Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. When energized, the circuit generates temperatures in excess of 2000° F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as natural gas. To prevent damage to the igniter during use or cleaning, an insulator assembly is provided which protects the distal end of the igniter ceramic body from damage while still exposing it to the cooking gas flow from the burner. In addition, a number of different terminal connection schemes for connecting the igniters to a power source are shown and described.

A heater of the disclosure includes: an insulating base including a rod-shaped portion; a heat generating resistor located inside the insulating base; a fixing member which is cylindrical, wherein the insulating base is inserted into the fixing member; and a spacer which is belt-shaped, located between the rod-shaped portion and the fixing member, and surrounds the rod-shaped portion in a circumferential direction. The spacer includes a first end and a second end which face the first end.

Disclosed is a control strategy for a hot surface igniter. On the basis of a hardware circuit of the hot surface igniter and a software algorithm, a working time of the hot surface igniter is divided into t1, t2, . . . , and to time periods. In each time period, an output voltage or an output power of the hardware circuit is adjusted by the software algorithm to make the hot surface igniter reach an expected temperature. Through the control strategy of the disclosure, ignition time of the hot surface igniter may be easily controlled. The requirements of a user of igniting in a short time are satisfied.

Disclosed is a control strategy for a hot surface igniter. On the basis of a hardware circuit of the hot surface igniter and a software algorithm, a working time of the hot surface igniter is divided into t1, t2, . . . , and to time periods. In each time period, an output voltage or an output power of the hardware circuit is adjusted by the software algorithm to make the hot surface igniter reach an expected temperature. Through the control strategy of the disclosure, ignition time of the hot surface igniter may be easily controlled. The requirements of a user of igniting in a short time are satisfied.

A gas oven appliance includes a cooking chamber, a gas burner positioned in the cooking chamber, an igniter positioned at the gas burner, and a gas valve coupled to the igniter. The gas valve includes a bimetallic strip. A controller is configured to operate the igniter. The controller cycles the ignitor between on and off at an interval of time to at least keep the bimetallic strip above a temperature threshold.

A gas oven appliance includes a cooking chamber, a gas burner positioned in the cooking chamber, an igniter positioned at the gas burner, and a gas valve coupled to the igniter. The gas valve includes a bimetallic strip. A controller is configured to operate the igniter. The controller cycles the ignitor between on and off at an interval of time to at least keep the bimetallic strip above a temperature threshold.

An ignition method of a plasma chamber includes steps of: (a) starting softly an ignition voltage to a first voltage, (b) decreasing the magnitude of the ignition voltage to a second voltage after a first ignition time, (c) increasing the magnitude of the ignition voltage to the first voltage after a second ignition time, and (d) repeating the step (b) and the step (c) until the ignition is successful.

An ignition method of a plasma chamber includes steps of: (a) starting softly an ignition voltage to a first voltage, (b) decreasing the magnitude of the ignition voltage to a second voltage after a first ignition time, (c) increasing the magnitude of the ignition voltage to the first voltage after a second ignition time, and (d) repeating the step (b) and the step (c) until the ignition is successful.

A method is provided for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater (10) during a start phase of combustion operation. The heater includes a combustion air feed device (26) feeding air and a fuel feed device (22) feeding fuel (B) to a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (16). An electrically energizable ignition element (32) ignites a fuel/air mixture formed. The method includes energizing the ignition element (32) in a preheating phase prior to the fuel feed, at a time of entry into an ignition phase, detecting electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) and determining a desired resistance based on the electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) detected and operating the ignition element (32) in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase such that an actual resistance of the ignition element (32) is in the range of the determined desired resistance of the ignition element (32).

A method is provided for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater (10) during a start phase of combustion operation. The heater includes a combustion air feed device (26) feeding air and a fuel feed device (22) feeding fuel (B) to a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (16). An electrically energizable ignition element (32) ignites a fuel/air mixture formed. The method includes energizing the ignition element (32) in a preheating phase prior to the fuel feed, at a time of entry into an ignition phase, detecting electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) and determining a desired resistance based on the electrical resistance of the ignition element (32) detected and operating the ignition element (32) in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase such that an actual resistance of the ignition element (32) is in the range of the determined desired resistance of the ignition element (32).