Laminated Transparency With Wireless Sensors to Eliminate Wire Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transparencies used in aircraft windshields with wired sensors face issues such as moisture ingress and stress on solder joints due to flexing, leading to potential failure points and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Integration of wireless sensors within the inter-sheet layers of the transparency, which measure conditions and transmit data wirelessly, eliminating the need for wires and reducing stress on solder joints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired sensors are used in conventional transparencies, then sensor data can be transmitted to the controller, but moisture may enter through openings and wires can stress solder joints causing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor reliabilityVSAvoidmoisture ingress and stress on solder joints

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the wired connection system from the transparency structure. Wireless sensors are positioned between the sheets without requiring wire openings, thereby eliminating the moisture ingress pathway and stress concentration points on solder joints that plague conventional wired sensor installations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless transmission system. Instead of physically connecting sensors to the controller through wires that pass through the transparency structure, the system uses wireless signals to transmit sensor data, eliminating the mechanical stress and sealing issues associated with wire integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If wires extend through openings in the transparency, then sensors can be connected to the controller, but the wires and openings become potential failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor integrationVSAvoidtransparency integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the wire and opening structure from the transparency assembly. Wireless sensors are embedded between the sheets and communicate without requiring physical penetrations, thereby maintaining the structural integrity and sealing of the transparency while still enabling sensor functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless signal transmission as an intermediary between the sensor and controller, eliminating the need for direct physical wire connections through the transparency. This intermediary wireless communication method preserves the sealing integrity while enabling data transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11780594B2Transparency including a wireless sensor

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO INC

AI summary

A transparency includes a plurality of sheets. Each sheet of the plurality of sheets can include a first major surface, an opposite second major surface, and a peripheral surface between the first major surface and the second major surface. The transparency can further include: an inter-sheet layer positioned between the first major surface of one of the sheets of the plurality of sheets and the second major surface of an adjacent sheet of the plurality of sheets; and a wireless sensor positioned in the inter-sheet layer. The wireless sensor includes a sensory portion configured to measure information representative of a condition of a portion of the transparency and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the received information to a wireless receiver.