Windshield Conductive Coating Heating Without Visible Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle windshield heating systems require thick or densely grouped electrical wires to effectively defrost and deice, which are aesthetically unpleasing due to their visibility.
Innovation Solution
A heating system with a conductive coating between two panes of glass and thin, oscillatory electrical wires connected to bus bars along the edges, generating heat within the primary vision zone without the need for visible wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If thick or densely grouped electrical wires are used to provide sufficient heating energy, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to wire visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visible electrical wires from the primary vision zone, placing them exclusively in the secondary vision zones at the edges of the windshield. This separation allows the heating function to be maintained while removing the aesthetic drawback of visible wires from the driver's main viewing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional wire grid pattern across the entire windshield to a three-dimensional configuration where thin wires are positioned at the edges and conductive coating is applied to the central heating zone. This dimensional reorganization allows effective heating while minimizing visual impact.
2Shape
If thin electrical wires are used to improve aesthetics, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the heating effectiveness deteriorates due to insufficient heating energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different heating approaches: thin electrical wires for aesthetic purposes and a conductive coating layer for effective heating. The conductive coating, applied between the glass panes in the primary vision zone, provides the necessary heating energy while the thin wires connected to bus bars provide electrical connectivity without visual prominence.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive coating acts as an intermediary between the thin electrical wires and the windshield glass. The wires deliver electrical current to the conductive coating, which then distributes the heating energy across the primary vision zone, enabling effective heating through thin, aesthetically pleasing wire connections.
3Power
If electrical wires are placed across the primary vision zone to provide heating, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the driver's view is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical wires from the primary vision zone entirely, relocating them to the secondary vision zones at the edges. This extraction eliminates the obstruction of the driver's view while maintaining heating functionality through the conductive coating in the central area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different zones: the primary vision zone contains only the conductive coating for heating without visible wires, while the secondary vision zones contain the electrical wire connections and bus bars. This local differentiation ensures unobstructed viewing while providing necessary heating and electrical connectivity.
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 system effectively clears moisture from the windshield without visible wires, enhancing aesthetics while maintaining efficient heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
The first electrical wire is connected to the conductive coating within the secondary bottom vision zone for flowing a current into the conductive coating to generate heat within the primary vision zone
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle, window of the vehicle and a heating system for a window. The window includes a first pane and a second pane. A conductive coating is disposed between the first pane and the second pane, the conductive coating extending through a primary vision zone of the window from a secondary bottom vision zone of the window to a secondary top vision zone of the window. A first electrical wire is connected to the conductive coating within the secondary bottom vision zone for flowing a current into the conductive coating to generate heat within the primary vision zone.