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Apparatus and method for ice detection

  • US 5,243,185 A
  • Filed: 07/31/1992
  • Issued: 09/07/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of ice on a target, said apparatus comprising:

  • a transmitter for transmitting linearly-polarized radiation toward the target;

    a filter for filtering said radiation returned from the target, wherein the filter outputs filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of said returned radiation;

    a sensor for receiving the filtered radiation, comprising a plurality of elemental sensors that each produce an output signal that is a function of the filtered radiation received by the elemental sensor; and

    ,coupled to the sensor, a signal processor for determining the variance among the output signals, wherein the signal processor declares the presence of ice when the variance reaches a threshold value.

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