Apparatus for deicing
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an ice detecting camera, comprising;
a first camera for producing a first signal corresponding to the intensity of reflected light in a first narrow band centered near a wavelength at which ice has a low reflectence; and
a second camera for producing a second signal corresponding to the intensity of reflected light in a second narrow band centered near a wavelength at which ice has a high reflectence; and
means for receiving the first signal and the second signal, processing the first and second signals, and producing an ice indicator signal.
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting the presence of ice on a surface. The invention uses cameras to allow ice detection over a large area instead of a single point. The detecting apparatus provides an improved deicing apparatus.
75 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
an ice detecting camera, comprising; a first camera for producing a first signal corresponding to the intensity of reflected light in a first narrow band centered near a wavelength at which ice has a low reflectence; and a second camera for producing a second signal corresponding to the intensity of reflected light in a second narrow band centered near a wavelength at which ice has a high reflectence; and means for receiving the first signal and the second signal, processing the first and second signals, and producing an ice indicator signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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4. An apparatus, as claimed in 3, further comprising;
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means for rastering the first, second, and third cameras across the plurality of locations synchronously; and a color video monitor which receives the ice indicator signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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20. A method, comprising the steps of:
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generating a first signal which indicates individual intensities of reflected light in a first narrow band, centered near a wavelength at which ice has a low reflectence, from each individual location of a plurality of locations; generating a second signal which indicates individual intensities of reflected light in a second narrow band, centered near a wavelength at which ice has a high reflectence, from each individual location of the plurality of locations; receiving the first signal and the second signal; processing the first and second signals; and producing a signal that indicates the presence or absence of ice at each of the plurality of locations. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification