LED Lighting Device TRIAC Dimmer Flicker Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Triac-based dimmers often cause LED lighting devices to flicker or shut off due to low power consumption, as the operating current drops below the holding current value at minimum dimming levels, leading to instability in TRIAC dimmer operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a bridge rectifier and load resistors connected between the TRIAC dimmer's output terminal and the bridge rectifier to stabilize the operating current and output voltage, preventing the current from dropping below the holding value, and using damping resistors to stabilize the voltage waveform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If TRIAC dimmer is used to control LED brightness, then dimming function is achieved, but operating current drops below holding current at low dimming levels causing flicker and instability
Solution Approach 1:
A dummy load is introduced as an intermediary component connected in parallel with the LED lighting device. This dummy load acts as a mediator that absorbs excess current and maintains the total load current above the TRIAC dimmer's holding current threshold, preventing flicker and instability while preserving the dimming function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the total load parameter by adding a dummy load with specific resistance value. This parameter change ensures that the combined load (LED + dummy load) maintains sufficient current draw to keep the TRIAC dimmer operating reliably across the entire dimming range, including low brightness levels.
2Loss of energy
If LED power consumption is reduced for energy efficiency, then energy saving is improved, but load becomes too small for TRIAC dimmer causing flicker and shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy load serves as an intermediary that compensates for the low power consumption of LED lighting devices. By adding this intermediate component, the system maintains sufficient total load to satisfy TRIAC dimmer requirements while preserving the energy efficiency benefits of low-power LED operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the LED lighting device with a dummy load into a combined load system. This combination allows the system to benefit from both the energy efficiency of LED technology and the operational reliability required by TRIAC dimmers, effectively resolving the contradiction between low power consumption and sufficient load.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a circuit for preventing an operating current of a TRIAC dimmer from being dropped below a holding current value. In this regard, a light emitting diode (LED) lighting device includes a TRIAC dimmer for controlling intensity of light emitted from an LED, a load connected between an output terminal of the TRIAC dimmer and a bridge rectifier to stabilize operation of the TRIAC dimmer even in low dimming level periods of the TRIAC dimmer, the bridge rectifier connected with the load to supply an operating current to the LED; and the LED for receiving the operating current from the bridge rectifier.