Gradual Power Reduction Circuit

A device comprising:

• a plug configured to couple to an alternating current (AC) power supply;
• a circuit configured to gradually decrease an amount of power provided to a load device over multiple cycles of the AC power supply, the circuit comprising:
• a voltage-controlled switching device coupled between an input terminal and a load terminal, the input terminal coupled to the plug;
• and
• a capacitive element responsive to the input terminal and coupled to a current limiting circuit,
• wherein the voltage-controlled switching device is responsive to a first voltage of the capacitive element,
• wherein the current limiting circuit includes a capacitor and a current source that is responsive to a second voltage of the capacitor;
• wherein, when AC power is provided to the plug, the circuit gradually decreases the amount of power that is provided to the load device in response to the capacitor charging;
• and
• wherein, when the AC power to the plug is interrupted, the capacitor discharges.

A method comprising:

• initializing a control circuit that is configured to transition from an initial state to a steady state according to a time constant;
• and
• selectively blocking a first portion of an AC power cycle that is received at an input terminal from passing to a load terminal and selectively passing a second portion of the AC power cycle to the load terminal based on an output of the control circuit,
• wherein the time constant is longer than a period of the AC power cycle.