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An ice thickness measurement sensor 100 is provided to measure the thickness of ice extending from a circuit. The ice thickness measurement sensor comprises at least one capacitive sensor 150. The capacitance of the sensor 150 depends on the thickness of ice covering the sensor, because the presence

An ice thickness measurement sensor 100 is provided to measure the thickness of ice extending from a circuit. The ice thickness measurement sensor comprises at least one capacitive sensor 150. The capacitance of the sensor 150 depends on the thickness of ice covering the sensor, because the presence of the ice changes the permittivity. The ice thickness measurement sensor may be used in a fluid pipe, for example to measure the thickness of ice extending from the inner surface of the pipe.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice thickness measurement system for measuring the thickness of ice on a surface, the ice thickness measurement system comprising: a base portion with a main surface on which the thickness of ice is to be measured during use;a measurement circuit; andan ice thickness measurement sensor that is

1. An ice thickness measurement system for measuring the thickness of ice on a surface, the ice thickness measurement system comprising: a base portion with a main surface on which the thickness of ice is to be measured during use;a measurement circuit; andan ice thickness measurement sensor that is mounted onto the base portion, the ice thickness measurement sensor comprising: an insulating plate having a first major surface and a second major surface separated by a thickness, and arranged to extend away from the main surface of the base portion from a proximal end to a distal end, the main surface of the base portion being non-planar and inclined relative to the insulating plate,wherein the proximal end is closer to the main surface of the base portion than the distal end;a first array of electrodes formed on the first major surface of the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a first spine, the first spine extending from the main surface of the base portion in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insulating plate; anda second array of electrodes formed on the second major surface of the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a second spine, the second spine extending from the main surface of the base portion in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insulating plate,wherein the first array of electrodes and the second array of electrodes are interlaced such that an array of capacitors is formed by neighboring pairs of electrodes from the respective first and second arrays, the array of capacitors forming a capacitive sensor, andwherein the measurement circuit is arranged to measure the capacitance of the capacitive sensor, the capacitance being dependent on the number of electrode pairs that are covered by the ice, and the number of electrode pairs that are covered by the ice being dependent on the thickness of ice formed on the main surface. 2. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the ice thickness measurement sensor is arranged to measure the thickness of ice forming on the main surface of the base portion. 3. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the insulating plate is arranged to extend perpendicularly away from the surface on which the ice thickness is to be measured in use. 4. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the spine of the first array and the spine of the second array extend in a direction that points from the proximal end to the distal end of the insulating plate. 5. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a third spine; anda fourth array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a fourth spine, wherein:the third array of electrodes and the fourth array of electrodes are interlaced such that a second array of capacitors is formed by neighboring pairs of electrodes from the respective third and fourth arrays, the second array of capacitors forming a second capacitive sensor; anda portion of the first array of capacitors is formed closer to the proximal end of the insulating plate than any portion of the second array of capacitors. 6. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 5, further comprising: a fifth array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a fifth spine; anda sixth array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a sixth spine, wherein:the fifth array of electrodes and the sixth array of electrodes are interlaced such that a third array of capacitors is formed by neighboring pairs of electrodes from the respective fifth and sixth arrays, the third array of capacitors forming a third capacitive sensor; andthe third capacitive sensor is formed closer to the proximal end of the insulating plate than the second capacitive sensor. 7. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 6, wherein: both the first major surface and the second major surface of the insulating plate have at least the first and second arrays of electrodes of a plurality of arrays of electrodes formed thereon, the plurality of arrays of electrodes including the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth arrays of electrodes. 8. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array of electrodes are formed as conductive tracks on the insulating plate. 9. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array of electrodes are formed as plates extending perpendicularly from the insulating plate. 10. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a thermometer. 11. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a heater. 12. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement circuit comprises a bridge circuit and an AC power supply. 13. A fluid pipe comprising an ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein: the insulating plate extends away from an inner surface of the fluid pipe, such that the ice thickness measurement sensor is arranged to measure the thickness of ice formed on the inner surface in use. 14. A fluid pipe according to claim 13, wherein the insulating plate extends perpendicularly away from the inner surface of the fluid pipe. 15. A fluid pipe according to claim 13, wherein the fluid pipe is a fuel supply pipe, and the ice thickness measurement sensor is arranged to measure the thickness of any ice that forms out of the fuel in use. 16. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface are perpendicular to the main surface of the base portion. 17. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface are obliquely angled to the main surface of the base portion. 18. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the base portion forms part of a component or object. 19. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the main surface of the base plate is a curved surface having a constant radius. 20. An ice thickness measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the main surface of the base portion forms a part of an internal surface of a fluid pipe. 21. A method of measuring the thickness of ice formed on a surface comprising: providing a base portion with a main surface on which the thickness of ice is to be measured during use;mounting an ice thickness measurement sensor onto the base portion, the ice thickness measurement sensor comprising: an insulating plate having a first major surface and a second major surface separated by a thickness, and extending away from the main surface of the base portion from a proximal end to a distal end, the main surface of the base portion being non-planar and inclined relative to the insulating plate, the proximal end being closer to the main surface of the base portion than the distal end;a first array of electrodes formed on the first major surface of the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a first spine, the first spine extending from the main surface of the base portion in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insulating plate; anda second array of electrodes formed on the second major surface of the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a second spine, the first spine extending from the main surface of the base portion in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insulating plate, whereinthe first array of electrodes and the second array of electrodes are interlaced such that an array of capacitors is formed by neighboring pairs of electrodes from the respective first and second arrays, the array of capacitors forming a first capacitive sensor;measuring the capacitance of the first capacitive sensor, the capacitance being dependent on the number of electrode pairs that are covered by the ice, and the number of electrode pairs that are covered by the ice being dependent on the thickness of ice formed on the main surface; anddetermining, from the measured capacitance, the thickness of any ice extending from the surface to cover at least a part of the sensor. 22. A method of measuring the thickness of ice formed on a surface according to claim 21, wherein: the sensor is further provided with: a third array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a third spine; anda fourth array of electrodes formed on the insulating plate as parallel arms extending from a fourth spine; andthe third array of electrodes and the fourth array of electrodes are interlaced such that a second array of capacitors is formed by neighboring pairs of electrodes from the respective third and fourth arrays, the second array of capacitors forming a second capacitive sensor; anda portion of the first array of capacitors is formed closer to the surface than any portion of the second array of capacitors; andthe method further comprises: measuring the capacitance of the second capacitive sensor;comparing the capacitance of the second capacitive sensor with the capacitance of the first capacitive sensor; anddetermining, from the comparison, whether ice has formed on the sensor itself or from the surface from which the insulating plate extends. 23. A method of measuring the thickness of ice formed on a surface according to claim 21, wherein the step of measuring the capacitance of the first capacitive sensor comprises: providing the first capacitive sensor as one branch of a bridge circuit; andsupplying AC current to the bridge circuit.