Systems and methods of applying bleed circuits in LED lamps

A method of operating an LED system including an electronic transformer, the method comprising:

• monitoring an output voltage waveform of the transformer;
• starting a bleed-on timing cycle upon sensing a first voltage-waveform condition and ending the bleed-on timing cycle after the determined bleed-on time has elapsed;
• starting a bleed-off timing cycle upon sensing a second voltage-waveform condition different from the first voltage-waveform condition, and ending the bleed-off timing cycle after the determined bleed-off time has elapsed;
• and
• engaging a bleed circuit to the transformer based on a state of the bleed-on timing cycle and disengaging the bleed circuit from the transformer based on a state of the bleed-off timing cycle, the bleed circuit being engaged for a duration adequate to ensure a minimum load on the transformer sufficient to avoid cut-off throughout the output voltage waveform,
• wherein the bleed-off timing cycle starts when a leading edge of the output voltage waveform begins to rise and ends when the leading edge of the output voltage waveform exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold.

A system for minimizing flicker in a circuit comprising an LED lamp and an electronic transformer, the system comprising:

• a bleed circuit;
• an analyzer for monitoring an output voltage waveform of the transformer and determining a bleed-on timing cycle and a bleed-off timing cycle based at least in part on the monitored output voltage waveform;
• a memory for storing a duration of the bleed-on timing cycle and a duration of the bleed-off timing cycle;
• and
• control circuitry for engaging the bleed circuit to the transformer during only a portion of a period of the output voltage waveform and based at least in part on the stored durations, the bleed circuit ensuring a minimum load on the transformer sufficient to avoid cut-off.