Patent ID: 8067893

Claim:
An intelligent light fixture for use with a light bulb having a wattage rating, the fixture comprising: an input to receive AC line voltage; a socket into which a bulb is inserted; a lamp dimmer circuit in electrical communication between the AC line and the socket; a bulb test circuit in electrical communication with the socket, the bulb test circuit being operative to determine the maximum wattage of the bulb; and a controller operated off of the AC line, the controller having a wattage select input, and wherein the controller is operative to perform the following functions: a) determine the maximum wattage of the bulb using the bulb test circuit, b) compare the maximum wattage to the wattage select input and, if the maximum wattage is greater than the wattage select input, c) control the dimmer circuit to ensure that the power delivered to the bulb does not exceed the wattage select input.