SETTABLE LIGHT BULBS
A settable light bulb whose brightness can be set by the user, and more particularly, to the use of a switch or a slide built in to the bulb itself to control the brightness in either discrete or continuous increments.
1 . A settable LED light bulb comprising:
at least one LED;
an outer shell;
a base adapted to fit within an electrical socket; and
a control mechanism which is part of the bulb, said control mechanism setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling the current of the at least one LED.
2 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is a slider.
3 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the slider is a potentiometer that sends a feedback signal to a control circuit, and wherein the signal is proportional to the current of the at least one LED.
4 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the slider is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.
5 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is a switch.
6 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the switch controls at least one resistor that sends a feedback signal to a control circuit, and wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the at least one LED current.
7 . A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the switch is electrically isolated from the other circuitry in said bulb.
8 . A settable fluorescent light bulb comprising:
a fluorescent light bulb; and
a control mechanism which is part of the bulb, said control mechanism setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling current through a plasma column.
9 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism is a slider.
10 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the slider is a potentiometer that sets a frequency of oscillation of a ballast running the fluorescent bulb.
11 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the slider is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.
12 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism is a switch.
13 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the switch controls at least one resistor that sets the frequency of oscillation of a ballast running the fluorescent bulb.
14 . A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the switch is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.
15 . A settable incandescent light bulb comprising:
an incandescent light bulb; and
a switch which is part of the bulb, said switch setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling which of at least two filaments is powered.
16 . A settable incandescent light bulb as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the switch is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.