Transparent Vehicle Pane Heater With Thermal Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles' existing panel heaters fail to efficiently regulate interior temperature, leading to discomfort and increased energy consumption, especially in extreme weather conditions, as they often overheat in summer and underheat in winter, and do not effectively manage thermal radiation.
Innovation Solution
A thermally decoupled vehicle pane arrangement featuring a transparent electrically conductive heating layer applied to the inner pane, combined with a low-E coating and a shading device, which reduces heat exchange through conduction, convection, and thermal radiation, while maintaining energy efficiency and comfort by preventing overheating and maintaining a pleasant temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional panel heater is applied in nontransparent surfaces, then heating function is provided, but thermal management efficiency deteriorates and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional nontransparent panel heaters to a transparent heating layer integrated into the glass pane structure. This dimensional integration allows the heating function to be embedded within the transparent pane itself rather than being applied to external nontransparent surfaces, enabling simultaneous thermal management and optical transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The glass pane is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural transparency, thermal insulation through the pane gap, and active heating through the integrated transparent heating layer. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating components and improves overall thermal management efficiency.
2Temperature
If the heating layer is applied to increase interior temperature, then occupant comfort is improved, but exterior pane overheating occurs causing energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The glass assembly is segmented into two separate panes with a gap between them. The heating layer is applied only to the interior pane, allowing independent thermal control. This segmentation enables the interior pane to be heated for occupant comfort while the exterior pane remains cooler, preventing unnecessary heat loss to the exterior environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pane gap acts as an intermediary thermal barrier between the heated interior pane and the exterior pane. This intermediate space provides thermal insulation, allowing the interior pane to maintain a comfortable temperature for occupants while preventing excessive heat transfer to the exterior pane, thereby reducing energy waste.
3Temperature
If thermal decoupling is implemented between panes, then interior pane temperature comfort is improved, but heat exchange mechanisms become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal coupling between panes by introducing a pane gap that physically separates and thermally decouples the interior and exterior panes. This extraction of thermal interaction simplifies the overall system by allowing independent temperature control of each pane, with the interior pane optimized for comfort and the exterior pane for environmental resistance.
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 provides enhanced thermal management, reducing energy consumption by maintaining a comfortable interior temperature, preventing overheating, and ensuring pleasant thermal radiation, thus improving occupant well-being and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating layer (70), which is coupled with the third pane element (30) and which is configured to increase the temperature in the vehicle interior
Implementation Method 2
a pane gap (90) being arranged between the second pane element (20) and the third pane element (30), and the third pane element (30) being thermally decoupled from the second pane element (20)
Implementation Method 3
The heating layer is a transparent electrically conductive layer. The heating layer may be operated with the same feeling of comfort at relatively low room temperatures, since the thermal radiation is essentially felt to be pleasant
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for a vehicle has first, second and third pane elements. The first pane element has a first main surface and a second main surface that lies opposite the first main surface along a stack direction. The second pane element has a third main surface and a fourth main surface that lies opposite the third main surface along the stack direction, the second pane element being coupled with the first pane element. The third pane element has a fifth main surface and a sixth main surface that lies opposite the fifth main surface along the stack direction, a pane gap being arranged between the second pane element and the third pane element, and the third pane element being thermally decoupled from the second pane element. A heating layer is coupled with the third pane element and is configured to increase the temperature in the vehicle interior.