Abstract: A digital gas cooking appliance is disclosed. The digital gas cooking appliance has the ability of self-initiating an automatic calibration process to determine an optimum valve position to be used for an electromechanical valve when igniting a gas cooking element by performing a plurality of ignition sequences for the gas cooking element at a plurality of respective valve positions of the electromechanical valve. During each of the plurality of ignition sequences, a respective ignition duration between a start of the respective ignition sequence when an igniter is active and the electromechanical valve is open, and a flame is detected by a flame detector, may be determined.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method may generate one or more audible and/or visual indications to a user of various gas burner states during the operation of a gas burner, including, for example, states that are associated with different types of ignition operations, such as initial ignition operations, programmed re-ignition operations and/or flame loss re-ignition operations and/or states that are associated with ignition operations, normal operating conditions, and/or failure conditions.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and system for a two-step activation for a gas cooktop burner includes at least one control selector having an output representative of a valve position and a touch sensor having an output representative of a permission to operate the valve, with a user-configurable two-step activation sequence used to control a digital gas valve and an ignitor for the gas cooktop burner to ignite and activate the gas cooktop burner.

Abstract: A cooking appliance may use a sensor to sense a rate of movement of a user control and generate an alert when the rate of movement meets an alert criterion, thereby enabling detection of potential inadvertent movements of a user control.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user while an igniter is activated during ignition of a gas burner to notify the user that the igniter is active.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user when a user control for a gas burner is in a position within which an igniter is active and a gas valve is supplying sufficient gas flow to the gas burner to support ignition and thereby assist a user in properly positioning the user control during ignition of the burner.

Abstract: A cooking appliance such as a range or stovetop incorporates cooking container sensing for controlling burner ignition and/or triggering events in programmed cooking sequences.

Abstract: A system and apparatus utilize integrated touch sensing controls to operate a cooking appliance. Among other benefits, one or more touch sensors integrated on control knobs may be used in combination with one or more position sensors and/or one or more ignition detectors to detect and signal an alert in response to different operating scenarios of the cooking appliance, to enable energization of the cooking appliance, and/or to activate/deactivate a control lock feature.

Abstract: A system for a two-step activation for a valve includes at least one valve control selector having an output representative of a valve position and a touch sensor having an output representative of a permission to operate said valve.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method of operating the same utilize a variable electromechanical valve to regulate an output power level of an oven broiler gas burner for a cooking appliance. Among other benefits, in some instances broiler control during cooking may be decoupled from oven warm-up, and in some instances support may be provided for automatic and/or user controlled broiler output power levels and/or automated broil profiles.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method of operating the same utilize a multi-level valve system that regulates an output power level of a gas burner for an oven between a maximum output power level and at least one reduced output power level to selectively reduce the output power level of the gas burner during at least a portion of an oven warm-up operation, e.g., to improve burner operating characteristics during the oven warm-up operation.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including an oven compartment, and first and second gas burners positioned to supply heat to the oven compartment. The first and second gas burners respectively include first and second electromechanical modulating valves that respectively couple the first and second gas burners to a gas supply. A controller is used to control the first and second gas burners to heat the oven compartment, and the controller, when maintaining a predetermined temperature in the oven compartment, controls the electromechanical modulating valves of the first and second gas burners to vary respective output levels of the first and second gas burners while maintaining a substantially constant combined output level for the first and second gas burners.

Abstract: An igniter assembly for a gas cooking appliance is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the igniter assembly may have an igniter that can be removed from and/or inserted into an igniter socket/base through a surface of a cooking appliance without having to remove the surface of the cooking appliance. Accordingly, when the surface is being cleaned after cooking applications, the igniter can be removed from the surface, thereby eliminating any potential damage to the igniter and allowing the surface to be thoroughly cleaned. After cleaning, the igniter can then be re-inserted into the igniter socket through the surface of the cooking appliance without having to remove the surface of the cooking appliance.

Abstract: A system for inhibiting and providing access to appliance control knobs includes a support structure for mounting individual control knobs or groups thereof, and an actuator assembly for extending and retracting control knobs either individually or collectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing undesired change in cooking valve configuration. An appliance may include one or more guard members. The one or more guard members may be adjacent one or more control knobs operably connected to one or more valves. The guard member may overlap one or more portions of the outer periphery of the control knob extending from the control panel in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a gas cooking element, an electromechanical valve fluidly coupled with the gas cooking element to regulate a flow of gas to the cooking element, a flame detector configured to detect an active state of a flame for the gas cooking element, a manually-actuated user control movable over a range of positions, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical valve, the flame detector, and the manually-actuated user control. The controller is configured to initiate a calibration process to determine an active range for the gas cooking element.

Abstract: A system for a two-step activation for a valve includes at least one valve control selector having an output representative of a valve position and a touch sensor having an output representative of a permission to operate said valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a manual gas valve. The manual gas valve may include at least one internal spring and a valve plug. The internal spring may be independent from an external spring and a valve stem. The internal spring may be positioned in a constant installed height. The internal spring includes a constant spring force applied to the valve plug. The one or more manual gas valves may be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gas burner head with at least a first burner region and a second burner region, an ignitor located near the gas burner, and a burner drive that is configured to generate relative rotation between the first and second burner regions of the gas burner to transfer a flame between the first and second burner regions during the relative rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a cooking appliance having an alert for energization of one or more burners. The cooking appliance may include an ignition enable control. The cooking appliance may include a locked mode and an unlocked mode. The cooking appliance may include one or more alarms to alert the user.