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US 9,309,857 B2Granted
Fuel ignition systems with voltage regulation and methods for same
AssigneeUTC Fire & Security Corporation
InventorsJuan Antonio Martinez, Eugene M. Freidline
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of ignition systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide exemplary voltage control or regulation for a voltage used for flame detection as well as for spark generation. In one embodiment, flame sensitivity and spark energy can have an increased resistance to component, temperature, and/or power supply variations.
Claims14
A spark ignition system comprising:
- a comparator to compare a first voltage set point and a feedback value to output a difference value;
- a controller to receive the difference value of the comparator to generate a correction signal;
- a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit coupled to the controller to receive the correction signal and configured to generate an output voltage level;
- a DC/DC voltage converter coupled to receive the output voltage level from the PWM circuit and configured to generate a regulated flame sense and spark voltage;
- a flame sense circuit coupled to receive the regulated flame sense and spark voltage and configured to detect a status of a burner flame, the flame sense circuit to output a sensed flame signal to the controller;
- a feedback circuit coupled to receive the regulated flame sense and spark voltage and generate the feedback value representative of a current regulated flame sense and spark voltage level for output to the comparator;
- and
- a second voltage converter coupled to the controller and coupled to receive the regulated flame sense and spark voltage, the second voltage converter to output an increased corresponding voltage for a spark igniter,
- the controller to regulate the regulated flame sense and spark voltage to a prescribed level.
6 more elements
A method of operating an ignition system comprising:
- comparing a voltage set point with a feedback signal to output a first control signal;
- generating a voltage level control signal responsive to the first control signal;
- converting an input voltage to a regulated control voltage using a first voltage converter, where said converting is responsive to the voltage level control signal;
- detecting a status of a burner flame using the regulated control voltage to output a sensed flame signal to a controller;
- receiving the regulated control voltage and generating the feedback signal using a feedback circuit;
- and
- receiving the regulated control voltage and converting the regulated control voltage to a spark voltage for a direct spark igniter using a second voltage converter.
4 more elements
An ignition system comprising:
- a comparator to compare a first voltage set point and a feedback value to output a correction value;
- a controller to receive the correction value of the comparator to generate a control signal;
- a voltage controller circuit coupled to the controller to receive the control signal and configured to generate an output voltage level;
- a DC/DC voltage converter coupled to receive the output voltage level from the voltage controller circuit and configured to generate a regulated voltage;
- a flame sense circuit coupled to receive the regulated voltage and configured to detect a status of a burner flame, the flame sense circuit to output a sensed flame signal to the controller;
- a feedback circuit coupled to receive the regulated voltage and generate the feedback value representative of a current regulated voltage level;
- and
- a second voltage converter coupled to the controller and coupled to receive an enable signal from the controller, the second voltage converter to output a corresponding voltage for an igniter circuit,
- the controller to regulate the regulated voltage to a prescribed level responsive to the feedback value.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.