Non-contact Freezing Temperature Determination via Optical Ice-to-Water Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining freezing temperatures on roads require extensive installation and maintenance, causing traffic disruptions and provide only localized, limited information.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact method using optical sensors to detect the ice-to-water ratio and road surface temperature, allowing for the determination of freezing temperatures without direct mechanical contact, utilizing reference measurements to calculate the freezing temperature from detected ice-to-water ratios and road temperatures, and optionally including sensors for thickness detection of water and ice layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor system is installed in the road to detect freezing temperature, then the freezing temperature can be determined locally, but the installation and maintenance require road closure causing traffic disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based sensor systems (electrodes installed in the road) with optical sensing methods. The device uses optical sensors to detect the ice-to-water ratio and temperature of the road surface without requiring physical installation in the road, thereby eliminating traffic disruptions during installation and maintenance while still providing accurate freezing temperature determination.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor system is installed in the road, then freezing temperature can be detected, but the information is provided merely locally for a relatively small area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from point-based local measurement to area-based measurement by using optical sensors that can detect the ice-to-water ratio and temperature across a broader road surface area. The device captures optical signals from multiple points simultaneously, enabling determination of freezing temperature for a larger area rather than a single localized spot.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable, mobile, and non-local determination of freezing temperatures along roads, reducing maintenance needs and providing continuous data without disrupting traffic, using optical and infrared sensors to analyze the ice-water mixture composition and temperature.
Implementation Method 1
using optical sensors to detect the ice-to-water ratio
Implementation Method 2
detecting the temperature of the road surface
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for determining the freezing temperature of an ice-water mixture on a road surface. Reference measurements of ice-to-water ratios in dependence on road temperatures for different salt contents of reference ice-water mixtures are provided to the device. The thickness of a water layer on the road surface is detected and the thickness of an ice layer of the road surface is detected by the device and method. From the detected thickness of the water layer and the detected thickness of the ice layer, an ice-to-water ratio of the ice-water mixture is determined. The temperature of the road surface is also detected. The freezing temperature of the ice-water mixture is determined by the device and method from the determined ice-to-water ratio and the detected temperature by means of the provided reference measurements.