CIRCUITS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING SENSING AND HEATING FUNCTIONS

• US 20140072429A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: KRAINER, SIEGFRIED
• Granted Patent: US 9,664,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/40 Ice detection; De-icing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/345 Arrangements for heating thermal treatment apparatus H01L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

Embodiments relate to integrated circuits, systems and methods for combined sensing and heating functions in structures suitable for use in deicing, heating and other applications. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit is coupled to a heating element and configured to control operation of the heating element to provide heat as well as to utilize the heating element as at least part of a sensing structure to sense the presence of ice, water or air on or near the heating element. In embodiments, the heating element comprises a conductive polymer structure, and the presence of ice, water or air is sensed based on a capacitance, impedance or other spectroscopy of the structure sensed and analyzed by integrated circuitry coupled to the structure.

Claims

1. A sensing and heating system comprising:

a first element and a second element; and

circuitry coupled to the first and second elements and configured to receive a signal from at least one of the first or second elements related to a characteristic, to analyze the signal to detect a condition, and to activate at least one of the first and second elements to provide heat if the signal is indicative of the condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition is one of water or icing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is electrically conductive and comprises a conductive polymer, a sputtered metal, a metal film, a wire, a coating or a thin film.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is spectrally analyzed to detect the condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to periodically sample at least one of the first and second elements to receive the signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing and heating system is configured for at least one of a wind turbine application, a train or railroad application, an avionics application or an automotive application.

7. An integrated circuit comprising:

driving circuitry configured to control a heating and sensing structure; and

state machine circuitry coupled to the driving circuitry and configured to receive a signal from the heating and sensing structure, analyze the signal to determine a presence or absence of a condition proximate the heating and sensing structure, and control the driving circuitry based on the determined presence or absence of the condition.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the condition is icing.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the state machine circuitry is configured to control the driving circuitry by activating the driving circuitry if the presence of the condition is determined.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the signal is one of an impedance signal or a capacitance signal, and wherein the state machine circuitry is configured to analyze the signal to determine the presence or absence of the condition based on an impedance or a capacitance, respectively.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 7, further comprising temperature circuitry configured to determine a temperature of the heating and sensing element based on the signal received from the heating and sensing structure.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the heating and sensing structure comprises a first element and a second element forming a capacitor, wherein the signal includes a capacitance of the capacitor.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the heating and sensing structure comprises a first element for providing heat and a second element for sensing the condition.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 13, wherein the second element is configured to sensing the condition in cooperation with the first element.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit is used in at least one of a wind turbine application, a train or railroad application, an avionics application or an automotive application.

16. A method comprising:

sensing a characteristic by a sensing and heating structure;

analyzing the characteristic to determine whether moisture is present at the sensing and heating structure; and

activating the sensing and heating structure to provide heat if a result of the analyzing is a presence of moisture.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing a characteristic by a sensing and heating structure comprises sensing a capacitance between a first element and a second element of the sensing and heating structure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing a characteristic comprises utilizing at least one of a first element and a second element of the sensing and heating structure.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising applying the sensing and heating structure to at least one of a wind turbine, a train, an aircraft, or an automobile.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing a characteristic by a sensing and heating structure comprises sensing at least one of an impedance or a resistance by the sensing and heating structure.