Boiler control comprising analog up/down timer circuit for generating variable threshold signal
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a sensor circuit configured to detect activation of at least one circulator arranged to circulate liquid from a boiler through at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler;
an analog up/down timer circuit having an input coupled to an output of the sensor circuit and configured to generate a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of said at least one circulator;
a burner control circuit configured to receive the variable threshold signal from the analog up/down timer circuit and to generate an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal; and
an ignition driver configured to receive the ignition control signal from the burner control circuit and to generate an ignition signal for a burner configured to burn fuel to heat the liquid in the boiler based at least in part on the ignition control signal;
wherein a control signal generated by the sensor circuit varies as a function of an activation state of said at least one circulator; and
wherein the analog up/down timer circuit in generating the variable threshold signal is controllably switched between charge and discharge modes of operation responsive to the control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a sensor circuit configured to detect activation of at least one circulator arranged to circulate liquid from a boiler through at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler. An analog up/down timer circuit has an input coupled to an output of the sensor circuit and generates a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of the at least one circulator. A burner control circuit receives the variable threshold signal from the analog up/down timer circuit and generates an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal. An ignition driver receives the ignition control signal from the burner control circuit and generates an ignition signal for a burner configured to burn fuel to heat the liquid in the boiler based at least in part on the ignition control signal.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a sensor circuit configured to detect activation of at least one circulator arranged to circulate liquid from a boiler through at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler; an analog up/down timer circuit having an input coupled to an output of the sensor circuit and configured to generate a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of said at least one circulator; a burner control circuit configured to receive the variable threshold signal from the analog up/down timer circuit and to generate an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal; and an ignition driver configured to receive the ignition control signal from the burner control circuit and to generate an ignition signal for a burner configured to burn fuel to heat the liquid in the boiler based at least in part on the ignition control signal; wherein a control signal generated by the sensor circuit varies as a function of an activation state of said at least one circulator; and wherein the analog up/down timer circuit in generating the variable threshold signal is controllably switched between charge and discharge modes of operation responsive to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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detecting activation of at least one circulator arranged to circulate liquid from a boiler through at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler; generating a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of said at least one circulator; generating an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal; and generating an ignition signal for a burner configured to burn fuel to heat the liquid in the boiler based at least in part on the ignition control signal; wherein detecting activation of said at least one circulator comprises generating a control signal that varies as a function of an activation state of said at least one circulator; and wherein generating the variable threshold voltage comprises controllably switching a source of the variable threshold voltage between charge and discharge modes of operation responsive to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A heating system comprising:
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a boiler; a burner configured to burn fuel to heat liquid in the boiler; at least one circulation loop; at least one circulator configured to circulate liquid from the boiler through said at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler; a sensor circuit configured to detect activation of said at least one circulator; an analog up/down timer circuit having an input coupled to an output of the sensor circuit and configured to generate a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of said at least one circulator; a burner control circuit configured to receive the variable threshold signal from the analog up/down timer circuit and to generate an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal; and an ignition driver configured to receive the ignition control signal from the burner control circuit and to generate an ignition signal for the burner based at least in part on the ignition control signal; wherein a control signal generated by the sensor circuit varies as a function of an activation state of said at least one circulator; and wherein the analog up/down timer circuit in generating the variable threshold signal is controllably switched between charge and discharge modes of operation responsive to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification