Patent ID: 7122973

Claim:
A control device for controlling the operation of a light-generating apparatus, said apparatus including a circuit powered by a power source and including a light, said control device comprising: (a) an electronic switching element configured to alternately allow and prevent current flow through said circuit; (b) a control element adapted to operate said switching element so that said light is selectively switchable to an OFF state and a fully ON state, said control element further including a drift mode and a set mode; (c) said control element in said drift mode being configured to cyclically operate said switching element so that said circuit automatically passes through a consecutive series of excitation states such that said light passes through successive levels of intensity; and (d) said control element in said set mode being configured to cyclically operate said switching element so that said circuit is selectively set at a desired one of said excitation states corresponding to a user desired one of said levels of intensity at the level of intensity at the time said set mode is user selected.