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:
Jul. 25, 1989
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1986
Charles E Brossia, Englewood, CO (US);
Samuel C Wu, Lakewood, CO (US);
Other;
Abstract
A system for automatic and real time detection of water and icing on surfaces by monitoring variations in light energy transmitted through an optical fiber having a specially processed sensitive area probe. The sensitive probe area is positioned on, about or within the surface on which icing is to be detected. Because of differences in optical indices of refraction and energy absorption characteristics of air, water and ice, the presence of each of these at the processed sensitive area will cause a proportional and characteristic attenuation of the light energy passing through the optical fiber. Changes in light energy transmission can be interpreted automatically to provide an indication of icing. A reference optical circuit may be used to provide compensation for variations in input energy levels. Light energy of different wave lengths and energy levels may be used to compensate for or avoid interference with measurement by ambient lighting conditions or for the detection of other conditions and materials using the principle of characteristic absorption and resonance.