Light Source Supply Circuit Flicker Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems for light sources, such as switched mode power supplies, suffer from significant output voltage ripple, leading to visible flicker and the use of electrolytic capacitors with short lifetimes, especially at higher temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A supply circuit that adjusts the frequency components of the harmonic content of the power spectrum by controlling switches and controllers, reducing visible flicker without relying on electrolytic capacitors, by adjusting the voltage and current signals to minimize the 100 Hz frequency component, which is a major contributor to flicker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a large electrolytic capacitor is used to reduce output voltage ripple, then visible flicker is reduced, but the lifetime of the capacitor decreases especially at higher temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible flickerVSAvoidcapacitor lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the power supply circuit by controlling the switching frequency and duty cycle to shape the output voltage waveform. By optimizing these parameters, the circuit reduces the ripple voltage amplitude without requiring large electrolytic capacitors, thereby extending capacitor lifetime while maintaining low visible flicker.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a large electrolytic capacitor is used to reduce output voltage ripple, then visible flicker is reduced, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible flickerVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the switching frequency and duty cycle parameters to minimize output voltage ripple. By changing these operational parameters, the circuit achieves low visible flicker without requiring large electrolytic capacitors, thereby reducing the overall device volume while maintaining effective flicker suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the switching frequency is increased to reduce ripple, then output voltage stability improves, but switching losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage rippleVSAvoidswitching losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the switching frequency parameter to balance ripple reduction and switching losses. By carefully selecting and adjusting the switching frequency, the circuit achieves sufficient output voltage stability while minimizing energy losses, creating an optimal operating point that satisfies both requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2163132B1Supplying a signal to a light source
Publication Date: 2013.10.09 PHILIPS INTPROP & STANDARDS GMBH
  • EP2163132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2163132B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2163132B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Supply circuits for supplying voltage and current signals to light sources (6) comprise switches (22, 32, 42, 52) and controllers (21, 31, 41, 51) to control the switches (22, 32, 42, 52) for reducing values of frequency components of harmonic content of power spectra of the light sources (6). By switching one of the voltage and current signals or by switching signals that result in one of the voltage and current signals, the other one of the voltage and current signals can be adjusted. The power spectrum of the light source (6) may be a function of the voltage and current signals. By adjusting one of them, the power spectrum can be adjusted such that values of frequency components of the harmonic content of the power spectrum are reduced. As a result, visible flicker is reduced in the light originating from the light source (6) without the use of energy storage capacitors for reducing this visible flicker.