Digital snow and ice sensor and heating apparatus including same
US10767322B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2016 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02G7/16
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An apparatus and method heat a structure during frozen precipitation. The apparatus comprises: (i) heating means for heating the structure; a control unit 14 for controlling operation of the heating means; and a frozen precipitation forecast sensor that: receives, over a time frame, weather data for a geographic region of the structure; determines, at time instances during the time frame, whether there is a likelihood of frozen precipitation in a geographic zone around the structure based on the received weather data; and transmits command signals to the control unit based on the determinations of whether there is a likelihood of frozen precipitation in the geographic zone around the structure. The command signals can be commands to the control unit for the operational state of the heating means.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.