Vehicle Surface Heater Control Without Embedded Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft windscreen heating systems require embedded temperature sensors, which can be damaged and necessitate full windscreen replacement when compromised, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A surface heating system for vehicles that controls an exterior heater without an embedded temperature sensor, using external air temperature, liquid water content, and vehicle speed to adjust heater power, allowing for effective heating of exterior surfaces like windscreens without the risk of sensor failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an embedded temperature sensor is used to monitor windscreen temperature, then the heating control precision is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates when the sensor is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature sensing function from the embedded sensor and relocates it to external sensors positioned to detect temperature at the windscreen surface. This separation allows the sensing element to be replaced independently from the windscreen structure, resolving the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while improving reliability through easier replacement and reduced risk of complete system failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces thermal coupling elements or conductive structures as intermediaries between the windscreen surface and external temperature sensors. These intermediaries transfer thermal information from the windscreen to the external sensors, enabling accurate temperature monitoring without requiring embedded sensors, thus maintaining measurement precision while improving system reliability.
2Measurement precision
If an embedded temperature sensor is installed in the windscreen, then the temperature control accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature sensing function from the windscreen manufacturing process itself and places it in separate, externally mounted sensor units. This allows the windscreen to be manufactured independently without sensor integration complications, while the sensors can be installed separately, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining temperature control accuracy through proper thermal coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the temperature monitoring system into independent modular components: external sensors, thermal coupling elements, and control electronics. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining the temperature control accuracy needed for effective ice protection.
3Reliability
If the entire windscreen must be replaced when the temperature sensor is damaged, then the system reliability is maintained, but the maintenance cost and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature sensor from the windscreen structure, making it a separate, independently replaceable component. This allows the sensor to be replaced without replacing the entire windscreen, significantly improving ease of repair and reducing maintenance costs while maintaining heating system reliability through continuous operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention designs the sensor mounting system with preliminary considerations for easy removal and replacement, using standardized interfaces and minimal fastening mechanisms. This preliminary design action enables rapid sensor replacement during maintenance, reducing downtime and improving ease of repair while ensuring heating system reliability is maintained throughout the repair process.
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 controlled heating of exterior vehicle surfaces without the need for embedded temperature sensors, reducing the likelihood of system failure and maintenance costs associated with sensor damage or replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to provide heat to the external surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A surface heating system of an external surface of a vehicle system includes a heater (16) and a heater controller (12). The heater (16) is configured to provide heat to the external surface. The heater controller (12) is configured to control a heater power of the heater (16) based upon an air temperature of air external to the vehicle, a liquid water content of the air, and a speed of the vehicle.