Copeland Comfort Control LP

Emerson Electric Company

Harshal Manik Pawar

John Francis Broker

Thomas B Lorenz

John F Broker

Horst E Jaeschke

William C Leise

A gas powered appliance includes a main burner for burning gas, a flame sensor assembly, and a controller. The flames sensor assembly includes a probe positioned proximate the main burner to couple an electric current to the main burner through a flame on the main burner, a flame detector circuit providing a digital signal indicating presence or absence of the flame on the main burner based on the electric current, and a flame strength circuit receiving a voltage on a component of the flame detector circuit and outputting an analog signal based on the voltage. The controller is connected to the flame sensor assembly and programmed to control the main burner to receive the digital signal from the flame detector circuit, receive the analog signal from the flame strength circuit, and determine, based on the analog signal from the flame strength circuit, a strength of the flame.

Systems and methods for flame strength monitoring in gas powered appliances

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for controlling inducer motor speed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes changing stator voltage of an inducer motor (e.g., by changing a firing angle of a triac, using a transistor, a silicon controlled rectifier or semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR), other switching device, etc.); determining actual inducer motor speed (e.g., by using a hall effect sensor or other speed sensor, etc.); and after determining the actual inducer motor speed, changing the motor stator voltage (e.g., by changing the firing angle of the triac, etc.) to a value at which the actual inducer motor speed is controllably regulated and/or maintained substantially at a set speed.

Systems and methods for controlling inducer motor speed

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of controls including circuit assemblies configured for determining igniter, inducer relay, and igniter relay faults. In exemplary embodiments, a control for a system includes an input configured to receive a control signal, an inducer relay, an igniter relay, and a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly is configured to be coupled to the inducer relay, the igniter relay, and an igniter of the system. The circuit assembly comprises a plurality of diodes and is configured to enable detection of and distinguishing between a failure of the igniter, a failure of the inducer relay, and a failure of the igniter relay as determined by a waveform of the control signal at the input of the control for a given one of a plurality of operational states of the control.

Using diode rectification to determine igniter, inducer relay, and igniter relay faults

A controller for use in a climate control system includes a power stealing circuit connectible with a control of the climate control system and configured for stealing power via a signal from a power source through the control. An overcurrent limiting circuit is configured to limit a first portion of the signal to prevent a false call for operation of the control. The overcurrent limiting circuit is further configured not to limit a second portion of the signal to prevent a false call, where the control is configured to recognize only the first portion as determinative of whether the signal is a call for operation.

Apparatus and methods for power stealing by controllers

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of a control for an HVAC system. The control has an alphanumeric display, a plurality of two position switches (e.g., push buttons, etc.), and a processor. The processor receives a current user input through at least one of the two position switches and determines a response to the current user input. The determining is performed using one or more previously received user inputs, if any, via one or more of the two position switches. The processor implements the determined response by displaying a message on the alphanumeric display and/or changing an operational parameter of the HVAC system.

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Pune, India

Harshal Manik Pawar