Conductive Black Frit Bus Bars for Vehicle Window Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive silver frit bus bars in vehicle windows tarnish unevenly, leading to aesthetically displeasing brownish color and requiring multiple processing steps to hide them from view, including applying black paint on both interior and exterior surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Using conductive black frit material for bus bars, which blends in visually with the window, eliminating the need for black paint layers and simplifying the manufacturing process by potentially forming the bus bars and heatable coating in a single pass or simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silver frit bus bars are used for electrical conduction, then electrical conductivity is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to uneven tarnishing and brownish discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a black enamel coating over the silver frit bus bars to change their visual appearance from brownish/tarnished to black, matching the surrounding black frit strip. This color change masks the aesthetic deterioration while preserving the electrical conductivity of the underlying silver frit material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where silver frit bus bars (conductive layer) are covered by black enamel coating (aesthetic layer). This composite approach combines the electrical conductivity of silver frit with the aesthetic appearance of black enamel, resolving the contradiction between functionality and appearance.
2Illumination intensity
If black paint layers are applied on both interior and exterior surfaces to hide bus bars, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the aesthetic coverage function into a single black frit strip that serves both as a visual mask for the bus bars and as part of the overall window design. This eliminates the need for separate black paint layers on interior and exterior surfaces, reducing manufacturing steps while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The black frit strip performs multiple functions: it provides aesthetic coverage for the bus bars, serves as a design element matching the window's appearance, and eliminates the need for additional black paint layers. This multi-functionality reduces manufacturing complexity while achieving the aesthetic goal.
3Reliability
If wide bands of silver frit are used to convey sufficient current, then electrical conductivity is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible brownish discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the color of the bus bar region by applying black enamel over the silver frit and using a black frit strip, transforming the visible brownish wide bands into black regions that blend with the surrounding design. This allows wide bands to maintain their electrical conductivity while becoming aesthetically acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of wide bus bar visibility into a benefit by using the same black color scheme for both the bus bar coverage and the surrounding frit strip. The wide bands that originally caused aesthetic problems are now integrated into the overall black design, turning a visual defect into a cohesive aesthetic feature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The conductive black bus bars are difficult to see, eliminating the need for additional paint layers, enhancing aesthetics and reducing processing complexity while maintaining electrical functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the bus bar(s) are made of a conductive opaque material... conductive black frit inclusive material... they are difficult to see from the interior and/or exterior of the vehicle and blend in visually
Implementation Method 2
conductive coating that is used to defog and/or defrost the window... supply electrical current to the coating so that the coating is heated... conductive black frit inclusive material which includes Ag particles
Implementation Method 3
supply electrical current to the coating so that the coating is heated and defrosting and/or defogging can occur
Implementation Method 4
the coating is heated... heatable coating/layer... defogging/defrosting
Data Source
AI summary
A heatable vehicle window includes a substrate that supports a heatable conductor. The heatable conductor may be in the form of a grid of conductors, or alternatively a substantially continuous sheet. First and second conductive bus bars are electrically connected to the heatable conductor. The first and/or second bus bars are each conductive, and include black color pigment, so that the first and/or second bus bars are substantially black in color.