ICING CONDITION DETECTION METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting an icing condition, the method comprising:
- causing vibrations in a piezoelectric material associated with a surface of a vehicle; and
determining whether the icing condition is present on a surface of the piezoelectric material from a change in the vibrations.
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Abstract
A method for detecting an icing condition using an apparatus comprising a piezoelectric material and a vibration detector. The piezoelectric material has a surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle. The piezoelectric material is configured to vibrate. The vibration detector is configured to detect a change in vibrations in the piezoelectric material that indicates a presence of an icing condition on the surface of the piezoelectric material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an icing condition, the method comprising:
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causing vibrations in a piezoelectric material associated with a surface of a vehicle; and determining whether the icing condition is present on a surface of the piezoelectric material from a change in the vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for detecting an icing condition, the method comprising:
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causing vibrations in a first piezoelectric material having a first surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle and configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that the first piezoelectric material vibrates in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which waves generated by the first piezoelectric material propagate; causing vibrations in the shear mode in a second piezoelectric material remote from the surface of the vehicle, wherein the first piezoelectric material and the second piezoelectric material are exposed to a same temperature; and detecting a difference in a frequency of vibrations in the first piezoelectric material compared to a frequency of vibrations in the second piezoelectric material to determine whether the icing condition is present. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for detecting an icing condition, the method comprising:
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causing vibrations in a first piezoelectric material having a first surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle and configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that the first piezoelectric material vibrates in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which waves generated by the first piezoelectric material propagate; causing vibrations in the shear mode in a second piezoelectric material remote from the surface of the vehicle; detecting a difference in a frequency of vibrations in the first piezoelectric material compared to a frequency of vibrations in the second piezoelectric material to determine the icing condition is present; and removing ice from the surface of the vehicle using an electrical resistive heater. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification