US Patent 7934564 Stovetop fire suppression system and method

A stovetop fire suppression system is provided which senses the stovetop environment, assesses a fire condition, and limits a fuel or electricity heat source upon determination of a stovetop fire condition. Either, or both of, sound or heat may be monitored for the presence of a fire. Sensed day can be processed for spectral density or rate of rise for subsequent comparison to thresholds or predetermined density values. Upon determination of a stovetop fire condition a fire suppression module triggers, for example, a valve or switch to extinguish the stovetop heat source.