Printed Windshield Conductive Traces for Harness-Free ADAS Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wiring harnesses for supplying electrical power to automotive windshields are complex and labor-intensive, complicating vehicle assembly and integration of additional features.
Innovation Solution
Printing low resistance conductive traces directly onto the windshield using a conductive paste, which is then cured to form conductive lines that can carry electrical current, eliminating the need for traditional wiring harnesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wiring harnesses are used to supply electrical power to the windshield, then reliable electrical connectivity is achieved, but device complexity and assembly complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical connectivity function directly into the windshield structure by printing conductive traces on the glass surface. This integrates the wiring function with the windshield itself, eliminating the need for separate wiring harnesses and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity to heating elements and sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wiring harness from the system by replacing it with printed conductive traces on the windshield. This removal of the complex wiring harness infrastructure simplifies the overall system while preserving the essential electrical connectivity function through a more integrated approach.
2Reliability
If traditional wiring harnesses are used for electrical connectivity, then power delivery is reliable, but assembly time and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive traces are printed directly onto the windshield during the windshield manufacturing process itself, before the windshield is installed in the vehicle. This preliminary action of creating the electrical pathways in advance eliminates the need for time-consuming wiring harness installation and connection work during vehicle assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the electrical connectivity function with the windshield manufacturing process, the patent eliminates separate assembly steps for installing wiring harnesses. The conductive traces are created as part of the windshield production, significantly reducing assembly time and labor requirements while maintaining reliable power delivery.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high resistance heating elements are used for defrosting, then ice melting function is achieved, but unwanted heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the resistance parameter of the conductive traces to a low resistance value, fundamentally different from traditional high resistance heating elements. This parameter change allows the system to deliver electrical power efficiently with minimal heat generation, enabling power delivery functions without the unwanted thermal side effects of high resistance 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
Simplifies vehicle assembly, reduces component complexity, and enables more flexible integration of devices on the windshield, while providing efficient electrical connectivity without generating unwanted heat.
Implementation Method 1
firing the glass substrate with the applied conductive paste at a temperature exceeding 600°C to cure the conductive paste to form the low resistance trace
Implementation Method 2
These conductive traces are designed to carry electrical current to various devices that are either embedded in or attached to the windshield
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to automotive windshield technology, specifically to a method and system for providing electrical connectivity to components integrated within an automotive windshield. The system includes a laminated glass structure with low resistance, highly conductive traces printed directly onto one of the glass surfaces. These conductive traces are designed to carry electrical current to various devices that are either embedded in or attached to the windshield, such as sensors and cameras used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The conductive traces are created in some examples using a conductive paste applied through a screen printing process and cured to form solid conductive lines. This approach eliminates the need for traditional wiring harnesses, simplifies the vehicle assembly process, reduces manufacturing complexity, and allows for more flexible placement of devices on the windshield.