How is it possible to do lamp pre-heat and softstart?

I have a similar controller and would like to know how to give the bulbs an
"easier" life.

Graham

        ----------
        From:  Mike Harrison [SMTP:wwl@NETCOMUK.CO.UK]
        Sent:  10 November 1999 16:15
        To:  PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
        Subject:  Re: 220volt lamp matrix

        On Wed, 10 Nov 1999 07:56:18 -0500, you wrote:


        >  Give up on the less triacs though.  Takes 8 times the lamp
        >and scanning and you end up normally being cheaper to just
        >use the triacs.  Haven't even found a good way to be able to
        >scan the triac gates and cut the number of latches yet.]
        Use optocouplers and matrix their LEDs
        A high-ish scan rate for the LEDs avoids too much delay into the
mains
        cycle. This would be no problem to do with  the PIC.
        Lamp pre-heat and softstart would be pretty easy to do.