LED Lighting Control Method for Warm-Up Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting control systems for LED devices suffer from non-uniform light output during the warm-up period due to voltage variations and temperature effects, leading to a significant decay in light output, which is disadvantageous for applications requiring constant illumination, such as surgical lighting.

Innovation Solution

A lighting control method that adjusts the duty cycle of the LED light source during the warm-up mode by retrieving pre-stored setpoint and trim values, gradually increasing the duty cycle through a ramp-up mechanism to maintain uniform light output and prevent exceeding an upper limit, using a microcontroller and temperature compensation circuits to manage voltage and temperature changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the LED light source is operated at full duty cycle during warm-up mode, then the light output reaches the expected nominal level quickly, but the light output becomes non-uniform and may exceed the upper limit due to low junction temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight outputVSAvoidlight output uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The duty cycle is made dynamic during warm-up mode, gradually increasing from an initial value to a target value over a predetermined time period. This dynamic adjustment allows the light output to increase progressively as the junction temperature stabilizes, preventing both excessive initial output and non-uniform transitions, thereby resolving the contradiction between reaching nominal light level quickly and maintaining light output uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the LED light source is operated at reduced duty cycle during warm-up mode, then the light output remains uniform and within limits, but the time to reach steady state operation is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight output uniformityVSAvoidwarm-up time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The duty cycle transitions dynamically from a reduced initial value to a target value over a predetermined warm-up period. This controlled progression balances the need for uniform light output during temperature stabilization with the desire to minimize warm-up time, allowing the system to reach steady state operation as quickly as possible while maintaining light output uniformity throughout the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the duty cycle is increased gradually during warm-up mode, then the light output remains controlled and uniform, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight output uniformityVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system implements a dynamic duty cycle adjustment during warm-up mode by retrieving an initial duty cycle value, determining a target duty cycle value, and progressively increasing the duty cycle over a predetermined time period. This structured approach maintains light output uniformity while managing control system complexity through a systematic, time-based progression rather than complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2412210B1Lighting control method having a light output ramping function
Publication Date: 2014.05.07 AMERICAN STERILIZER CO
  • EP2412210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2412210B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2412210B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A lighting control method for maintaining substantially uniform light output from an LED light source during a warm-up period. A ramp duty cycle function gradually increases the duty cycle of an LED drive output signal during the warm-up period of the LED light source.