US5798946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Signal processing system for combustion diagnostics
Assignee: Forney Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-27
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2015-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A signal processing method and apparatus for analyzing operation of a combustion burner. Responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor which monitors a burner flame, a fluctuational component of the signal is converted into an extremum function having a floating extremum point with a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions. A current extremum value of the extremum function is calculated. Then, in relation to the current extremum value, a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function is calculated, such function being related to the combustion characteristic. The apparatus comprises a processor and memory coupled thereto, the memory having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the aforementioned operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Khesin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:59
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; F23N2223/00; F23N2223/08; F23N2229/00; F23N2229/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A signal processing method for analyzing operation of a combustion burner, comprising the steps of: a. responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating spectrum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; b. calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and c. calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A signal processing method for analyzing operation of a combustion burner, comprising the steps of: a. responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating spectrum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; b. calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and c. calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the value of the at least one parameter includes calculating a plurality of values of the at least one parameter, and wherein the method further comprises the step of calculating an average value of the plurality of values of the at least one parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of calculating a standard deviation of the plurality of values of the at least one parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the value of the at least one parameter includes calculating a plurality of values of the at least one parameter, and wherein the method further comprises the step of normalizing the plurality of values of the at least one parameter relative to a normalizing value to establish a plurality of normalized parameter values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of normalizing the plurality of values of the at least one parameter includes normalizing the plurality of values of the at least one parameter in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of calculating an average value of the plurality of normalized parameter values.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of calculating a standard deviation of the plurality of normalized parameter values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: calculating a combustion characteristic value based at least in part on the value of the at least one parameter to yield a calculated combustion characteristic value, comparing the calculated combustion characteristic value with an expected combustion characteristic value, and generating advice based at least in part upon a difference between the calculated combustion characteristic value and the expected combustion characteristic value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of dividing the extremum function into a plurality of frequency segments in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function; and wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to one of the plurality of frequency segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function for which a value is calculated in step (c) is defined in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for analyzing a flame, comprising the steps of: monitoring the flame with a sensor to produce a signal representative of radiation from the flame; generating an extremum function based upon a fluctuational component of the signal, the extremum function having a floating extremum point with a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; determining a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for analyzing a flame, comprising the steps of: monitoring the flame with a sensor to produce a signal representative of radiation from the flame; generating an extremum function based upon a fluctuational component of the signal, the extremum function having a floating extremum point with a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; determining a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the extremum function includes the steps of: (a) processing the signal to obtain a frequency domain amplitude spectrum corresponding to the fluctuational component of the signal, and (b) mapping the frequency domain amplitude spectrum into a preselected function dependent at least in part on amplitude and frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of processing the signal includes the step of generating a Fast Fourier Transform of the signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calculating the value of the at least one parameter of the extremum function includes the step of dividing the extremum function into a plurality of frequency segments in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function; and wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to one of the plurality of frequency segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function for which a value is calculated is defined in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for analyzing a flame, comprising: a processor adapted to be coupled to a flame sensor to receive a signal that is representative of radiation from a flame; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: generating an extremum function based upon a fluctuational component of the signal, the extremum function having a floating extremum point with a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; determining a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for analyzing a flame, comprising: a processor adapted to be coupled to a flame sensor to receive a signal that is representative of radiation from a flame; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: generating an extremum function based upon a fluctuational component of the signal, the extremum function having a floating extremum point with a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; determining a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the flame sensor, the flame sensor being coupled to the processor to provide the processor with the signal representative of radiation from the flame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a display coupled to the processor to display the value of the at least one parameter or a value derived from the value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of calculating the value of the at least one parameter of the extremum function includes the step of dividing the extremum function into a plurality of frequency segments in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function; and wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to one of the plurality of frequency segments.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function for which a value is calculated is defined in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for analyzing condition of a burner producing a flame, comprising: means responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, for converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; means for calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and means for calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for analyzing condition of a burner producing a flame, comprising: means responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, for converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; means for calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and means for calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for calculating the value of the at least one parameter of the extremum function includes means for dividing the extremum function into a plurality of frequency segments in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function; and wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to one of the plurality of frequency segments.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for calculating includes means for calculating the value of the at least one parameter of the extremum function wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a display coupled to the calculating means to display the value of the at least one parameter or a value derived from the value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, the plurality of instructions including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, the plurality of instructions including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and calculating a value of at least one parameter of the extremum function, the at least one parameter being defined in relation to the current extremum value of the extremum function and being related to a combustion characteristic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of calculating the value of the at least one parameter of the extremum function includes the step of dividing the extremum function into a plurality of frequency segments in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function; and wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function is defined in relation to one of the plurality of frequency segments.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one parameter of the extremum function for which a value is calculated is defined in relation to a frequency coordinate corresponding to the current extremum value of the extremum function.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
A signal processing method for analyzing operation of a combustion burner, comprising the steps of: responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and using the current extremum value to analyze the operation of the combustion burner.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
82 words
A signal processing method for analyzing operation of a combustion burner, comprising the steps of: responsive to a signal produced by a flame sensor monitoring a burner flame, converting a fluctuational component of the signal into an extremum function with a floating extremum point having a frequency coordinate which varies in the frequency domain with changes in combustion conditions; calculating a current extremum value of the extremum function; and using the current extremum value to analyze the operation of the combustion burner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |