Windshield Or Window Patents (Class 219/203)
  • Patent number: 11178730
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a heating element and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Eun Myung, Sera Kim, Jooyeon Kim, Chang Yoon Lim, Seung Heon Lee, Mun Seop Song, Kwang Joo Lee, Ji Young Hwang
  • Patent number: 11119263
    Abstract: A display device component includes an optical waveguide having a surface; a first material formed on a portion of the surface of the optical waveguide; and a second material formed on a portion of the first material. The first material has light scattering properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David C. Craig, Chu-Heng Liu
  • Patent number: 11095016
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for enhancing wireless communication for the vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a glass panel that is disposed on a roof of the vehicle and an electrically conductive coating applied to the glass panel. The conductive coating is electrically connected to an electrically conductive portion of a vehicle body. The method for enhancing wireless communication for the vehicle includes coating a glass panel of a vehicle roof with an electrically conductive coating and electrically connecting the conductive coating to an electrically conductive portion of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bilal Javaid, Michael Forbes
  • Patent number: 11054549
    Abstract: An optical window is provided and includes a core layer, a cladding layer and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) layer interposed between the core and cladding layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier, Kyle L. Grosse
  • Patent number: 11034332
    Abstract: A heater for vehicular sensors is configured to pass sensing energy and thereby permit placement of the heater directly over the sensing area in the path of the sensed energy. In this way, direct heating of the sensing area is provided minimizing the energy necessary to prevent icing and improving deicing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Mueller, Piotr Sliwa, Edward F. Bulgajewski
  • Patent number: 11007980
    Abstract: A window glass heating device for a vehicle is provided with: a window heater; a window heater control unit that controls operation of the window heater based on an operation on an operation switch; a camera heater; and a camera heater control unit that controls supply of power to the camera heater to defog the camera-imaging window area. The camera heater control unit is configured to acquire window heater operation information which is operation information on operation of the window heater and to limit supply of power to the camera heater when it is estimated that the camera heater is potentially overheated by heat applied from the window heater to the camera heater based on the window heater operation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10978777
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows. A window may have a structural window layer formed from one or more glass layers. A conductive coating such as an infrared-light blocking coating or other optical filter layer may be formed on the window. The conductive coating may include one or more silver layers or other conductive material. Unpatterned portions of the conductive coating are conductive along orthogonal dimensions. A region of the conductive coating may have parallel line-shaped openings that render the coating conductive in only a single dimension while enhancing radio transparency. Another region of the conductive coating may have a two-dimensional pattern of openings such as a mesh-shaped opening formed from intersecting straight and/or curved lines. In this region, the coating is locally rendered insulating and radio-frequency transparent. Antennas and ohmic heating elements may be formed in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Jiang, Jiangfeng Wu, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Mattia Pascolini, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 10917945
    Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting to an electrical component in or on a glazing, comprising at least one electrical conductor having first and second ends; a layer at least partly covering the at least one electrical conductor and located between the first and second ends, wherein the layer comprises a flat region having a first surface for bonding to a glazing via an adhesive layer and having a second surface for bonding to a flange of an aperture via an adhesive bead and having at least two straight sides and a discontinuity arranged in each of the at least two straight sides so that in use mounted on a glazing the discontinuity forms a receptacle for receiving an adhesive bead to form a seal against water ingress along each of the two straight sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Detlef Baranski
  • Patent number: 10906626
    Abstract: A laminated glazing includes a first structural ply assembled with a first glass sheet of 0.5 to 1.5 mm thickness by way of a first adhesive interlayer, the first glass sheet forming a first exterior face of the laminated glazing, the face of the first glass sheet oriented toward the first adhesive interlayer bearing a first conductive heating layer of 2 ?ngströms to 500 nm thickness, and the first conductive heating layer including flow-separating lines of 0.05 to 0.2 mm thickness spaced apart by 8 to 20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Thomas Tondu, Pierre Chaussade, Vincent Legois
  • Patent number: 10912155
    Abstract: A heating plate 10 includes: a pair of glass plates 11, 12; a conductive pattern 40, 70 disposed between the pair of glass plates 11, 12 and defining a plurality of opening areas 43, 73; and a joint layer 13, 14 disposed between the conductive pattern 40, 70 and at least one of the pair of glass plates 11, 12; wherein the conductive pattern 40, 70 includes a plurality of connection elements 44, 74 that extend between two branch points 42, 72 to define the opening areas 43, 73; and a total value of lengths of straight line segments connecting the two branch points 42, 72 is less than 20% of a total value of the plurality of connection elements 44, 74.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Suetsugu, Manabu Hirakawa, Satoshi Goishihara, Koichi Kinoshita, Hidenori Nakamura, Koujiro Ohkawa, Tetsuo Matsukura, Isao Inoue
  • Patent number: 10894391
    Abstract: A laminated glazing comprising, a first ply of a glazing material, a second ply of a glazing material, a film having an electrically conductive coating, the film being located between the first ply and the second ply, and a first busbar in electrical contact with the electrically conductive coating, the first busbar comprising an expansion portion, the expansion portion comprising a bridging busbar portion or a gap in the first busbar. Methods for producing the laminated glazing are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Chamberlain, Leigh Francis Mellor, Hartwig Schneider
  • Patent number: 10844524
    Abstract: An item may include fabric or other materials formed from intertwined strands of material. The item may include circuitry that produces signals. The strands of material may include non-conductive strands and conductive strands. The conductive strands may carry the signals produced by the circuitry. Each conductive strand may have a strand core, a conductive coating on the strand core, and an insulating layer on the conductive coating. The strand cores may be strands formed from polymer. The conductive coating may be formed from metal. Electrical connections may be made between intertwined conductive strands by selectively removing portions of the outer insulating layer to expose the conductive cores of overlapping conductive strands. A conductive material such as solder or conductive epoxy may be applied to the exposed portions of the conductive cores to electrically and mechanically connect the overlapping conductive strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Sunshine, Daniel A. Podhajny, David M. Kindlon, Kathryn P. Crews, Joseph B. Walker
  • Patent number: 10843644
    Abstract: A rear liftgate window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. A heater grid includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at the inner surface of the glass window panel. A pair of busbars are established at the inner surface of the glass window panel and extend outboard of at least one side region of the inner surface of the window panel that contacts a seal at the vehicle when the glass window panel is in the closed position. Electrical connectors are electrically connected to the busbars outboard of the side region. The electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle when the rear liftgate window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darin J. Snider, David L. Guillozet
  • Patent number: 10773811
    Abstract: A window heating system for providing current to a heating element includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a sensor selection module configured to determine a state of the first and the second sensors. The sensor selection module includes a first comparator associated with the first sensor and configured to determine whether a condition of the first sensor is satisfied. The window heating system also includes a controller configured to control current to the heating element based on the second sensor when the first comparator determines the condition of the first sensor is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Scott D. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 10759341
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a central light control unit, a plurality of peripheral light control units distributed within the vehicle, and a plurality of interior light modules, each of which has a plurality of light sources and is associated with a peripheral light control unit. As a result of the receipt of a specified light effect identification by the peripheral light control units, a moving light is produced by the interior light modules associated with the peripheral light control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Bauer, Michael Mueller, Daniel Raasch
  • Patent number: 10739292
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10728959
    Abstract: A pane having an electric heating layer is described, including: a first pane having a surface; at least one electric heating layer that is applied to at least part of the surface and has at least one uncoated zone; at least two busbars, provided for connection to a voltage source, which are connected to the electric heating layer such that a current path for a heating current is formed between the busbars; and n separating lines which electrically subdivide the electric layer into m segments. The segments are arranged in the form of strips around the uncoated zone such that the current path for the heating current is at least partially guided around the uncoated zone and the segments have equal width and the sum of widths of segments is equal to the width of the electric heating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Dang Cuong Phan, Bojan Dimitrijevic, Guenther Schall
  • Patent number: 10723318
    Abstract: A window glass for a vehicle including a laminated glass with a vehicle exterior side glass plate, a vehicle interior side glass plate and an interlayer interposed between the vehicle exterior side glass plate and the vehicle interior side glass plate. The window glass also having a conductor pattern including a heating wire disposed on a vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle exterior side glass plate to heat a heating area, as well as a feeding electrode disposed on a part of the vehicle interior side surface close to a lower side of the vehicle exterior side glass plate such that the heating wire is fed with power through the feeding electrode. The feeding electrode is disposed so as not to extend into the heating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventor: Kouichi Ichida
  • Patent number: 10721795
    Abstract: A window assembly comprises a substrate with a transparent layer that defines an area having a periphery. An outer region devoid of the transparent layer is defined adjacent the transparent layer along the periphery. A conductive element disposed on the substrate and comprises a first portion overlapping an area of the transparent layer and abutting and being in direct electrical contact with the transparent layer. The conductive element further comprises a second portion integrally extending from the first portion and disposed in the outer region. The periphery of the transparent layer delineates the first and second portions of the conductive element. The second portion has an area defining an enclosed slot. A feeding element couples to the conductive element for energizing the enclosed slot as a slot antenna. An energizing element couples to the conductive element for energizing the conductive element to implement a bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Noda, Frederick Schaible, III, Jesus Gedde
  • Patent number: 10716172
    Abstract: A method for producing a vehicle plastic pane having a heating function is presented. The method includes: the provisioning of a one- or two-component, semi-transparent, polymeric pane base body; the coating of the pane base body with a protective coating; the embedding of heating wires for direct electrical contact with busbars that are deposited; the usage of a fine powder coating (FPC) plasma process at atmospheric pressure to deposit the busbars; and the mounting a connection element on and/or in each of the busbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Uwe Weissenberger, Marcus Guldan, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10710340
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a laminated automotive glazing having an obscuration area produced by printing the obscuration on a film laminated between at least two layers of plastic interlayers or directly on the interlayer rather than printing and firing an enamel frit onto the glass. This results in a laminate having superior optical quality, higher strength and a lower probability of breakage as compared to a laminate with a black enamel frit obscuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AGP America S.A.
    Inventors: Arturo Mannheim Astete, Vincenzo Mannino, Charles S. Voetzel, Laura Granados Caro, Philip Denton Gordon, Elena K. Mendoza Carranza
  • Patent number: 10694586
    Abstract: A transparent pane having an electrically heatable coating and at least one coating-free zone that can be used, for example, as communication window, is presented. The electrically heatable coating is connected to two collecting electrodes, such that a supply voltage applied to the electrodes generates a heating current that flows via a heating field formed between the collecting electrodes, the heating field containing the coating-free zone whose zone-edge is formed, at least in sections, by the heatable coating. Other implementation details include provision of two electrical supply lines electrically connecting the two collecting electrodes to separate subdivisions of an additional electrode. In one case, the electrical supply lines run, at least in sections, in the heating field, in the coating-free zone, in a coating-free edge strip, in a subregion of the coating outside the heating field, and/or in the zone-edge. Methods for producing the transparent pane are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Valentin Schulz, Guenther Schall
  • Patent number: 10691000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an autonomous moving device, including a camera and a camera heating device, where the camera heating device includes a heating module, and the heating module is configured to heat a lens of the camera to remove water mist on the lens. The present invention can effectively avoid a freezing or water mist phenomenon of a camera, thereby improving the photographing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiang Du, Gen Sun, Yue Rao
  • Patent number: 10661755
    Abstract: Arrangements for de-icing a transparent window, in particular a vehicle windshield, with an electric heating device, are described. The de-icing a transparent window has the following steps: Step A): Measuring a window temperature before an initial application of a heating voltage; Step B): Measuring the window temperature after a beginning of a heating period; and Step C): Applying a heating voltage of more than 100 volts to a heating device over a heating period of a maximum of 2 minutes, in particular a maximum of 90 seconds, and repeating step B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Andreas Schlarb, Guenther Schall, Marcel Klein, Xavier Fanton
  • Patent number: 10660161
    Abstract: A transparent pane, having at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating connected to at least two collection electrodes, provided for electrically connecting to a supply voltage to generate a heating current that flows across a heating field formed between the at least two collection electrodes is described. The heating field includes at least one communication window free from the heatable, electrically conductive coating. The transparent pane further includes at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating. The additional electrode is connected to one of the two collection electrodes via a respective current supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Guenther Schall, Valentin Schulz, Bojan Dimitrijevic
  • Patent number: 10652957
    Abstract: A heating element includes a matrix material and a nanomaterial filler, wherein the nanomaterial filler includes at least one of a nano-sheet and a nanorod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seyun Kim, Soichiro Mizusaki, Haengdeog Koh, Doyoon Kim, Hajin Kim, Changsoo Lee, Intaek Han
  • Patent number: 10638549
    Abstract: An electrically heatable pane with a switch region is presented. The pane has a transparent substrate, with at least one transparent electrically conductive layer that is, at least partially, arranged on a surface of the pane. At least one separating line electrically divides the layer into a heating region and a switch region. At least two busbars are provided for connection to a voltage source. The busbars being connected to the heating region, form a current path between the busbars. A heating current can therefore flow through the current path. Furthermore, the switch region has at least one contact region, a feed line region, and a connection region, where the connection region can be connected to sensor electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Patrick Weber, Hans-Georg Esser, Jens Bondkowski
  • Patent number: 10616956
    Abstract: A heating element includes a matrix material and a nanomaterial filler, wherein the nanomaterial filler includes at least one of a nano-sheet and a nanorod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seyun Kim, Soichiro Mizusaki, Haengdeog Koh, Doyoon Kim, Hajin Kim, Changsoo Lee, Intaek Han
  • Patent number: 10608330
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to antennas embedded in or on glass structures. More specifically, the application teaches a method and apparatus for camouflaging near-transparent conductors by adding additional conductive or non-conductive materials of non-conductive areas by applying the additional materials in the same plane or a different plane than the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10609768
    Abstract: A pane having at least two connection elements and one connecting conductor is described. The pane comprising a substrate with an electrically conductive structure on at least one subregion of the substrate, at least two electrical connection elements on at least one subregion of the electrically conductive structure, at least one contact area on the bottom of each connection element, a solder compound, which connects the contact areas of the electrical connection elements in at least one subregion to the electrically conductive structure, and a connecting conductor, which electrically conductively connects the connection elements to one another, wherein the contact areas of adjacent connection elements, which contact areas are closest to one another, are at a distance of at least 70 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Mitja Rateiczak, Bernhard Reul, Klaus Schmalbuch, Bernd Stelling
  • Patent number: 10604116
    Abstract: The invention relates to a window glass heating apparatus comprising an electric heating wire for heating a window glass of a vehicle. The apparatus continues to stop an energization of the wire until a predetermined energization standby time has elapsed after an energization permission condition becomes satisfied. The apparatus starts the energization of the wire when the predetermined energization standby time has elapsed after the energization permission condition becomes satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hajime Nagae
  • Patent number: 10596786
    Abstract: A laminated vehicle glazing includes an AMOLED screen between the internal faces F2 and F3 of the glazings and which is located in a widened masking zone of enamel on face F2, and is alone or adjacent with another or several other flexible AMOLED screens also clustered in the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Michael Labrot, Ingo Von Der Weiden
  • Patent number: 10582571
    Abstract: A transparent heater includes a plurality of high aspect ratio micro-wires. A plurality of channels is formed into the surface of a transparent substrate within an active heater region. The channels have a width of between 4 microns and 9 microns to insure that they are invisible to the naked eye, and a depth that is at least 1.5 times the width. Spacing between the channels is preferably at least 100 ?m. Micro-wires are formed by at least partially filling the channels with a conductive material. Power source connections are provided to connect to an electrical power source to supply a current through the plurality of micro-wires. An average optical transmittance of the transparent heater within the active heater region is greater than 50 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Haoyan Wei
  • Patent number: 10536994
    Abstract: A pane, having at least one first pane with an outer face and an inner face is described. The pane has at least one electrically conductive transparent coating which is arranged on the outer face and/or the inner face of the first pane, and at least two busbars which are provided for connecting to a voltage source and which are connected to the electrically conductive transparent coating such that a current path for a heating current is formed between the busbars. The electrically conductive transparent coating has at least three regions with decoated structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Francois Guillaume, Stefan Droste, Bernd Stelling
  • Patent number: 10520151
    Abstract: A daylighting apparatus of the present invention includes: a daylighting sheet (13) that has first and second surfaces opposite to each other and that lets light in through the first surface and lets the light out through the second surface at a predetermined distribution of angles; and a visible light-reflecting sheet (15) that reflects part of visible light falling on the first surface of the daylighting sheet (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shun Ueki, Shumpei Nishinaka, Toru Kanno, Daisuke Shinozaki, Hideomi Yui, Tomoko Ueki, Tsuyoshi Kamada
  • Patent number: 10485061
    Abstract: A heatable laminated side pane is described. The heatable laminated side pane comprises at least an outer pane and an inner pane, which are connected to each other via a thermoplastic intermediate layer. An electrically conductive coating is arranged on the surface between the outer pane and the inner pane. The electrically conductive coating is divided into segments by isolation lines, wherein the coating has heating strips extending between a first current collector rail and a second current collector rail. Each collector rail contains at least one segment, wherein the heating strips are electrically isolated from each other. At least one heating strip is formed by at least two segments, which are electrically connected to each other via at least one electrically conductive connector element, and the length of each individual heating strip deviates by a maximum of 15% from the average length of the heating strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Marcel Klein, Francois Hermange
  • Patent number: 10473381
    Abstract: A method and system for defrosting a refrigerant coil using at least one of resistive and electromagnetic heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BETTERFROST TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Victor F. Petrenko, Sameh M. I. Saad, Kazi Kased L. Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10466195
    Abstract: A proximity switch and moisture sensing assembly includes a vehicle window and a proximity switch including a proximity sensor located on the window and providing an activation field. The proximity switch and moisture sensing assembly also includes control circuitry monitoring a signal responsive to the activation field, determining a switch activation based on the signal, and determining a moisture value based upon the signal. A conductive shield may be disposed between the proximity sensors and the outside environment to reduce the effects of moisture on the outer side of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10464841
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a writable window (e.g., IG window unit), where images (e.g., advertisements, logos, designs, pictures and/or words) can be selectively written into the window and are designed to be viewed by humans and/or animals. A substrate (e.g., glass substrate) supports a solar coating such as a low emissivity (low-E) coating which may include at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver that is located on and directly contacting a contact/seed layer of or including a material such as zinc oxide and/or zinc stannate. A radiation source (e.g., laser(s) and/or lamp(s)) may be used to selectively expose certain areas of the coating to radiation (e.g., UV radiation). The exposed area(s) of the coating, after being exposed and heated, have different optical characteristic(s) (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC.
    Inventor: Alexey Krasnov
  • Patent number: 10445594
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an onboard display system for solving the problem of display image with poor clarity in the prior art, achieving a better grasp to situation outside the vehicle and driving safety of the driver. The onboard display system includes a camera module and a display. The camera module is installed at a predetermined position outside the vehicle for taking traffic images during driving and sending them to the display. The display is arranged inside the vehicle and adhered to the front windshield of the vehicle or hang before the front windshield of the vehicle for displaying the traffic images it received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICSS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei He, Seung Yik Park
  • Patent number: 10414378
    Abstract: A window assembly includes a polymeric interlayer provided between an inner pane of glass and an outer pane of glass. The inner pane and outer pane each have a first major surface and a second major surface. The second major surface of the outer pane and the first major surface of the inner pane face each other. The window assembly also includes a connector assembly. The connector assembly has a wire assembly. The wire assembly has a terminal connector. The terminal connector has a width and a height. The width is greater than the height. The terminal connector is attached to a busbar provided on the second major surface of either the inner pane or the outer pane. A potting layer is provided over the terminal connector. The potting layer separates the terminal connector from an electrically conductive portion of a vehicle adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventor: Charles Sitterlet
  • Patent number: 10410890
    Abstract: A processing chamber is described. The processing chamber includes a chamber having an interior volume, a light pipe window structure coupled to the chamber, the light pipe window structure having a first transparent plate disposed within the interior volume of the chamber, and a radiant heat source coupled to a second transparent plate of the light pipe window structure in a position outside of the interior volume of the chamber, wherein the light pipe window structure includes a plurality of light pipe structures disposed between the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron Muir Hunter, Anzhong Chang
  • Patent number: 10397982
    Abstract: A photographing device for a vehicle includes: an imaging element configured to receive a photographing beam passing through a beam transmission section of a window section; a heater constituted by a heating wire; a section to be heated to which the heater is fixed, the section to be heated being opposite to an inner side surface of the beam transmission section; a switch element configured to switch electrical connection state to the heater; and a current limiting element disposed at the section to be heated and being configured such that current flowing through the heater becomes zero or is reduced when the electric circuit is short-circuited such that power is supplied to the heater while bypassing the switch element and a temperature of the current limiting element become equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Usami, Kunihiko Toyofuku, Ryuichi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 10388426
    Abstract: A pane with at least one electrical connection element is described. The pane having at least a substrate, an electrically conductive structure on a region of the substrate, a connection element that is connected via a soldering compound to a region of the electrically conductive structure, and a flexible connection cable connected to the connection element. The connection cable is provided with a stiffening element and the connection cable with the stiffening element is enshrouded by a heat shrink tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Bernhard Reul, Mitja Rateiczak, Klaus Schmalbuch
  • Patent number: 10374416
    Abstract: A system for monitoring performance of an aircraft windshield includes a sensor comprising a sensory contact and an evaluation unit. The sensory contact is in physical contact with one or more components of the windshield, and generates a signal representative of the performance of the component(s) of the windshield. An electrical connector is secured to the surface of the windshield facing the interior of the aircraft. The signal from the sensory contact passes through the connector to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit acts on the signal to determine the performance of the component(s) of the windshield, wherein the evaluation unit is spaced from and out of physical contact with the windshield and the electrical connector, and is in electrical contact with the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas B. Duarte, Yu Jiao, Khushroo H. Lakdawala, Arthur C. Scott, Monroe A. Stone
  • Patent number: 10365671
    Abstract: During operation, a facility may utilize many sensors, such as cameras, to generate sensor data. Some of these sensors may be housed within protective enclosures. The enclosures may be inside specially controlled environments, such as refrigerators, freezers, and so forth. During operation of the facility, moisture may accumulate on these enclosures, impairing the ability of the camera to acquire an image through the window. Described are devices to selectively heat a viewable area of the window such that moisture accumulation is reduced with minimal power use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Nelson, Heather Anne Ralph, Matthew David Mickelson, Brad Nathaniel Arnold, Matthew Christopher Smith, Daniel Joseph Peters, Kevin Bailey
  • Patent number: 10358117
    Abstract: A control system can include an actuator actuable into an on state to instruct a wiper motor to move a wiper over a vehicle exterior surface, and a source of vehicle movement data that indicates whether the vehicle is moving. A processor based controller can instruct the wiper motor to move the wiper to either a Park 1 position that provides enhanced aerodynamic effects or a different Park 2 position that provides enhanced accessibility to the wiper if the actuator is not actuated into the on state. The controller being specifically configured to instruct the wiper motor to move the wiper to the Park 1 position if the source of vehicle information indicates that the vehicle is moving, and to instruct the wiper motor to move the wiper to the Park 2 position if the source of vehicle information does not indicate that the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erik F. de Almeida, Michael T. Binfet
  • Patent number: 10355378
    Abstract: A pane having at least one electrical connection element is described. The pane has a substrate, an electrically conductive structure on a region of the substrate, a layer of a solder material on a region of the electrically conductive structure, and at least two soldering points of a connection element on the solder material. The at least two soldering points define at least one contact surface between the connection element and the electrically conductive structure, and a shape of the at least one contact surface has at least one segment of an oval, an ellipse, or a circle with a central angle ? of at least 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Christoph Degen, Bernhard Reul, Mitja Rateiczak, Andreas Schlarb, Lothar Lesmeister
  • Patent number: 10354904
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes: a body substrate having a substrate front surface and a substrate rear surface and made of ceramic; an attraction electrode provided in the body substrate; a metal base having a base front surface and a base rear surface, and placed such that the base front surface faces the substrate rear surface of the body substrate; and an internal through hole formed so as to penetrate the base front surface and the base rear surface of the metal base. The body substrate has a plurality of heating regions in each of which a heater electrode is provided. In the internal through hole, a plurality of heater electrode terminals are provided which are electrically connected to the heater electrode in each heating region. The plurality of heater electrode terminals provided in the internal through hole are electrically connected to a connection member provided in the internal through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Okugawa, Yosuke Shinozaki, Toshihisa Nomura
  • Patent number: 10351248
    Abstract: Aircraft and aircraft windshield heating systems are provided. An aircraft windshield heating system includes a windshield, first and second heating elements, and a power bus controller. The windshield has a main portion and a reduced portion, the first and second heating elements are thermally coupled with the main portion and the reduced portion, respectively. The power bus controller is operatively coupled with the first heating element and the second heating element and is configured for coupling to a primary power supply and a backup power supply. The power bus controller is configured to determine when the primary power supply is available, to direct power from the primary power supply to the first heating element when the primary power supply is available, and to direct power from the backup power supply to the second heating element when the primary power supply is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Palfreyman