Perforated plane moisture sensor

• US 7,295,126 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Stackelhouse, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung
• Application Number:
  US11/029,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/602, 340/603, 340/605, 340/618, 340/620, 73/73, 73/75, 338/34, 338/35, 338/286, 338/505, 361/286, 364/505
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/56 by investigating moisture content

Abstract

A moisture sensing apparatus, system and method. In general, a surface can be provided, and one or more conductor pairs located in a plane of the surface. Each conductor of the conductor pair(s) is insulated from one another. Water droplets forming on the conductor pair(s) thereby provide a quantifiable measurement of water on the surface. A controller can be electrically connected to the conductor pair(s), wherein the controller provides data indicative of whether or not the conductor pair is shorted.

Claims

1. A moisture sensing apparatus, comprising:

a surface; and

a plurality of conductor pairs located in a plane of said surface, wherein both conductors of each conductor pair of said plurality of conductor pairs is insulated from one another, wherein water droplets forming on said surface create an electrical connection between both conductors of at least one conductor pair of said plurality of conductor pairs, thereby providing a quantifiable measurement of water on said surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller electrically connected to said plurality of conductor pairs, wherein said controller provides data indicative of whether or not said at least one conductor pair is shorted.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a microprocessor for processing said data indicative of whether or not said at least one conductor pair is shorted, wherein said microprocessor communicates with said controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said each conductor pair comprises a first conductor co-centrically located with a second conductor, such that at least one water droplet forms between said first and second conductors of said at least one conductor pair.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said each conductor pair comprises co-centrically shaped rings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said surface comprises a surface of a sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a substrate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said quantifiable measurement of water on said surface comprises feedback data indicative of the moisture level of said surface.

9. A moisture sensing system, comprising:

a surface;

a plurality of conductor pairs located in a plane of said surface, wherein both conductors of each conductor pair of said plurality of conductor pairs is insulated from one another;

a controller electrically connected to said plurality of conductor pairs, wherein said controller provides data indicative of whether or not at least one conductor pair of said plurality of conductor pairs is shorted;

a microprocessor for processing said data indicative of whether or not said at least one conductor pair is shorted, wherein said microprocessor communicates with said controller, wherein water droplets forming on said surface create an electrical connection between both conductors of said at least one conductor pair, thereby providing a quantifiable measurement of water on said surface.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said each conductor pair comprises a first conductor co-centrically located with a second conductor, such that at least one water droplet forms between said first and second conductors of said at least one conductor pair.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said each conductor pair comprises a plurality of co-centrically shaped rings.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said surface comprises a surface of a sensor.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said surface comprises a substrate.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said quantifiable measurement of water on said surface comprises feedback data indicative of the moisture level of said surface.

15. A moisture sensing method, comprising the steps of:

providing a surface; and

locating a plurality of conductor pairs in a plane of said surface, wherein both conductors of each conductor pair of said plurality of conductor pairs is insulated from one another, wherein water droplets forming on said surface create an electrical connection between both conductors of at least one conductor pair, thereby providing a quantifiable measurement of water on said surface.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

electrically connecting a controller to said plurality of conductor pairs, wherein said controller provides data indicative of whether or not said at least one conductor pair is shorted.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

providing a microprocessor for processing said data indicative of whether or not said at least one conductor pair is shorted, wherein said microprocessor communicates with said controller.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

configuring said each conductor pair to comprise a first conductor co-centrically located with a second conductor, such that at least one water droplet forms between said first and second conductors of said at least one conductor pair.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said each conductor pair comprises co-centrically shaped rings.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said surface comprises a surface of a sensor.