Flame rod drive signal generator and system
First Claim
1. A flame rod drive signal generator for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system, the flame rod drive signal generator comprising:
- a voltage source having an amplitude;
an input signal having a frequency;
an LC oscillator having a resonant frequency;
a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is powered by the voltage source, and has an output that is coupled to the LC oscillator, the drive mechanism receiving the input signal, and producing a current in the LC oscillator that has a frequency that is related to the frequency of the input signal; and
a flame rod drive output coupled to the LC oscillator for providing a flame rod drive signal that has an amplitude that is larger than the amplitude of the voltage source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flame rod drive signal generator and system for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system. In one illustrative embodiment, the flame rod drive signal generator may include a voltage source, an input signal having a frequency, an LC oscillator and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may be powered by the voltage source, and may have an output coupled to the LC oscillator. The drive mechanism may receive the input signal, and produces a current in the LC oscillator that has a frequency that is related to the frequency of the input signal. The LC oscillator may then provide a flame rod drive signal to a flame rod that has an amplitude that is larger than the amplitude of the voltage source. In some cases, a controller may monitor the amplitude of the flame rod drive signal and adjust the frequency, duty cycle, or both, of the input signal to achieve a desired amplitude of the flame rod drive signal. Alternatively, or in addition, the controller may monitor an ionization current produced by the flame rod when the flame rod is subject to a flame.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flame rod drive signal generator for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system, the flame rod drive signal generator comprising:
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a voltage source having an amplitude; an input signal having a frequency; an LC oscillator having a resonant frequency; a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is powered by the voltage source, and has an output that is coupled to the LC oscillator, the drive mechanism receiving the input signal, and producing a current in the LC oscillator that has a frequency that is related to the frequency of the input signal; and a flame rod drive output coupled to the LC oscillator for providing a flame rod drive signal that has an amplitude that is larger than the amplitude of the voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A flame rod drive signal circuit for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system, the flame rod drive signal circuit comprising:
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a push-pull drive stage including an input and an output, the input connected to a voltage supply having a first voltage, the push-pull drive stage including a first transistor and a second transistor; and an oscillation network including an input and an output, the input of the oscillation network connected to the output of the push-pull drive stage, and the output of the oscillation network adapted to be coupled to the flame rod, the oscillation network including an inductor and a capacitor configured to provide a flame rod drive signal at the output of the oscillation network at a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A flame sensing system comprising:
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a push-pull drive stage including an input and an output, the input connected to a voltage supply having a first voltage, the push-pull drive stage including a first transistor and a second transistor; an oscillation network including an input and an output, the input of the oscillation network connected to the output of the push-pull drive stage, the oscillation network including an inductor and a capacitor configured in series to provide a flame rod drive signal having a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage; a flame rod connected to the output of the oscillation network to receive the flame rod drive signal; and a microcontroller connected to the second transistor of the push-pull drive stage, the microcontroller providing a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to drive the oscillation network at a frequency and a duty cycle, wherein the microcontroller monitors an amplitude of the flame rod drive signal and adjust the frequency, the duty cycle, or both, of the PWM signal to increase and/or decrease the amplitude of the flame rod drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification