Icing condition detection system

摘要

A method and apparatus for detecting an icing condition. The apparatus comprises a piezoelectric material and a vibration detector. The piezoelectric material has a surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle. The piezoelectric material is configured to vibrate. The vibration detector is configured to detect a change in vibrations in the piezoelectric material that indicates a presence of an icing condition on the surface of the piezoelectric material.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first piezoelectric material having a first surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle and configured to vibrate in a shear mode wherein the first piezoelectric material vibrates in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which waves generated by the first piezoelectric material propagate; a second piezoelectric material having a second surface remote from the surface of the vehicle and configured to vibrate in the shear mode; a vibration detector configured to detect a difference in a frequency of vibrations in the first piezoelectric material compared to a frequency of vibrations in the second piezoelectric material to detect a presence of an icing condition on the first surface of the first piezoelectric material; and an electrical resistive heater configured to remove ice from the surface of the vehicle.