Transparent Pane Heating Layer Segmentation for Wiper Zone Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent panes with electric heating layers face challenges in efficiently heating the area around windshield wipers due to high surface resistance and limited heating power, especially when the wiper position is outside the heating field, and require adaptations for varying supply voltages and ohmic resistances.
Innovation Solution
A transparent pane design featuring a thermoplastic intermediate layer connecting two panes with an electrically conductive coating that extends over the field of vision, subdivided collector electrodes, and additional heatable coatings outside the main heating field to ensure even heating and adaptability to different voltage and resistance conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the busbars are arranged along the two longer edges of the window to achieve the shortest current path, then the electrical resistance is reduced, but the wiper parking zone area falls outside the heating field and cannot be heated
Solution Approach 1:
The heating layer is segmented into multiple independent heating zones with separate busbars. The first heating zone covers the field of vision, while the second heating zone specifically covers the wiper parking zone. Each zone has its own busbar arrangement, allowing independent control and optimization of heating coverage for each area without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating layout transitions from a single-plane arrangement to a multi-zone configuration. By introducing a second heating zone with dedicated busbars in the wiper parking zone area, the heating coverage extends to previously unreachable regions without increasing the current path length in the main field of vision zone.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrical surface resistance of the heating layer is high, then the material is easier to manufacture, but the supply voltage must be correspondingly high which is not available in standard motor vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
Different surface resistance values are applied to different heating zones. The first heating zone (field of vision) has a first surface resistance value optimized for that area, while the second heating zone (wiper parking zone) has a second surface resistance value optimized for its specific requirements. This allows each zone to operate efficiently with the available voltage while maintaining manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface resistance parameter is varied across different heating zones rather than using a uniform value. By adjusting the surface resistance in the second heating zone, the heating performance in the wiper parking zone is optimized to work within the standard 12-24V vehicle electrical system while still achieving effective heating.
3Reliability
If the surface resistance of the heating layer increases with the length of current paths, then the busbars should be as close as possible, but this limits the heating field area
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into separate zones with independent busbar connections. Each zone maintains short current paths between its own busbars, ensuring low resistance and high heating efficiency. The overall heating field area is expanded by adding multiple zones rather than enlarging a single zone, which would increase the current path length.
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 design effectively prevents windshield wipers from freezing in the wiper parking zone, even at low temperatures, by ensuring consistent and adaptable heating across the pane surface, with specific heat output ranging from 300 to 900 W/m², and allows for easy configuration to avoid hot or cold spots.
Implementation Method 1
The heat generated by the heating layer can remove condensed moisture, ice and snow in a short time
Implementation Method 2
a thermoplastic intermediate layer connecting two panes
Implementation Method 3
a thermoplastic intermediate layer connecting two panes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a transparent pane (1), comprising at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating (8), which is connected to at least two collection electrodes (11, 11'), which are provided for electrically connecting to the two poles of a voltage source, in such a way that, by applying a supply voltage, a heating current flows across a heating field (12) formed between the at least two collection electrodes, – the heating field (12) having at least one communication window (14) free from the heatable, electrically conductive coating (8), – the heatable, electrically conductive coating (8) being bounded by a peripheral coating edge (10) and a peripheral edge strip (9), which is free from the electrically conductive coating (8) and extends to the peripheral pane edge (5), characterized in that the transparent pane (1) – has, outside of the heating field (12) and spatially separated therefrom by a collection electrode (11 or 11') and along a first side (6 or 6') of the pane edge (5), at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating (8' or 8'''), – at least two additional electrodes (18, 18') being arranged in the region of each of the two sides (7, 7') of the pane edge (5), – which additional electrodes are connected to a collection electrode (11 or 11') by means of at least one current supply line (15, 15') in each case, – which at least one current supply line extends along the associated coating edge (10) and along the two second sides (7, 7') of the pane edge (5) at least in some segments – in the associated edge strip (9), – on the associated partial piece of the peripheral coating edge (10), electrically decoupled from the heating field (12) by at least one associated coating-free line (16 or 16') in each case, and/or – in and/or on the associated electrically conductive coating (8'') outside of the heating field (12), electrically decoupled from the heating field (12) by at least one associated coating-free line (16) or (16') in each case, and the transparent pane contains – in the electrically conductive coating (8' or 8''') – at least one counter electrode (19), which is electrically associated with the two additional electrodes (18 and 18') and which is electrically coupled to the collection electrode (11 or 11') of opposite polarity, and – at least two systems (16") of at least four coating-free lines each, said systems lying opposite each other as a mirror image of each other with respect to the vertical center line and the mirror axis (M) of the transparent pane (1), said lines being arranged in such a way that said lines direct the heating current, which flows from at least two additional electrodes (18, 18') when a supply voltage is applied, over at least two current paths (a1 and a2 + a3) and via the at least two counter electrodes (19) associated therewith to the at least one collection electrode (11 or 11') of opposite polarity, – equation I: VH1 = length a1 : (length a2 + a3) = 0.05 to 2.5 (I) applying to the length of the current paths (a1 and a2 + a3) in a system (16"), (VH1) standing for the mathematical relationship, (a1) standing for the current paths between the upper additional electrodes (18, 18') and the upper partial regions closest thereto and associated therewith of the vertical legs of the second partial regions of the two-part counter electrodes (19), (a2) standing for the current paths between the lower additional electrodes (18, 18') and the upper partial regions associated therewith of the first vertical partial regions of the two-part counter electrodes (19), and (a3) standing for the current paths between the lower partial regions of the first vertical partial regions of the two-part counter electrodes (19) and the further vertical partial regions associated therewith of the second partial regions of the two-part counter electrodes (19).