Methods and systems for detecting icing conditions

A system for detecting icing conditions external to a vehicle, comprising:

• a housing carried by the vehicle and positioned external to the vehicle and having a straight flow channel positioned along a straight flow axis external to the vehicle, the flow channel having an entrance and an exit positioned to receive an airstream;
• a probe positioned in the straight flow channel, along the straight flow axis external to the vehicle and having a first surface positioned to face toward the airstream as the airstream travels along the straight flow axis, the probe further having a second surface facing opposite from the first surface;
• temperature sensing means positioned in the straight flow channel and configured to sense a temperature of an airstream and direct a first signal corresponding to the temperature, the temperature sensing means being mounted to the probe and positioned in the straight flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the temperature sensing means being positioned to face downstream at least proximate to the second surface of the probe;
• water content sensing means positioned in the housing, mounted to the probe and positioned in the straight flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the water content sensing means being configured to sense a water content of the airstream and direct a second signal corresponding to the water content;
• and
• processing means coupled to the temperature sensing means and the water content sensing means and configured to receive the first and second signals and, based at least on the first and second signals, provide an indication when at least the first and second signals taken together correspond to an at least incipient icing condition.

A method for detecting icing conditions external to a vehicle, comprising:

• receiving signals from a device carried external to the vehicle, the device including:
• a housing carried by the vehicle and positioned external to the vehicle and having a straight flow channel positioned along a straight flow axis external to the vehicle, the flow channel having an entrance and an exit positioned to receive an airstream;
• a probe positioned in the straight flow channel, along the straight flow axis external to the vehicle, and having a first surface positioned to face toward the airstream as the airstream travels along the straight flow axis, the probe further having a second surface facing opposite from the first surface;
• a temperature sensor positioned in the housing, mounted to the probe and positioned in the straight flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the temperature sensor being positioned to face downstream at least proximate to the second surface of the probe, and being configured to direct a first signal corresponding to a temperature of the airstream;
• a water content sensor positioned in the housing, mounted to the probe and positioned in the straight flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the water content sensor being configured to direct a second signal corresponding to a water content of the airstream, wherein receiving signals includes receiving a first signal from the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of an airstream external to a vehicle;
• receiving a second signal from the water content sensor corresponding to a water content of the airstream;
• and
• based on at least the first and second signals, automatically generating an indication when at least the first and second signals taken together correspond to an at least incipient icing condition.