10 patents in this list

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In LED lighting systems, flickering presents a persistent challenge, impacting both visual comfort and device performance. This subtle yet disruptive issue can lead to eye strain and headaches, affecting environments from homes to workplaces. As LEDs replace traditional lighting, ensuring a stable, flicker-free light output becomes crucial for user satisfaction and health.

The root of flickering often lies in power fluctuations and inadequate control circuits, which can destabilize light output. Variations in voltage and current can cause LEDs to flicker, especially when dimming or using multi-colored devices. These technical hurdles require careful design and precise engineering to overcome.

This page explores a range of solutions aimed at mitigating flicker in LED systems. Techniques include impedance-matched designs, voltage comparison controls, and dynamic control circuits. By implementing these strategies, professionals can achieve consistent light output, enhancing both efficiency and user comfort in diverse lighting applications.

1. Surface Illumination Device with Angled Light Emission and Flicker Reduction Configuration

NITTO DENKO CORPORATION, 2023

Surface illumination device that reduces flicker, eye strain, and fatigue. The device emits light that is directed away from the user's line of sight. This is achieved by configuring the light distribution so that the maximum intensity angle of light emitted from the center of the device's light-emitting surface is within -90° to <0° in a plane perpendicular to the surface. This avoids direct perception of the light and reduces flicker perception.

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2. LED Lighting Device with Forward Voltage Monitoring for Fault Detection and Emitter Isolation

Lutron Technology Company LLC, 2022

Reliable error detection and mitigation in LED lighting devices to prevent flickering or color shifting. The method involves monitoring the forward voltage of the LED emitters in relation to the forward voltage of a detector LED. If an emitter's voltage deviates excessively, indicating a fault, the device enters an unstable state but keeps operating. If the deviation continues, indicating a failed emitter, the device enters an inoperable state and disables that emitter. This prevents flicker and color shifts from failed emitters while allowing continued operation.

3. Method for Stabilizing LED Lighting by Forward Voltage Monitoring and Current Adjustment

Lutron Technology Company LLC, 2022

A method for controlling LED lighting devices to prevent flickering or color shifting. The method involves monitoring the forward voltage of the LED emitters relative to a detector. If the forward voltage goes outside an acceptable range for a majority of time intervals, indicating a failed LED, it is deactivated. If the forward voltage fluctuates rapidly, indicating flickering or color shifting, the drive current is adjusted to stabilize it.

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4. LED Bulbs with Impedance Adjust Circuit for Linear AC Driving

Austin IP Partners, 2021

LED light bulbs that provide constant light output across the AC cycle without flicker or power factor issues. The bulbs use LED strings with enough LEDs so they are fully on at peak voltage. An impedance adjust circuit shunts LEDs to overcome the non-linear voltage-current characteristic of LEDs. This makes the string linear and allows direct AC driving without electronics.

5. LED Lighting Device with Voltage Comparison and Control Circuit for Flicker Prevention and Stability Maintenance

Lutron Ketra, LLC, 2020

An LED lighting device that prevents flickering and maintains stable illumination quality even if an LED fails. The device has an LED emitter, LED detector, and control circuit. It continuously compares the forward voltage across the emitter to the forward voltage across the detector. If the emitter voltage is outside an acceptable range for the majority of a time window, it indicates instability or LED failure. The control circuit puts the device into an interim state to avoid flickering. If the instability persists in subsequent time windows, it deactivates the emitter.

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6. LED Illumination Device with Interim State Control Based on Forward Voltage Comparison

Lutron Ketra, LLC, 2020

A multi-colored LED illumination device that can operate in an interim state to avoid flickering or color shifting and prevent driving a failed LED. The device has an LED emitter, LED detector, and control circuit. It compares the forward voltage across the emitter to the detector's forward voltage at equal intervals. If the emitter voltage is outside an acceptable range compared to the detector voltage for a majority of a first-time window, it enters the interim state. If the emitter voltage remains outside the range for the majority of a second-time window, it deactivates the emitter.

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7. LED Light Bulb with Resistive-Impedance LED String and Power Line Communication for Brightness and Power Factor Control

Austin IP Partners, 2019

LED light bulb with improved efficiency, dimming, power factor correction, and power conversion efficiency. The LED light bulb has an LED string with enough LEDs to be fully on at peak AC voltage. It also uses circuitry to adjust impedance to make the LED string appear resistive. This reduces flicker and allows dimming without electronics. The bulb communicates control signals over the AC power lines to control brightness and power factor correction.

8. LED Driver with Dynamic Impedance Control Circuit for Flicker-Free Dimming

PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V., 2019

Driving an LED light connected to a dimmer without flickering or other issues. The LED driver has a dynamic control circuit in series with the LEDs that present increasing impedance as the current decreases. This provides a "soft landing" when the dimmer cuts the phase and reduces the LED current. The circuit uses a sense resistor and transistor to monitor and control LED current, allowing it to smoothly taper down without abrupt changes.

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9. LED Array with Impedance-Matched Long String Configuration for AC Voltage Compatibility

Austin IP Partners, 2018

LED lighting design that improves efficiency, power factor, flicker, and dimming compatibility. The design uses a long string of LEDs matched to the AC voltage and enough to fully turn on at peak voltage. This eliminates the need for power electronics. The string is impedance-matched to be resistive and has a unity power factor. The LEDs flicker at twice the AC frequency but phosphor persistence smooths it out. The string can also be tapped to adjust the impedance for dimming.

10. Light-Emitting Device with Dual LED Groups and Voltage-Responsive Emission Control

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., 2018

Light-emitting device and illuminating apparatus that reduces flickering of light. The device has two groups of LEDs on a board and a controller that powers them with an undulating voltage. During periods of undulating voltage where it's above a first threshold and below a second threshold, only the inner group emits light. When the voltage is above the second threshold, both groups emit light. This reduces flicker compared to all LEDs turning on/off.

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These patents highlight developments in power management, LED driver design, and dimming system compatibility. Innovative bulb designs with longer LED strings are the focus of several solutions. Other strategies include monitoring LED performance and deactivating malfunctioning LEDs to stop flickering.