Rao S Ravuri

US Patent:

20040218659, Nov 4, 2004

Filed:

Apr 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/427408

Inventors:

William Wellman - Santa Barbara CA, US
Aldon Bregante - Santa Barbara CA, US
Rao Ravuri - Goleta CA, US

International Classification:

G01K001/08

US Classification:

374/121000

Abstract:

Sensing in an elevated-temperature environment is provided using a sensor system having a sensor housing with an exterior wall with a window-support region having an outwardly facing external face, and a window through the window-support region of the exterior wall and affixed to the exterior wall. A sensor unit contained within the sensor housing receives an input signal through the window. A thermal-insulation layer is on the external face of the window-support region of the exterior wall at a location immediately adjacent to the window. The sensor system is operated in an environment wherein the window-support region of the exterior wall is heated to a temperature of greater than about 100 C. in the event that no thermal-insulation layer is present. In a typical application, the sensor system is attached to an aircraft such that the external face is in a forward-facing orientation, and the aircraft is operated such that the external face is heated by aerodynamic heating.