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US 10,214,299 B2Granted
Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) ice detection
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJason J. Jackowski, Steve G. Mackin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and system to detect ice accumulation on ice prone surfaces of an aircraft. The method and system sweeps a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) beam across ice prone surfaces to measure the shape of the ice prone surfaces. The change in shape of the ice prone surfaces indicates the presence of ice on the ice prone surface.
Claims16
An ice detector for use of an aircraft, comprising:
- a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device comprising a transmitter and a receiver placed on the aircraft, such that the LIDAR device measures a shape of an aerodynamic surface on the aircraft in a sweeping manner to detect ice formation;
- wherein:
- the transmitter transmits a LIDAR beam to the aerodynamic surface such that the LIDAR beam sweeps across the aerodynamic surface,
- the receiver detects the LIDAR beam after the LIDAR beam has reflected off the aerodynamic surface,
- the LIDAR device measures variations of a time of flight of the LIDAR beam between the transmitter and the receiver in real time,
- the LIDAR device uses the variations in the time of flight to measure changes in the a shape of the aerodynamic surface, and
- the changes in the shape of the aerodynamic surface are associated with the ice formation on the aerodynamic surface.
4 more elements
An ice detector for use of an aircraft, comprising:
- a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device comprising a transmitter and a receiver placed on two distinct locations on the aircraft, such that the LIDAR device measures a shape of an aerodynamic surface on the aircraft in a sweeping manner to detect ice formation;
- wherein:
- the transmitter transmits a LIDAR beam to the aerodynamic surface,
- the receiver detects the LIDAR beam after the LIDAR beam has reflected off the aerodynamic surface,
- the LIDAR device measures a time of flight of the LIDAR beam between the transmitter and the receiver and uses the time of flight to measure the shape of the aerodynamic surface, and
- the LIDAR device is mounted on two-axis rotation mount so that the sweeping of the LIDAR beam is in two axes and provides a more complete analysis of the ice formation than an ice detector positioned on the aerodynamic surface.
3 more elements
A method of detecting ice, comprising:
- transmitting a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) beam from an aircraft in a sweeping manner onto an aerodynamic surface of the aircraft, so that the LIDAR beam detects an ice formation on the aerodynamic surface;
- measuring, in real time, variations in a time of flight of the LIDAR beam between a transmitter and a receiver;
- using the variations to measure changes in a shape of the aerodynamic surface;
- and
- associating the changes in the shape with the ice formation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.