Electronic gas cooktop control with simmer system and method thereof

A cooktop, comprising:

• a) a gas burner;
• b) a dual function gas valve connected to control gas flow to said gas burner wherein said dual function gas valve includes a first mechanism to operate in a first electronically controlled mode and a second mechanism to operate in a second electronically controlled mode, said first mode providing a continuous flame at said gas burner modulated to a predetermined lower first heating level or to a higher second heating level, and said second mode providing intermittent flame at said gas burner for producing heating levels less than said lower first heating level for simmering operation;
• c) a user interface for user entry of burner heating level for said gas burner, wherein said user interface comprises a multiplicity of touch-sensitive pads operable to select burner heating levels in a predetermined set of user-selectable steps and wherein a lowest portion of burner heating levels corresponds to a flame “on/off” sequencing mode of flow settings of said dual function gas valve;
• d) a controller operative to control said dual function gas valve in accordance with said user entry;
• e) an igniter connected to ensure reignition of the gas delivered to said gas burner when said dual function gas valve is operating in said second electronically controlled mode;
• and
• f) a flame sensor connected and placed to monitor the presence of flames at said gas burner.

A heating device, comprising:

• a gas burner;
• a single dual function valve including both a first electronically controlled mechanism and a second electronically controlled mechanism within said single dual function valve, said single dual function valve connected to provide gas to said gas burner;
• an electronic controller for electronically controlling said first electronicaily controlled mechanism and said second electronically controlled mechanism;
• said first electronically controlled mechanism capable of providing at least two different on-levels of continuous gas flow to said gas burner;
• and
• said second electronically controlled mechanism capable of stopping and starting flow of gas to said gas burner, wherein combination of said first electronically controlled mechanism and said second electronically controlled mechanism provides capability to achieve a lower temperature than is achievable with just continuous flow of gas from said first electronically controlled mechanism.

A device for controlling flow of a fluid, comprising:

• a dual function valve including both a first electronically controlled mechanism and a second electronically controlled mechanism;
• an electronic controller for electronically controlling said first electronically controlled mechanism and said second electronically controlled mechanism;
• said first electronically controlled mechanism capable of providing at least two different on-levels of continuous fluid flow;
• and
• said second electronically controlled mechanism capable of continuously being sequenced between allowing fluid flow on and sealed off to prevent fluid flow thereby providing an intermittent flow of fluid, wherein said second electronically controlled mechanism is set to allow flow for a fraction of time and is otherwise set to be sealed off, wherein overall flow is proportional to said fraction.