Phase-Dimming Driver for LED Luminaires Eliminates Flicker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED luminaire systems face challenges with flickering due to incompatibility between power-line dimmers and LED luminaires, and most installed LED luminaires are non-dimmable, requiring a cost-effective solution for converting non-dimmable LED luminaires into dimmable ones without the need for additional wiring.
Innovation Solution
An LED luminaire phase-dimming driver that includes two electrical conductors, full-wave rectifiers, power supply circuits, and an interface control circuit, capable of converting input voltage into output DC voltage in response to phase-dimming signals, using pulse-width modulation to control the output voltage, and featuring an EMI filter and latching current circuit to stabilize operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If LED luminaires are designed as non-dimmable to simplify circuit design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to dimming controls is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phase-dimming driver as an intermediary device between the phase-dimming controller and the LED luminaire. This driver includes a rectifier circuit, power supply circuit, and interface control circuit that translates phase-dimming signals into appropriate LED drive signals, enabling dimming capability without modifying the original LED luminaire design.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-dimming driver automatically detects and adapts to the LED luminaire's electrical characteristics and operational state. The interface control circuit monitors the LED driver's performance and adjusts the drive signal parameters accordingly, allowing the system to self-regulate without external intervention or complex preset configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional wiring is added to enable dimming of existing LED luminaires, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation and installation complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The phase-dimming driver is designed with universal compatibility to work with various types of LED luminaires and phase-dimming controllers. It can be installed in existing lighting circuits without requiring additional wiring infrastructure, as it utilizes the existing AC mains power lines and control signals to provide dimming functionality across different luminaire models and manufacturers.
3Ease of operation
If phase-cut line voltage is used to control LED luminaires directly, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to flickering and incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct electrical connection between the phase-cut controller and LED luminaire with an electronic interface control system. The interface control circuit converts the phase-cut voltage waveform into regulated DC voltage and appropriate PWM dimming signals, eliminating the harmful effects of direct phase-cutting while preserving the ease of phase-dimming control.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface control circuit incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the LED driver's output and the input phase-dimming signal. This feedback allows the system to detect flickering conditions, voltage variations, and compatibility issues, automatically adjusting operating parameters to maintain stable, flicker-free operation across different dimming levels and luminaire types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution eliminates flickering and enables dimming of non-dimmable LED luminaires, providing a cost-effective and efficient method to convert existing LED luminaires into dimmable ones without additional wiring, reducing maintenance costs and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a full-wave rectifier coupled to the two electrical conductors and configured to convert the input voltage into a non-regulated DC voltage
Implementation Method 2
a first power supply circuit configured to convert the non-regulated DC voltage into a first regulated DC voltage and an intermediate voltage; a second power supply circuit configured to convert the first regulated DC voltage into an output DC voltage
Implementation Method 3
The second power supply circuit is further configured to receive a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and to control a magnitude of the output DC voltage in response to the PWM signal
Implementation Method 4
The LED luminaire phase-dimming driver further comprises a first electro-magnetic interference (EMI) filter assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting diode (LED) luminaire phase-dimming driver comprises a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, and an interface control circuit. The second power supply circuit is configured to convert a constant voltage generated from the first power supply circuit into an output direct-current (DC) voltage to dim an external LED luminaire in response to a phase-dimming signal abstracted from a phase-cut mains voltage no matter whether the external LED luminaire is originally dimmable or not. The second power supply circuit is further configured to receive a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and to control the output DC voltage in response to the PWM signal. The interface control circuit comprises a relay switch configured to sense the phase-dimming signal and to control switching between an intermediate voltage and the output DC voltage to operate the external LED luminaire without flickering.