The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 16, 2026
Filed:
Nov. 25, 2020
Ultra Electronics Limited, London, GB;
Ian Stothers, Cambridge, GB;
Robert William Saunders, London, GB;
Ultra PCS Limited, Cheltenham, GB;
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the presence of water or ice on a structure, for example on the surface of an aircraft. A plurality of heaters (-) are thermally coupled to a structure (for example on the back of a wing) () in order to detect the presence of water or ice on the structure. The heaters are arranged adjacent one another from a GC region of a leading edge () of the structure (that is exposable to an impinging airflow) and extending aft of the leading edge of the structure. The heaters, which may be controlled individually, are supplied power that is sufficient to heat the surface of the structure to substantially the same temperature. A controller senses the power required for the heaters to achieve the same surface temperature at the respective regions. By comparing the power consumed by a heater that is aft of the fore-most heater (), and the power consumed by a heater fore of the aft-most heater (), a determination of the presence of water or ice can be made if the power consumed by the heater that is aft of the fore-most heater is different to the power consumed by the heater that is fore of the aft-most heater.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile