Alpha-Particle-Based Icing Detector for Aircraft

作者：Bakhoum Ezzat G^*; Cheng Marvin H M; Van Landingham Kevin M

来源：IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2014, 63(1): 185-191.

DOI：10.1109/TIM.2013.2275205

• Aircraft icing detector
• aircraft safety hazards
• alpha-particle based instrumentation
• alpha-particle detection techniques
• alpha-particle range in matter

This paper introduces a new type of icing detector for aircraft applications. Unlike the well-known icing detectors that are based on optics, the new detector uses a particles. An a-particle source is attached to the wing of the aircraft, and a detector that mainly depends on a MOSFET transistor is placed a few centimeters away from the source. As the a particles strike the detector, they deposit their positive charges on the gate of the MOSFET (n-channel), and the transistor turns ON. If, however, a layer of ice builds up on the wing and prevents the a particles from reaching the detector, the MOSFET shuts OFF. The new detector is more reliable than optics-based detectors because it is an integral part of the wing and hence cannot miss the formation of ice.

• 出版日期2014-1