US 12,420,945 B2
Charged air mass measurement for air data computation
Mark D. Severson, Coupeville, WA (US); Dejan Nikic, Seattle, WA (US); James A. Grossnickle, Bellevue, WA (US); and Michelle Galgana, Burien, WA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/765,268.
Application 18/765,268 is a continuation of application No. 17/505,111, filed on Oct. 19, 2021, granted, now 12,037,131.
Prior Publication US 2024/0359818 A1, Oct. 31, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 43/02 (2006.01); G01C 5/00 (2006.01); G01K 7/00 (2006.01); G01P 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 43/02 (2013.01) [G01C 5/005 (2013.01); G01K 7/00 (2013.01); G01P 5/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for air data computation using ionic charge sensing during flight of an aircraft, comprising:
generating a first voltage difference between an emitter electrode and a first collector electrode coupled to an outer surface of the aircraft and exposed to ambient air, the first collector electrode being aft of the emitter electrode, wherein a voltage supplied to the emitter electrode is high enough to ionize air molecules in a region surrounding the emitter electrode and the first voltage difference is large enough and the first collector electrode is sufficiently close to the emitter electrode to cause a first current to be produced in the first collector electrode;
generating a second voltage difference between the emitter electrode and a second collector electrode coupled to the outer surface of the aircraft and exposed to ambient air, the second collector electrode being aft of the emitter electrode, wherein the second voltage difference is large enough and the second collector electrode is sufficiently close to the emitter electrode to cause a second current to be produced in the second collector electrode;
determining a first magnitude of the first current and a second magnitude of the second current; and
computing an air data parameter value based on a static sensor parameter and a particular difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude.