Printable controls for a window assembly

• US 20070194216A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exatec, LLC (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Exatec, LLC (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Schwenke, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/358,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/035 Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Abstract

A window integrated control for a vehicle. The system includes a window and a control integrated onto the window. The control may comprise conductive inks that are printed onto the window. The window may be a plastic panel, such as a multilayer polycarbonate panel. Further, the control may be in electrical communication with a controller that is configured to control various vehicle subsystems, such as a keyless entry, vehicle defroster, or window positioning system based on the control.

Claims

1. A window assembly for a vehicle, the window assembly comprising:

a transparent panel;

a control integrated into the transparent panel and configured to detect user input based on a change in the electrical property of the control.

2. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a conductive ink printed onto the transparent panel.

3. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a conductive film.

4. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a conductive polymer.

5. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transparent panel comprises a glass panel.

6. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transparent panel comprises a plastic panel.

7. The window assembly according to claim 6, wherein the plastic glazing includes a polycarbonate panel.

8. The window assembly according to claim 7, wherein the polycarbonate panel is a multilayer polycarbonate panel and a first portion of the control is located on a surface of a first layer of the multilayer polycarbonate panel and a second portion of the control is located on a surface of a second layer of the multilayer polycarbonate panel.

9. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a switch.

10. The window assembly according to claim 9, wherein the switch is activated by touching the transparent panel proximate the switch.

11. The window assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the control.

12. The window assembly according to claim 11, wherein the control is configured to control a vehicle defroster based on a state of the control.

13. The window assembly according to claim 11, wherein the control is configured to control a window positioning system based on a state of the control.

14. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control includes a capacitive control.

15. The window assembly according to claim 14, wherein a first portion of the capacitive control is on a first layer of the transparent panel and a second portion of the capacitive control is on a second layer of the transparent panel.

16. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control includes a first and second trace, each trace being in electrical communication with a pad proximately located on the transparent panel, where the pad has a width greater than the width of the trace.

17. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control includes a plurality of traces in an interfitting pattern.

18. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control includes traces formed in a spiral pattern.

19. The window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control comprises a resistive and capacitive element.

20. The window assembly according to claim 19, wherein the resistive and capacitive element are in parallel electrical connection.

21. The window assembly according to claim 20, wherein the resistive and capacitive element form a time constant, and are configured to affect a driving signal based on the time constant.

22. The window assembly according to claim 21, wherein the time constant is configured to change based on the state of the control.

23. The window assembly according to claim 22, further comprising a controller configured to sense the change in time constant to detect a change in the state of the control.