Patent ID: 9527595
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: B64D,G01B,G01K,G01R,G08B

Claim Text:
1. A method of monitoring the accumulation of matter on an external surface of an aircraft, comprising the steps of: applying varying electric fields to the aircraft surface; receiving, by a sensor monitor, a time-series of measurements of a temperature of the aircraft surface and a phase and a magnitude of a current induced in an electric field sensor of an electric field sensor unit from the varying electric fields, the electric field sensor unit being mounted proximate the aircraft surface, the time-series of the measurements varying in accordance with an instantaneous accumulation of matter on the aircraft surface; and generating, by said sensor monitor, an assessment of an accumulation of the matter on the aircraft surface from a correlation of the time-series of the measurements with at least one predetermined matter accumulation profile, each said predetermined matter accumulation profile comprising a corresponding time-series of current phase, current magnitude and temperature measurements, wherein the electric field sensor comprises: an insulating substrate; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate and extending parallel to each other on the substrate, the electrodes comprising a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes interleaved and non-contacting with the plurality of first electrodes; and a plurality of vias coupled to the electrodes and extending transversely through the substrate.