Method of attaching bus bars to a conductive coating for a heatable vehicle window
First Claim
1. A method of making a heatable vehicle window, the method comprising:
- depositing a multi-layer coating on a substrate, the multi-layer coating including at least one dielectric layer and at least one conductive layer;
forming first and second conductive bus bars on the substrate over the coating such that the bus bars as formed are not in electrical contact with the at least one conductive layer of the coating; and
heating at least the first and second bus bars to a temperature sufficient to cause at least portions of the respective bus bars to flow or migrate through the at least one dielectric layer creating respective contact holes therein and make contact with the at least one conductive layer, so that after cooling the first and second bus bars are in electrical contact with the at least one conductive layer of the coating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heatable vehicle window (e.g., windshield, sidelite or backlite) includes a multi-layer coating formed on a substrate. The multi-layer coating includes at least one dielectric layer and at least one conductive layer. A pair of bus bars are deposited on the substrate over the coating, so that at least the dielectric layer is provided between the bus bars and the conductive layer(s). In order to create an electrical connection between the bus bars and the conductive layer(s) of the coating, the bus bars and/or coating is/are heated to a temperature sufficient to permit the bus bars to reach molten or semi-molten form. Portions of bus bar material then flow down through at least the dielectric layer of the coating (i.e., forming a contact hole in the coating) so as to contact the coating'"'"'s conductive layer(s). After cooling of the newly formed bus bars, the window may be selectively heated by passing current through the conductive layer(s) via the bus bars.
19 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of making a heatable vehicle window, the method comprising:
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depositing a multi-layer coating on a substrate, the multi-layer coating including at least one dielectric layer and at least one conductive layer;
forming first and second conductive bus bars on the substrate over the coating such that the bus bars as formed are not in electrical contact with the at least one conductive layer of the coating; and
heating at least the first and second bus bars to a temperature sufficient to cause at least portions of the respective bus bars to flow or migrate through the at least one dielectric layer creating respective contact holes therein and make contact with the at least one conductive layer, so that after cooling the first and second bus bars are in electrical contact with the at least one conductive layer of the coating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of making a heatable window, the method comprising:
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forming a multi-layer coating on a glass substrate, the multi-layer coating including at least one dielectric layer and at least one conductive layer;
forming at least one conductive bus bar over the coating such that the dielectric layer is located between the bus bar and the at least one conductive layer; and
heating the bus bar to a temperature sufficient to cause the bus bar to bleed through the dielectric layer and contact the at least one conductive layer, so that after cooling the bus bar is in electrical contact with the at least one conductive layer of the coating. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A heatable window, comprising:
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a glass substrate;
a multi-layer coating provided on said glass substrate, said coating comprising a first conductive metal layer located between first and second dielectric layers;
first and second conductive bus bars formed over said coating so that at least a majority of said coating is located at a level between the glass substrate and respective portions of the bus bars contacting the outermost layer of said coating; and
wherein a run-off or bleeded portion of each of said first and second bus bars extends through a respective contact hole in at least said first dielectric layer so that each of said first and second bus bars is in electrical contact with said first conductive metal layer of said coating. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification