G - Physics – 08 – B
Patent
G - Physics
08
B
340/139
G08B 19/02 (2006.01) G01N 27/22 (2006.01) G01R 27/02 (2006.01) G01R 27/26 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1125885
Abstract of the Disclosure Detection of wet and icy surface conditions on the surface of a pathway is accomplished using a block of electrically insulative material embedded in the pathway with its top surface flush with the sur- face of the pathway and exposed to atmospheric precip- itation. A sensor electrode is encapsulated in the block and is positioned a predetermined distance be- neath the top surface of the block so that an accumu- lation of atmospheric precipitation on the top surface affects the capacitance and conductance between the sensor electrode and the pathway. Provision is made for detecting the presence of impurities such as salt on the block's top surface. A time-varying electrical current is supplied to the sensor electrode at at least two different predetermined frequencies. The apparatus is relatively sensitive to impurities on the block's surface at one of the predetermined frequen- cies and is relatively insensitive to impurities at the second predetermined frequency. The frequency of the current supplied to the sensor electrode when substantially pure precipitation is present on the block's top surface is the first predetermined fre- quency and the frequency of the supplied current is the second predetermined frequency when impurities are detected. The presence of precipitation is signalled when the capacitive and conductive losses between the sensor electrode and the pathway are indicative of such precipitation on the pathway.
362946
Smart & Biggar
Surface Systems Inc.
LandOfFree
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