Vehicle Glazing Integrated Heating Zones

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glazing technologies with heatable coatings often require multiple busbars and electrical connections for differential heating, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially in areas like wiper parks and camera openings where localized heating is necessary for deicing and defogging.

Innovation Solution

A glazing with a heatable coating comprising multiple layers, including heatable and dielectric layers, where integrated portions are formed by fusing or mingling these layers to create areas of increased resistance, allowing for localized heating without the need for electrically isolated portions, using techniques like laser application to enhance heating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple busbars and electrical connections are used for differential heating, then localized heating capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocalized heating capabilityVSAvoidnumber of busbars and electrical connections

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heatable coating is segmented into different heating zones by creating integrated portions (fused regions) within the coating layers themselves. These integrated portions have higher electrical resistance and generate more heat, allowing differential heating without requiring separate busbars for each zone. The segmentation is achieved through modifying the coating structure rather than adding separate electrical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the heating control function into the coating structure by integrating heatable and dielectric layers to form fused portions. This combines the electrical resistance element and the insulating element into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate busbars and electrical connections while maintaining the capability for localized heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If integrated portions are formed in the heatable coating, then heating efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process utilizes parameter changes by applying laser energy to selectively fuse the heatable and dielectric layers in specific regions. The laser parameters (power, speed, pattern) are controlled to create integrated portions with the desired resistance characteristics. This approach achieves the heating efficiency improvement through a controlled manufacturing process rather than complex assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If localized heating areas are created, then deicing and defogging effectiveness is improved, but electrical resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeicing and defogging effectivenessVSAvoidelectrical resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The coating structure is modified to have local quality variations through the integrated portions. These fused regions have higher electrical resistance concentrated in specific locations, creating localized heating zones. The rest of the coating maintains its original low-resistance characteristics, allowing the system to achieve effective deicing and defogging in critical areas without a significant overall increase in energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enables efficient deicing and defogging by locally increasing heat in specific areas, reducing the number of busbars and electrical connections required, while maintaining conductivity across the coating, thus improving the heating efficiency and functionality of glazing in vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a heatable coating formed on the first glass substrate, the heatable coating including at least one heatable layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

integrated portions are formed by fusing or mingling these layers to create areas of increased resistance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS20230182445A1Coated glazing

Publication Date: 2023.06.15 CARLEX GLASS AMERICA LLC

AI summary

A coated glazing useful for vehicles includes a first glass substrate, and a heatable coating formed on the first glass substrate, the heatable coating including at least one heatable layer, at least one dielectric layer, and at least one integrated portion of a heatable layer and a dielectric layer, wherein the integrated portion is formed in a differential heating area of the heatable coating, for variably heating the first glass substrate for deicing wiper park areas or any other heating desirable areas.