manageable control structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If a linear interpolation between minimum and maximum phase angles is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the manufacturing precision of the dimming curve shape deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dimming curve into different portions with different slopes. The second control curve is divided into a first portion and a second portion, each with distinct slope characteristics. This segmentation allows precise control over the dimming curve shape for different load types while keeping the controller programming manageable by breaking down the complex curve into manageable segments.
3Measurement precision
If the dimming curve is fixed with constant slope, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision at different intensity levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different slopes to different portions of the dimming curve. The second control curve has a first slope for the first portion and a second slope for the second portion, allowing optimized control precision at different intensity levels. This enables better matching of perceived brightness to actual power delivery at specific dimming ranges, particularly improving control precision where it matters most for LED loads.
Data Source
AI summary
A load control device, such as a dimmer switch, for example, may provide for user adjustment of the shape of a control curve, such as a dimming curve, for example. The load control device may generate a control curve that has a non-linear relationship between a minimum power level, such as a minimum phase angle of a phase-control signal, for example, and a maximum power level, such as a maximum phase angle of the phase-control signal, for example. The load control device switch may have a default control curve, which may have a linear relationship between the minimum power level and the maximum power level. The load control device may provide for the generation of a control curve that includes two or more different slopes from the minimum power level to the maximum power level.