Gas Cooktop Flame Rectification Circuit for Closed Loop Burner Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas cooktops suffer from nuisance sparking due to false flame detection and high costs associated with discrete flame monitoring for each burner, particularly in closed loop operation, which is unnecessary during manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop with separate open and closed loop gas burners, where flame rectification is applied only to closed loop burners, and a controller determines flame presence only during closed loop operation, activating spark electrodes as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flame rectification circuits are provided for each burner, then flame detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a single shared flame rectification circuit that can monitor multiple burners through selective activation. The controller enables this one circuit to serve multiple burners by activating it only when closed loop mode is engaged for any burner, eliminating the need for separate monitoring circuits for each burner while maintaining detection capability across all burners.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flame rectification circuit dynamically activated rather than continuously operational. The circuit is selectively enabled only during closed loop cooking operations when flame monitoring is actually needed, and disabled during manual operations to prevent nuisance sparking. This dynamic activation reduces complexity and cost while maintaining reliability when required.
2Measurement precision
If flame rectification circuits operate continuously, then flame detection accuracy is improved, but nuisance sparking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing conditional activation of the flame rectification circuit based on operational mode. The circuit operates periodically only during closed loop cooking operations when accurate flame detection is critical, and remains inactive during manual operations. This periodic activation pattern maintains detection accuracy when needed while eliminating the continuous operation that causes nuisance sparking from false triggers.
3Reliability
If discrete channel monitoring is implemented for each burner, then flame monitoring reliability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single shared flame rectification circuit that can monitor multiple burners through selective activation. The controller enables this one circuit to serve multiple burners by activating it only when closed loop mode is engaged for any burner, eliminating the need for separate monitoring circuits for each burner while maintaining detection capability across all burners.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies extraction by removing the unnecessary discrete monitoring infrastructure for each burner. Instead of extracting and maintaining separate circuits for every burner, the system extracts only the essential flame detection function and implements it through a single shared circuit that is activated selectively, thereby reducing system cost while preserving reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces nuisance sparking and costs by selectively deploying flame sensing only in closed loop mode, ensuring efficient and cost-effective flame detection and ignition.
Implementation Method 1
a flame rectification circuit for detecting a flame at the gas burner
Implementation Method 2
a spark module comprising a plurality of spark electrodes, at least one of the plurality of spark electrodes being operably coupled to each of the open loop gas burner and the closed loop gas burner
Data Source
AI summary
A cooktop defining comprises an open loop gas burner, a closed loop gas burner, a flame rectification circuit for detecting a flame at the closed loop gas burner, a spark module comprising a plurality of spark electrodes, at least one of the plurality of spark electrodes being operably coupled to each of the open loop gas burner and the closed loop gas burner, and a controller in operative communication with the flame rectification circuit and the spark module. The controller is configured to determine that the closed loop gas burner is performing the closed loop cooking operation, determine that no flame is present at the closed loop gas burner using the flame rectification circuit, and operate the spark module to energize the plurality of spark electrodes in response to determining that no flame is present during the closed loop cooking operation.