FUEL GAS IGNITION SYSTEM FOR GAS BURNERS INCLUDING DEVICES AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

1 . A fuel gas ignition system used in a fuel gas burning apparatus, said system including:

a hot surface igniter;

a gas valve;

an microcontroller having a microprocessor; and

a software program for execution on the microprocessor for controlling operation of the fuel gas ignition system; wherein the software program includes code segments, instructions and criteria for controlling operation of the igniter, operation of the gas valve and ignition of the gas by the igniter.

2 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , further including a flame sensing means for continuously sensing presence of a burner flame using a flame rectification technique.

3 . The fuel ignition system of claim 2 , wherein the flame sensing means further includes a comparator circuit actuated by a burner flame present between the igniter element and igniter assembly shielding.

4 . The fuel ignition system of claim 2 , wherein the provided instructions and criteria further include instructions and criteria for using a flame sensing signal to trigger an electronically actuated gas valve of one the types commonly used in the industry.

5 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , wherein

the fuel gas burning apparatus includes a control knob;

the gas valve is an electronically controllable valve; and

wherein the instructions and criteria include instructions and criteria for controlling the gas valve responsive to action of the control knob.

6 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the hot surface igniter is configured so as to include an integrated flame sensing shield including means for flame sensing when using a flame rectification technique.

7 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured and arranged so as to be continuously powered.

8 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for controlling operation of the igniter so that ignition conditions are established with an activation period of between about 1 to 4 seconds.

9 . The fuel ignition system of claim 8 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for controlling operation of the igniter so the hot surface igniter is brought to an ignition temperature in about 2 seconds or less.

10 . The fuel ignition system of claim 8 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for controlling operation of the igniter so that power is removed from the igniter after ignition conditions are determined to have been established.

11 . The fuel ignition system of claim 10 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for:

continuously monitoring the burner flame after ignition conditions are established.

12 . The fuel ignition system of claim 11 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for:

detecting loss of burner flame;

powering the igniter for the defined igniter activation period to light the burner;

performing said powering for N times, N being ≧1, and

terminating gas flow and powering of the igniter, if performing said powering is unable to light the burner after N attempts.

13 . The fuel ignition system of claim 12 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for controlling operation of the igniter and gas valve so that further operation of the burner is contingent upon a user providing an input signal to allow further operation of the burner.

14 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , further includes:

a flame sensing means for sensing presence of a burner flame; and

wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for:

checking for the presence of a burner flame responsive to signals from the sensing means after burner operation is terminated; and

in the case burner flame is detected:

(a) performing gas valve opening and closure sequences,

(b) determining if burner flame is present or missing after performing said valve opening and closure sequences, and

(c) in the case burner flame is determined to be present, continue performing the operations of (a) and (b).

15 . The fuel ignition system of claim 14 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for providing one of an auditory or visual signal to user when said checking determines presence of burner flame after burner operation is terminated.

16 . The fuel ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for checking the flame sensing means to determine if the flame sensing means is operating properly, said checking being performed at the end of each burner operating sequence.

17 . The fuel ignition system of claim 16 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for preventing further operation of at least the burner whose sensing means is determined not to be operating properly.

18 . The fuel ignition system of claim 17 , wherein the software program further includes code segments, instructions and criteria for providing one of an auditory or visual signal to user when it is determined that the sensing means is not operating properly.

19 . The fuel ignition system of claim 2 , wherein the sensing means includes a flame sensing circuit and a sensor.