An electric field sensor includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes, an insulator, a plurality vias, and a ground ring. The electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The insulator is disposed over the electrodes. The vias are coupled to the electrodes and extend through the substrate at a right angle to the electrodes. The ground ring is disposed around the electrodes and the vias and is configured to attenuate a sensitivity of the sensor to electric fields outwards of the ground ring.

An electric field sensor includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes, an insulator, a plurality vias, and a ground ring. The electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The insulator is disposed over the electrodes. The vias are coupled to the electrodes and extend through the substrate at a right angle to the electrodes. The ground ring is disposed around the electrodes and the vias and is configured to attenuate a sensitivity of the sensor to electric fields outwards of the ground ring.

The present invention relates, but without limitation, to a system and method for detecting the formation of ice on a surface of a body (1) on which an air stream impinges. Said system comprises: a first and a second temperature detectors (2, 5) with different thermal inertia; and an electro-optic module (10) connected to both detectors (2, 5). Thus, by calculating the different responses of the detectors (2, 5) it is possible to detect the ice formation on a body (1), and more advantageously, the almost instantaneously freezing of supercooled water on a body (1). The present invention can be applied to aircrafts, wind turbines or to electrical power transmission lines.

The present invention relates, but without limitation, to a system and method for detecting the formation of ice on a surface of a body (1) on which an air stream impinges. Said system comprises: a first and a second temperature detectors (2, 5) with different thermal inertia; and an electro-optic module (10) connected to both detectors (2, 5). Thus, by calculating the different responses of the detectors (2, 5) it is possible to detect the ice formation on a body (1), and more advantageously, the almost instantaneously freezing of supercooled water on a body (1). The present invention can be applied to aircrafts, wind turbines or to electrical power transmission lines.

A method of operating an optical icing conditions sensor includes transmitting a first light beam with a first transmitter and a second light beam with a second transmitter, thereby illuminating two illumination volumes. A first receiver receives the first light beam. A second receiver receives the second light beam. A controller measures the intensity of light received by the first and second receivers. The controller compares the intensities to threshold values and determines if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller determines a cloud is present if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller calculates a ratio of the intensities if a cloud is present. The controller determines, using the ratio, whether the cloud contains liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or a mixture of liquid water droplets and ice crystals.

A method of operating an optical icing conditions sensor includes transmitting a first light beam with a first transmitter and a second light beam with a second transmitter, thereby illuminating two illumination volumes. A first receiver receives the first light beam. A second receiver receives the second light beam. A controller measures the intensity of light received by the first and second receivers. The controller compares the intensities to threshold values and determines if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller determines a cloud is present if either intensity is greater than the threshold values. The controller calculates a ratio of the intensities if a cloud is present. The controller determines, using the ratio, whether the cloud contains liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or a mixture of liquid water droplets and ice crystals.

An air data system includes an air data probe and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor attached to the air data probe for detecting particulate accumulation. The air data probe includes a probe head, a strut connected to the head, and a mounting plate connected to the strut. The probe head has an inlet, an interior surface extending from the inlet, and an exterior surface extending from the inlet.

A method including providing power to an aircraft probe anti-ice system, monitoring an actual power demand of the aircraft probe anti-ice system, monitoring an air data parameter and atmospheric conditions surrounding an aircraft and calculating an expected power demand of the aircraft probe anti-ice system based on the air data parameters and the atmospheric conditions, comparing the actual power demand of the aircraft probe anti-ice system to the expected power demand, and performing a corrective action if the actual power demand and the expected power demand are different by more than an acceptable amount.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for detecting a degradation of flight performance of an aircraft that is in flight, wherein current flight status data of the aircraft that is in flight are first determined. A flight performance index is then calculated on the basis thereof. Furthermore, on the basis thereof, a nominal flight performance reference index is determined by means of a flight performance model, wherein a degradation of flight performance can be inferred by comparing the two indices.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for detecting a degradation of flight performance of an aircraft that is in flight, wherein current flight status data of the aircraft that is in flight are first determined. A flight performance index is then calculated on the basis thereof. Furthermore, on the basis thereof, a nominal flight performance reference index is determined by means of a flight performance model, wherein a degradation of flight performance can be inferred by comparing the two indices.