초록 ▼

Gas fireplaces are provided with commercially available gas valves that are similar to gas valves in furnaces and boilers. Such gas valves may be controlled manually, by thermostat or by solenoid valves which turn the fireplace burner ON and OFF and HIGH and LOW using a closed loop radio frequency t

Gas fireplaces are provided with commercially available gas valves that are similar to gas valves in furnaces and boilers. Such gas valves may be controlled manually, by thermostat or by solenoid valves which turn the fireplace burner ON and OFF and HIGH and LOW using a closed loop radio frequency transceiver system. The present invention provides an improved voice or sound actuated gas valve for fireplace burners.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a microphone is coupled to a voice actuated electronic control module which converts analog sound signals to digital control signals. The sound may be music or other non-voice sounds employed to modulate the flames from the fireplace burner. Preferably the sounds are voice commands that are predetermined and preferably comprise a recognition command followed by an actuation command. Signals generated by the voice actuated electronic module are applied to a linear transducer coupled to a control regulation valve which may be inside or outside of a conventional modified or gas burner control valve. Further, a remote controller for generating sound signals that are used to maintain or control a desired temperature may be incorporated into the system without additional transceivers and closed loop systems.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for controlling a gas burner for a prefabricated gas fireplace, comprising:a multi-element gas control valve mounted in said gas fireplace for regulating gas to said gas burner, adjuster means coupled to one of said elements forming an externally adjustable valve, a controller module for

1. A system for controlling a gas burner for a prefabricated gas fireplace, comprising:a multi-element gas control valve mounted in said gas fireplace for regulating gas to said gas burner, adjuster means coupled to one of said elements forming an externally adjustable valve, a controller module for generating control signals coupled to said adjustable valve, a microphone means for receiving predetermined words or sounds and producing digital signals indicative of said words and sounds, a voice recognizer coupled to said microphone means and to said controller module for determining the meaning of said predetermined words and sounds and for producing command signals, and said command signals being coupled to said adjustable valve comprising signals for controlling the flow of gas to said burner in response to spoken words, thereby substantially eliminating the need for manual controls and/or bi-directional remote controllers.