Abstract: The present invention is a gas appliance utilizing a single electrode spark ignition system. The gas appliance comprises two common ground planes, a conductive piece, a spark ignition device, and a P-N junction device. The conductive piece, e.g., a burner, a chassis, or a metal plate adjacent to the burner, is grounded to a first common ground plane. The spark ignition device has an electrode, and it is grounded to a second common ground plane. The spark ignition device is adapted to generate a spark between the electrode and the conductive piece to ignite the fuel. The P-N junction device is adapted to isolate the second common ground plane from the first common ground plane. As a result, the design prevents transient voltage spikes caused by the spark ignition device from interfering with the normal operation of the control circuitry of the gas appliance.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas appliance utilizing a single electrode spark ignition system. The gas appliance comprises two common ground planes, a conductive piece, a spark ignition device, and a P-N junction device. The conductive piece, e.g., a burner, a chassis, or a metal plate adjacent to the burner, is grounded to a first common ground plane. The spark ignition device has an electrode, and it is grounded to a second common ground plane. The spark ignition device is adapted to generate a spark between the electrode and the conductive piece to ignite the fuel. The P-N junction device is adapted to isolate the second common ground plane from the first common ground plane. As a result, the design prevents transient voltage spikes caused by the spark ignition device from interfering with the normal operation of the control circuitry of the gas appliance.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas appliance comprising a burner, a conduit, a control circuit, and a valve. The burner is adapted to burn a fuel and producing a flame. The conduit is connected to a source of the fuel and adapted to convey the fuel to a burner. The valve is interposed on the conduit between the source of fuel and the burner and is in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit is adapted to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the valve whereby the valve provides a substantially linear flow rate of fuel to the burner.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas appliance comprising a burner, a conduit, a control circuit, and a valve. The burner is adapted to burn a fuel and producing a flame. The conduit is connected to a source of the fuel and adapted to convey the fuel to a burner. The valve is interposed on the conduit between the source of fuel and the burner and is in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit is adapted to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the valve whereby the valve provides a substantially linear flow rate of fuel to the burner.

Abstract: The cooking grill has a moisture-insensitive flame detector capable of accurately determining the presence or absence of flame in the presence of moisture disposed adjacent to the burner. It also provides a more reliable ignition device and will relight the grill if the flame is blown out. The cooking grill also has an automatic shut-off to protect against the user forgetting to turn off the gas. It provides a lock-out system which prevents unauthorized use by individuals, such as children. Finally, the temperature in a grill or other cooking device can be controlled by cycling the burner on and off through microprocessor commands.

Abstract: A food cooking grill with a housing which includes a horizontally disposed grate which is secured to a front frame plate, opposing side walls and rear wall. A front access door is hingedly mounted on the front frame plate. A payment device and a digital display are mounted on the access door and are electrically connected to a control circuit. A solenoid-actuated shut-off valve is interposed in a gas conduit between the burner and a propane or LPG tank coupling in one embodiment of the invention. The shut-off valve is responsive to the control circuit which receives inputs from the payment device and a flame detector and which also controls a flame ignitor and the digital display.