Integrated appliance control system
First Claim
1. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:
- processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller; and
current detection means for detecting an igniter current associated with a hot surface igniter for igniting gas in the burner means, wherein said current detection means communicates a first value indicative of the igniter current to said processing means for evaluation thereby.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully integrated electronic appliance controller for controlling the operation of a appliance (e.g., a gas-fired water heater or boiler). The controller includes an integrated intelligent control system; enhanced safety features including an igniter current proving circuit, a flame detection circuit, a safety limit string and an energy cut-out (ECO) control; an intelligent user interface including a display unit and a communications system; and an adaptive control feature. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller is adapted to receive as many as four temperature probes (e.g., thermistors). The first probe senses the water temperature at the outlet of a water heater, the second probe senses the water temperature at the inlet of the water heater, the optional third probe senses the temperature at a first location in an associated remote water storage tank, and the optional fourth probe senses the temperature at a second location in the associated remote water storage tank.
264 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:
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processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller; and current detection means for detecting an igniter current associated with a hot surface igniter for igniting gas in the burner means, wherein said current detection means communicates a first value indicative of the igniter current to said processing means for evaluation thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:
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processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller; and flame detection means for detecting the presence of a flame associated with the burner means, by obtaining a first value indicative of a current associated with the flame, wherein said flame detection means communicates the first value to said processing means for evaluation thereby. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:
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processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller; first monitoring means for determining an igniter current associated with a hot surface igniter for igniting gas in the burner means, wherein said first monitoring means communicates a first value indicative of the igniter current to said processing means for evaluation thereby; and second monitoring means for detecting the presence of a flame associated with the burner means, by obtaining a second value indicative of a current associated with the flame, wherein said second monitoring means communicates the second value to said processing means for evaluation thereby. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:
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a safety limit string means including a plurality of switch means connected in series, for closing a gas valve in the event of a malfunction condition, said safety limit string operating independently of said processing means; and processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller, wherein said processing means monitors the status of switching means connected in and outside the safety limit string means, for diagnosing a malfunction in accordance with the status of said switching means in the safety limit string means and the status of said switching means outside said limit string means. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, a water tank having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and an indirect water tank for storing water from said water tank, the appliance controller comprising:
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a first temperature sensing device located at one of said at least one outlets of said water tank; a second temperature sensing device located at one of said at least one inlets of said water tank; a third temperature sensing device for sensing the temperature of the water in said indirect water tank at a first location, said processing means responsive to said third temperature sensing device; a fourth temperature sensing device for sensing the temperature of water in said indirect water tank at a second location; and processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller, said processing means responsive to said fourth temperature sensing device to determine a ratio of temperatures sensed by said third and fourth temperature sensing devices. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification