Device for remotely controlling ignition of a gas appliance by transmitting and receiving RF waves

Abstract

An ignition control device including a controller section and a remote control section for a gas appliance (e.g., a gas stove or a gas water heater) is disclosed. A signal communication between the controller mounted on a burner of the gas appliance and the remote control section held by the hand is done by transmitting and receiving RF waves therebetween. The invention can correctly ignite the gas appliance and audibly inform a user of any ignition failures or abnormal conditions.

1 . An apparatus for controlling ignition of a gas burning device, comprising:
 a controller section mounted on a burner of the gas burning device and comprising a gas valve ( 2 ) including an initial ignition coil assembly ( 21 ) and a master ignition coil assembly ( 22 ), a circuit board ( 1 ) including a high voltage ignition controller ( 19 ), a first MCU (micro control unit) ( 11 ), an RF, (radio frequency) transceiver module ( 12 ) having a first antenna ( 121 ), a switch ( 13 ), a buzzer ( 14 ), a first connector ( 15 ) connected to the gas valve ( 2 ), and a DC (direct current) power supply ( 110 ) for supplying DC power to the circuit board ( 1 ), and an ignition unit ( 5 ) including a high voltage output terminal ( 51 ), a ground terminal ( 52 ), and an ignition detection terminal ( 53 ) wherein the terminals ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) are electrically connected to the circuit board ( 1 );   a detector ( 6 ) for detecting concentrations of CO and CO 2 ; and   a battery powered remote control section comprising a keypad ( 91 ), a display ( 92 ), an RF transceiver module ( 94 ) having a second antenna ( 941 ), and a second MCU ( 90 ) connected to the display ( 92 ), the RF transceiver module ( 94 ), and the keypad ( 91 ) respectively;   wherein in an ignition operation (i) the remote control section is activated to send RF waves to the controller section for turning on the switch ( 13 ), (ii) the switch ( 13 ) attempts to ignite the initial ignition coil assembly ( 21 ), (iii) the high voltage ignition controller ( 19 ) is enabled for ignition, (iv) the ignition detection terminal ( 53 ) detects flame at a stop time after a predetermined times of ignition and repeatedly detects flame at another stop time after a subsequent predetermined times of ignition if no flame has been detected until either flame is detected or a predetermined period of time has elapsed, (v) the master ignition coil assembly ( 22 ) is enabled to ignite in response to the detection of flame, and (vi) the ignition operation ends successfully with the initial ignition coil assembly ( 21 ) being disabled and pressurized gas being supplied from the gas valve ( 2 ) to the burner continuously;   wherein the buzzer ( 14 ) is adapted to issue an alarm and the gas valve ( 2 ) is adapted to close if the detected concentration of CO or CO 2  exceeds a predetermined level;   wherein data about ignition and concentration of CO or CO 2  is adapted to show on the display ( 92 ) and the data is transferred between the first antenna ( 121 ) and the second antenna ( 941 ) by sending and receiving RF waves between the controller section and the remote control section; and   wherein the buzzer ( 14 ) is adapted to issue an alarm and the ignition unit ( 5 ) is disabled for stopping the ignition operation if any of the ignitions fails.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is one minute.