Automatic electronic igniter

Abstract

A system for automatically igniting a gas lamp by sensing the presence of a flame according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an igniter, power source, relay, valve controller, pulse-width modulator, and microcontrol unit. The microcontrol unit is connected to the igniter, the power source, the valve controller, the relay, and the pulse-width modulator. The microcontrol unit uses the pulse-width modulator to calibrate a total power supply to the igniter and determines the presence of a flame by sensing an electrical resistance of the igniter to the total power supply. The microcontrol unit also controls the amount of electricity supplied to the igniter through the relay and adjusts the amount of combustible fluid supplied to the igniter through the valve controller to automatically ignite the gas lamp.

1 . An automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter, comprising:
 a power source for supplying electricity to an igniter, the igniter converting the electricity into heat;   a relay connected to the power source and the igniter, the relay controlling the electricity to the igniter;   a valve controller operatively associated with the igniter, the valve controller controlling a supply of a combustible fluid to the igniter;   a pulse-width modulator operatively associated with the power source and the igniter, the pulse-width modulator providing additional power to the igniter; and   a microcontrol unit operatively associated with the igniter, the power source, the valve controller, the relay, and the pulse-width modulator, the microcontrol unit calibrating a total power supply to the igniter and determining a presence of a flame by sensing an electrical resistance of the igniter to the total power supply, and adjusting the amount of power supplied to the igniter to automatically ignite the combustible fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a 120 voltage alternating current power source. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a 12 volt direct current power source. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , further comprising a transformer disposed between the power source and microcontrol unit. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible fluid is natural gas. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible fluid is propane. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage regulator operatively associated with the microcontrol unit, the voltage regulator maintains a constant voltage to the microcontrol unit. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , further comprising a programmable interface controller operatively associated with the microcontrol unit, the valve controller, and the relay, the programmable interface controller overrides the microcontrol unit to restrict the supply of combustible fluid, and to restrict the supply of electricity to the igniter. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the relay is an electromechanical device. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the relay is a solid-state device. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter, comprising:
 a combustible fluid source;   a valve controller operatively associated with the combustible fluid source;   a heating element operatively associated with the combustible fluid source;   a power supply connected to the heating element and the valve controller;   an electrical relay connected to the power supply and the heating element; and   a microcontrol unit operatively associated with the valve controller, the heating element, the power supply, and the electrical relay, the microcontrol unit determining the presence of a flame by sensing an electrical resistance of the heating element to the power supply, and the microcontrol unit controlling the heating element, the valve controller, and the electrical relay to automatically ignite the combustible fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 11 , further comprising a pulse-width modulator for creating a variable voltage, the variable voltage being added to a voltage from the power supply to establish a total voltage supply as a reference point to measure a change in the electrical resistance of the heating element. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 11 , further comprising a programmable interface controller operatively associated with the microcontrol unit, the valve controller, and the electrical relay, the programmable interface controller overriding the microcontrol unit to restrict the supply of combustible fluid, and to restrict the supply of electricity to the igniter by closing the electrical relay. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical relay is an electromechanical device. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic electronic combustible fluid igniter of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical relay is a solid-state device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for automatically igniting a combustible fluid, comprising:
 controlling a supply of power to an igniter to heat the igniter and ignite the combustible fluid;   controlling a supply of the combustible fluid to the igniter;   measuring a resistance of the igniter to the supply of power;   establishing a range of resistance relating to a temperature range of the igniter;   changing the supply of combustible fluid to the igniter depending on the resistance of the igniter compared to the established range of resistance;   supplying power to heat the igniter and automatically ignite the combustible fluid when the resistance of the igniter is outside the established range of resistance; and   repeating the step of measuring the resistance of the igniter to the supply of power when the resistance of the igniter is within the established range of resistance.   
     
     
         17 . The method for automatically igniting a combustible fluid of  claim 16 , further comprising calibrating the range of resistance by supplying an additional supply of power through a pulse-width modulator at a specific duty cycle to the igniter. 
     
     
         18 . The method for automatically igniting a combustible fluid of  claim 16 , further comprising delaying the supply of power to heat the igniter and re-measuring the resistance of the igniter when the combustible fluid is ignited, thereby preventing an unnecessary ignition. 
     
     
         19 . The method for automatically igniting a combustible fluid of  claim 16 , further comprising preventing the supply of power and the supply of the combustible fluid when the resistance measurement of the igniter repeatedly falls outside of the established resistance range. 
     
     
         20 . The method for automatically igniting a combustible fluid of  claim 16 , wherein controlling the supply of combustible fluid to the igniter comprises controlling an electrical relay.