Two terminal incandescent lamp controller

A method of providing an electrical load responsive to momentary power interruptions, comprising the steps of:

• a. programming a micro-processor controlled circuit means to be responsive to momentary power interruptions initiated by an operator;
• b. connecting a bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier in series with and between a pair of input and output terminals and interconnecting the input and output terminals in series with an AC power source and the electrical load;
• c. interrupting the AC power supply to the micro-processor such that responsive thereto the micro-processor provides power to a load in a predetermined manner,
• d. packaging said micro-processor control circuit means, said rectifier and said input and output terminals in a package and inserting said package between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, and
• e. providing a timer in said package responsive to momentary power interruptions.

A method for controlling either the conduction time, duty cycle of illumination intensity of a lamp which comprises the steps of:

• a. providing in memory certain data values corresponding to the timing or sequence at which power interruptions to said memory may occur,
• b. creating timed or sequenced power interruptions to said memory and thereby
• c. selecting a particular data value for storage in said memory which is operable to control either said conduction time, said duty cycle or said illumination intensity of said lamp, and
• d. controlling said conduction time, duty cycle, or illumination intensity of said lamp by connecting an AC triggerable switch to said lamp and controlling its conductive state by the application thereto of said particular data value selected for storage in said memory.

Circuitry for controlling the current level, duty cycle and conduction time for current supplied to a selected load including, in combination:

• a. an AC controlled switch connected to a load,
• b. data storage and conversion means connected to a gate or control electrode of said AC controlled switch and responsive to manually controlled power interruptions which are made at a predetermined time and sequence with respect to the present current level, duty cycle or current conduction time at said load for in turn changing said current level, duty cycle or conduction time to another and different current level, duty cycle or conduction time, and
• c. said AC controlled switch is a Triac which is connectable between one side of said load and one side of an AC supply voltage, said AC supply voltage being further connected through a manually operated and controlled switch to another side of said load, and said data storage and conversion means including a micro-processor connected to a DC voltage supply and further connected across input and output terminals of said Triac and to a gate or control electrode thereof, said micro-processor being operative to store new data values therein in response to the manual switching action of said manually operated switch in a controlled sequence to thereby change the phase angle and conduction time of said semiconductor Triac and thereby in turn control and change the level of current, the duty cycle, or the conduction time of current conducted through said load.