Detection system and method for ice and other debris
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting ice on a surface of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- heating the surface as a diagnostic measure by activating a de-icing device integral to the aircraft and in thermal communication with the surface;
independently sensing infrared radiation emitted from a plurality of portions of the surface; and
determining changes in the infrared radiation emitted from the plurality of portions resulting from the heating of the surface by the de-icing device in the heating step to determine an emission profile for each of the portions and thereby detect the presence of ice on the surface of one or more portions, wherein the emission profile of a respective portion is based upon the radiation emitted from the respective portion.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting debris on the surface of a member are provided, for example, for detecting ice or other debris on an outer surface of an aircraft. The detection system includes a heating device in thermal communication with the member, an infrared sensing device configured to sense infrared radiation emitted from the member, and a monitoring device in communication with the sensing device. The monitoring device is configured to monitor a change in emission from the member and thereby detect the presence of debris on the surface of the member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting ice on a surface of an aircraft, the method comprising:
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heating the surface as a diagnostic measure by activating a de-icing device integral to the aircraft and in thermal communication with the surface; independently sensing infrared radiation emitted from a plurality of portions of the surface; and determining changes in the infrared radiation emitted from the plurality of portions resulting from the heating of the surface by the de-icing device in the heating step to determine an emission profile for each of the portions and thereby detect the presence of ice on the surface of one or more portions, wherein the emission profile of a respective portion is based upon the radiation emitted from the respective portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of detecting ice on a surface of a member, the method comprising:
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a first heating step comprising heating the member at a time when ice is known to exist on the member; after said heating step and while the ice is known to exist on the member, sensing infrared radiation emitted from the member and determining a change in the infrared radiation to thereby establishing a predetermined profile characteristic of the member; a second heating step comprising heating the member by actuating a de-icing system integral to the member and in thermal communication with the member; after a start of said second heating step, sensing an infrared radiation emitted from a portion of the surface of the member opposite the de-icing system during a time interval; and determining a temporal emission profile of the radiation emitted from the portion of the member during the time interval and comparing the temporal emission profile of the member to the predetermined profile characteristic to thereby detect the presence of ice on the surface of the member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of detecting ice on a surface of a member, the method comprising:
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sensing emissions of an infrared radiation from the surface of the member; heating the member during a time interval if the sensed emissions are below a characteristic temporal emission profile; sensing emissions of the infrared radiation from the surface of the member during the time interval; and determining a change in the infrared radiation resulting from the heating of the member in said heating step, and thereby detecting the presence of ice on the surface of the member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification