Patent ID: 7255100

Claim:
A cooktop, comprising a gas burner, a dual function gas valve, a user interface, an electronic controller, an igniter, and a flame sensor, wherein said electronic controller is connected to said dual function gas valve to control gas flow to said gas burner, wherein said user interface is for user entry of burner heating level for said gas burner, wherein said electronic controller is operative to control said dual function gas valve in accordance with said user entry, wherein said flame sensor is connected and placed to monitor for presence of flames at said gas burner, wherein said dual function gas valve includes a first mechanism to operate in a first electronically controlled mode and a second mechanism to operate in a second electronically controlled mode, said first mode providing a continuous flame at said gas burner modulated to a predetermined lower first heating level or to a predetermined higher second heating level, and said second mode providing intermittent flame at said gas burner for producing heating levels less than said lower first heating level for simmering operation, said igniter connected to ensure reignition of the gas delivered to said gas burner when said dual function gas valve is operating in said second electronically controlled mode.