Substance detection system and method
US6052056A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B19/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A modulated light source (31) transmits light pulses through an optical channel (20) to an optical sensor (10) remotely located from the cockpit and mounted proximate an aerodynamic surface (14) of an aircraft. In the absence of ice a baseline amount of light is returned inward via the optical channel. When water, ice, or de-icing fluid covers the light sensor, a detectable variable amount of light pulses are returned by the sensor inward through the optical channel, and are detected by a light detector (34) which generates an electrical output signal that varies as a function of the type, amount, and rate of substance accretion. The output signal is visually displayed (37) and the pilot may also be audibly warned. In one alternate embodiment the remote light sensor (70) may be fuselage mounted (72) with an airfoil shaped probe (71) having a clear lens in the leading edge (73) to which is secured a single fiber optic channel 76 or a pair of fiber optic light pipes (75,76), one for outbound (76) and the other for inbound (75) light pulses. In another embodiment, the optical sensor is mounted in the throat 93 of a carburetor 92 to detect carburetor ice. All electronics are housed in …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.