Segmented Heatable Glazing for RF Transmission and Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrically conductive glazings for vehicles block data transmission, compromising the functionality of navigation and communication devices while also suffering from uneven heating and reduced solar performance due to the absence of coating areas.
Innovation Solution
A heatable glazing with grids and break lines arranged in rows and columns, allowing for improved transmission of electromagnetic radiation and maintaining solar performance by providing multiple current paths for heating, thus avoiding hot spots and optimizing both radio frequency transmission and heating uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an electrically conductive coating is applied to a windshield to reflect infrared radiation and enable heating, then solar performance and heating capability are improved, but transmission of communication signals (GPS, mobile phone, toll collection) is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous electrically conductive coating is divided into multiple separate conductive elements arranged in a grid pattern. The spacing between these elements creates gaps that allow electromagnetic waves in communication frequency ranges to pass through, while the conductive elements remain sufficient to reflect infrared radiation and conduct heating current.
2Loss of information
If the electrically conductive coating is divided into segments to allow data transmission, then communication signal transmission is improved, but the coating becomes non-electrically heatable
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate conductive elements are electrically connected through conductive adhesive layers to form a continuous electrical circuit. This merging of discrete elements through the adhesive medium restores electrical continuity, enabling the structure to function as a heating element while maintaining the segmented geometry that allows radio frequency transmission.
3Loss of information
If large uncoated areas are provided for data transmission, then electromagnetic radiation transmission is improved, but solar performance is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The coating structure is designed with locally optimized properties: the conductive elements are spaced and sized to provide sufficient gaps for radio frequency transmission while maintaining adequate coated area for solar control. The grid pattern creates local regions with different optical and electrical properties that collectively achieve both objectives.
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 enhances data transmission through a selected frequency range while maintaining approximately 90% of the coated area, reducing hot spots, and achieving uniform heating, outperforming conventional designs in terms of both radio frequency transmission and solar performance.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive coating in a windshield may reflect infrared radiation, to prevent rapid heating of an interior of a vehicle by the sun
Implementation Method 2
may carry electric current for heating the windshield resulting in demisting or defrosting
Implementation Method 3
provide a means to allow transmission of a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic radiation through a windshield having an electrically conductive coating
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heatable glazing comprising an electrically conductive coating and a data transmission window. The data transmission window comprises a plurality of grids made by ablations in the electrically conductive coating and at least one break line between adjacent grids. At least one of a width "a" of the grids and a distance "b" between adjacent grids is selected to maximise transmission of a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic radiation and to reduce the formation of hot spots. Preferred embodiments conform to a standard size of an ERTICO window and a frequency range from 5 GHz to 6 GHz.