Methods and systems for open-loop ignition of a smoke generator fuel source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12196423-B2
Application number	US-202318364034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2023
Priority date	May 16, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

In an aspect, data characterizing an instruction for an activation of an igniter and an operating mode of a smoke generator that includes the igniter can be received. A first amount of energy required for an ignition of a fuel source by the igniter can be determined based on the operating mode characterized by the received data. The igniter can be caused to activate based on the received data. A second amount of energy, output by the igniter over a period of time during which the igniter is activated, can be determined. A determination of whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy can be made. The igniter can be caused to deactivate in response to a determination that the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy. Related systems, apparatus, techniques, and articles are also described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooking system, comprising:
a housing including a cooking chamber therein and a smoker box in fluidic communication with the cooking chamber, the smoker box comprising a fuel source and an igniter adjacent to the fuel source;
at least one sensor; and
a controller operably coupled to the igniter and the at least one sensor, the controller comprising a memory and a data processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed cause the data processor to perform operations comprising
receiving data characterizing an instruction activating the igniter, the instruction corresponding to a selection of an operating mode of the smoker box;
determining, based on the data, a first amount of energy to be output by the igniter to ignite the fuel source;
causing, based on the data, electric current to be conveyed to the igniter so as to activate the igniter to output the first amount of energy and ignite the fuel source;
determining an amount of electric current conveyed to the igniter during a period of time the igniter is activated;
determining a second amount of energy to be output by the igniter over the period of time the igniter is activated based on the determined amount of amount of electric current conveyed during the period of time the igniter is activated;
determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy; and
causing the igniter to deactivate based on determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.

2. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature data includes a temperature of the smoker box, a temperature of the cooking system, and/or an ambient temperature of air in proximity of the smoker box.

3. The cooking system of claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the smoker box is acquired via a first sensor in fluid communication with air inside a compartment of the smoker box.

4. The cooking system of claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the cooking system is acquired via a second sensor in fluid communication with air inside a chamber within the cooking system, the chamber configured to cook food within the cooking system.

5. The cooking system of claim 2 , wherein the ambient temperature of air in proximity of the smoker box is acquired via a third sensor in fluid communication with air surrounding the smoker box.

6. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the amount of electric current is conveyed to the igniter at one or more time points during the period of time the igniter is activated.

7. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the amount of electric current is inversely related to the temperature of the cooking system.

8. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the second amount of energy is further determined based on a nominal electrical resistance of a nominal igniter corresponding to the igniter.

9. The cooking system of claim 8 , wherein the second amount of energy is determined to increase based on a decrease in the nominal electrical resistance of the nominal igniter corresponding to the igniter.

10. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the second amount of energy is determined to increase based on an increase in the determined amount of electric current conveyed during the period of time the igniter is activated.

11. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the period of time the igniter is activated comprises a plurality of time periods, and the second amount of energy can be a cumulative amount of second energy corresponding to the second amount of energy determined for each time period of the plurality of time periods.

12. A smoke assembly comprising:
a fuel box assembly configured to retain a fuel source therein;
an igniter adjacent to the fuel source;
at least one sensor; and
a controller operably coupled to the igniter and the sensor, the controller comprising at a memory and a data processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed cause the data processor to perform operations comprising
receiving data characterizing an instruction activating the igniter, the instruction corresponding to a selection of an operating mode of the smoke assembly;
determining, based on the data, a first amount of energy to be output by the igniter to ignite the fuel source;
causing, based on the data, electric current to be conveyed to the igniter so as to activate the igniter to output the first amount of energy and ignite the fuel source;
determining an amount of electric current conveyed to the igniter during a period of time the igniter is activated;
determining a second amount of energy to be output by the igniter over the period of time the igniter is activated based on the determined amount of amount of electric current conveyed during the period of time the igniter is activated;
determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy; and
causing the igniter to deactivate based on determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.

13. The smoke assembly of claim 12 , wherein the temperature data includes a temperature of the smoke assembly, and/or an ambient temperature of air in proximity of the smoke assembly.

14. The smoke assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a first sensor in fluid communication with air inside a compartment of the smoke assembly and the first sensor is configured to acquire the temperature of the smoke assembly.

15. The smoke assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a second sensor in fluid communication with air surrounding the smoke assembly and the second sensor is configured to acquire the ambient temperature of air in proximity of the smoke assembly.

16. The smoke assembly of claim 12 , wherein the amount of electric current is conveyed to the igniter at one or more time points during the period of time the igniter is activated.

17. The smoke assembly of claim 12 , wherein the amount of electric current is inversely related to the temperature of the smoke assembly.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Chow Nicholas
• Hishmeh Blake
• Martin Christopher T

Classifications

• A47J37/00

  Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying (bakers' ovens, non-domestic baking apparatus or equipment A21B; domestic stoves or ranges F24B, F24C) · CPC title

• F24C5/16

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• H05B1/0261

  of food · CPC title

• H02P29/40

  Regulating or controlling the amount of current drawn or delivered by the motor for controlling the mechanical load · CPC title

• G01R27/14

  Measuring resistance by measuring current or voltage obtained from a reference source (G01R27/16, G01R27/20, G01R27/22 take precedence) · CPC title