Claims
- 1. In a system having a flame thermally coupled to a device which generates an electrical output in response to heat energy received from said flame, the improvement comprising:a. an electronic circuit which provides early detection of a flame out condition by comparing said electrical output to an assumed signature for said flame out condition; and b. wherein said electronic circuit is powered by said electrical output.
- 2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said device further comprises a microprocessor.
- 3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said device further comprises a thermopile.
- 4. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said device further comprises a thermocouple.
- 5. An apparatus comprising:a. a flame; b. a device thermally coupled to said flame which generates an electrical output in response to heat received from said flame; c. an electrical circuit responsively coupled to said electrical output which provides early detection of a flame out condition by sampling said electrical output; d. wherein said electrical circuit further comprises a microprocessor; and e. wherein said microprocessor is powered by said electrical output.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said microprocessor utilizes said sampling of said electrical output to produce a history of said electrical output provides early detection of said flame out condition by comparing said sampling of said electrical output with said history of said electrical output.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said history is stored within a history queue.
- 8. A method of early prediction of a flame out condition in a system employing a flame comprising:a. generating an electrical output in response to heat received from said flame; b. sampling said electrical output to determine an amplitude; c. continuing to sample said electrical output to produce an amplitude history; d. comparing a current sample to said history; and e. assuming a flame out condition when said comparing step suggests a flame out.
- 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said amplitude history contains samples which are a plurality of seconds apart.
- 10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said amplitude history contains a plurality of samples taken within a single second.
- 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said plurality of samples taken within a single second further comprises eight.
- 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of seconds further comprises eight seconds.
- 13. An apparatus for quickly detecting a flame out condition in a system having a flame comprising:a. means thermally coupled to said flame for generating an electrical output in response to heat received from said flame having a flame out signature; b. means responsively coupled to said generating means for sampling said electrical output; c. means responsively coupled to said sampling means for detecting a flame out when said sampling indicates said flame out signature; and d. wherein said detecting means is powered by said generating means.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said detecting means further comprises a microprocessor.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said generating means further comprises a thermopile.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said generating means further comprises a thermocouple.
CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/447,999, filed Nov. 23, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,478, and entitled, “STEPPER MOTOR DRIVING A LINEAR ACTUATOR OPERATING A PRESSURE CONTROL REGULATOR”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/450,078, filed Nov. 29, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,308, and entitled, “ELECTRONIC FUEL CONVERTIBILITY SELECTION”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/448,102, filed Nov. 23, 1999, and entitled, “LOW INPUT VOLTAGE, HIGH EFFICIENCY, DUAL OUTPUT DC TO DC CONVERTER”; are commonly assigned co-pending applications incorporated herein by reference.
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