Pulsed sequence burner control with valve

Abstract

A cooking appliance with a cooktop including at least one gas burner includes a control for sequentially delivering gas and igniting the gas to burner ports. The control comprises a valve with a responsive element for controlling gas flow to the burner ports, an ignition module for generating a drive signal to an ignitor, an electronic controller interfacing with the ignition module and coupled to a driver for actuating a responsive element in the valve. The driver that causes displacement of the responsive element includes a pick up actuator enabling the responsive element to initiate a status that opens the passageway. The valve also includes a holding actuator that enables the responsive element to maintain the status of the passageway as open when flame is detected at the burner.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cooktop control for a cooking appliance including a cooktop having at least one gas burner having a plurality of ports, at least one ignitor adjacent to at least one port on the burner; and a control for sequentially delivering gas to the burner ports and igniting the gas at burner ports, said control comprising: 
 a valve and a responsive element in said valve for controlling gas flow through a passageway coupled in fluid communication with said plurality of ports;    an ignition module for generating a drive signal to the at least one ignitor;    an electronic controller interfacing with said ignition module and coupled to a driver for actuating said responsive element;    wherein said driver enables said responsive element to default to a status that closes said passageway, wherein said driver comprises a pick up actuator that enables said responsive element to initiate an open position status that opens said passageway, and a holding actuator that enables said responsive element to maintain an open position status;    a sensor for detecting the presence of flame at said burner port and coupled to said holding actuator and said electronic controller; and    wherein said driver is responsive to each of said controller and said sensor to displace said responsive element from said default status to said open position status.    
     
     
         2 . The invention as described in  claim 1  wherein said open position status comprises a timed pulse period in a sequence of timed pulses.  
     
     
         3 . The invention as described in  claim 1  wherein said responsive member comprises a solenoid coil.  
     
     
         4 . The invention as described in  claim 3  wherein said driver comprises a circuit delivering electrical current to said coil.  
     
     
         5 . An automated cooking appliance having a cooktop comprising: 
 a cooktop panel;    at least one burner supported for exposure at said cooktop panel and sealed to said panel;    a gas manifold connectable to a gas supply for delivering gas to said burner;    a valve for controlling the gas flow from said supply to said manifold;    an ignitor for generating a flame at said burner;    an electronic controller including a driver for said valve and an ignition module for driving said ignitor; and    at least one flame sensor at said burner for generating a response in said valve driver.    
     
     
         6 . A burner control for a cooktop with at least one gas burner, and a manifold for delivering gas to said at least one gas burner, the control comprising: 
 at least one valve including a responsive member for controlling displacement of head with respect to a valve seat in fluid communication with said manifold;    an electronic control including a driver for actuating said responsive member, and a pulsed sequence control for said driver;    a sensor for detecting the presence of flame at said burner and generating an indication; and    a feedback signal for actuating said driver in response to said indication.    
     
     
         7 . The invention as described in  claim 6  wherein said pulsed sequence control selectively applies said feedback signal to said driver.