Light Source Calibration and Aging Compensation for LED Fixture Imbalance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In lighting systems with multiple LED fixtures, the replacement of a light fixture can lead to color and illumination level imbalances between new and old fixtures due to differences in efficiency, resulting in inconsistent lighting.

Innovation Solution

A system for light source calibration and aging compensation that includes a light source driver capable of adjusting power signals, such as through a DC power source or pulse width modulator, and a controller that uses sensors to maintain consistent illumination by adjusting current and duty cycles, ensuring balanced color and brightness across fixtures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a light fixture is replaced after a period of time, then the lighting system can be maintained or upgraded, but color and illumination level imbalances occur between new and old fixtures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting system maintenanceVSAvoidillumination level balance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the current and duty cycle parameters of the light source driver to compensate for aging effects. By changing these electrical parameters, the illumination output of older fixtures can be increased to match newer fixtures, resolving the imbalance problem while allowing fixture replacement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect the actual illumination output of light fixtures and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the power signals accordingly to maintain consistent illumination levels across all fixtures, preventing color and brightness imbalances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Illumination intensity

If the current of power signals is increased to compensate for aging light sources, then illumination level can be maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination levelVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a fixed high current to compensate for all aging fixtures, the system dynamically adjusts the current based on real-time sensor feedback. Each fixture receives precisely the amount of current needed to achieve target illumination levels, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining illumination consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system optimizes the combination of current and duty cycle parameters to achieve efficient compensation. By adjusting both parameters rather than just current, the system can maintain illumination levels with minimal energy increase, as duty cycle adjustment provides a more energy-efficient control mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If the duty cycle of power signals is adjusted to maintain consistent illumination, then color and brightness balance is achieved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness consistencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source driver is designed to perform multiple functions: it can adjust both current and duty cycle, and it incorporates or interfaces with sensor feedback systems. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain brightness consistency through duty cycle adjustment without requiring entirely separate control circuits, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3813490B1Light source calibration and aging compensation system
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 BE AEROSPACE INC
  • EP3813490B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3813490B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3813490B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for light source calibration and aging compensation is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a light source driver (106), a sensor (104), and a controller (200). The light source driver is configured to generate one or more power signals for a plurality of light sources (102). The sensor is configured to detect an illumination power output by at least one light source of the plurality of light sources. The controller is communicatively coupled to the sensor and the light source driver. The controller is configured to compare the illumination power detected by the sensor to a target illumination power. The controller is further configured to generate one or more control signals to adjust an electrical power output of the light source driver based on the comparison of the illumination power detected by the sensor to the target illumination power.