Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.

Gabriel, Inc.

James M Ralson

Kevin C Solofra

Thomas A Chodacki

Gregory Jay Ramsey

Systems and methods for energizing an electrical resistance igniter are disclosed. The systems and methods determine the line voltage into the system and control the voltage being applied to the electrical resistance igniters so a first voltage is applied initially and for a time period and thereafter a second voltage is applied, the second voltage being the operating voltage for the igniter. The systems and methods decrease the amount of time required to heat-up the electrical resistance igniter to a temperature sufficient to ignite the gas while regulating the output voltage being delivered to the igniters to prevent over voltage damage to the igniters.

Systems for regulating voltage to an electrical resistance igniter

Systems and methods for energizing an electrical resistance igniter include determining the line voltage into the system and controlling the voltage being applied to the electrical resistance igniters so a first voltage is applied initially and for a time period and thereafter a second voltage is applied, the second voltage being the operating voltage for the igniter. The systems and methods decrease the amount of time required to heat-up the electrical resistance igniter to a temperature sufficient to ignite the gas while regulating the output voltage being delivered to the igniters to prevent over voltage damage to the igniters.

A transformerless oven timer which uses a 20 pin microcontroller connected to light emitting diodes. The microcontroller has 2 Kbytes of 8 bit read only memory and has software etched therein. The microcontroller can transfer power and voltage to the light emitting diodes when the oven is connected to, and powered by, an electrical outlet. The software etched into the microcontroller detects whether a resistor is connected to the microcontroller and converts a pin on the microcontroller from an input into an output. The software also synchronizes the microcontroller with the frequency of the electrical outlet to provide that the microcontroller keeps track of time. The transformerless oven timer also includes electrical circuitry connected to the microcontroller, where the electrical circuitry reduces the voltage and current provided to the microcontroller and to the light emitting diodes without using a transformer. The electrical circuitry also provides real resistance to reject noise from the electrical outlet.

Transformerless LED driving circuit

Disclosed is an electronics device for use with a refrigerator/freezer for controlling the dispensing of ice cubes by an ice auger through a door flap when a cradle is pressed. The electronics device comprises a solenoid in operative connection with the door flap, and the solenoid is powerably connectable to a 120 Volt AC line power source. The electronics device also comprises a relay switch controlled by two NPN bipolar transistors in a Darlington configuration which are in parallel connection with a diode and a capacitor. The relay switch is also connected to the power source and connects the power source to the solenoid when the cradle is pressed causing the door flap to open. The power source powers the ice auger to dispense ice cubes through the door flap, and the capacitor causes the transistors to be biased on while the capacitor is charged to a voltage greater than a voltage of the diode. When the cradle is pressed, the capacitor begins to de-charge and when the capacitor de-charges to a voltage less than the voltage of the diode, the relay switch disconnects the power source from the solenoid causing the door flap to close.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

James M Ralson