Windshield Or Window Patents (Class 219/203)
  • Patent number: 10159115
    Abstract: A pane having an electric heating layer is described, including at least: a first pane having a first surface; at least one electric heating layer that is applied to at least part of the surface and has an 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 at least one separating line which electrically subdivides the electric layer into at least two segments. At least one segment is arranged in the form of a strip around the uncoated zone such that the current path for the heating current is at least partially guided around the uncoated zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Dang Cuong Phan, Bojan Dimitrijevic, Guenther Schall
  • Patent number: 10129932
    Abstract: A sensing element for sensing a temperature of an electrically heated window includes a coil of filament wire having a first end and a second end, the coil having a resistivity that changes based on temperature, a first substantially flat conductive material electrically coupled to the first end of the coil, a second substantially flat conductive material electrically coupled to the second end of the coil, a first lead wire electrically coupled to the first substantially flat conductive material and extending outwardly, and a second lead wire electrically coupled to the second substantially flat conductive material and extending outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Briggs, Robert A. Drensek, Stephen J. Molmer, Andrew T. Troller
  • Patent number: 10118369
    Abstract: A laminated glazing unit including a first and a second glass sheet, the first glass sheet being equipped with a first through-hole, a spacer film of thermoplastic polymer disposed between the first and second glass sheets, at least one conducting wire buried within the spacer film or disposed between the spacer film and the first glass sheet or disposed between the spacer film and the second glass sheet, one end of each conducting wire exiting from the laminated glazing unit via the first through-hole in the first glass sheet. The conducting wires are fed through a laminated glazing unit, with a guaranteed quality of positioning of the conducting wires, an improved field of view and with no induced noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Dominique Bureloux, Adeline Girod, Alexandre Hennion, Andreas Schlarb, Bernd Stelling
  • Patent number: 10120202
    Abstract: Patterned articles include a substantially transparent substrate having at least one optical property, the substrate further having an outer surface and an inner surface; and at least one patterned layer on the outer surface of the substrate, the at least one patterned layer visible on the outer surface and having at least one optical property substantially matching the at least one optical property of the substrate, whereby visibility of the at least one patterned layer is at least partially restricted through the inner surface. Methods of forming a patterned article are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: QUANTUM INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Norman L. Kester
  • Patent number: 10111581
    Abstract: A thermal defogging system and method for an optical instrument is described. In one embodiment, the thermal defogging system for an optical instrument is comprised of: at least a primary housing, the primary housing defining an aperture for transmission of optical signals, a transparent element adapted to be aligned with the aperture for transmission of optical signals, at least one side of the transparent element facing the external environment; and a transparent conductive layer covering an area at least as large as the optical footprint of the transmitted optical signal through the transparent element, wherein responsive to the application of electrical power to the transparent conductive layer, the transparent conductive layer generates heat that is thermally communicated to the least one side of the transparent element facing the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nir Makmel
  • Patent number: 10098186
    Abstract: A heated laminated windscreen including two sheets of glass joined by an inserted sheet, and including a system of conductive layers covering most of a surface of one glass sheet of the windscreen. The system is electrically powered by busbars at a top and bottom of the windscreen, with windows which are devoid of layers arranged at the top in the middle of the windscreen. The windscreen further including at least one additional busbar arranged laterally on edges and at the top of the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: AGC GLASS EUROPE
    Inventors: Laurent Goutiere, Peter Masschelein
  • Patent number: 10063047
    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: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas B. Duarte, Yu Jiao, Khushroo H. Lakdawala, Arthur C. Scott, Monroe A. Stone
  • Patent number: 10017416
    Abstract: A composite pane having a sun protection and a heat protection function is described. The composite pane has an outer pane having an outer surface and an inner surface, an inner pane having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a thermoplastic intermediate layer, having at least a sun protection coating on at least the inner surface, the outer surface, or in the thermoplastic intermediate layer, and a heat protection layer on the inner surface. The sun protection layer has at least one functional layer containing at least silver, and the heat protection layer has at least one functional layer containing at least one metal of the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, and zirconium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventor: Florian Manz
  • Patent number: 10018679
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for a vehicle component structural integrity assessment system, comprising a first connection and a second connection coupled to a conduction path, which is associated with a vehicle component. The conduction path has an initial resistance. A controller is configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of a change in the resistance of the conduction path from the initial resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Masias
  • Patent number: 9963009
    Abstract: An air-heating blower device for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a body with at least one inlet opening at least one outlet opening an electrically driven axial fan rotatably mounted around its axis within the body. The fan is associated to an electric motor (M) with toroidal geometry, having an annular rotor which is rotatable within an annular stator and defining a central opening inside thereof, said fan (F) having one or more blades (B) which are carried by the rotor and each blade extending into said central opening towards a free end of the blade which terminates at a distance from the central axis of the fan, and in that the annular body of the rotor and/or the annular body of the stator define a guide tube for the airflow activated by the fan (F) over the resistive electric heater (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Interactive Fully Electrical Vehicles S.r.l., Poli-Model S.r.l.
    Inventors: Pietro Perlo, Pietro Guerrieri
  • Patent number: 9958131
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a housing having a compartment with an opening. At least one lighting element is mounted in the compartment, defines at least one light output range, and is electrically connected to a circuit board. A transparent cover is disposed in front of the opening of the housing. A thermally conductive member is mounted to a rear face of the transparent cover and has a shape located corresponding to a periphery of the at least one light output range. A front surface of the thermally conductive member abuts the rear face of the transparent cover. A heating element electrically connected to a heating control device is mounted to a rear surface of the thermally conductive member and includes a heating wire having a diameter smaller than a width of the thermally conductive member. The heating wire is longer than the thermally conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Min Hsiang Corporation
    Inventor: Shang-kuei Tai
  • Patent number: 9949319
    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: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Dang Cuong Phan, Bojan Dimitrijevic, Guenther Schall
  • Patent number: 9888566
    Abstract: A transparency having a bus bar system includes a non-conductive substrate having a major surface. At least one conductive coating is located over at least a portion of the major surface. An electrically conductive adhesive, such as an isotropically conductive tape or film, is located over at least a portion of the conductive coating. A metallic member, such as a metallic foil or metallic braid, is located over the isotropically conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Short
  • Patent number: 9868535
    Abstract: A method of treating ice for a windshield of an aircraft, in which method at least two distinct de-icing zones of the windshield are defined. During a de-icing step, at least one de-icing means is activated temporarily in order to de-ice the de-icing zones in succession and in a given cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Robert Leschi, Stephane Catris, Gregory Balmain
  • Patent number: 9821770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a windowpane defogging device for a motor vehicle which, upon generation of a fog on a windowpane, comes into a defogging mode to remove the fog generated on the windowpane. The windowpane defogging device includes a relative humidity detecting unit configured to detect a windowpane relative humidity of a driver seat view field region of the windowpane and a windowpane relative humidity of a passenger seat view field region of the windowpane, and a control unit configured to control entry into the defogging mode by determining the generation or non-generation of the fog on the windowpane based on the windowpane relative humidity of the driver seat view field region and the windowpane relative humidity of the passenger seat view field region inputted from the relative humidity detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Baek
  • Patent number: 9751498
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method for de-icing a transparent window, in particular a vehicle windshield, with an electric heating device, are described. The method 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: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Andreas Schlarb, Guenther Schall, Marcel Klein, Xavier Fanton
  • Patent number: 9664132
    Abstract: Various methods are provided for operating an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method of operating an oxygen sensor including a heater comprises sampling a first heater resistance at a first temperature, and determining a resistance-temperature transfer function relating heater resistance to heater temperature based on the first heater resistance and a second heater resistance at a second temperature, the second temperature different from the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9646436
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for hands-free activation of vehicle functions such as accessing doors and windows, and establishing driver preferences such as seat positions is disclosed. A capacitive sensor is embedded in a non-metallic portion of the vehicle such as a tail light, window, or cladding on the vehicle. The capacitive sensor is in communication with a vehicle control unit, which can detect the proximity of a user or a specific gesture to activate a predetermined vehicle function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Manufacturing, Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Campbell, Yipeng Tang, Mansour Ashtiani, Khalid Kamal, Lynn D Da Deppo
  • Patent number: 9625685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a window glass for a vehicle, attached to a body flange of the vehicle at a circumferential edge portion thereof, including: an infrared ray shielding portion which reflects or absorbs infrared rays on a large part of the window; and electromagnetic wave transmitting portions having a substantially rectangular shape, which transmit at least a predetermined electromagnetic wave, at each of lower end portions on both sides in a width direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Masanobu Ogawa, Junzo Ooe, Takuma Sawaya, Takashi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9629204
    Abstract: Condensation mitigation devices and condensation prediction/detection techniques configured to prevent window condensation with reduced power consumption are disclosed. A condensation mitigation device is configured to predict and/or detect a window condensation event. The condensation mitigation device is powered on only during such an event, and the condensation mitigation device is powered off afterwards to conserve power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Armstrong, Shannon Cushman, Phillip B. Liescheski, Paul Spieker
  • Patent number: 9610752
    Abstract: A laminated glass pane with electrical function and connection element is described. The laminated glass pane has at least two individual glass panes, which are areally connected to at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer. The laminated glass pane further has at least one electrically functional layer, which is situated between the at least two individual glass panes at least one foil conductor, which is electrically conductively connected to the at least one electrically functional layer, and at least one housing with at least one electrical feed line and at least one electrical line connection. The at least two individual glass panes has at least one undercut glass pane, wherein the at least one foil conductor runs without an overhang around a lateral edge of the at least one undercut glass pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Andreas Schlarb, Walter Schreiber, Bernhard Reul
  • Patent number: 9581033
    Abstract: A surface mounted heater assembly for an aerospace component having a support layer, an electrically resistive heater foil element supported by the support layer, a coating covering the heater element; and an adhesive to secure said support layer to the component is provided. The coating has two layers that are visually distinct to permit identification of potential exposure of the heater foil element. A surface mounted heater having a multiple layer assembly having a support layer; a heater element and a transition layer to couple the support layer to the aerospace component is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP0RATION
    Inventor: John H Vontell
  • Patent number: 9526130
    Abstract: A transparent pane having an electrically heatable coating is described. The transparent pane is electrically connected to at least two first electrodes provided for electrical connection to two terminals of a voltage source. A heating field includes at least one coating-free zone. At least one second electrode is provided for electric connection to one terminal of the voltage source. A method for manufacturing the transparent pane is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Günther Schall, Dang Cuong Phan, Bernhard Reul, Lothar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9511648
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle heater that is capable of being easily manufactured and being miniaturized due to a decrease in a thickness by forming a heat generating part using a first support part (and a second support part) positioned perpendicularly to an air flow direction and having a plate form and is capable of improving heating performance by improving heat exchange performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jung Sam Gu, Kwang Hun Oh, Young-Ha Jeon, Jun Young Song, Hong-Young Lim
  • Patent number: 9503619
    Abstract: An arrangement for an image recording device in a vehicle having an image recording device for recording image data. The arrangement includes a carrier part which can be positioned on the vehicle with the front side of the carrier part on or in front of the inside of a vehicle window, retaining elements for retaining the image recording device, the retaining elements are coupled to the carrier part in such a way that the optical recording axis of the image recording device is directed into an area in front of the front side of the carrier part, and a heating device, the heating device designed in such a way that the thermal radiation produced by the heating device in the direction of the area in front of the front side of the carrier part is determined. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the heating device in such an arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: CALESCO FOIL, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Roland Hacker, Kjell Jacobsen, Pär Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 9487437
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to substrates or assemblies having laser-fused frits, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a pattern is formed or written on a stock glass sheet by laser fusing frit material to the glass sheet. An optional thin film coating is disposed on and supported by the stock glass sheet. The stock glass sheet with the pattern and the optional thin film coating is cut prior to heat treatment (e.g., heat strengthening and/or thermal tempering). A YAG or other type of laser source may be used to directly or indirectly heat the frit material, which may be wet applied to the substrate. In certain instances, the laser firing of the frit raises the temperature of the glass substrate to no more than 100 degrees C. and, preferably, the temperature is kept even lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Walp
  • Patent number: 9481228
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle windshield which can decrease chances of a fogging to occur by having an antifogging property, and under a situation that a fogging occurs, it is able to allow a driver to easily and surely recognize an occurrence state of the fogging in its initial state without adversely affecting visibility. The vehicle windshield has a window glass, a strip-shaped black ceramic layer, and a water absorbing antifogging film, wherein the water absorbing antifogging film has a thin-film area located outside a visual field area where a visual field of a driver is ensured in the vehicle windshield and inside an area where the black ceramic layer is formed, the thin-film area having a maximum film thickness in a range of 30% to 70% of a minimum film thickness in the visual field area and having a size recognizable by the driver when a fogging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ishioka
  • Patent number: 9422189
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to substrates or assemblies having laser-fused fits, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a pattern is formed or written on a stock glass sheet by laser fusing frit material to the glass sheet. An optional thin film coating is disposed on and supported by the stock glass sheet. The stock glass sheet with the pattern and the optional thin film coating is cut prior to heat treatment (e.g., heat strengthening and/or thermal tempering). A YAG or other type of laser source may be used to directly or indirectly heat the frit material, which may be wet applied to the substrate. In certain instances, the laser firing of the frit raises the temperature of the glass substrate to no more than 100 degrees C. and, preferably, the temperature is kept even lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Walp
  • Patent number: 9395538
    Abstract: An imager assembly adapted to capture an image proximate to a vehicle includes a camera and a heater element. The camera is configured to capture an image of a field-of-view about a vehicle through a window of the vehicle. The heater element is configured to direct heat toward a portion of the window that intersects the field-of-view for defogging the portion of the window. The heater element is located outside of the field-of-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hui, Yew Kwang Low, Kok Wee Yeo
  • Patent number: 9357636
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a conductive structure body that comprises a darkening pattern layer having AlOxNy, and a method for manufacturing the same. The conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may prevent reflection by a conductive pattern layer without affecting conductivity of the conductive pattern layer, and improve a concealing property of the conductive pattern layer by improving absorbance. Accordingly, a display panel having improved visibility may be developed by using the conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Hyong Lim, Song Ho Jang, Jin Woo Park, Ki-Hwan Kim, In-Seok Hwang, Chung Wan Kim, Seung Heon Lee, Beom Mo Koo, Ji Young Hwang
  • Patent number: 9321364
    Abstract: An electric bus may include a charging interface positioned on an external surface of the electric bus. One or more heating pads may be removably attached to the charging interface and configured to heat the charging interface. The heating pads may include a rigid plate forming an exposed surface of the charging interface. The plate may be positioned such that a first side of the plate forms a charging head contact surface when the charging head engages with the charging interface. A heating device may be attached to a second side of the plate opposite the first side. The heating device may include a heating element configured to heat the plate by resistive heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor A. Ashworth, Seamus T. McGrath, Seneca A. Schepmann
  • Patent number: 9302451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent pane with a transparent heatable coating, which extends at least over a part of the pane surface, in particular over its visual field. The heatable coating is divided by at least one heatable coating-free zone into at least one first heatable coating zone and a second heatable coating zone, wherein the two heatable coating zones are in each case electrically connected to at least two collecting conductors such that after application of a supply voltage that is provided by a voltage source, in each case a current flows over at least one first heating field formed by the first heatable coating zone and at least one second heating field formed by the second heatable coating zone. At least one heating element is disposed in the heatable coating-free zone, which heating element has an ohmic resistance such that by means of application of the supply voltage to the heating element, the pane is heatable in a surface area containing the heatable coating-free zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Guenther Schall, Dang Cuong Phan, Bernhard Reul, Gunther Vortmeier
  • Patent number: 9302934
    Abstract: A glass-ceramic plate for covering or accommodating at least one heating element, wherein the plate is at least partly coated with at least one nanoscale layer based on a metallic material having a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the glass-ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: EUROKERA S.N.C.
    Inventors: Pablo Vilato, Caroline Faillat, Marie-Helene Rouillon
  • Patent number: 9283733
    Abstract: A transparent window pane including an electrically heating coating that extends over a large part of the surface of the window pane, or over its field of vision, and which is electrically connected to at least two busbars of low electrical resistance, such that, after an electrical supply voltage has been applied to the busbars, an electrical current flows in a heating field formed by the coating. Further, a heating element includes conducting elements of low electrical resistance, or printed conducting tracks and/or wires, in a zone of the surface not heated by the coating, which preferably lies on the edge of the transparent window pane and on the same face as the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Ariane Blanchard, Guenther Schall, Marc Maurer
  • Patent number: 9282657
    Abstract: A terminal device is provided that includes a first case; a second case disposed in the terminal device with a gap with respect to the first case; and a transparent member that includes a transparent front-surface-side member bonded to a transparent rear-surface-side member and is disposed in the gap to connect the first case and the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyaoka, Nobuaki Hayashi, Ken Imai, Shingo Kawamura, Takefumi Masuda
  • Patent number: 9277597
    Abstract: An electrically extensively heatable, transparent object includes at least one electrically conductive, transparent coating on an electrically insulating substrate. An electrically conductive band is connected to two electrical busbars and is applied on the coating and at least partially surrounds the periphery of a data transmission window. The electrically conductive band has at least one interruption that separates a greater part of the electrically conductive band from busbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Dang Cuong Phan, Gunther Schall
  • Patent number: 9137856
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for unfreezing a window from a window seal are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a vehicle door assembly including a vehicle door and a window. The apparatus further includes a window seal that receives an upper edge of the window and a heating element coupled to the upper edge or the window seal. The system further includes a power source that provides an electrical current to the heating element and a control module configured to receive a remote unlock signal from a remote device, obtain a temperature signal indicating a temperature in response to the remote unlock signal, compare the temperature indicated by the temperature signal to a temperature threshold, and cause the power source to provide the electrical current to the heating element when the temperature is less than the temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Eric R Thompson, Stephen J Buckley, Jason L Vincent
  • Patent number: 9100996
    Abstract: A transparent pane with a conductive coating is described. The transparent pane is electrically connected to an electrically heatable coating that extends at least over a part of the area of the pane and to at least two first electrodes provided for electrical connection to the two terminals of a voltage source. The heating field of the transparent pane includes at least one coating-free zone. The transparent pane also has at least one second electrode provided for electric connection to one terminal of the voltage source. The supply section of the transparent pane consists of at least two supply parts separated from each other, and a coupling section, which is electrically connected to the heatable coating. A method for manufacturing the transparent pane is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Dang Cuong Phan, Günther Schall
  • Patent number: 9045043
    Abstract: A vehicle glass heating system may include a vehicle glass having two or more electrically heated zones. The system may also have a controller, which determines an output based on an input signal and selectively actuates at least a portion of the heated zones to heat the vehicle glass according to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Bryan Hoke, Frank Fusco
  • Patent number: 9029735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating element comprising: two or more heating units comprising two busbars and a conductive heating means electrically connected to the two busbars, in which the busbars of the heating units are connected with each other in series and power per unit area of each of the heating units in the heating element decreases as a length of the busbar increases, and a method of preparing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon Choi, Su-Jin Kim, Ki-Hwan Kim, Young-Jun Hong
  • Patent number: 9018564
    Abstract: A plastic window system including a transparent plastic panel and an electrically conductive grid provided on the plastic panel. The conductive grid includes at least one conductive mounting location. An electrical terminal is electrically connected to the conductive mounting location, and a connector secures the terminal to the conductive mounting location. The connector includes a portion extending from the panel to a location outboard of the conductive mounting location relative to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Exatec LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Sargent, Eric van der Meulen, Robert A. Schwenke, Jason Beaudoin, Juan Velasquez
  • Patent number: 9018568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating glass including a glass; a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer formed on one surface of the glass; and a thermal conductive pattern formed on the transparent conductive oxide layer, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Jin Kim, Hyeon Choi, Ki-Hwan Kim, Young-Jun Hong, In-Seok Hwang, Dong-Wook Lee, Sang-Ki Chun
  • Publication number: 20150102023
    Abstract: A planar heating element for a window includes a resin base having a flat or curved surface, a heating element formed of a conductive sheet having a uniform specific resistance and provided to spread in the form of a planar shape along the shape of the surface of the resin base, and conductive current supply portions provided to extend in the form of bands on opposite ends of the heating element, so as to allow a current to pass through the heating element. The heating element has a locally increased specific resistance portion whose specific resistance locally increases when a current is passed through the heating element from the current supply portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Takayoshi MITSUHASHI
  • Patent number: 9006613
    Abstract: Provided is a window glass sheet fitted with a seal member and incorporated with a device such as a deicer which facilitates the device and the seal member to be installed in a proper manner. The automotive window glass sheet comprises a laminated glass sheet including a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet placed on an outboard side of the first glass sheet, and a seal member fitted on a peripheral part of the laminated glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumitsu Sakamoto, Haruyoshi Kurogi
  • Publication number: 20150096969
    Abstract: A multi-layer stack includes: a substrate; a drain layer on a first side of the substrate, the drain layer having a sheet resistance of less than about 106 ohms per square; a heater layer on the drain layer; and a dielectric layer between the heater layer and the drain layer is disclosed. A transparency for a flying vehicle including the multi-layer stack and having the drain layer configured to be grounded to the flying vehicle, and a flying vehicle including the transparency is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150034621
    Abstract: A pane arrangement having an electrically heatable baffle plate is described. The pane arrangement has a pane having an enclosure on the inner side of the pane, a radiation receiver and/or a radiation source facing the pane within the enclosure such that a beam path of electromagnetic radiation passes through a predefined region of the pane, a baffle plate arranged within the enclosure and below the beam path, and an electrically heatable area in the baffle plate heating the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Alwin Timmermann, Dirk Wohlfeil
  • Patent number: 8946597
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of obtaining a heated window, comprising depositing a continuous thin film of a transparent electronically conductive oxide, having a sheet resistance that is uniform over the entire area of the film, on a glass sheet; and subjecting the thin film to a plasma treatment in which a device that emits excited species of an oxygen plasma is placed facing a region of the thin film, and then a relative movement is created between the thin film and the device in order to treat differentially the various regions of the thin film, so that after the thin film has been treated it has regions with different sheet resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Georges Zagdoun, Pierre Chaussade, Vincent Legois
  • Patent number: 8938846
    Abstract: A screen wiper arrangement is provided including a window screen and a screen wiper for cleaning the window screen, wherein the window screen is arranged in an opening of a cabin and inserted in a window frame, and wherein the window screen includes at least one screen portion which can be moved between an open and a closed position. The window screen includes an electrically conductive element coupleable to an electrical circuit which has at least a first state in response to a first position of the at least one screen portion and a second state in response to a second position of the at least one screen portion. One or more contact points are available for detecting if the electrical circuit is in the first or the second state, and a wiper control element is provided which controls the activation of the screen wiper system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Oliver Bichler
  • Publication number: 20150014294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for melting frost and/or rime and/or ice and/or snow on the window of a motor vehicle using a wiper blade (1) arranged so as to provide heat to the window (2) according to a melting cycle associated with an upward phase or falling phase of the blade, the method comprising the step of causing heat to provided to the window (2) by means of the wiper blade (1) such that said provision of heat melts the frost and/or rime and/or ice and/or snow on the window (2) of the vehicle, wherein said provision can be carried out in particular by radiating heat or spraying a heated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Frédèric Giraud, Marcel Trebouet
  • Patent number: 8921739
    Abstract: Cost efficient, lightweight and rapid windshield deicing systems and methods are disclosed. The systems utilize step-up converters or inverters, or dual-voltage batteries, to provide a voltage high enough to deice a windshield in less than thirty seconds at ambient temperatures above ?10 C. Some of the disclosed systems include sensors for deicing element and ambient temperatures, and in some embodiments windspeed. All embodiments have a controller for limiting deicing time to that sufficient to melt a boundary layer of ice. The controller of embodiments with sensors computes deicing time as a function of ambient temperature. Embodiments interact with wiper systems to enable wipers to clear ice once the boundary layer is melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles R. Sullivan, Oleg Nickolayev, Valeri Kozlyuk