Heating Element Communication Window Uniform Heat Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing heating elements for vehicles with communication windows suffer from nonuniform heating due to distance differences between bus bars, which affects communication reception rates and increases manufacturing costs when attempting to address this issue.

Innovation Solution

A heating element design featuring a substrate with first and second bus bars connected by a heating pattern with specific resistance ratios and line width adjustments, ensuring a deviation of resistance of 10% or less across the heating lines, allowing for uniform heat distribution while maintaining a communication window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transparent conductive layer is removed from the communication window zone, then communication reception rate is improved, but heating uniformity deteriorates due to shorter distance between bus bars causing concentrated current

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reception rateVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different heating patterns in different zones: the first heating pattern in the communication window zone has different characteristics (line width, spacing, or resistance) than the second heating pattern in other zones. This allows the communication window zone to maintain electromagnetic wave transmission while the overall glass surface achieves uniform heating distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the heating element, specifically adjusting the resistance, line width, or spacing of the heating pattern in the communication window zone relative to other zones. By modifying these parameters, the patent compensates for the shorter bus bar distance in the communication window zone, ensuring uniform current density and heating across the entire glass surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If transparent conductive material with high conductivity is used, then heating performance is improved, but electromagnetic wave transmission deteriorates due to blocking effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating performanceVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a heating element with spatially varying properties: the heating pattern in the communication window zone has different characteristics than in other zones. This allows high conductivity material to be used overall for good heating performance, while the communication window zone maintains electromagnetic wave transmission capability through localized pattern adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent effectively creates a composite structure by combining the transparent conductive layer with a patterned heating design. The heating element functions as a composite system where the transparent conductive material provides overall heating capability, while the patterned structure in the communication window zone allows electromagnetic wave transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If different conductivity heating elements or multiple bus bars are used to solve heating uniformity, then heating uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves heating uniformity by changing parameters of a single heating pattern design - specifically adjusting line width, spacing, or resistance values in the communication window zone relative to other zones. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity and low cost while achieving the desired heating uniformity, avoiding the need for multiple bus bars or different conductivity materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively controls nonuniform heating and maintains communication functionality by ensuring uniform heat generation across the vehicle's glass surface, reducing manufacturing costs and improving communication reception rates.

Implementation Method 1

electricity is applied to both terminals of the hot line to generate heat from the hot line, thereby increasing the temperature of the glass surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2996439B1Heating element having communication window
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2996439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2996439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2996439B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a heating element, including: a substrate; a first bus bar provided on the substrate; a second bus bar which is provided on the substrate so as to be opposite to the first bus bar; and a heating pattern which is provided to electrically connect the first bus bar and the second bus bar, wherein the heating pattern includes a first pattern region which is in contact with the first bus bar and a second pattern region which is in contact with each of the second bus bar and the first pattern region and the first pattern region has an opening region which serves as a communication window.