Patent ID: 8653745

Claim:
A method for varying a luminance of a light, comprising: determining a target change in a signal, the signal setting the luminance of the light, the luminance of the light having a minimum luminance level and a maximum luminance level; determining if the target change is less than a maximum allowed change for the signal; if the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is positive, limiting a change in the signal to the target; or if the determination that the target change is less than a maximum allowed change is negative, limiting the change in the signal to the maximum allowed change for the signal thereby limiting a rate of change in the luminance of the light; determining a target luminance to be reached by the luminance of the light, wherein the target luminance level is determined at least in part based on a change in ambient light levels; determining a minimum time to reach the target luminance; setting a minimum number of timer ticks necessary to vary the luminance from an initial luminance to the target luminance; and changing the luminance of the light from the initial luminance to the target luminance in a number of timer ticks at least equal to the minimum number of timer ticks.