Apparatus for remote monitoring and control of an automatic deicing controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heated antenna system, comprising:
- an antenna having a reflecting surface and a heater associated with said reflecting surface;
a heater controller including at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor, said heater controller being configured for applying a voltage to said heater dependent upon an output of said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor; and
a monitoring unit configured for overriding said heater controller upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined condition.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heated antenna system includes an antenna having a reflecting surface and a heater associated with the reflecting surface. A heater controller includes a temperature sensor and/or a moisture sensor. The heater controller applies a voltage to the heater dependent upon an output of the temperature sensor and/or moisture sensor. A monitoring unit overrides the heater controller upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined condition.
16 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A heated antenna system, comprising:
-
an antenna having a reflecting surface and a heater associated with said reflecting surface;
a heater controller including at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor, said heater controller being configured for applying a voltage to said heater dependent upon an output of said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor; and
a monitoring unit configured for overriding said heater controller upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of operating a heated antenna system, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing an antenna having a reflecting surface and a heater associated with said reflecting surface;
providing a heater controller including at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor;
automatically applying a voltage to said heater with said heater controller, said automatically applying step being dependent upon an output of said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor;
monitoring operation of said heater controller with a monitoring unit; and
overriding the operation of said heater controller dependent upon said monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
applying the voltage to said heater if the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature; and
removing the voltage from said heater if the ambient temperature is above a second predetermined temperature.
-
-
17. The method of claim 13, wherein said overriding is performed if the electrical current flows through said heater continuously for a predetermined period of time.
-
18. The method of claim 9, wherein said overriding step includes one of applying the voltage to said heater and removing the voltage to said heater with said monitoring unit.
-
19. The method of claim 9, comprising the further step of receiving at least one remotely transmitted polling mode signal, said receiving step being performed using said monitoring unit.
-
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said overriding step is dependent upon said receiving step.
-
21. The method of claim 19, comprising the further step of removing the voltage from said heater if said at least one remotely transmitted polling mode signal is not received within a predetermined time period.
-
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said predetermined time period is between 30 minutes and 90 minutes.
-
23. The method of claim 9, comprising the further step of receiving at least one remotely transmitted maintenance mode signal, said receiving step being performed using said monitoring unit.
-
24. The method of claim 23, comprising the further step of using said monitoring unit to transmit at least one second maintenance mode signal to a remote location in response to the at least one remotely transmitted maintenance mode signal.
-
25. A method of modifying an antenna system including a heater and a heater controller, at least one electrical power line being connected to the heater controller, a control line interconnecting the heater controller and the heater, said method comprising the steps of:
-
cutting through the control line to thereby create two cut ends; and
electrically connecting a monitoring unit to each of said cut ends of the control line. - View Dependent Claims (26)
-
-
27. A heated antenna system, comprising:
-
an antenna having a reflecting surface and a heater associated with said reflecting surface;
at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor;
a heater controller configured for applying a voltage to said heater dependent upon an output of said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor; and
a monitoring unit configured for overriding said heater controller upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
Specification