Camera-Based Dimmer Device for Flicker Reduction in LED Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dimmer devices struggle to reliably control the dimming level of illumination loads, particularly LED lights, due to inherent and external factors that cause flicker, which can be visually perceptible or have health effects, and traditional mechanical switches provide inadequate flicker reduction.
Innovation Solution
A dimmer device that utilizes a monitor device with a camera to take images of the illumination load, determining performance based on these images, and adjusts the dimming level through a controller and driver to meet predetermined performance indicators, such as flicker percentage or frequency, using various control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional mechanical switches are used to control illumination load, then the device complexity is low, but the flicker reduction capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical switches with an electronic dimmer device that uses a controller, driver, and camera-based detection system to control the illumination load. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact and associated flicker, providing smooth electronic control of the light output without the harmful flicker effects of mechanical switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a camera captures images of the illumination load, the controller analyzes these images to detect flicker, and the system automatically adjusts the dimming level to eliminate or reduce the detected flicker. This closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors and corrects flicker issues, adapting to changing conditions in real-time.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dimming level is adjusted to reduce flicker, then the flicker percentage is reduced, but the illumination intensity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the dimming level based on real-time flicker detection. Rather than using a fixed dimming setting, the system continuously monitors the illumination load and dynamically adjusts the dimming level to achieve the optimal balance between flicker reduction and maintaining adequate illumination intensity. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions and load characteristics.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a dimmer device including a driver, and a controller communicatively coupled to the driver and to a monitor device. The monitor device can include a camera and is configured to take a plurality of images of the illumination load. The controller provides a control signal that indicates to the driver to adjust power supplied to an illumination load. The control signal is provided in response to a determination that a performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy a predetermined performance indicator. The performance of the illumination load is determined based on information related to the plurality of images of the illumination load taken by the camera of the monitor device. The controller can adjust a dimming level of the illumination load by providing the control signal to the driver.