Heated Baffle Plate for Ice-Free Sensor Window Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical sensors and radiation sources on vehicles and aircraft are hindered by ice and debris, which reduce the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, and existing heating solutions are either insufficient or require significant conversion measures.
Innovation Solution
A disc arrangement with an electrically heated scattered light panel that heats the disc area using radiation heat, ensuring high transparency for electromagnetic signals and integrating easily into standard windows without major modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating elements are laminated into the windshield or attached to the surface, then the sensor area can be kept fog-free and ice-free, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lens hood itself serves as the heating element through its electrically conductive material. The housing structure provides both mechanical protection and heating functionality, eliminating the need for separate heating elements. The lens hood's metallic material naturally conducts electricity when connected to the vehicle's electrical system, providing self-service heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens hood performs multiple functions: it protects the sensor from physical damage, blocks stray light, and now also provides heating to prevent fogging and icing. By making the lens hood electrically conductive and connecting it to the vehicle's electrical system, a single component fulfills multiple roles that previously required separate systems.
2Reliability
If the sensor is mounted outside the vehicle, then optimal sensor function can be achieved, but the sensor and pane assembly must be encapsulated to prevent moisture penetration, which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lens hood serves as both the sensor mounting structure and the heating element. By integrating the heating function into the existing lens hood structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate encapsulation and heating systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sensor functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard panes are used without major modifications, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to heat specific areas effectively is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lens hood structure itself provides the heating capability through its electrically conductive material. No modifications to the standard pane are needed because the heating function is integrated into the sensor housing's lens hood, which is a separate component that can be independently connected to the vehicle's electrical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating is localized to the lens hood and the specific area it covers in front of the sensor. This localized heating approach is more effective than general pane heating because it concentrates thermal energy exactly where needed, preventing fogging and icing on the sensor and surrounding pane area without requiring modifications to the entire pane structure.
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 solution effectively keeps the disc area free of ice and debris, maintaining optimal sensor and light source functionality by providing efficient heat radiation, ensuring high transmission of electromagnetic signals and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically heatable surface (7) in the lens hood (4) which heats the area (2) by radiation heat
Implementation Method 2
electrically heatable surface (7) in the lens hood (4) which heats the area (2) by radiation heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pane arrangement (100) having an electrically heatable baffle plate, at least comprising: · a pane (1) having an enclosure (6) on the inner side (II) of the pane (1), · a radiation receiver (3a) and/or a radiation source (3b) which faces the pane (1) within the enclosure (6) such that a beam path (5) of electromagnetic radiation (15) passes through a predefined region (2) of the pane (1), · a baffle plate (4) which is arranged within the enclosure (6) and beneath the beam path (5), and an electrically heatable area (7) in the baffle plate (4) which heats the region (2).