U.S. patent application number 12/792632 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for domestic gas appliance with flame control.
This patent application is currently assigned to COPRECITEC, S.L.. Invention is credited to Inigo Albizuri Landa, Jose Joaquin Antxia Uribetxebarria, Antonio Jose Barbero Merino, Jose Ignacio M gica Odriozola, Aitor Zabalo Bayon.
Application Number | 20100310997 12/792632 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42668911 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100310997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
M gica Odriozola; Jose Ignacio ;
et al. |
December 9, 2010 |
DOMESTIC GAS APPLIANCE WITH FLAME CONTROL
Abstract
A domestic gas appliance is disclosed. In one implementation the
appliance includes a burner and a gas control valve situated to
deliver and vary a flow of a gas to the burner. The gas control
valve has an actuator that induces an opening and/or closing of the
flow control valve dependent on a control signal delivered to the
actuator. A control device is electrically coupled to the actuator
and is used to control the opening and closing of the gas control
valve. The control device is coupled to an audio input and is
configured to receive an analog sound signal and to generate the
control signal based on the analog sound signal. A method of
modulating a flame in a burner of a domestic gas appliance is also
disclosed. In one implementation the method includes producing an
analog sound signal and subsequently creating a reference signal
based on the analog sound signal. A control signal is produced
using the reference signal with the relationship between the
reference signal and the control signal being linear, logarithmic
or potential. The control signal is delivered to an actuator of a
gas control valve that is situated to control the flow of gas to
the burner, the control signal acting upon the actuator to cause
the actuator to open and/or close to modulate the flame in the
burner.
Inventors: |
M gica Odriozola; Jose Ignacio;
(Bergara (Gipuzkoa), ES) ; Albizuri Landa; Inigo;
(Muxika (Bizkaia), ES) ; Antxia Uribetxebarria; Jose
Joaquin; (Aretzabaleta (Gipuzkoa), ES) ; Zabalo
Bayon; Aitor; (Mondragon (Gipuzkoa), ES) ; Barbero
Merino; Antonio Jose; (Mondragon (Gipuzkoa), ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Berenbaum Weinshienk PC
370 Seventeenth Street, Republic Plaza, Suite 4800
Denver
CO
80202
US
|
Assignee: |
COPRECITEC, S.L.
Aretxabaleta (Gipuzkoa)
ES
|
Family ID: |
42668911 |
Appl. No.: |
12/792632 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/8 ; 126/39BA;
126/39E; 206/576 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 3/006 20130101;
F23N 5/16 20130101; F23N 1/002 20130101; F24C 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/8 ; 126/39.E;
126/39.BA; 206/576 |
International
Class: |
F23C 5/00 20060101
F23C005/00; F24C 3/00 20060101 F24C003/00; B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 4, 2009 |
ES |
P200930261 |
Claims
1. A domestic gas appliance comprising: a burner, a gas control
valve, when coupled to a gas source, situated to deliver a flow of
the gas to the burner, the gas control valve having an actuator
that induces an opening and/or closing of the flow control valve;
and a control device electrically coupled to the actuator to
control the opening and closing of the gas control valve, the
control device coupled to an audio input and configured to receive
an analog sound signal and to generate a control signal based on
the analog sound signal deliverable to the actuator to cause the
actuator to induce a modulation of a flame in the burner.
2. The domestic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the control
signal is an analog signal.
3. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
control signal is a digital signal.
4. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an amplifier that is configured to regulate the gain of
the analog sound signal prior to the analog sound signal being
received in the control device.
5. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 4, further
comprising an adaptation stage that is configured to receive the
analog sound signal from the amplifier and to generate a reference
signal to be delivered to the control device, the reference signal
based on the analog sound signal.
6. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an adaptation stage that is configured to receive the
analog sound signal and to generate a reference signal to be
delivered to the control device, the reference signal based on the
analog sound signal.
7. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an input adapted for connection to a sound generating
device to receive the analog sound signal.
8. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, further
comprising an integrated sound generating device that is configured
to generate the analog sound signal.
9. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 3, further
comprising a driver that is configured to receive the control
signal and which generates therefrom a square wave current signal
deliverable to the actuator, the opening and closing of the gas
control valve being regulated in accordance with the duty-cycle of
the square wave current signal
10. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 6, wherein the
control device is configurable to act upon the reference signal so
that the relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal is linear.
11. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 6, wherein the
control device is configurable to act upon the reference signal so
that the relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal is logarithmic.
12. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 6, wherein the
control device is configurable to act upon the reference signal so
that the relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal is potential.
13. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
actuator comprises a voice-coil type actuator that when operated
operates at frequencies of about 30 Hz or greater.
14. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
burner comprises a plurality of combustion areas, the appliance
comprising a plurality of gas control valves, one gas control valve
for each combustion area.
15. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 14, wherein the
control device is adapted to generate a separate control signal,
one for each of the plurality of gas control valves.
16. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 6, wherein the
control device is configured to automatically act upon the
reference signal to establish either a linear, a logarithmic or a
potential relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal.
17. The domestic gas appliance according to claim 6, further
comprising a user interface coupled to the control device and
selectable between an automatic mode and a manual mode, in the
automatic mode the control device configured to automatically act
upon the reference signal to establish either a linear, a
logarithmic or a potential relationship between the reference
signal and the control signal, in the manual mode the control
device configured to act upon the reference signal to establish
either a linear, a logarithmic or a potential relationship between
the reference signal and the control signal based on a manual
selection of a user of the gas appliance.
18. A kit for incorporation into a domestic gas appliance having a
burner, the kit comprising: a gas control valve connectable between
a gas source and the burner, the gas control valve having an
actuator that induces an opening and/or closing of the gas control
valve; and a control device electrically coupled to the actuator to
control the opening and closing of the gas control valve, the
control device coupled to an audio input and configured to receive
an analog sound signal and to generate a control signal based on
the analog sound signal deliverable to the actuator to cause the
actuator to open and/or close for the purpose of inducing a
modulation of a flame in the burner.
19. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the control signal is an
analog signal.
20. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the control signal is a
digital signal.
21. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising an amplifier
that is configured to regulate the gain of the analog sound signal
prior to the analog sound signal being received in the control
device.
22. The kit according to claim 21, further comprising an adaptation
stage that is configured to receive the analog sound signal from
the amplifier and to generate a reference signal to be delivered to
the control device, the reference signal based on the analog sound
signal.
23. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising an adaptation
stage that is configured to receive the analog sound signal and to
generate a reference signal to be delivered to the control device,
the reference signal based on the analog sound signal.
24. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising an input
adapted for connection to a sound generating device to receive the
analog sound signal.
25. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising an integrated
sound generating device that is configured to generate the analog
sound signal.
26. The kit according to claim 20, further comprising a driver that
is configured to receive the control signal and which generates
therefrom a square wave current signal deliverable to the actuator,
the opening and closing of the gas control valve being regulated in
accordance with the duty-cycle of the square wave current
signal
27. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the control device is
configurable to act upon the reference signal so that the
relationship between the reference signal and the control signal is
linear.
28. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the control device is
configurable to act upon the reference signal so that the
relationship between the reference signal and the control signal is
logarithmic.
29. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the control device is
configurable to act upon the reference signal so that the
relationship between the reference signal and the control signal is
potential.
30. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a
voice-coil type actuator that when operated operates at frequencies
of about 30 Hz or greater.
31. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the burner comprises a
plurality of combustion areas, the appliance comprising a plurality
of gas control valves, one gas control valve for each combustion
area.
32. The kit according to claim 31, wherein the control device is
adapted to generate a separate control signal, one for each of the
plurality of gas control valves.
33. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the control device is
configured to automatically act upon the reference signal to
establish either a linear, a logarithmic or a potential
relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal.
34. The kit according to claim 23, further comprising a user
interface coupled to the control device and selectable between an
automatic mode and a manual mode, in the automatic mode the control
device configured to automatically act upon the reference signal to
establish either a linear, a logarithmic or a potential
relationship between the reference signal and the control signal,
in the manual mode the control device configured to act upon the
reference signal to establish either a linear, a logarithmic or a
potential relationship between the reference signal and the control
signal based on a manual selection of a user of the gas
appliance.
35. A method of modulating a flame in a burner of a domestic gas
appliance, the method comprising: producing an analog sound signal,
creating a reference signal based on the analog sound signal,
acting on the reference signal to create a control signal, the
reference signal being acted upon to establish either a linear, a
logarithmic or a potential relationship between the reference
signal and the control signal; and delivering the control signal to
an actuator of a gas control valve that is situated to control the
flow of gas to the burner, the control signal acting upon the
actuator to cause the actuator to open and/or close to modulate the
flame in the burner.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising regulating the gain
of the analog sound signal prior to creating the reference signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to
Spanish Patent Application No. P200930261, filed Jun. 4, 2009.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to domestic gas appliances and, more
specifically, to domestic gas appliances in which a flame is
generated and in which the flame can be modified by acting on at
least one valve.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Up until very recently domestic heating appliances and even
lighting appliances functioned by burning solid materials such as
wood. However, these types of appliances are gradually being
replaced by appliances that burn non-solid materials such as gas or
which generate heat or light electrically. The latter types of
appliances do not, therefore, produce the combustion effect of
flames that appliances burning solid materials do (e.g., visual
effect and/or sound effect). The combustion effect often causes the
user to feel a sense of well-being and relaxation that they do not
experience with gas or electrical appliances.
[0004] In order to solve the absence of the combustion effect and
generate these sensations in the user, different types of
appliances are now appearing on the market. One type is electrical
appliances that simulate the flame or fire to obtain these
combustion effects, some of them even simulating the sound produced
by the flames. An example of this type of appliance is disclosed in
the document US20070125367A1 where a flame is simulated by
electronic means. At least one light source, such as LEDs, is used
to achieve this in conjunction with a microprocessor that is used
to vary the intensity of the light and its colour of the light (of
the LEDs) in order to simulate the natural effect of a live flame.
Simulation of logs and wood are also disclosed.
[0005] Appliances that heat and/or light by means of a non-solid
fuel such as gas for example, hereinafter referred to as gas
appliances, comprise at least one burner to which the gas is
supplied, a flame being generated in the burner when the gas is
ignited. The intensity of the flame depends on the gas (or on an
air-gas mixture) that reaches the burner, and there are known
appliances that, in order to simulate the effect of combustion
cause a modification of the flame by the blowing an air current
directly into the burner (or onto the flame generated in the
burner) for example, thereby altering the flame, which modifies its
shape in accordance with the air current directed into the burner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,045 discloses an example of this type of
appliances, in which the vibrations of a speaker disposed in the
burner disturb the air-gas mixture that reaches the burner, the
flame being altered in accordance with the vibrations.
[0006] In other gas appliances, in order to simulate a combustion
effect, the gas that reaches the burner is regulated by acting on a
valve that regulates the passage of the gas to the burner.
Normally, the valve is acted on in accordance with preset patterns,
the user being able to select among a preset number of patterns at
any given moment. These patterns can imitate known music or even
certain ambiences such as a romantic ambience. U.S. Publication No.
2005/0208443A1 discloses a gas heating appliance that comprises
control means for regulating the characteristics of a gas generated
flame, such as its frequency and size, thereby providing a
combustion effect. To achieve this, the control means acts on a
valve to regulate the gas that reaches the burner. The control
means comprises a plurality of preset control modes or patterns
that can be selected to control the valve according to the pattern
selected by the user. However, a user of such appliance is unable
to recreate ambiences that have not been preset in the control
means.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
domestic gas appliance in which a flame can be modified to provide
an aesthetic visual effect.
[0008] In one implementation, a domestic gas appliance is provided
that comprises at least one burner where a flame is generated, at
least one valve associated to the burner and which regulates the
passage of gas to the burner, and control means that is associated
to the valve and which is adapted to generate a control signal for
controlling the position of the valve based on an analog
audio/sound input for the purpose of regulating the flow of gas to
the burner.
[0009] In one implementation the control means receives a reference
signal representative of the amplitude of the analog sound signal
and generates the control signal in accordance with the reference
signal. The different values (amplitudes) of the analog sound
signal are not stored or selected beforehand. As such, the control
means generates a control signal in accordance with a reference
signal representative of sounds generated in real-time. As a
result, the user can select in real-time a sequence of sounds in
order to produce a flame to recreate a desired ambience or feeling
at any given moment without being forced to select from among a
limited number of preset ambience. At the same time the domestic
gas appliance fulfils its main function, which can be heating (if
it is a gas stove/heater) or lighting (if it is a gas lamp) for
example.
[0010] In accordance with one implementation, a domestic gas
appliance is provided comprising a burner; a gas control valve,
when coupled to a gas source, situated to deliver a flow of the gas
to the burner, the gas control valve having an actuator that
induces an opening and/or closing of the flow control valve; and a
control device electrically coupled to the actuator to control the
opening and closing of the gas control valve, the control device
coupled to an audio input and configured to receive an analog sound
signal and to generate a control signal based on the analog sound
signal deliverable to the actuator to cause the actuator to induce
a modulation of a flame in the burner.
[0011] In accordance with another implementation, a kit for
incorporation into a domestic gas appliance having a burner is
provided, the kit comprising a gas control valve connectable
between a gas source and the burner, the gas control valve having
an actuator that induces an opening and/or closing of the gas
control valve; and a control device electrically coupled to the
actuator to control the opening and closing of the gas control
valve, the control device coupled to an audio input and configured
to receive an analog sound signal and to generate a control signal
based on the analog sound signal deliverable to the actuator to
cause the actuator to open and/or close for the purpose of inducing
a modulation of a flame in the burner.
[0012] In accordance with another implementation, a method of
modulating a flame in a burner of a domestic gas appliance is
provided, the method comprising producing an analog sound signal,
creating a reference signal based on the analog sound signal,
acting on the reference signal to create a control signal, the
reference signal being acted upon to establish either a linear, a
logarithmic or a potential relationship between the reference
signal and the control signal; and delivering the control signal to
an actuator of a gas control valve that is situated to control the
flow of gas to the burner, the control signal acting upon the
actuator to cause the actuator to open and/or close to modulate the
flame in the burner.
[0013] These and other advantages and characteristics of the
invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the
detailed description thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 schematically shows a gas appliance in one
implementation.
[0015] FIG. 2a shows a linear relationship between a reference
signal and a control signal of an appliance, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 2b shows a logarithmic relationship between a reference
signal and a control signal of an appliance, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 2c shows a potential relationship between a reference
signal and a control signal of an appliance, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3a represents the variations in amplitude of a melody
for which the most suitable relationship is a linear relationship
and also a reference signal representative of the variations.
[0019] FIG. 3b represents the variations in amplitude of a melody
for which the most suitable relationship is a logarithmic
relationship and also a reference signal representative of the
variations.
[0020] FIG. 3c represents the variations in volume of a melody for
which the most suitable relationship is the potential relationship
and also a reference signal representative of the variations.
[0021] FIG. 4a illustrates a burner of an appliance in one
implementation.
[0022] FIG. 4b illustrates a burner of the appliance in another
implementation.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a valve of an appliance
in one implementation, with a voice-coil type actuator.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a kit in one
implementation for incorporation into a domestic gas appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates, in the form of a block diagram, a
domestic gas appliance 100 according to one implementation of the
present invention. The appliance 100 may be, for example, a gas
heating appliance, a gas stove, or a lighting appliance such as a
gas lamp. In one implementation appliance 100 comprises at least
one burner 1 where a flame is generated, at least one valve 2
associated to the burner 1, and control means 3 that is associated
with valve 2 and which is adapted to generate at least one control
signal Sc used in the control of valve 2 to regulate the passage of
gas to burner 1. The appliance 100 may also comprise lighting
means, such as, for example, an igniter or a spark generator (not
shown in the figures) to ignite the flame in the burner 1. In one
implementation the control means 3 is adapted to cause the lighting
means to ignite the gas that reaches burner 1 at a given moment,
the flame being generated as a result of the lighting. The control
means 3 may comprise a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a control
device, a microprocessor or an equivalent device.
[0026] In one implementation the control means 3 receives an analog
reference signal Sref representative of the amplitudes of a
sequence of sounds, and generates the control signal Sc in
accordance with a reference signal Sref to cause the flame in the
burner 1 to move in accordance with the sequence of sounds. In some
implementations the control signal Sc is digital, while in other
implementations the control signal Sc is analogical.
[0027] In one implementation the sequence of sounds comprises a
melody or music, although any other type of sequences can be used,
such as, for example, the simulation of sea-waves. In one
implementation the sequence of sounds is generated by a stereo,
music centre or any other type media player 5 that transmits an
analog sound signal Sson identifying the music it is playing. In
one implementation the appliance 100 comprises an amplifying stage
6 that receives the sound signal Sson and which regulates the gain
of the sound signal Sson. In one implementation, if the sound
signal Sson has very high voltage values the amplifying stage 6
decreases the voltage values, if the sound signal Sson has very low
voltage values it increases the voltage values, and if the sound
signal Sson has intermediate or acceptable voltage values it
maintains voltage values. Voltage values that can be accepted and
treated by the control means 3 can be understood as intermediate or
acceptable voltage values, which can depend on the control means 3
used.
[0028] In one implementation the appliance 100 comprises an
adaptation stage 7 where the signal leaving the amplifying stage 6
is treated. In one implementation the manufacturer presets the
parameter of the signal that is to be taken into account in
generating the control signal Sc, which can correspond with its
size (instantaneous signal), its effective value or which can be in
accordance with the detection of peaks, for example. The output
signal of the adaptation stage 7 corresponds with the reference
signal Sref that reaches the control means 3, as shown in FIG. 1,
the control means 3 generating the control signal Sc in accordance
with the reference signal Sref. FIGS. 3a and 3c illustrate
exemplary reference signals, Sref, producible by an adaptation
stage 7.
[0029] The relationship between the reference signal Sref and the
control signal Sc may be, for example, linear, logarithmic or
potential, which are represented by the curves shown in FIGS. 2a,
2b and 2c respectively. FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show three different
types of melodies, with different rhythms, shown in accordance with
the variations in the amplitudes (peaks and/or valleys) of the
melodies (reference signal Sref in the x-axis). In the
representation shown in FIG. 3a, the amplitude of the melody
suffers frequent variations between an area of maximum levels Zmax
and an area of minimum levels Zmin, these being major variations in
amplitude, as a result of which the most suitable relationship to
be applied in this case is the linear relationship shown in FIG.
2a. In the representation shown in 3b, the volume of the melody
suffers frequent variations only in the area of minimum levels
Zmin, these being minor variations in amplitude, and suffers very
few variations between the area of minimum levels Zmin and the area
of maximum levels Zmax, and/or area of maximum levels Zmax. In this
case, therefore, in order to achieve good resolution, especially in
the variations in amplitude of the area of minimum levels Zmin, as
a result of which the most suitable relationship to be applied in
this case is the logarithmic relationship shown in FIG. 2b, by
means of which a small range of analog input values (x-axis) of the
area of minimum levels Zmin corresponds to a large range of digital
output values (control signal Sc in the y-axis). In the
representation shown in FIG. 3c, the amplitude of the melody
suffers frequent variations only in the area of maximum levels
Zmax, these being minor variations in amplitude, and suffers very
few variations between the area of maximum levels Zmax and the area
of minimum levels Zmin, and/or in the area of minimum levels Zmin.
In this case, therefore, in order to achieve a good resolution,
especially in the variations in amplitude of the area of maximum
levels Zmax, as a result of which the most suitable relationship to
be applied in this case is the potential relationship shown in FIG.
2c, by means of which a small range of analog input values (x-axis)
of the area of maximum levels Zmax corresponds to a large range of
digital output values (control signal Sc in the y-axis). In one
implementation, the control means 3 automatically selects the most
appropriate relationship to be applied. In another implementation
one or more user interfaces are provided that enables the user to
select between an automatic mode and a manual mode. In the
automatic mode the control means automatically selects the most
appropriate relation, whereas in the manual mode the user is permit
to select the relationship to be applied.
[0030] Appliance 100 may comprise a single burner 1 with a single
combustion area 1a where a flame is ignited, or with a plurality of
combustion areas 1a where a flame is capable of being ignited in
each of the combustion areas 1a. Appliance 100 may also comprise a
plurality of burners 1, each of them comprising one or more
combustion areas 1a. In one implementation appliance 100 comprises,
for each combustion area la, an associated gas supply valve 2 with
the control means 3 capable of generating a control signal Sc for
each valves 2. The control signals Sc may be equal or different for
all the valves 2. In one implementation control signals Sc having
different relationships (e.g., linear, logarithmic, potential) with
the reference signal Sref are supplied to different valves 2 of a
gas appliance. For example, in one implementation a control signal
Sc having a linear relationship with the reference signal Sref is
supplied to one valve 2 while a control signal Sc having a
logarithmic or potential relationship with the reference signal
Sref is supplied to another valve 2. In general, in each combustion
area 1a the flame may be modulated or modified separately to the
rest of the combustion areas 1a. The burner 1 is not restricted to
a specific shape and/or arrangement and can comprise any
conventional shape such as those shown in FIG. 4a (with a single
combustion area 1a in this case) and in FIG. 4b (with two
combustion areas 1a in this case, also disposed at different
heights). In each combustion area 1a the corresponding tube 1c
comprises a plurality of grooves 1a' through which the flame exits
to the outside. As shown in FIG. 4b, additionally, the shape and/or
arrangement of a combustion area 1a (of a pipe 1c where the
combustion area 1a is disposed) may be different to that of another
combustion area 1a (the pipe 1c of another combustion area 1a), and
the burner 1 can comprise an intermediate pipe 1b to connect the
flame of one combustion area 1a with another combustion area 1a, so
that the flames present in the burner 1 display a continuity
despite being generated in different combustion areas 1a.
[0031] To obtain a flame that represents the amplitude of the
sequence of sounds in the most realistic way possible, the use of
valves 2 that can be opened and closed at high speeds, speeds in
excess of about 30 Hz for example, is advised. In one
implementation of the present invention the valve 2 comprises a
voice-coil type actuator as shown in FIG. 5. This type of actuator
comprises a permanent magnet 2b, and in one implementation the
permanent magnet 2b is axially magnetised while in another it is
radially magnetised. Alternatively, the valve 2 may comprise,
without limitation, a piezoelectric-bender actuator or an
ultrasonic-type motor, which can also be opened and closed at high
speeds.
[0032] In one implementation valve 2 comprises a voice-coil type
actuator. This type of actuator comprises a moving part 2a (moving
reel), the movement of which causes the valve 2 to open and close,
thereby enabling or preventing the passage of gas to the burner 1.
In one implementation the voice-coil has a low mechanical inertia
in order to allow the moving part 2a to move at frequencies of 30
Hz or greater. In order to cause the moving part 2a to move, an
electrical current is supplied to the actuator with the result that
a magnetic field is generated that is opposed to the force exerted
by the permanent magnet 2b, causing the valve 2 to open. In one
implementation appliance 100 comprises a driver 8 or a control
system (not shown in the figures) for the valve 2, which receives
the control signal Sc. In such an implementation the driver 8
generates the electrical current for the actuator of the valve 2 in
accordance with the control signal Sc, which in the implementation
in which the control signal Sc is digital it can be a square wave
signal. The square signals may comprise, in each period, an
interval Ton in which the signal corresponds with a "1" logic, and
an interval Toff in which the signal corresponds with a "0" logic,
the relationship between the intervals Ton and Toff being known as
a duty-cycle. The adjusting of the duty-cycle of the electrical
current signal enables the opening and closing of the valve 2 to be
controlled. In the implementation in which the control signal Sc is
analogical, the valve 2 can comprise intermediate positions, not
only a totally open position or a totally closed position,
different amounts of gas being allowed through said valve 2 towards
the burner 2 depending on said control signal Sc.
[0033] The sequence of sounds is generated by a sound device 5,
which in one implementation is a conventional device that is
already disposed with an output that corresponds with the sound
signal Sson. The sound device 5 can comprise, for example, capture
devices such as CD and DVD players, microphones etc, or devices
known as virtual electronic devices, such as a guitar or an
electronic baton for example. The sound device 5 can also be a
device external to the heating appliance 100, as shown in FIG. 1,
or it can be built into the appliance 100 itself. In the event that
the sound device 5 is external, the appliance 100 comprises an
input 15 for receiving the sound signal Sson originating from the
sound device 5, which in one implementation comprises a plug.
[0034] In one implementation, a control system of the present
invention includes an ON/OFF switch that permits a user of the
system to deactivate the control system. When the OFF mode is
selected, the gas control valve 2 is adapted to remain open in
spite of any audio signal introduced into the system. In one
implementation the ON/OFF control switch is operatively connected
to the control means 3 so that a control signal is generated to
maintain the gas control valve 2 open. In another implementation
the ON/OFF switch deactivates the control means 3, or otherwise
acts upon other control system components in a manner such that no
control signal is delivered to the gas control valve 2, the gas
control valve being adapted to assume and maintain an open position
in the absence of receiving a control signal.
[0035] An advantage of present invention is that it may easily be
integrated into a wide variety of gas appliances. In one
implementation a kit 300 for integration into a convention gas
appliance is provided. In one implementation, as shown in FIG. 6,
the kit comprises a gas control valve 200 and a controller 205,
with an optional ON/OFF switch 20. In the example of FIG. 6, the
gas control valve 200 is installed in the gas line 208 between a
shut-off valve 210 and a gas burner 220. In one implementation, the
shut-off valve 210 is a safety valve that is coupled to a
thermocouple situated in or near the burner and is adapted to close
upon a disruption or extinguishing of a pilot flame associated with
the burner 220. In another implementation the shut-off valve is a
manually operated valve. In one implementation the controller 205
comprises at least an analog input for receiving an analog audio
signal and also a control device/control means, similar to that
previously discussed, for generating a control signal to be
delivered to and regulate the position of control valve 205. In
addition to the control device, the controller may include one or
more of the components 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 or any of the other
features previously described herein.
[0036] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the
context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends
beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative
embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications
and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the
present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the
particular disclosed embodiments described above.
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