Transparent Heated Pane Layout for Uniform Wiper-Area Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transparent discs with electrical heating layers in vehicles face challenges in achieving uniform heating due to high surface resistance and limited heating power, especially in the area covered by windscreen wipers, leading to inefficient defrosting and de-icing.
Innovation Solution
The transparent disc is divided into a main heating region and an additional electrically isolated heating region, with a line heating element connected to the heating layer in the additional region, allowing for a lower resistance path and enhanced heating power distribution, reducing hotspots and improving temperature homogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the heating layer has high surface resistance to reduce current demand, then the heating power is insufficient for practical use, but if the surface resistance is reduced to increase heating power, then the supply voltage must be correspondingly high which is not available in motor vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The heating layer is divided into a main heating region and an auxiliary heating region with different resistance characteristics. The main heating region has higher surface resistance to limit current demand, while the auxiliary heating region has lower resistance to provide sufficient heating power when activated with the main region, resolving the contradiction between power sufficiency and voltage requirements.
2Power
If the manifolds are arranged along the two longer disk edges to reduce current path length, then the heating current flows over shorter path, but the range of rest or parking position of wiping of the disc wiper usually lies outside the heating field
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into a main heating region activated by manifolds along the longer edges for general heating, and a separate auxiliary heating region specifically positioned to cover the wiper rest area. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while working together to provide comprehensive heating coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary heating region is designed with different electrical characteristics (lower resistance) specifically for the wiper rest area, providing localized enhanced heating capability where needed most, while the main heating region maintains higher resistance for overall heating efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wire heater is used to heat the rest and park area, then the additional heating can be provided, but the disc is sufficiently heated only in the immediate vicinity of the wire resulting in lower homogeneity of heating power
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a separate wire heater that creates localized heating, the invention extracts the heating function into an integrated auxiliary heating region that is part of the heating layer itself. This allows the heating to be distributed across a broader area through the heating layer's inherent properties, achieving both coverage and homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary heating region is merged with the heating layer structure rather than being a separate wire element. This integration allows the heating current to distribute through the heating layer material, creating more uniform heat distribution across the wiper rest area compared to concentrated wire heating.
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 design achieves higher homogeneity in heating power and temperature distribution, enabling efficient defrosting and de-icing, particularly in the windscreen wiper area, using a lower on-board voltage and reducing the need for separate heating supplies.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heating layer extending at least via a portion of the disc surface III and which is divided into a main heating region and one electrically isolated auxiliary heating region
Implementation Method 2
the line heating element in direct contact is electrically conductively connected to the heating layer, the line heating element with a voltage source is electrically connectable
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1E
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a transparent pane (1) comprising at least: an electrical heating layer (6), which extends at least over part of the pane area (III) and which is divided into a main heating region (9) and an additional heating region (14) electrically insulated from the main heating region; connection means (10, 11, 12, 13, 13'), which can be electrically connected to a voltage source (25) and which comprise at least a first collecting conductor (10) and a second collecting conductor (11), wherein each collecting conductor (10, 11) is connected to the heating layer (6) in the main heating region (9) in direct contact in an electrically conductive manner in such a way that a heating current (16) flows across a heating field (17) formed by the heating layer (6) after a feed voltage has been applied; at least one electrical line heating element (15, 15'), which is arranged in the additional heating region (14) of the heating layer (6) at least in some segments, wherein the line heating element (15, 15') is connected to the heating layer (6) in direct contact in an electrically conductive manner, the line heating element (15, 15') is electrically connected to the connecting means (10, 11, 12, 13, 13') of the heating layer (6) in the main heating region (9) electrically in parallel with the heating field (17) , the line heating element (15, 15') has such an ohmic resistance that the additional heating region (14) can be heated after the feed voltage has been applied, and the line heating element (15, 15') is designed in such a way that, after the feed voltage has been applied between segments (18a, 18b) of the line heating element (15, 15'), a heating current can flow through the heating layer (6) in the additional heating region (14) and the additional heating region (14) can thereby be additionally heated.