Low-powered system for driving a fuel control mechanism
First Claim
1. A method for picking an electrically controlled gas valve, the method comprising:
- applying thermal energy to a thermoelectric device;
generating a first voltage potential from the thermal energy using the thermoelectric device;
converting the first voltage potential to a second voltage potential using a converter;
operating a microcontroller using the second voltage potential;
using an output signal provided by the microcontroller to control charging of a capacitor with charge generated by the thermoelectric device;
selectively allowing at least some of the charge on the capacitor to flow as a valve pick current to an electrically controlled gas valve to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from a closed position to an open position, while inhibiting the valve pick current from flowing to the thermoelectric device when picking the electrically controlled gas valve; and
wherein the valve pick current has a magnitude that is one to three times a minimum magnitude of current needed to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from the closed position to the open position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.
119 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for picking an electrically controlled gas valve, the method comprising:
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applying thermal energy to a thermoelectric device; generating a first voltage potential from the thermal energy using the thermoelectric device; converting the first voltage potential to a second voltage potential using a converter; operating a microcontroller using the second voltage potential; using an output signal provided by the microcontroller to control charging of a capacitor with charge generated by the thermoelectric device; selectively allowing at least some of the charge on the capacitor to flow as a valve pick current to an electrically controlled gas valve to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from a closed position to an open position, while inhibiting the valve pick current from flowing to the thermoelectric device when picking the electrically controlled gas valve; and wherein the valve pick current has a magnitude that is one to three times a minimum magnitude of current needed to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from the closed position to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for picking an electrically controlled gas valve, the method comprising:
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powering a microcontroller using charge generated by a thermoelectric device exposed to thermal energy; using a first output signal of the microcontroller to control charging a capacitor with charge generated by the thermoelectric device; using a second output of the microcontroller to close a first switch that once closed allows at least some of the charge stored on the capacitor to flow as a valve pick current to an electrically controlled gas valve to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from a closed position to an open position; and using a third output of the microcontroller to open a second switch while picking the electrically controlled gas valve, the second switch once opened inhibits the valve pick current from flowing to the thermoelectric device when picking the electrically controlled gas valve. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for operating a water heater, the method comprising:
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using an output signal provided by a microcontroller to control charging of a capacitor with charge generated by a thermoelectric device; and selectively allowing at least some of the charge on the capacitor to flow as a valve pick current to an electrically controlled gas valve to pick the electrically controlled gas valve from a closed position to an open position, while inhibiting the valve pick current from flowing to the thermoelectric device when picking the electrically controlled gas valve. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification