Heated glass panes, in particular for vehicles

• US 6,660,968 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Letemps, Bernard, Mottelet, Beatrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/959,564
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 219/522, 219/510, 219/486, 219/480, 219/202, 521/712
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/002 Heaters using a particular layout for the resistive material or resistive elements
• 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 glass pane including at least a glass sheet provided with heating strips powered by collectors, the heating strips being divided in groups. The power supply of the different groups is provided sequentially, each group being powered once per sequence. The supply is provided by a device equipped to measure the outside temperature and the temperature of the outer surface of the glass, to determine a minimum heating time for each group according to the outside temperature, and to maintain the heating in the group as long as the outer surface temperature of the glass opposite the group is not higher than the melting point of ice.

Claims

1. A glass pane comprising at least a glass sheet provided with heating strips powered by collectors, the heating strips being divided in groups, the power supply to the different groups being provided sequentially, each group being powered once per sequence, the supply being provided by a device equipped with means enabling it to measure the outside temperature and the temperature of the outer surface of the glass, to determine a minimum heating time for each group according to said outside temperature, and to maintain the heating in said group as long as the outer surface temperature of the glass opposite said group is not higher than the melting point of ice.

2. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the heating strips are isoresistant.

3. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means of measuring the temperature of the outside surface of the glass are placed on the inner face of the glass pane.

4. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the heating strips are transparent layers, metal wires or screen-printed wires.

5. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the heating strips are separated into at least 3 groups.

6. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the minimum heating time for a given outside temperature is determined by measuring the time during which it is necessary to heat each group to completely remove a layer of ice of given characteristics.

7. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an electronic unit is combined with the device for powering and switching off the collectors.

8. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electrical system powering the heating strips operates at more than 12 V, preferably at 24, 30 or 42 V or more.

9. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each group is powered by its own collectors obtained by separating the collecting strips using insulators or by using several collectors.

10. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that heating takes place starting with the group located in the upper part of the glass pane, the groups being powered one after the other.

11. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each group comprises between two and 10 heating strips, the heating strips being in parallel within each group.

12. The glass pane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further includes a special antimist device.