# US 2008/0185981 A1 · Ignitor Disconnection Control System and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185981 A1 - Document ID: US20080185981A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/816,008 - Filed: 2006-02-09 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-10 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Inventors: Ernesto Mendoza; Kevin Pasquarelli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185981A1 ## CPC - H05B 41/042: {using semiconductor devices} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An ignitor disconnection control system and method includes an ignitor having a semi-conductor switch (58) and capacitor (60) connected in series to form a junction (70) between the semi-conductor switch (58) and the capacitor (60), and a series circuit (68) connected between the junction (70) and common (32). The series circuit (68) has an inductor (62), a resistor (64), and a positive thermal change (PTC) resistor (66) connected in series, with the resistor (64) thermally coupled to the PTC resistor (66). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ignitor comprising: a semi-conductor switch 58 and capacitor 60 connected in series to form a junction 70 between the semi-conductor switch 58 and the capacitor 60; and a series circuit 68 connected between the junction 70 and common 32, the series circuit 68 having an inductor 62, a resistor 64, and a positive thermal change (PTC) resistor 66 connected in series; wherein the resistor 64 is thermally coupled to the PTC resistor 66. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ignitor of claim 1 wherein semi-conductor switch 58 is selected from the group consisting of thyristors, silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs), triacs, diacs, sidacs, and four layer diodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ignitor of claim 1 wherein the resistor 64 is connected to the PTC resistor 66 with an adhesive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ignitor of claim 3 wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of epoxy and polyester. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The ignitor of claim 3 wherein the adhesive provides a desired time lag between temperature of the resistor 64 and sensed temperature at the PTC resistor 66. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ignitor of claim 1 wherein the resistor 64 is potted with the PTC resistor 66 in a fill material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the fill material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy, PolyFill, and polyester. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the semi-conductor switch 58, the capacitor 60, and the inductor 62 are also potted with the PTC resistor 66. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 further comprising an enclosure 72 disposed about the fill material, the enclosure 72 having heat transfer features. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the fill material provides a desired time lag between temperature of the resistor 64 and sensed temperature at the PTC resistor 66. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the fill material provides a desired time lag between temperature of the resistor 64 and sensed temperature at the PTC resistor 66. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the fill material provides a predetermined heating time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ignitor of claim 12 wherein the predetermined heating time is between 5 and 30 minutes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The ignitor of claim 6 wherein the fill material provides a predetermined cooling time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ignitor of claim 14 wherein the predetermined cooling time is between 20 and 60 minutes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ignitor of claim 1 wherein the PTC resistor 66 has a trigger temperature between 55 and 75 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 17 A method for ignitor disconnection control comprising: providing an ignitor having a resistor and a positive thermal change (PTC) resistor; heating the resistor with ignitor current; monitoring temperature of the resistor with the PTC resistor; and disconnecting the ignitor when the temperature exceeds a trigger temperature of the PTC resistor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: cooling the resistor; and reconnecting the ignitor when the temperature falls below the trigger temperature of the PTC resistor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the cooling comprises cooling the resistor for a predetermined cooling time until the temperature falls below the trigger temperature of the PTC resistor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the heating comprises heating the resistor for a predetermined heating time until the temperature exceeds the trigger temperature of the PTC resistor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the disconnecting comprises increasing resistance of the PTC resistor to decrease the ignitor current. ### Claim 22 A system for ignitor disconnection control comprising: an ignitor having a resistor; means for heating the resistor with ignitor current; means for monitoring temperature of the resistor; and means for disconnecting the ignitor when the temperature exceeds a trigger temperature. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 further comprising: means for cooling the resistor; and means for reconnecting the ignitor when the temperature falls below the trigger temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the means for cooling comprises means for cooling the resistor for a predetermined cooling time until the temperature falls below the trigger temperature. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 wherein the means for heating comprises means for heating the resistor for a predetermined heating time until the temperature exceeds the trigger temperature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 wherein the means for disconnecting comprises means for decreasing the ignitor current.