Acoustic channel for contaminant detection on a surface
First Claim
1. An acoustic sensor comprising a sensor plate, a recess in the sensor plate forming an acoustic channel, a transducer assembly coupled to the sensor plate having means for providing an acoustic energy pulse forming an acoustic wave transmitted along a wall of the channel, the wall of the channel having a first surface exposed to conditions to be sensed, the transducer assembly including means for determining changes in the acoustic wave transmitted along the wall as a result of materials on the exposed surface, and a protective insert plate covering the recess forming the acoustic channel and being hermetically sealed around the periphery of the recess forming the acoustic channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor plate is formed as an acoustic channel on which an acoustic transducer is mounted to send ultrasonic waves along a surface of a base wall of the acoustic channel which is exposed to contaminants to be detected. An insert plate encloses the channel to protect the surface opposite the surface exposed to contaminants from the environment. Thus, dirt, moisture, installation adhesives or other materials that might degrade the performance of the sensor are prevented from contacting the backside of the plate carrying the acoustic waves. Such acoustic channel sensors are useful in applications on aircraft surfaces, road surfaces, bridge surfaces and the like for detecting ice.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An acoustic sensor comprising a sensor plate, a recess in the sensor plate forming an acoustic channel, a transducer assembly coupled to the sensor plate having means for providing an acoustic energy pulse forming an acoustic wave transmitted along a wall of the channel, the wall of the channel having a first surface exposed to conditions to be sensed, the transducer assembly including means for determining changes in the acoustic wave transmitted along the wall as a result of materials on the exposed surface, and a protective insert plate covering the recess forming the acoustic channel and being hermetically sealed around the periphery of the recess forming the acoustic channel.
- 12. An acoustic sensor comprising a sensor plate, a recess in the sensor plate forming an acoustic channel having a length substantially greater than its width and with the recess forming a thin base wall of the channel, a transducer assembly coupled to the sensor plate having a first transducer portion for providing an acoustic energy pulse forming an acoustic wave transmitted along the base wall of the channel, the base wall of the channel having a surface exposed to conditions to be sensed, the transducer assembly including means for determining changes in frequency of the acoustic wave transmitted along the base wall of the channel as a result of materials on the exposed surface, and a protective insert plate within the recess forming the acoustic channel and being hermetically sealed around the periphery of the recess forming the acoustic channel to prevent contaminants from engaging a second surface of the base wall of the channel opposite from the first surface, said protective insert plate being acoustically decoupled from the second surface of the base wall of the channel.
Specification