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Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operationRelated Patent Categories: Combustion, Separately Supplied Or Controlled, Physically Related Flame Holders, E.g., Diverse Fuels, Pilot And Main, Etc.Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070128563, Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The invention relates generally to gas appliances, and more particularly to ignition devices for igniting a flow of gas in gas appliances and other gas-fired equipment. The invention may be applied to any application where ignition of a fuel air mixture is required. [0002] Conventional gas appliances, such as those found in households, have one or more burners in which gas is mixed with air and burned at a cooktop or in an enclosed space, such as an oven. Various types of igniters are employed in such gas appliances for igniting the flow of gas. For example, in some systems spark igniters are employed that generate a spark to ignite the gas flowing to the burner. In certain other systems, ceramic hot surface igniters are employed that include heating elements for generating sufficient heat to ignite the gas supplied to the burner. [0003] In certain systems, silicon carbide or silicon nitride hot surface igniters are employed for igniting the gas flow. Some of the problems with these conventional igniters are that they are porous, fragile, power hungry, relatively expensive and are fairly slow to reach ignition temperature. In addition, the resistance versus temperature characteristics of these conventional silicon carbide igniters may alter or drift over time, thereby adversely affecting their reliability. [0004] Unfortunately, existing hot surface igniters need substantially high power for operation and can require an unacceptably long time to reach the required temperature for ignition. Further, heating elements of the igniters are exposed to the environment, resulting in accelerated failure of such elements due to degradation and contamination of the elements. Additionally, such igniters are often subjected to impacts from an operator during routine cleaning and maintenance, which may cause the igniter to break. Furthermore, such igniters require precise control of the voltage supplied to the heating elements. For example, a relatively high voltage may result in premature failure of the heating elements. Similarly, an applied voltage less than the required voltage may result in poor performance of the igniter. [0005] Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop an ignition device for a gas appliance that has reduced power and voltage requirements. It would also be advantageous to develop an ignition device that requires relatively less time to reach the required ignition temperature, and is more robust and reliable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION [0006] Briefly, according to one embodiment an ignition device for a gas appliance is provided. The ignition device includes a membrane and a plurality of heating elements embedded in the membrane, wherein the heating elements comprise a plurality of patterned resistors and wherein the plurality of heating elements are configured to heat a surface on application of voltage to the heating elements. The ignition device also includes a cavity disposed adjacent to the heating elements and configured to provide thermal isolation of the heating elements. [0007] In another embodiment, a gas appliance is provided. The gas appliance includes a cooktop and a gas burner assembly positioned in the cooktop and configured to receive a flow of gas. The gas appliance also includes an ignition device positioned adjacent to the gas burner assembly for igniting the flow of gas. The ignition device includes a two dimensional microplate including a membrane and a plurality of heating elements embedded in the membrane, wherein the heating elements comprise a plurality of patterned resistors and wherein the plurality of heating elements are configured to heat the microplate on application of voltage to the heating elements. The gas appliance also includes a cavity disposed adjacent to the heating elements and configured to provide thermal isolation of the heating elements. [0008] In another embodiment, a method of igniting a flow of gas in a gas appliance is provided. The method includes receiving the flow of gas adjacent a microplate having heating elements embedded within a membrane and heating the microplate by applying a voltage to the heating elements embedded within the membrane. The method also includes igniting the flow of gas via the heated microplate. DRAWINGS [0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: [0010] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of a gas range having an ignition device in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a gas burner employed in the gas range of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0012] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the gas burner of FIG. 2 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0013] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical illustration of an ignition device incorporated in the gas range of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary configuration of ignition device employed in the cooktop of FIG. 4 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the ignition device of FIG. 5 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0016] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical representation of an exemplary process for manufacturing the ignition device of FIGS. 5 and 6 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0017] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical representation of another exemplary process for manufacturing the ignition device of FIGS. 5 and 6 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0018] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical illustration of an exemplary configuration of the ignition device of FIG. 4 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0019] FIG. 10 is a graphical representation depicting change in resistance of the ignition device of FIGS. 5 and 6 with temperature in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0020] FIG. 11 is a graphical representation depicting the time response of the ignition device of FIGS. 5 and 6 to reach an ignition temperature in accordance with aspects of the present technique; [0021] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary configuration of ignition device employed in the cooktop of FIG. 4 in accordance with aspects of the present technique; and Continue reading about Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation... Full patent description for Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Burner apparatus Next Patent Application: Burner Industry Class: Combustion ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ignition device for a gas appliance and method of operation patent info. 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