Automotive Window Glass Wire Width Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing window glass for vehicles has heater wires and antenna wires that are noticeable due to similar line widths, leading to a poor appearance when mounted, as thin heater wires make the antenna wires appear thicker than they actually are.

Innovation Solution

The window glass features heater wires with a line width of up to 0.4 mm and antenna wires with a line width smaller than the heater wires, intersecting them at specific angles and locations to minimize visibility, with the antenna wires being formed to connect isopotential points of the heater wires and positioned within 300 mm of the glass center line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If heater wires and antenna wires are formed with the same line width, then manufacturing is simplified, but the antenna wires become noticeable and appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidappearance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different line widths to different wire types: heater wires have a line width of 0.2-0.4mm while antenna wires have a smaller line width of 0.1-0.3mm. This local differentiation makes the antenna wires less noticeable and improves appearance while maintaining functional effectiveness for both heating and radio signal reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If heater wires are made thin to improve appearance, then visibility through the window is improved, but antenna wires intersecting them become more noticeable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility and appearanceVSAvoidnoticeability of antenna wires
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the line width parameters of both heater wires (0.2-0.4mm) and antenna wires (0.1-0.3mm) to achieve a balanced appearance. By carefully controlling these dimensional parameters, the antenna wires become less noticeable without compromising the heating function or radio signal reception effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If antenna wires are made with larger line width for better signal reception, then radio signal reception improves, but the wires become more noticeable and appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio signal receptionVSAvoidappearance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent determines that a line width of 0.1-0.3mm for antenna wires is sufficient for effective radio signal reception while being thin enough to remain less noticeable visually. This parameter optimization achieves both reliable antenna function and acceptable appearance without requiring thicker wires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design results in a window glass with a good appearance as both the heater wires and antenna wires are less noticeable, maintaining effective heat generation and radio signal reception while enhancing the aesthetic appeal.

Implementation Method 1

heater wires constituting a defogger for defogging or a deicer for deicing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

an antenna wire for radio receiving

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

an antenna wire for reducing noises in radio receiving

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interference: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2913889B1Automotive window glass and attachment structure for same
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 AGC INC
  • EP2913889B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2913889B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2913889B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

To provide a window glass for a vehicle of which heater wires and a conductor wire such as an antenna wire intersecting the heater wires are not noticeable and which has a good appearance, and a mounting structure for the window glass for a vehicle. A window glass 1 for a vehicle, comprising a glass main body 10, a plurality of heater wires 16 formed to extend in a horizontal direction when mounted to a vehicle, and an antenna wire 18 formed to intersect at least one of the heater wires 16, wherein the smallest line width "a" of the heater wires 16 is at most 0.4 mm, and the largest line width "b" of the antenna wire is smaller than the line width "a" in a range of intersection of the antenna wire and the heater wires.