Stovetop/range warning and control fire safety system

Abstract

In a stove ( 100 ) with a burner area ( 102 ), a burner ( 104 ) within the burner area ( 102 ), and either a gas supply line ( 144 a ) or an electrical line ( 144 b ), the system monitors conditions in or around the burner area ( 102 ), the burner ( 104 ) within the burner area ( 102 ), or the space around the stove. If an unsafe condition is detected, such as an unattended burner condition or an open burner condition, the system makes a safety determination regarding whether or not to activate an alarm or shut off the gas supply line or electrical line.

1 . A stove comprising
 a burner area,   a burner within the burner area,   a gas supply line or electrical line,   a sensor operative to monitor at least one of a condition in or around the burner area, the burner within the burner area, or an area around the stove,   a control unit operative to receive input from the sensor, and   at least one alarm output or shutoff output operative to initiate an alarm or shut off the gas supply line or electrical line when activated by the control unit; and wherein
 the control unit is operative to make a safety determination, based on the input from the sensor, whether to activate the alarm output or shutoff output. 
   
   
   
       2 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor and a pressure sensor, and wherein
 the heat sensor is operative to measure a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   the pressure sensor is operative to measure a pressure condition of the burner area to detect the presence of cookware at the burner, and   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination regarding an open burner condition based on input from the heat sensor and pressure sensor.   
   
   
       3 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor and a motion sensor, and wherein
 the heat sensor is operative to measure a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   the motion sensor is operative to measure an attendance condition of the area around the stove, and   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination regarding an unattended burner condition based on input from the heat sensor and the motion sensor.   
   
   
       4 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor, and wherein
 the heat sensor is operative to measure a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area and   the control unit is operative to make a safety condition regarding an over-temperature condition based on input from the heat sensor.   
   
   
       5 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a smoke sensor, and wherein
 the smoke sensor is operative to measure a smoke condition of burner area, the burner within the burner area, or the area around the stove, and   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination regarding a possible fire condition based on input from the smoke sensor.   
   
   
       6 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit, upon making a safety determination, is operative to activate a gas supply shutoff output or an electrical shutoff output. 
   
   
       7 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit, upon making a safety determination, is operative to activate an audible alarm output, a visible alarm output, or a network alarm output, and wherein the activated alarm may be present locally or remotely. 
   
   
       8 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 a controller operative to make a safety determination;   a timing circuit operative to provide clocks to the controller;   an output interface operative to transmit the alarm output or shutoff output;   a power supply operative to provide power to the control unit;   an analog to digital converter to convert data from the sensor from an analog representation to a digital representation and provide the converted data to the controller; and   at least one input interface to provide sensor data to the controller.   
   
   
       9 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises user I/O connectors and ports to access programmable user delays and options. 
   
   
       10 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a web browser interface to access programmable user delays and options. 
   
   
       11 . The stove of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises code allowing the forwarding of unsafe condition information via pager, phone, Ethernet, or other transmitting device. 
   
   
       12 . A method for improving the safety of a stove having a burner area, a burner within the burner area, and a gas supply line or electrical line, comprising:
 monitoring at least one of a condition in or around the burner area, the burner within the burner area, or an area around the stove;   making a safety determination whether to activate at least one alarm output or shutoff output; and   activating the alarm output or shutting off the gas supply line or electrical line based on the safety determination.   
   
   
       13 . The method for improving the safety of a stove of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 measuring a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   measuring a pressure condition of the burner area to detect the presence of cookware at the burner, and   making a safety determination regarding an open burner condition based on the measured temperature condition and measured pressure condition.   
   
   
       14 . The method for improving the safety of a stove of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 measuring a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   measuring an attendance condition of the area around the stove, and   making a safety determination regarding an unattended burner condition based on the measured temperature condition and the measured attendance condition.   
   
   
       15 . The method for improving the safety of a stove of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 based upon the safety determination, activating a gas supply shutoff output or an electrical shutoff output and activating an audible alarm output, a visible alarm output, or a network alarm output, wherein the activated alarm may be present locally or remotely.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus to improve the safety of a stove having a burner area, a burner within the burner area, and a gas supply line or electrical line, the apparatus comprising:
 a sensor operative to monitor at least one of a condition in or around the burner area, the burner within the burner area, or an area around the stove, comprising a heat sensor and a second sensor;   a control unit operative to receive input from the sensor; and   at least one alarm output or shutoff output operative to initiate an alarm or shut off the gas supply line or electrical line when activated by the control unit; and wherein   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination, based on the input from the sensor, whether to activate the alarm output or shutoff output,   the control unit, upon making a safety determination, is operative to activate a gas supply shutoff output or an electrical shutoff output, and   the control unit, upon making a safety determination, is operative to activate an audible alarm output, a visible alarm output, or a network alarm output, and wherein the activated alarm may be present locally or remotely.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus to improve the safety of a stove of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor and a pressure sensor, and wherein
 the heat sensor is operative to measure a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   the pressure sensor is operative to measure a pressure condition of the burner area to detect the presence of cookware at the burner, and   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination regarding an open burner condition based on input from the heat sensor and pressure sensor.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus to improve the safety of a stove of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor and a motion sensor, and wherein
 the heat sensor is operative to measure a temperature condition of the burner area or the burner within the burner area,   the motion sensor is operative to measure an attendance condition of the area around the stove, and   the control unit is operative to make a safety determination regarding an unattended burner condition based on input from the heat sensor and the motion sensor.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus to improve the safety of a stove of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit comprises user I/O connectors and ports to access programmable user delays and options. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus to improve the safety of a stove of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit comprises a web browser interface to access programmable user delays and options.