Patent ID: 6803544
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: F23N,F23Q

Abstract:
An ignitor distinguishing control system for distinguishing the type of ignitor within a gas appliance, the ignitor operating between an in-rush state having a beginning and an end and a steady state, and being powered by a power source having a power source voltage, v, connected thereto, and an ignitor current having a magnitude, the system comprising:ignitor distinguishing circuit means in communication with the ignitor and having a signal representative of the ignitor current through the ignitor output therefrom; and a controller in communication with the ignitor distinguishing circuit means and adapted to determine the type of the ignitor based on the signal received from the ignitor distinguishing circuit means, the controller comprising storage means for storing a plurality of control programs for controlling a plurality of corresponding ignitor types including at least a silicon carbide control program, a silicon nitride control program, and a mini-silicon carbide control program, and wherein the plurality of corresponding ignitor types comprise a silicon carbide ignitor, a silicon nitride ignitor, and a mini-silicon carbide ignitor, respectively; and execution means for executing the control programs corresponding to the type of ignitor determined by the controller.