Window defogging system with optically clear overlay having multi-layer silver bus bars and electrically isolating peripheral grooves
First Claim
1. A window defogger system comprising:
- (a) a power supply mounted in a housing; and
(b) an optically clear overlay suitable for positioning on one surface of a window to be defogged, said optically clear overlay comprising;
(i) an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate including a sheet of heat stabilized polyester, a hard coat layer on one surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester and an ITO layer located on the other surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester, said ITO layer including means for electrically isolating the edge of said ITO layer from an interior heating zone;
(ii) a pair of bus bars located along opposing edges of said interior heating zone, said bus bars being formed of multiple layers of silver deposited atop said ITO layer; and
(iii) attachment means for mounting said power supply housing on said optically clear overlay and connecting said bus bars to said power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A window defogging system that comprises a power supply and an optically clear overlay includes a sheet of heat-stabilized polyester (13) having a hard coat layer (15) on one surface and an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer (17) on the other surface. The ITO layer (17) is scored around its periphery (19) to create a groove that electrically isolates the edge of the ITO layer from an interior heating zone (23). Additional grooves create electrically isolated regions (26a, 26b, 28a and 28b). Multiple layers of silver are printed atop the ITO layer (17), along opposing edges of the interior (heater) zone (23), to create bus bars (25a, 25b). The bus bars end at terminal regions (29a, 29b) that are connected directly to the power supply. The housing (61) of the power supply is supported by connectors mounted in the optically clear overlay. In some versions of the invention, a dielectric layer (33a, 33b) is located along a portion of the bus bars, between the multiple layers of silver. The power supply includes a temperature-sensing device, e.g., a thermistor, that senses the temperature of the interior zone and uses this information to control the application of power to the ITO layer via the bus bars.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A window defogger system comprising:
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(a) a power supply mounted in a housing; and (b) an optically clear overlay suitable for positioning on one surface of a window to be defogged, said optically clear overlay comprising; (i) an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate including a sheet of heat stabilized polyester, a hard coat layer on one surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester and an ITO layer located on the other surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester, said ITO layer including means for electrically isolating the edge of said ITO layer from an interior heating zone; (ii) a pair of bus bars located along opposing edges of said interior heating zone, said bus bars being formed of multiple layers of silver deposited atop said ITO layer; and (iii) attachment means for mounting said power supply housing on said optically clear overlay and connecting said bus bars to said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A process for creating an optically clear overlay suitable for use in a window defogging system comprising the steps of:
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electrically isolating the edge of an ITO layer located on one surface of a sheet of heat stabilized polyester from an interior heating zone; creating bus bars formed of multiple layers of silver along opposing edges of said interior heating zone; and creating a connecting mechanism for electrically connecting said bus bars to a power source such that the housing of said power source is supported by said optically clear overlay. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification