Flicker-glare and visual-comfort assessments of light emitting diode billboards

Abstract

This study investigated the discomfort glare produced by the high-brightness LED billboards in relation to four factors: flicker frequency, panel luminance, viewing angular sub-tense, and ambient illuminance. The results showed that visual comfort is not affected by ambient illuminance but by the other three factors. Also, interaction was found between luminance and viewing angle. The experimental data were curve fitted to construct visual comfort models of LED billboard displays. By modulating the operating conditions, comfort display with LED billboards can be achieved.

Visual discomfort and flicker

“…Lin et al (2014) used an LED display with the size of 18° × 15° and confirmed that 15 Hz appears most uncomfortable. In Experiment 1, we used a 17° flickering field and increased or decreased the amplitude within a 2-octave band centered at 15 Hz, using a methodology similar to that described by Fernandez and Wilkins (2008).…”

“…A number of previous studies have examined the effects of temporal frequency on discomfort and epileptogenic responses (Harding and Harding, 1999; Harding and Jeavons, 1994; Lin et al, 2014; Wilkins, 1995). These have again shown that the most aversive frequencies tend to be in the range the visual system is most sensitive to, consistent with overstimulation (Kelly, 1979).…”

Adaptation and visual discomfort from flicker

“…Visual discomfort and seizures are also known to be induced by periodically flickering patterns (Binnie, Findlay, & Wilkins, 1985;Fisher et al, 2005;Harding & Harding, 1999;Harding & Jeavons, 1994;Lin et al, 2014;Wilkins, 1995). Lin et al (2014) used an LED display and showed that a flickering light appears most uncomfortable for normal observers at temporal frequencies responsible for headaches or epileptic seizures in photosensitive observers (e.g., Harding & Jeavons, 1994).…”

“…Visual discomfort and seizures are also known to be induced by periodically flickering patterns (Binnie, Findlay, & Wilkins, 1985;Fisher et al, 2005;Harding & Harding, 1999;Harding & Jeavons, 1994;Lin et al, 2014;Wilkins, 1995). Lin et al (2014) used an LED display and showed that a flickering light appears most uncomfortable for normal observers at temporal frequencies responsible for headaches or epileptic seizures in photosensitive observers (e.g., Harding & Jeavons, 1994). An intermittent light from lamps or televisions may appear steady but can also induce discomfort; and similarly, flickering lights with frequencies of 100 or 120 Hz are above the critical flicker fusion threshold, but may nevertheless cause aversive effects, potentially because they interact with eye movements to produce artifacts in the visible range (Poplawski & Miller, 2013;Roberts & Wilkins, 2013;Wilkins et al, 1989).…”

“…Yoshimoto et al (2017) measured discomfort for luminance flicker in a 17° uniform field and found that the discomfort increased with deviations from 1/f temporal structure, or with excessive energy at medium or higher temporal frequencies. Discomfort induced by time varying patterns again may be predicted from their temporal amplitude spectra, and may account for the greater discomfort from flicker with an excess energy at medium temporal frequencies (Binnie et al, 1985;Fisher et al, 2005;Harding & Harding, 1999;Harding & Jeavons, 1994;Lin et al, 2014;Wilkins, 1995).…”