Patent ID: 8711008

Claim:
A system for detecting icing conditions external to a vehicle, comprising: a housing carried by the vehicle and positioned external to the vehicle and having a straight flow channel positioned along a straight flow axis external to the vehicle, the straight flow channel having an entrance and an exit positioned to receive an airstream; a probe positioned in the straight flow channel, along the straight flow axis, external to the vehicle, and having a first surface positioned to face toward the airstream as the airstream travels along the straight flow axis, the probe further having a second surface facing opposite from the first surface; a temperature sensor positioned in the housing, mounted to the probe and positioned in the flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the temperature sensor being positioned to face downstream at least proximate to the second surface of the probe, the temperature sensor being configured to direct a first signal corresponding to a temperature of the airstream; a water content sensor positioned in the housing, mounted to the probe and positioned in the flow channel along the straight flow axis between the entrance and the exit, the water content sensor being configured to direct a second signal corresponding to a water content of the airstream; and a processing unit coupled to the temperature sensor and the water content sensor to receive the first and second signals and, based on at least the first and second signals, provide an indication when at least the first and second signals taken together correspond to an at least incipient icing condition.