Frozen material detection using electric field sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first electrode;
a second electrode located at a distance from the first electrode, the second electrode forming a capacitive element with the first electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes;
an electric field sensor having an electrode terminal coupled to the first electrode and providing an electric field output value representative of an amount of frozen material located in the gap between the first and second electrodes;
a first insulator adjacent the first electrode and outside the gap; and
a conductive layer adjacent the first insulator, wherein the first insulator is between the first electrode and the conductive layer, and wherein a shield output of the electric field sensor is coupled to the conductive layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric field sensor may be used to detect accumulation of frozen material. In one embodiment, an e-field system includes a first electrode, a second electrode located at a distance from the first electrode, the second electrode forming a capacitive element with the first electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes, and an electric field sensor having an electrode terminal coupled to the first electrode and providing an electric field output value representative of an amount of frozen material located in the gap between the first and second electrodes. The system may also include a first insulator adjacent the first electrode and outside the gap, and a conductive layer adjacent the first insulator, where the first insulator is between the first electrode and the conductive layer, and where a shield output of the electric field sensor is coupled to the conductive layer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first electrode;
a second electrode located at a distance from the first electrode, the second electrode forming a capacitive element with the first electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes;
an electric field sensor having an electrode terminal coupled to the first electrode and providing an electric field output value representative of an amount of frozen material located in the gap between the first and second electrodes;
a first insulator adjacent the first electrode and outside the gap; and
a conductive layer adjacent the first insulator, wherein the first insulator is between the first electrode and the conductive layer, and wherein a shield output of the electric field sensor is coupled to the conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a member subject to accumulation of frozen material;
a first electrode at least partially surrounding the member;
a second electrode at least partially surrounding the member and located at a first distance from the first electrode, the second electrode forming a capacitive element with the first electrode; and
an electric field sensor having a first electrode terminal coupled to the first electrode and providing an electric field output value representative of an amount of frozen material formed on the member between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a member subject to accumulation of frozen material;
a plurality of electrodes placed along the member, each of the plurality of electrodes spaced apart from each other; and
an electric field sensor having a plurality of electrode terminals, each of the plurality of electrode terminals coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes, wherein when a first electrode terminal of the plurality of electrode terminals is selected, the electric field sensor provides an electric field output value representative of an amount of frozen material formed on the member between the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes adjacent a first electrode coupled to the first electrode terminal, and wherein each of the adjacent electrodes form a capacitive element with the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification