US 2003/0112020 A1 · Device, and method of its use, for concurrent real time alerting to accumulation of material upon multiple areas of a surface

Abstract

A system is provided for detecting accumulation of material concurrently on multiple areas of a surface in real time. In one embodiment, it is used for detecting icing of airframes while in use or on the ground while awaiting use. It may use either Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) or Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FM-CW) sources to provide a known energizing signal to a transmission line sensor. The system ascertains the signal's round trip travel time in the transmission line. As material accumulates around the transmission line sensor, the medium through which the signal propagates is indicated by the change in time for the signal to propagate in relation to propagation in a reference medium, e.g., air. By employing pre-specified spectral analysis algorithms and referencing to the dielectric constant of media of interest, a determination of the occurrence, location, and the rate and type of material accumulation can be made.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A system for at least detecting accumulation of types of material, including combinations of types, upon multiple areas of a surface concurrently, comprising:

at least one first conductor of electromagnetic energy having a characteristic impedance, a source end, a distal end configured to have an impedance different from said characteristic impedance, and a length much greater than any of said first conductor's other dimensions,
at least one electromagnetically conducting ground plane electromagnetically isolated from and adjacent said at least one first conductor;
and
at least one sub-system, in operable communication with said source end of said first electromagnetic conductor, for providing to and processing analog signals from said at least one first conductor, said processing to include reflections of said analog signals from said at least one first conductor,
wherein said processing yields information for decision making.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device, and method of its use, for concurrent real time alerting to accumulation of material upon multiple areas of a surface

Life of this patent

Device, and method of its use, for concurrent real time alerting to accumulation of material upon multiple areas of a surface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28