Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for detecting the presence of ice on a target, said apparatus comprising: a transmitter for transmitting linearly-polarized radiation toward the target; a filter for filtering said radiation returned from the target, wherein the filter outputs filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of said returned radiation; a sensor for receiving the filtered radiation, comprising a plurality of elemental sensors that each produce an output signal that is a function of the filtered radiation received by the elemental sensor; and, coupled to the sensor, a signal processor for determining the variance among the output signals, wherein the signal processor declares the presence of ice when the variance reaches a threshold value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for detecting the presence of ice on a target, said apparatus comprising: a transmitter for transmitting linearly-polarized radiation toward the target; a filter for filtering said radiation returned from the target, wherein the filter outputs filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of said returned radiation; a sensor for receiving the filtered radiation, comprising a plurality of elemental sensors that each produce an output signal that is a function of the filtered radiation received by the elemental sensor; and, coupled to the sensor, a signal processor for determining the variance among the output signals, wherein the signal processor declares the presence of ice when the variance reaches a threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises: a first polarizing filter disposed in the path of said returned radiation, wherein the first polarizing filter outputs semi-filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of said returned radiation; and, disposed in the path of the semi-filtered radiation, a second polarizing filter, rotatable with respect to the first polarizing filter and disposed in a plane parallel therewith, wherein the second polarizing filter outputs filtered radiation as a function of the elliptical polarization of the radiation received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for measuring the thickness of detected ice, wherein said means for measuring the thickness of ice comprises: a radar transmitter for transmitting a radar signal toward the target; a receiver for retrieving said radar signal returned from the target; and, coupled to said retriever, a radar signal processor for gauging a thickness of the ice as a function of a travel time of the radar signal from the time of transmission by the transmitter to the time of retrieval by the retriever, an ice-to-air interface dielectric discontinuity, an ice-to-surface interface dielectric discontinuity, and a dielectric constant of the ice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said returned radiation is reflected from the target.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said returned radiation is refracted by the target.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said target is an aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said target is a surface for travel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for detecting ice on a target, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting linearly-polarized radiation toward the target; filtering the radiation returned from the target to produce filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of the returned radiation; sampling the filtered radiation at a plurality of locations throughout the filter; producing an output signal for each location, wherein each output signal is a function of the amount of filtered radiation present at each said location; and, determining a variance among said output signals, wherein ice is declared to be present if the variance reaches a threshold value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for detecting ice on a target, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting linearly-polarized radiation toward the target; filtering the radiation returned from the target to produce filtered radiation that is a function of the elliptical polarization of the returned radiation; sampling the filtered radiation at a plurality of locations throughout the filter; producing an output signal for each location, wherein each output signal is a function of the amount of filtered radiation present at each said location; and, determining a variance among said output signals, wherein ice is declared to be present if the variance reaches a threshold value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the additional steps of: transmitting a radar signal toward the target; retrieving a returned radar pulse; determining a travel time of the radar pulse from a transmitting time to a retrieving time; and, determining a thickness of the ice on the target; wherein the thickness of the ice is a function of the travel time, an ice-to-air interface dielectric discontinuity, an ice-to-surface interface dielectric discontinuity, and a dielectric constant of the ice.