Automatic pilot lighting systems

A device comprising an automatic pilot lighting system and a gas valve assembly including a microcontroller and a standing pilot, the automatic pilot lighting system comprising a powered circuit including an analog timer circuit configured to apply a voltage from a power source for pilot hold voltage and spark ignition for an amount of time sufficient to allow for unattended automatic lighting of the standing pilot and sufficient voltage generation to support standalone operation, whereby the automatic pilot lighting system enables a user to initiate unattended automatic lighting of the standing pilot;

• wherein:
• the device includes a coil operable for opening and closing a pilot valve;
• the analog timer circuit includes a timer switch;
• the powered circuit includes:
• a spark ignitor coupled with the timer switch;
• a temperature knob pilot momentary switch coupled with the timer switch;
• and
• an ON/OFF switch coupled with the temperature knob pilot momentary switch and the timer switch;
• the analog timer circuit is configured to be selectively activatable for applying voltage from the power source via the ON/OFF switch to:
• the coil for holding the pilot valve open;
• and
• the spark ignitor for operating the spark ignitor to apply a spark at the standing pilot;
• the standing pilot is configured such that after being lit by the spark ignitor, a flame of the standing pilot is operable for applying heat for increasing a voltage of a thermoelectric generator of the device;
• the microcontroller is configured to operate from the voltage of the power source of the powered circuit until a voltage of a DC-DC power supply of the device is higher than a voltage output of the power source of the powered circuit and/or until the microcontroller detects that the thermoelectric generator voltage has risen to a specific threshold to allow the microcontroller to be operable without the power source of the powered circuit;
• and
• the microcontroller is configured to deactivate the timer switch and thereby turn off the spark ignitor when the thermoelectric generator voltage has reached the specific threshold;
• wherein the microcontroller is configured to be powered in a deep sleep state when the ON/Off switch is turned on;
• and
• wherein:
• the temperature knob pilot momentary switch is configured such that actuation of the temperature knob pilot momentary switch provides an interrupt rising edge to wake up the microcontroller in addition to activating the timer switch;
• or
• the microcontroller is configured to automatically wake up from the deep sleep state periodically to poll one or more inputs that are indicative of whether or not the pilot valve is being held open by the powered circuit.