Sensors and associated methods, including surface condition sensors

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a surface sensor system comprising a wet/dry sensor assembly, an electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, a thermally adjustable active sensor assembly, at least one temperature sensor, and a data processing device coupled together as a unit positionable adjacent to a surface, such as an outdoor surface. The unit is configured to determine the presence a surface material containing water or a water-based mixture on the surface and the solid or liquid phase of the surface material.

1 . A surface sensor system for sensing conditions on a surface, comprising a wet/dry sensor assembly, an electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, a thermally adjustable active sensor assembly, at least one temperature sensor, and a data processing device coupled together as a unit positionable adjacent to the surface and configured to determine the presence of a surface material containing water or a water-based mixture on the surface and the solid or liquid phase of the surface material. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wet/dry sensor assembly includes a temperature sensor, a controller, and an electrode assembly coupled to the data processing device, the electrode assembly having a plurality of sensing electrodes electrically isolated from each other by a plurality of electrically insulative layers interleaved between the sensing electrodes, the controller configured to control a sequence and timing of electrical stimulation of each of the sensing electrodes to detect whether the surface material is wet, partially wet, or dry. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the passive sensor assembly has first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other and interconnected by an electrically conductive member, the electrically conductive member being positioned adjacent to at least one winding, and a detection device connected to the winding and configured to detect and measure an electrical condition in the electrically conductive member as a function of the electrical conductivity of material on the outdoor surface and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the passive sensor assembly has first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other and interconnected by a wire, the wire being positioned through at least one winding, a detection device being connected to the winding and configured to detect and measure an electrical condition in the wire as a function of the electrical conductivity of material on the outdoor surface and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the passive sensor assembly has first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other and interconnected by an electrically conductive member extending through first and second windings spaced apart from each other, a detection device being connected to the first and second windings and configured to detect and measure an electrical condition in the electrically conductive member as a function of the electrical conductivity of material on the surface and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the active sensor assembly comprises a temperature sensor, first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other, and a temperature adjustment device thermally connected to the first and second electrodes, the thermal adjustment device being configured to heat or cool at least one of the first and second electrodes to change at least one of the temperature and the phase of the surface material. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the active sensor assembly includes a first heat sink connected to the temperature adjustment device. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a thermally conductive base coupled to the first heat sink, the base forming a second heat sink. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wet/dry sensor assembly, the electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, the thermally adjustable active sensor assembly, the temperature sensor, and a data processing device are substantially contained within an electrically insulated material. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one communication device coupled to the data processing device for sending or receiving data about weather-related surface conditions on the outdoor surface. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wet/dry sensor assembly, the electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, the thermally adjustable active sensor assembly, the temperature sensor, and a data processing device are in a master sensor assembly, and further comprising a slave sensor assembly remotely located from the master sensor assembly and operatively coupled to the data processing device of the master sensor assembly. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wet/dry sensor assembly, the electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, the thermally adjustable active sensor assembly, the temperature sensor, and a data processing device are in a contained sensor assembly unit, and further comprising at least one remotely located temperature sensor connected to the sensor assembly unit. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power connection device connectable to a remote power source, and a self-contained back-up power source coupled to at least the data processing device. 
   
   
       14 . A surface sensor system for sensing conditions on a surface, comprising an electrically isolated passive sensor assembly, the passive sensor assembly has first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other and interconnected by an electrically conductive member, the electrically conductive member being positioned adjacent to at least one winding, and a detection device connected to the winding and configured to detect and measure an electrical condition in the electrically conductive member as a function of the electrical conductivity of material on the surface and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the electrically conductive member of the passive sensor assembly is a wire that extends through the at least one winding. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the winding of the passive sensor assembly is a first winding, and the passive sensor assembly has a second winding spaced apart from the first winding, and the electrically conductive member extends through the first and second winding so that the first and second electrodes are isolated from the detection device. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an active sensor assembly configured to determine the presence of a surface material containing water or a water-based mixture on the surface and the solid or liquid phase of the surface material, the active sensor assembly comprises a temperature sensor, first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other, and a temperature adjustment device thermally connected to the first and second electrodes, the thermal adjustment device being configured to heat or cool at least one of the first and second electrodes to change at least one of the temperature and the phase of the surface material. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the active sensor assembly further comprises a first heat sink connected to the temperature adjustment device and a thermally conductive base that forms a second heat sink coupled to the first heat sink. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a wet/dry sensor assembly having a temperature sensor, a controller, and an electrode assembly coupled to the data processing device, the electrode assembly having a plurality of sensing electrodes electrically isolated from each other by a plurality of electrically insulative layers interleaved between the sensing electrodes, the controller configured to controls a sequence and timing of electrical stimulation of each of the sensing electrodes to detect whether the surface material is wet, partially wet, or dry. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a power connection device connectable to a remote power source, and a self-contained back-up power source coupled to at least the data processing device. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a communication device coupled to the passive sensor assembly and configured to send or receive data related to the surface conditions on the surface portion. 
   
   
       22 . A surface sensor system for sensing conditions on a surface, comprising an active sensor assembly configured to determine the presence of a surface material containing water or a water-based mixture on the surface and the solid or liquid phase of the surface material, the active sensor assembly comprises a temperature sensor, first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other, and a temperature adjustment device thermally connected to the first and second electrodes, the thermal adjustment device being configured to heat or cool at least one of the first and second electrodes to change at least one of the temperature and the phase of the surface material. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the active sensor assembly further comprises a first heat sink connected to the temperature adjustment device and a thermally conductive base that forms a second heat sink coupled to the first heat sink. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a wet/dry sensor assembly having a temperature sensor, a controller, and an electrode assembly coupled to the data processing device, the electrode assembly having a plurality of sensing electrodes electrically isolated from each other by a plurality of electrically insulative layers interleaved between the sensing electrodes, the controller configured to control a sequence and timing of electrical stimulation of each of the sensing electrodes to detect whether the surface material is wet, partially wet, or dry. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a communication device coupled to the active sensor assembly and configured to send or receive data related to the surface conditions on the surface. 
   
   
       26 - 33 . (canceled)