Adaptive thyristor power, control circuits

A solid-state circuit is described that provides electronically settable memory control (adaptive control) of thyristor power regulating devices. Electrical power delivered to ac loads, such as lighting, heating, or motors, can be smoothly varied or set to any value from zero to essentially full power by a manual, computer, or remote-controlled application of a voltage pulse to a circuit adapt terminal. Power settings of the circuit can be maintained indefinitely with or without applied power, yet they can be changed quickly (milliseconds) or slowly (dekaseconds) by the application of an appropriate adapt pulse. An adaptive ferroelectric transformer provides the analogue memory capabilities of the control circuit.