US 11,849,884 B1
Methods and systems for ignition of a smoke unit fuel source
Christopher T. Martin, North Attleboro, MA (US); and Nicholas Chow, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to SharkNinja Operating LLC, Needham, MA (US)
Filed by SharkNinja Operating LLC, Needham, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/204,671.
Int. Cl. A47J 37/07 (2006.01); A47J 36/32 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 37/0786 (2013.01) [A47J 36/32 (2013.01); A47J 37/0709 (2013.01); A47J 37/0763 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cooking device, comprising:
a housing having a base defining a hollow cooking chamber and a movable cover coupled to the base, the movable cover configured to cover an opening in the housing to the hollow cooking chamber;
a smoke unit coupled to the housing, the smoke unit including a fuel box defining an interior chamber in fluid communication with the hollow cooking chamber, and an igniter proximate the fuel box and configured to ignite fuel contained in the fuel box; and
an electronic controller in operable communication with the igniter, the electronic controller configured to
determine an average rate of energy supplied to the igniter during a predetermined period of time of activation of the igniter and during an initial ignition operating mode of the igniter,
determine an average temperature of a region proximate the igniter during the predetermined period of time, and
adjust a maximum time of activation of the igniter when the igniter is operating in the initial ignition operating mode during a subsequent period of time following the predetermined period of time based on the determined average rate of energy and the determined average temperature.