Optical Ice Detection and Thermal Removal on Communication Antennas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication antennas, especially those with parabolic signal-reflecting surfaces, face reduced effectiveness due to ice or snow accumulation, which can be impractical to clear manually in inaccessible locations, leading to disrupted signal reception and transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an optical signal transmission and detection system that heats the antenna's reflecting surface when ice or snow is detected, using environmental data to determine accumulation and employing heating elements to melt the accumulation, thereby maintaining signal integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual clearing of ice or snow from the antenna is performed, then the signal reception effectiveness is improved, but the operation becomes impractical when the antenna is located out-of-reach or out-of-sight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reception effectivenessVSAvoidmanual clearing accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system performs self-clearing of ice and snow through an automated heating mechanism. The system includes heating elements coupled to the reflecting surface and control circuitry that activates these elements when ice or snow accumulation is detected, allowing the antenna to clear itself without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual clearing process with an electrical/thermal system. Instead of physically removing ice and snow by hand, the system uses heating elements to melt the accumulation, fundamentally changing the clearing mechanism from mechanical to thermal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual clearing of ice or snow is performed on large antennas, then the signal reception effectiveness is improved, but the operation becomes impractical due to the size of the antenna

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reception effectivenessVSAvoidmanual clearing feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If heating elements are continuously activated to prevent ice or snow accumulation, then the signal reception effectiveness is maintained, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reception effectivenessVSAvoidheating element energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous heating, the system uses periodic or conditional heating activated only when needed. The control circuitry monitors for ice or snow accumulation and activates the heating elements only when such accumulation is detected, rather than running continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback through control circuitry that detects ice or snow accumulation conditions and responds by activating the heating elements. This closed-loop approach ensures heating is applied only when necessary to maintain signal reception, optimizing energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Automatically detects and removes snow and ice from communication antennas, ensuring continuous signal reception and transmission without manual intervention, even in hard-to-reach locations, while conserving power by only activating heating when necessary.

Implementation Method 1

The reflecting surface is then heated if the environmental data indicates that ice or snow formation on the antenna is possible, and if the at least one characteristic value of the returning optical signal is outside a predetermined range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS8305277B2Apparatus and methods for snow and ice detection and removal on a communication antenna

Publication Date: 2012.11.06 DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method of detecting and removing ice and/or snow on a communication antenna is presented. In the method, environmental data indicating at least one current environmental condition is received. An optical signal is transmitted from a signaling structure of the communication antenna toward a reflecting surface of the antenna. The optical signal is received at the signaling structure upon returning from the reflecting surface. The returning optical signal is then processed to determine at least one characteristic value of the returning optical signal. The reflecting surface is then heated if the environmental data indicates that ice or snow accumulation on the communication antenna is possible, and the at least one characteristic value of the returning optical signal is outside a predetermined range.