Modelling the threshold frequencies of stroboscopic effects produced by pulse-width modulated light-emitting diodes

This paper develops a model to predict threshold frequencies of stroboscopic effects under varying duty cycles, object speeds and illuminances. Visual experiments were conducted using a modulated LED light source (4500 K) illuminating a rotating black disk with a white dot. The LED was driven by a square waveform (100 Hz to 4200 Hz) at different duty cycles. Participants’ perception of stroboscopic effects was assessed across varying conditions using the method of constant stimuli, deriving the 50% detection threshold. The proposed model describes the relationship between threshold frequency and modulation parameters, aiding luminaire design to minimize stroboscopic effects.