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:
Feb. 23, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1996
Joseph J Gerardi, Dryden, NY (US);
Gail A Hickman, Dryden, NY (US);
Ateen A Khatkhate, Ithaca, NY (US);
Dan A Pruzan, Ithaca, NY (US);
Innovative Dynamics, Inc., Ithaca, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention is an improved ice sensor which is particularly effective in measuring and quantifying non-uniform, heterogeneous ice typically found on aircraft leading edges and top wing surfaces. In one embodiment, the ice sensor comprises a plurality of surface mounted capacitive sensors, each having a different electrode spacing. These sensors measure ice thickness by measuring the changes in capacitance of the flush electrode elements due to the presence of ice or water. Electronic guarding techniques are employed to minimize baseline and parasitic capacitances so as to decrease the noise level and thus increase the signal to noise ratio. Importantly, the use of guard electrodes for selective capacitive sensors also enables distributed capacitive measurements to be made over large or complex areas, independent of temperature or location, due to the capability of manipulating the electric field lines associated with the capacitive sensors.