| abstract |
A hot surface igniter assembly used in a cooktop is shown and described. The high temperature surface igniter comprises a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded resistive heat generating circuit. The igniter has a thickness of less than 0.04 inches and when activated, the igniter reaches a surface temperature in excess of 2000°F within 4 seconds, igniting a cooking gas such as propane, butane, or natural gas. An example of a cooktop burner system is also provided that allows the igniter to be maintained after ignition at a power level that is lower than the power level during ignition but high enough to ignite the cooking gas, even when a flame out occurs. In addition, burners are provided that are ignited on a low flow setting (eg, a simmer) as opposed to the high flow setting typical in the cooktop industry. |