SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT ICE DETECTION WITHIN A ZONE OF NON-DETECTION

• US 20170166314A1
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Germeroth, Todd J., Lamb, David J., El-Gabalawy, Hosam E., Meis, Charles S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,914,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/166 using pneumatic boots
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/22 Automatic initiation by icing detector

Abstract

A method includes receiving a plurality of temperature measurements from temperature sensors of an aircraft. The method includes determining whether a first count of one or more first temperature metrics that are within a temperature range is greater than a first threshold. The one or more temperature metrics are derived from the plurality of temperature measurements. The method includes initiating generating an icing output signal when the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of temperature measurements from temperature sensors of an aircraft;

determining whether a first count of one or more first temperature metrics that are within a temperature range is greater than a first threshold, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics are derived from the plurality of temperature measurements; and

initiating generating an icing output signal when the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of temperature measurements correspond to a plurality of total air temperature (TAT) measurements, and wherein the one or more first temperature metrics correspond to validated static air temperature (SAT) values derived from validated TAT measurements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics correspond to validated temperature metrics that are that are derived from different temperature sensors of the temperature sensors of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining, responsive to the first count being less than the first threshold, a second count of one or more second temperature metrics that are from a first type of temperature sensor and that are within the temperature range.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing the second count to a second threshold that is different than the first threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising when the second count is greater than the second threshold, determining a difference between the one or more second temperature metrics and a next closest temperature metric that is from the first type of sensor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether the difference is less than a temperature tolerance of the first type of sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the icing output signal is generated when the difference is less than the temperature tolerance.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising counting the validated temperature metrics to determine a number of the validated temperature metrics.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold is performed when the number of the validated temperature metrics satisfies a second threshold.

11. An ice detection system comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to an aircraft; and

a controller configured to;

receive a plurality of temperature measurements from the plurality of temperature sensors;

determine whether a first count of one or more first temperature metrics that are within a temperature range is greater than a first threshold, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics are derived from the plurality of temperature measurements; and

initiate generating an icing output signal when the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

12. The ice detection system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to perform validation of a plurality of temperature metrics to determine validated temperature metrics, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics correspond to the validated temperature metrics.

13. The ice detection system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to identify temperature metrics that are from different temperature sensors of the plurality of temperature sensors, and wherein each temperature metric of the one or more first temperature metrics is from a different temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors.

14. The ice detection system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprise different types of sensors, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine, responsive to the first count being less than the first threshold, a second count of one or more second temperature metrics that are from a first type of sensor and that are within the temperature range.

15. The ice detection system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the second count to a second threshold that is different than the first threshold; and

when the second count is greater than the second threshold, determine a difference between the one or more second temperature metrics and a next closest temperature metric that is from the first type of sensor.

16. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a plurality of temperature measurements from temperature sensors of an aircraft;

determining whether a first count of one or more first temperature metrics that are within a temperature range is greater than a first threshold, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics are derived from the plurality of temperature measurements; and

initiating generating an icing output signal when the first count is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of temperature measurements correspond to a plurality of total air temperature (TAT) measurements, and wherein the one or more first temperature metrics correspond to validated static air temperature (SAT) values derived from validated TAT measurements.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the one or more first temperature metrics correspond to validated temperature metrics that are that are derived from different temperature sensors of the temperature sensors of the aircraft.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise determining, responsive to the first count being less than the first threshold, a second count of one or more second temperature metrics that are from a first type of sensor and that are within the temperature range.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the second count to a second threshold that is different than the first threshold.