Propane detector system

• US 6,155,160 A
• Filed: 06/04/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Hochbrueckner
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Hochbrueckner
• Inventors: Hochbrueckner, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/325,361
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 99/325-333, 99/337, 99/338, 99/342-344, 99/400, 99/401, 99/444-450, 73/23.2, 73/31.05, 122/448.1, 122/504, 126/112, 126/39 R, 126/41 R, 126/116, 250/343, 250/351, 250/339, 250/345, 250/339.13, 250/339.04, 250/43.5, 250/338.5, 307/118, 307/140, 307/683, 340/632, 340/634, 340/628-630, 422/90, 422/98, 422/83, 422/88, 431/76, 431/22, 432/36
• US Class Current: 99/331
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

An electronic control for a grill, providing enhanced functionality and safety features. A hydrocarbon detector system provides an intermittently operated electro-optic device emitting photons at a wavelength which selective interacts with hydrocarbon as compared to air, associated with a detector for detecting the selective interaction and an alarm monitor for detecting an alarm state. A food temperature sensor is employed to proportionately control combustible fuel flow rate, to thereby control a food temperature profile. A communications network interface is provided to allow remote control and monitoring.

Claims

1. An electronic control system, comprising:

(a) a microcontroller;

(b) a telecommunications network interface, controlled by said microcontroller; and

(c) a condition detector, producing an output received by said microcontroller;

said telecommunications network interface having a low latency communications mode and a high latency communications mode, wherein said communications mode is controlled by said microcontroller.

2. The electronic control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user input, for receiving a user desired end cooking state;

said detector being a food temperature sensor; and

a combustible cooking fuel combustion rate output;

wherein said microcontroller proportionally controls said combustible cooking fuel combustion rate output responsive to said input from said food temperature sensor and said user input, and produces a cooking complete signal when said desired end cooking state is achieved.

3. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a combustible gas detector, for detecting a presence of combustible gasses, providing an input to said microcontroller, said microcontroller producing an alert in an event of combustible gasses exceeding a threshold.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein said combustible gas detector comprises:

(a) an electro-optic device emitting photons at a wavelength which selective interacts with a hydrocarbon as compared to air, associated with a detector for detecting the selective interaction; and

(b) an alarm monitor for receiving an output of said detector when said electro-optic device is activated and determining a relationship of a detected hydrocarbon level and a predetermined value.

5. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a partial combustion product detector, for detecting a presence of gaseous partial combustion products.

6. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said food temperature sensor provides said input to said microcontroller wirelessly.

7. The control system according to claim 2, wherein said food temperature sensor determines a temperature of at least two portions of the food.

8. The control system according to claim 2, further comprising a remote user interface communicating through the telecommunications network interface wirelessly.

9. The control system according to claim 2, further comprising a proportional fuel control valve.

10. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network interface comprises a wireless switched packet network communicating with a remote terminal.

11. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said telecommunications network interface communicates with a packet switched communications network.

12. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said condition detector is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a combustible gas detector and a toxic gas detector.

13. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said detector comprises an optical hydrocarbon detector.

14. The control system according to claim 12, wherein said detector operates intermittently.

15. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a food temperature sensor.

16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein said food temperature sensor operates wirelessly.

17. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a combustible fuel remaining input to said microcontroller.

18. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said detector is associated with a propane grill.

19. The electronic control system according to claim 1, wherein said detector comprises:

(a) an electro-optic device emitting photons at a wavelength which selective interacts with a hydrocarbon as compared to air, associated with a detector for detecting the selective interaction;

(b) a system power controller to activate said electro-optic device intermittently at a duty cycle of less than about 25%; and

(c) an alarm monitor for receiving an output of said detector when said electro-optic device is activated and determining a relationship of a detected hydrocarbon level and a predetermined value.

20. The control system according to claim 19, wherein said electro-optic device comprises an infrared light emitting diode device.