Windshield Or Window Patents (Class 219/203)
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20140374401
    Abstract: In an automotive glazing comprising a laminated glazing sheet (2) including a first glazing sheet (6), a second glazing sheet (8) laminated to an outboard side of the first glazing sheet and an electric device (13) placed between the first and second glazing sheets, and a seal member (4) attached to a peripheral part of the laminated glazing sheet, a cutout (11) is formed in a peripheral part of the first glazing sheet, and a support member (24) defining an inboard surface (26) flush with an inboard side of the first glazing sheet is placed in the cutout. Terminal pieces (17) are drawn from electrode pieces (12) of the electric device out of the cutout via a gap defined between an edge of the first glazing sheet defining the cutout and an opposing edge of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: MASAFUMI NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8916805
    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: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8916799
    Abstract: Flat electric heater element having a self-adhesive surface for the purpose of adhesive-bonding to a glass pane of a motor vehicle, and having a passage opening to allow the passage of signals from/to a signaling device which is installed in the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jose A. Martinez, Erik Arnold
  • Patent number: 8907250
    Abstract: A pane having a heatable, optically transparent sensor array comprising at least: a) a pane, b) at least one optically transparent sensor array on the surface of the pane, c) at least one heatable film which is fitted to the optically transparent sensor array, comprising at least: c1) a support film, c2) a heatable coating, printed conductors, meshes and/or heating wires on the support film, d) at least one electrical contact-making means, which is fitted to the heatable coating and/or to the heating wires, and e) encapsulation, which is fitted to the optically transparent sensor array and to the heatable film, and a sensor which is fitted in the encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Emily Bressand, Ilkay Arslan, Dirk Wohlfeil
  • Patent number: 8895899
    Abstract: The invention relates to glazing units provided with conducting wires. The glazing units according to the invention comprise enameled conducting wires applied by screen-printing. When subjected to a “zebra” test (DIN 52305), in which the conducting wires are oriented parallel to those of the image of the test and the glazing receives the incident light beam at an angle of 30° C. in relation to the normal to the glazing, the increase in distortion in relation to that of the glazing without conducting wires is at most 70% and preferably at most 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Philippe Marquet
  • Patent number: 8895897
    Abstract: A heatable glazing is disclosed in which electrical heating elements such as fine wires are connected to a busbar. The resistance of the busbar is chosen such that, at the supply voltage of the installation, the busbar provides heating of a portion of the glazing in which it is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Barclay Dixon, Mark Andrew Chamberlain
  • Publication number: 20140339212
    Abstract: A system used as vehicle windshield-enables control of the suitability of laminated glasses includes an outer glass, an inner glass, a binding layer, a conductive member and resistance wires, and also includes an energy source. Conductive cables are provided for transferring the energy received from the energy source to the laminated glass. A light source reflects the images of the resistance wires on said laminated glass. A reflection surface is provided on which the image of laminated glass is reflected. A method is also provided and includes the process steps of providing energy for the laminated glass by means of an energy source, reflecting the shadows of the resistance wires on the energized laminated glass onto a reflection surface via a light source and performing suitability control in accordance with the shadows read on reflection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Idris ARSLAN
  • Publication number: 20140332519
    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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON SHEET GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumitsu Sakamoto, Haruyoshi Kurogi
  • Patent number: 8878101
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a heating element in which a heating value for each region is controlled or a heating element in which the heating value for each region is controlled and which is inconspicuous, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon Choi, Ki-Hwan Kim, Sujin Kim
  • Publication number: 20140319116
    Abstract: A transparent pane is described. The transparent pane has at least one transparent substrate and at least one electrically conductive coating on at least one surface of the transparent substrate. The electrically conductive coating has at least two functional layers arranged one on top of the other, and each functional layer has at least one anti-reflection layer, a first adaptation layer above the anti-reflection layer, and an electrically conductive layer above the first adaptation layer, and at least one anti-reflection layer of at least one layer of a dielectric material having an index of refraction less than 2.1 arranged between two electrically conductive layers, and a layer of an optically highly refractive material having an index of refraction greater than or equal to 2.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Klaus Fischer, Sebastian Janzyk, Virginie Moreau, Marcus Neander, Christoph Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8866047
    Abstract: A thermoelectric deicer sheet comprising a flexible sheet fabricated of static cling vinyl embedded with heater elements with a cord extending therefrom with a 12 volt adapter to plug into a vehicle's cigarette lighter and a user control unit having a means to set the temperature, time of initiation and duration of activity thereof. The sheet is applied to the interior surface of the windshield by applying pressure thereagainst to form a static bond therebetween and is peeled off when operation is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Darren Parker
  • Patent number: 8859939
    Abstract: A carrier, in particular a plastic film, comprising an electrical heating layer is described. The heating layer is applied to at least a portion of a carrier surface. The heating layer is electrically divided by one or more first separating zones, each of which is designed such that a current path changes the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends, and one or more second separating zones, which are designed such that the current path changing the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends is divided in at least some sections into a plurality of electrically parallel current sub-paths. One or more second separating zones are associated with at least one free zone end of a first separating zone, with the second separating zones arranged in an aligned extension to the first separating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Dang Cuong Phan, Guenther Schall, Marcel Klein, Sabine Velden
  • Patent number: 8841585
    Abstract: An electrically heatable, transparent article and a method for fabricating such article are described. The article comprises an electrically conductive transparent coating and a transparent substrate. The coating is in contact with electrical bus bars and delimits a localized region, which contains a coating-free transparent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Volkmar Offermann, Alwin Timmermann
  • Publication number: 20140251975
    Abstract: A laminated window is disclosed having a window heater unit which is connected to an external source of electrical power by means of an electrically conductive strip. At least a part of each of the electrically conductive strips is bonded on all sides to one or more laminating interlayer interposed between and bonding together two panes of glass. The bonding of the laminating interlayer to the electrically conductive strips during manufacture of the laminated window produces a water impervious seal between the laminating interlayer and the respective electrically conductive strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nigel Philip Harold Fawcett, Tom Boettger, Oliver Sterzenbach, Larry Agius
  • Publication number: 20140238967
    Abstract: A device comprises a vehicle frame portion; a vehicle window that is selectively movable relative to the vehicle frame portion between a open position and a closed position, the vehicle window comprising at least one conductive heating element; and at least one flexible electrical supply cord. A first portion of the at least one flexible electrical supply cord is attached to the vehicle window. A second portion of the at least one flexible electrical supply cord is attached to the vehicle frame portion. The at least one flexible electrical supply cord is configured to conductively connect the at least one conductive heating element to a vehicle electrical bus when the vehicle window is in the open position and when the vehicle window is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Ian W. BOYCE, Todd E. Chapman, Steven R. Siler
  • Patent number: 8809742
    Abstract: A transparent disk that can be electrically heated over a large surface area, comprising: a large-surface-area, electrically conductive, transparent coating, which is applied to a transparent substrate, at least two bus ribbons, which are electrically connected to the electrically conductive transparent coating, at least one locally delimited region free from the coating, wherein at least one heating conductor having two poles is applied inside the free region, and wherein the first pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating and the second pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating or a bus ribbon. A method for the production of the disk is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Bernhard Reul, Dang Cuong Phan, Günther Schall, Susanne Lisinski, Jean-Luc Lesage
  • Publication number: 20140217080
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Bryan Hoke, Frank Fusco
  • Patent number: 8759717
    Abstract: An electrically heated window comprising at least two plies of a glazing material; at least one ply of an interlayer material; a grid of at least one electrically conductive pathway attached to a film; and an electrical connector for supplying current to the grid in order to heat the window; wherein the at least one ply of an interlayer material, the grid and the film are laminated between the at least two plies of a glazing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Chamberlain
  • Publication number: 20140151354
    Abstract: An electrical heater for vehicle windshields and windows includes a heating chamber having heat reflective interior walls and at least one electrically driven heater element so as to produce heat from the element when energized, wherein the heater circuit wiring is adapted to only be electrically connected to a conventional DC electrical system of a vehicle, and wherein the heating chamber is adapted to be mounted under the windshield vents of the vehicle to thereby direct airflow flowing over the heater elements as forced by the vehicle's heater core fan through the vehicle ducting and out from the vehicle's windshield vents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Egon Schauble
  • Publication number: 20140151355
    Abstract: A composite pane is described. The composite pane has a first pane, at least one intermediate layer, a second pane, a transparent, electrically conductive first coating between the intermediate layer and the first pane and/or between the intermediate layer and the second pane, a first busbar and a second busbar, and a transparent, electrically conductive second coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Martin Melcher, Andreas Schlarb
  • Patent number: 8742300
    Abstract: An inverter system includes inverting circuitry for inverting an input DC signal into a square wave or quasi-square wave AC signal across a resistance, and a controller for causing the inverting circuitry to invert the input DC signal into the AC signal. The DC signal is a DC voltage having a value that ranges from 24-32 volts DC. The AC signal is an AC voltage having a value that ranges from 115-230 volts AC RMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20140148085
    Abstract: An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow includes a wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow from an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle. The arrangement also includes a sensor coupled to the wiper arm that is configured to gather and transmit a parameter on the vehicle and environment. The arrangement also includes a processor that is configured to receiving the parameter, determining refreezability of the meltable snow based on the parameter, and defining an action to be performed by the wiper arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Dangler, Thomas D. Kidd
  • Publication number: 20140138370
    Abstract: A panel heating element is described. The panel heating element has at least one substrate with a substrate surface, and an electrical heating layer for heating the substrate, which heating layer extends at least over a part of the substrate surface and is connected to at least two electrodes provided for connection to a voltage source such that a current path for a heating current is formed between the electrodes. The heating layer is electrically divided by separating zones each having at least one free zone end. The current path changes its direction of flow at the free zone ends. A transition zone adjoins the zone end of each separating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Bastien Royer, Li-Ya Yeh, Susanne Lisinski, Marcel Klein, Dang Cuong Phan
  • Publication number: 20140138369
    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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Eric R. Thompson, Stephen J. Buckley, Jason L. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20140124495
    Abstract: A defrost window includes a transparent substrate, a carbon nanotube film, a first electrode, a second electrode and a protective layer. The transparent substrate has a top surface. The carbon nanotube film is disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode electrically connect to the carbon nanotube film and space from each other. The protective layer covers the carbon nanotube film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: CHEN FENG, YU-QUAN WANG, LI QIAN
  • Publication number: 20140117003
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a heating element in which a heating value for each region is controlled or a heating element in which the heating value for each region is controlled and which is inconspicuous, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeon Choi, Ki-Hwan Kim, Sujin Kim
  • Patent number: 8707624
    Abstract: A heated sliding window assembly for a vehicle that includes at least one fixed window. A rail is attached to the at least one fixed window. The fixed window may include an electrical contact. A sliding window is moveable along the rail and is moveable between open and closed positions. The sliding window includes a heater grid and an electrical contact. A drive mechanism is attached to the sliding window for moving the sliding window between the open and closed positions. An electrical circuit is included for carrying current to the heater grid. A switch is disposed within the electrical circuit that cuts off current to the heater grid when the sliding window is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dura Operating LLC
    Inventors: Ron G. Gipson, Charles Flynn, Brian D. Howe, Ken Keck
  • Publication number: 20140091074
    Abstract: A carrier, in particular a plastic film, comprising an electrical heating layer is described. The heating layer is applied to at least a portion of a carrier surface. The heating layer is electrically divided by one or more first separating zones, each of which is designed such that a current path changes the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends, and one or more second separating zones, which are designed such that the current path changing the direction of flow thereof at the free zone ends is divided in at least some sections into a plurality of electrically parallel current sub-paths. One or more second separating zones are associated with at least one free zone end of a first separating zone, with the second separating zones arranged in an aligned extension to the first separating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Susanne Lisinski, Dang Cuong Phan, Guenther Schall, Marcel Klein, Sabine Velden
  • Patent number: 8686319
    Abstract: A heatable transparency comprises a substrate and an electrically conductive coating formed over at least a portion of the substrate. A power supply is in contact with the conductive coating. The power supply is configured to provide alternating current (AC) to the conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Thiel
  • Publication number: 20140083672
    Abstract: Recirculation of air within a passenger cabin by a vehicular HVAC system is controlled to maximize the use of recirculation without causing discomfort from a large air flow around the legs of a passenger located near the cabin air return vent. An automatic recirculation condition is detected in response to first conditions including a window defrost setting. A fogging probability is determined in response to second conditions including a humidity measurement. Occupancy of a passenger seat adjacent the cabin air return vent is detected. A partial recirculation of the return vent is set in response to the fogging probability and the detected occupancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Rollinson, Alan D. Wallington
  • Publication number: 20140083991
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a heating element in which a heating value for each region is controlled or a heating element in which the heating value for each region is controlled and which is inconspicuous, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeon CHOI, Ki-Hwan KIM, Sujin KIM
  • Patent number: 8669493
    Abstract: In an electrically-heated glazing unit including a plurality of collector conductors configured to supply a plurality of heating conductors with an electric current used to heat up the heating conductors and the glazing unit, at least one partial region of the surface of the glazing unit includes an arrangement of parallel heating conductors in which the current flows in opposing directions. The arrangement of the heating conductors in the partial region of the surface is tuned to minimize by mutual compensation or eliminate the magnetic field acting locally within this partial region and perpendicularly to the plane of the glazing unit when the current flows. The operation of an apparatus sensitive to magnetic fields, for example a compass, in the immediate vicinity of the glazing unit thus becomes more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sanit-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Marc Maurer, Stefan Ziegler, Martin Melcher