Vehicle Window Heating Conductor Field for LMS Reception

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle antenna systems face challenges with limited heatable surface area on small windows, mechanical stress from cost-intensive AM blocking circuits, and increased manufacturing costs due to multiple window panes and complex circuit designs for LMS and FM reception.

Innovation Solution

A single window-integrated heating conductor field with a high-frequency, non-galvanic decoupling element between heating conductors allows for LMS and FM/TV signal reception without omitting window heating, eliminating the need for expensive filter elements and reducing mechanical stress, using capacitive coupling to minimize interference from the vehicle electrical system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate conductor loop is provided for LMS reception on the upper edge of the window, then LMS reception is enabled, but the heatable surface area of the window is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveLMS reception capabilityVSAvoidheatable surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating conductor field is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides both LMS reception capability and complete window heating. By making the heating conductors themselves serve as the antenna structure for LMS reception, the system eliminates the need for separate conductor loops, thereby maintaining 100% heatable surface area while enabling LMS reception

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the heating function and antenna function into a single integrated structure. The heating conductor field serves dual purposes: it generates heat for window defrosting/defogging and simultaneously functions as the antenna for LMS reception, combining what were previously separate systems into one unified structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If expensive AM blocking circuits are used for LMS reception, then filter performance is improved, but mechanical stress and quality assurance complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter performanceVSAvoidmechanical stress on components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the expensive AM blocking circuit from the system. By using the heating conductor field itself as the antenna structure, the need for separate filter elements and AM blocking circuits is removed, thereby eliminating mechanical stress on PCBs and union points while maintaining reliable LMS reception

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating conductor field serves itself as the antenna structure for LMS reception. The existing heating conductors, which are already present on the window, automatically function as the radiating element for LMS signals, eliminating the need for additional filter components and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple window panes are used for antenna structures, then reception coverage is improved, but manufacturing expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereception coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The single window pane is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides both complete heating coverage and full LMS reception capability. The heating conductor field arranged in a specific pattern enables the single pane to achieve reception performance comparable to multi-pane systems while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables complete window heating, reduced noise in LMS reception, cost-effective manufacturing, and simplified circuit configurations with separate signal paths for different frequency bands, maintaining reception performance comparable to systems with galvanic links.

Implementation Method 1

using capacitive coupling to minimize interference from the vehicle electrical system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The heating field of the window is frequently used in vehicle antennas as the antenna structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS7719475B2Window-integrated antenna in vehicles

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 BLAUPUNKT ANTENNA SYST

AI summary

In a window-integrated antenna in vehicles, the heating conductor field (3,4) is used for FM reception as well as for LMS reception. At least one decoupling element (6) is provided for LMS reception which has a high-frequency, but non-galvanic connection to the heating conductor field (3,4). The decoupling element (6) is situated in the heating conductor field, in particular between two adjacent heating conductors (3).