Windshield Heating Control for Camera Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windshield heating devices risk thermal deterioration of low heat-resistance parts around cameras due to excessive heating from both the entire-windshield deicer and camera heating wire, leading to potential melting or damage.
Innovation Solution
A windshield heating device with a control unit that manages the energization of the camera heating wire and glass heating apparatus separately, reducing the camera heating wire's energization when the glass heating apparatus is active to prevent excessive heating of low heat-resistance parts around the camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If both the entire-windshield deicer and camera heating wire are energized to heat the windshield, then the windshield heating effectiveness is improved, but the low heat-resistance part around the camera is excessively heated causing thermal deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the heating control for different regions of the windshield. The control unit reduces energization to the camera heating wire specifically in the region around the camera when the entire-windshield deicer is operating, while maintaining full heating effectiveness in other regions. This localized adjustment prevents thermal damage to heat-sensitive camera components while preserving overall windshield anti-fog performance.
2Reliability
If the camera heating wire is independently energized to prevent fogging in front of the camera, then the local anti-fog performance is improved, but the heat-resistance part around the camera is excessively heated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by making the camera heating wire's energization state dependent on the operational status of the entire-windshield deicer. When the deicer is active, the control unit automatically reduces or stops energization to the camera heating wire. This dynamic adjustment ensures that local anti-fog performance is maintained when needed while preventing excessive heating that would damage camera components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the control unit reduces energization to the heating wire when the glass heating apparatus is active, then thermal deterioration risk is reduced, but the heating effectiveness in the first part may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating functions by coordinating the operation of the entire-windshield deicer and the camera heating wire through a unified control unit. When the deicer is active, it provides sufficient heat to the windshield including the first part, allowing the control unit to reduce or stop the camera heating wire's operation. This combined approach maintains heating effectiveness in the first part through the deicer while preventing excessive heating from dual operation.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of thermal deterioration in low heat-resistance parts around cameras while maintaining effective fog removal and prevention on the windshield, ensuring the camera's components are not excessively heated.
Implementation Method 1
a heating wire configured to heat a first part of a windshield of a vehicle by generating heat by energization
Implementation Method 2
a glass heating apparatus configured to heat a second part of the windshield by generating heat by energization
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield heating device includes: a heating wire that heats a first part of a windshield of a vehicle, the first part being located in front of a camera; a glass heating apparatus that heats a second part of the windshield, the second part including the first part; and a control unit that controls energization to the heating wire and the glass heating apparatus. The control unit is configured: to determine whether energization to the glass heating apparatus is performed when heating of the first part is requested; to control so that energization to the heating wire is performed when it is determined that the energization to glass heating apparatus is not performed; and to control energization to the heating wire so that an amount of energization to the heating wire is reduced when it is determined that energization to the glass heating apparatus is performed.