# US 2014/0150478 A1 · Ice Sensor For a Heat Pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150478 A1 - Document ID: US20140150478A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,561 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Lennox Industries Inc. - Inventors: Robert B. Dutch Uselton; Jonathan Douglas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150478A1 ## CPC - F25D 21/02: Detecting the presence of frost or condensate - F25D 21/06: Removing frost (defrosting cycles F25B47/02) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract In various implementations, an ice sensor may include heater(s), ice accumulation surface(s), and/or temperature sensor(s). During operation, heat from a heater may be provided to an ice accumulation surface and a temperature sensor(s) may determine temperature(s) of the ice accumulation surface. A determination of whether ice is present on the ice sensor may be based at least partially on the determined temperature(s). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: exposing an ice accumulation surface of an ice sensor coupled to at least a portion of a heat pump to an area proximate the heat pump; allowing one or more heaters of the ice sensor to provide heat to the exposed ice accumulation surface; determining one or more temperatures of the ice accumulation surface; and determining if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based at least partially on at least one of the determined temperatures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing at least one defrost cycle of the heat pump if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting at least one defrost cycle of the heat pump if ice is not present on the ice accumulation surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining one or more temperatures comprises: determining a first temperature of the ice accumulation surface at a first predetermined time; and wherein determining if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface comprises determining if the first temperature is within a predetermined range of temperatures for the first predetermined time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether ice is present on the ice accumulation surface comprises: determining a slope based at least partially on at least two of the determined temperatures, wherein the slope comprises a change in temperature over a period of time; and wherein ice is present on the ice accumulation surface if the slope is less than approximately 18 degrees Fahrenheit/minute. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether ice is present on the ice accumulation surface comprises: determining one or more slopes based at least partially on at least two of the determined temperatures, wherein a slope comprises a change in temperature over a predetermined period of time; and wherein determining if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface is at least partially based on a difference between one or more of the determined slopes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining an amount of time that the heat has been provided to the ice accumulation surface; and restricting the ice sensor from providing heat if the amount of time is greater than a predetermined maximum operation amount of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting the ice sensor from providing heat to the ice accumulation surface if at least one of the determined temperatures of the ice accumulation surface is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature. ### Claim 9 A system comprising: a heat pump adapted to perform at least one defrost operation; and an ice sensor comprising: an ice accumulation surface; one or more heaters adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface; and one or more temperature sensors adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface; wherein the ice sensor is adapted to detect ice on the ice accumulation surface based on at least one of the determined temperatures; and wherein the heat pump performs at least one defrost operation when ice is detected on the ice accumulation surface of the ice sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the ice sensor is disposed proximate a portion of the heat pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the ice sensor is coupled to a portion of the heat pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the portion of the heat pump comprises the outdoor coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the ice sensor comprises a body adapted to couple to at least a portion of the heat pump. ### Claim 14 An ice sensor for a heat pump, the ice sensor comprising: an ice accumulation surface; one or more heaters coupled to the ice accumulation surface and adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface; and one or more temperature sensors adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface; wherein the ice sensor determines whether ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based at least partially on at least one of the determined temperatures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 wherein at least one of the temperature sensors is coupled proximate an end of the ice sensor, and wherein at least one of the heaters is coupled proximate an opposite end of the ice sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 further comprising an at least partially hollow housing, wherein the ice accumulation surface comprises an outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 wherein at least one of the temperature sensors and at least one of the heaters comprises a positive temperature coefficient heater. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 further comprising an at least partially hollow housing, wherein the it accumulation surface comprises an outer surface of the housing, wherein at least one of the temperature sensors and at least one of the heaters comprises a positive temperature coefficient heater, and wherein at least one of the positive temperature coefficient heaters is disposed at least partially in the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 further comprising a body, wherein the body comprises a conductive material, and wherein the ice accumulation surface comprises at least a portion of the body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The ice sensor of claim 14 further comprising a coupling member adapted to couple the ice sensor to at least a portion of a heat pump.