Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10165—Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10376—Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires
  • B32B17/10385—Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires for ohmic resistance heating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10009—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
  • B32B17/10036—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising two outer glass sheets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/1055—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the resin layer, i.e. interlayer
  • B32B17/10761—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the resin layer, i.e. interlayer containing vinyl acetal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
  • B32B27/08—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
  • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
  • H05B1/0227—Applications
  • H05B1/023—Industrial applications
  • H05B1/0236—Industrial applications for vehicles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/84—Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2607/00—Walls, panels

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of automotive heated glazing. More specifically it relates to systems and methods to control temperature of such heated glazing.
• the heating of an automotive glazing is usually limited so that the temperature of the glazing is kept below a maximal temperature value.
• a windshield of a car cannot be heated above 70°C as the driver of the vehicle may touch the windshield while driving. It is also usually recommended not to heat any automotive glazing above a maximal temperature value.
• the maximal temperature value to which the glazing is heated is linked to the laminate itself.
• a laminated glazing (or laminate) is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered.
• interlayer typically of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), between its two or more layers of glass.
• PVB polyvinyl butyral
• EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate
• TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane
• Such heating system usually uses voltage coming from the battery of the automotive vehicle.
• the voltage usually ranges from 9V to 16V.
• a resistance is added to the heating circuit in order to limit the received voltage.
• the heating time is also defined so that the temperature of the glazing will never exceed the maximal temperature value. There is therefore no need to control the temperature of the glazing as both the resistance and the heating time have been predefined in order to never reach such maximal temperature value.
• the resistance of the heating circuit is lower and as the voltage may vary between 9 and 16V, it is needed to regulate accurately the heating of the glazing. Otherwise the temperature of the glazing may exceed the maximal temperature value.
• the regulation can be done by a signal given by the optical sensor that the glazing is defrosted or demisted. However, this signal is only given when the glazing is completely defrosted or demisted in the whole field of view (FOV) of the optical sensor. This leads to residual heat in the conductive wires which is dissipating for nothing. Besides, such regulation done by the optical sensor does not allow to avoid the voltage variation of the battery.
• the present invention concerns an automotive glazing for a vehicle.
• the automotive glazing is configured to be placed in front of an optical sensor.
• the automotive glazing comprises an internal face configured to face the optical sensor, an external face configured to face the outside of the vehicle and a heating circuit on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the heating circuit comprises conductive wires printed on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the heating circuit further comprises a printed circuit board comprising an internal face and an external face, the external face being placed on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the printed circuit board is connected to the conductive wires.
• the printed circuit board comprises on its internal face a control circuit configured to control the heating circuit.
• the printed circuit board further comprises on its internal face an active regulation system configured to be connected to a battery of the vehicle.
• the automotive glazing further comprises at least one thermistor fixed on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the thermistor is connected to the control circuit.
• the invention also relates to the use of an automotive glazing as a windshield, a rearlite or a sidelite of a vehicle. It also relates to the use of an automotive glazing as a cover of an optical sensor mounted on or inside a vehicle. It also relates to the use of an automotive glazing as a part of an exterior trim element of a vehicle.
• Fig.l illustrates an embodiment of an automotive glazing according to the invention.
• Fig.2a illustrates another embodiment of an automotive glazing according to the invention.
• Fig.2b illustrates a side view of this embodiment.
• Fig.3 illustrates another embodiment of an automotive glazing according to the invention.
• Automotive glazing refers to a glazing adapted for a vehicle.
• a vehicle includes car, van, lorry, motorbike, bus, tram, train, drone, airplane, helicopter and the like.
• the automotive glazing is configured to be placed in front of an optical sensor.
• An optical sensor is understood as a sensor which has at least a receiver active in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared wavelength, such as a camera or a rain sensor. It can also further comprise an emitter active in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared wavelength, such as a lidar.
• the automotive glazing has an internal face and an external face. The internal face is facing the optical sensor, while the external face faces the outside of the vehicle.
• the automotive glazing further comprises a heating circuit on its internal face.
• the heating circuit comprises conductive wires and a printed circuit board (PCB).
• the conductive wires are printed on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the conductive wires are made of a conductive material.
• the conductive material may refer to a conductive ink or to a conductive paste.
• Conductive ink may refer, for example, to a silver ink for screen printing, for which a super fine silver powder is dispersed uniformly into a polyester resin in order to create a silver ink, with a solid content usually between 70% and 85%.
• Conductive ink may also refer to a carbon ink for ink printing, with a solid content usually between 35% and 40%.
• Conductive ink may also refer to a silver paste for screen printing with a silver content ranging between 55% and 85%.
• Conductive ink may also refer to a silver ink for inkjet, with 30% to 40% of metal loading. Conductive ink may also refer to a silver ink for aerosol jet, with a silver content around 50%. These are only examples of current conductive ink and conductive paste and do not restrain the realization of the present invention with another type of conductive ink or conductive paste.
• the PCB of the heating circuit comprises an internal face and an external face.
• the external face of the PCB is placed on the internal face of the automotive glazing.
• the PCB is connected to the conductive wires.
• the PCB also comprises on its internal face a control circuit configured to control the heating circuit.
• the PCB of the heating circuit further comprises on its internal face an active regulation system.
• This active regulation system maintains a constant voltage output even when changing input voltages and output currents.
• the active regulation system is connected to a battery of the vehicle.
• the advantage of using an active regulation system is to allow to stabilize the voltage coming from the battery of the vehicle. As an example, the voltage of a car can range from 4.5V to 36V. Using an active regulation system allows to stabilize the voltage at for example 5V. The control circuit of the heating circuit can therefore bestald with a stabilized source.
• the automotive glazing further comprises at least one thermistor.
• a thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature. It can therefore furnish information about temperature.
• electronic thermistors which give a signal with a frequency varying depending on the temperature.
• the thermistor is further connected to the control circuit. The connection between the thermistor and the control circuit can be done through an electronic track on the automotive glazing itself.
• the active regulation system is a DC-DC converter.
• a DC-DC converter is a high-frequency power conversion circuit. It uses high-frequency switching and inductors, transformers and capacitors to smooth out switching noise into regulated DC voltages. It maintains a constant voltage output even when changing input voltages and output currents.
• the thermistor is fixed on the internal face of the automotive glazing through a thermal conductive tape.
• the thermal conductive tape is a low-cost element. It allows a very simple way to fix the thermistor on a pane, especially compared to a thermistor which would be welded on an automotive glazing. It also offers the advantage of applying very low constraint on the automotive glazing itself.
• the at least one thermistor is fixed on the external face of the PCB. This way there is no need to add an electronic track on the automotive glazing to rely the thermistor to the control circuit, as it is done through the PCB itself.
• the at least one thermistor is in contact with a part of the conductive wires of the heating circuit through the thermal conductive tape.
• Such configuration allows for precise measurement of the temperature of the conductive wires, and therefore to detect overheating which may lead to breakage of the conductive wires.
• the automotive glazing is made of glass or plastic or a combination thereof.
• the automotive glazing can be a monolithic glass or a laminate, meaning two sheets of glass joined together by an interlayer (such as a PVB interlayer).
• the glass can be tempered or semitempered, either by heat tempering or chemical tempering.
• the glass can be hot or cold bended.
• the automotive glazing is a windshield, a rearlite or a sidelite.
• An automotive glazing includes vision glazings, meaning glazings through which visible light is able to pass, such as windshield, rearlite and sidelites (glazings installed on either sides of an automotive vehicle to allow passenger of such vehicle to see through).
• the automotive glazing is a cover of an optical sensor mounted on or inside the vehicle.
• the automotive glazing is a part of an exterior trim element.
• An exterior trim element is understood as .
• An exterior trim element includes bumper, window/door seal, wheel well, fender, headlight, mirror body and roof cover. Vehicle manufacturers use these exterior trim elements to add aesthetics, increase function, and add flexibility to the vehicle design.
• the optical sensor is a lidar and the automotive glazing is transparent at the operating wavelength range of the lidar.
• the present invention also concerns the use of an automotive glazing as described previously as a windshield, a rearlite or a sidelite of a vehicle.
• the present invention also concerns the use of an automotive glazing as described previously as a cover of an optical sensor mounted on or inside a vehicle.
• the present invention also concerns the use of an automotive glazing as described previously as a part of an exterior trim element of a vehicle.
• Fig.l shows an automotive glazing (1).
• the automotive glazing (1) comprises a heating circuit.
• the heating circuit comprises conductive wires (2).
• the conductive wires in this figure are shown as peripheral. However, other pattern of conductive wires can be used, for example a snake pattern. Depending on the width of the conductive wires as well as the optical sensor placed behind, the conductive wires can be placed out or in the field of view of the optical sensor.
• These conductive wires (2) are heated in order to defrost or demist the automotive glazing (1).
• the heating circuit also comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) (3).
• the PCB (3) comprises a control circuit (4).
• the control circuit (4) allows to control the heating of the conductive wires (2).
• the PCB (3) further comprises an active regulation system, such as a DC-DC converter (5). Both the control circuit (4) and the active regulation system (5) are on the internal face of the PCB (3).
• the automotive glazing (1) further comprises a thermistor (6). The thermistor is connected to the control circuit (4). The thermistor (6) can be glued on the automotive glazing (1) through a thermal conductive tape (not shown on this figure).
• Fig.2a also shows an automotive glazing (1).
• the thermistor (6) is placed on the external face of the PCB (3).
• the thermistor (6) is embedded in a thermal conductive tape (7) which is adhered to the automotive glazing (1).
• Fig.3 also shows an automotive glazing (1).
• the automotive glazing (1) comprises two thermistors (6), both connected to the control circuit (4). Both thermistors are fixed on the automotive glazing (1), for example through a thermal conductive tape (not shown on this figure). Such configuration allows to better check the diffusion of the heat from the conductive wires to the automotive glazing.

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (2)

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• 2022
  • 2022-09-26 US US18/689,246 patent/US20240391216A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-09-26 EP EP22785748.9A patent/EP4413831A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-09-26 JP JP2024519760A patent/JP2024539584A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-09-26 WO PCT/EP2022/076643 patent/WO2023057246A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-26 CN CN202280066579.4A patent/CN118044334A/zh active Pending

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