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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators; and
wherein the analog up/down timer circuit is configured to generate the variable threshold signal at least in part by being configured;
to charge a charge storage element in a charge mode of operation for a period of time for which at least one of the plurality of circulators is activated; and
to discharge the charge storage element in a discharge mode of operation for a period of time for which none of the plurality of circulators is activated.
1 Assignment
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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.
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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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators; and wherein the analog up/down timer circuit is configured to generate the variable threshold signal at least in part by being configured; to charge a charge storage element in a charge mode of operation for a period of time for which at least one of the plurality of circulators is activated; and to discharge the charge storage element in a discharge mode of operation for a period of time for which none of the plurality of circulators is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. 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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators and the sensor circuit comprises a current sense circuit arranged in series with respective alternating-current control lines of the plurality of circulators.
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10. 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 the ignition driver comprises a first relay circuit configured to control a state of a first switch arranged in series with an alternating-current control line of the burner based at least in part on the ignition signal. - View Dependent Claims (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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators and generating the variable threshold signal comprises; charging a charge storage element in a charge mode of operation for a period of time for which at least one of the plurality of circulators is activated; and discharging the charge storage element in a discharge mode of operation for a period of time for which none of the plurality of circulators is activated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. 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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators and detecting activation of at least one circulator comprises sensing current in respective alternating-current control lines of the plurality of circulators.
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17. 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; 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; and controlling a state of a first switch arranged in series with an alternating-current control line of the burner based at least in part on the ignition signal. - View Dependent Claims (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 said at least one circulator comprises a plurality of circulators; and wherein the analog up/down timer circuit is configured to generate the variable threshold signal at least in part by being configured; to charge a charge storage element in a charge mode of operation for a period of time for which at least one of the plurality of circulators is activated; and to discharge the charge storage element in a discharge mode of operation for a period of time for which none of the plurality of circulators is activated. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification