Power distribution system

• US 7,245,504 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Cubon, Michael M., Irish, Kenneth G., Arnold, Erik, Hearn, Laurence M., Turek, James A., Norris, Timothy A., Moreth, Cary P., Bulgajewski, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard; Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Levi; Dameon E.
• Application Number:
  US10/485,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/748, 361/760, 361/772, 361/775, 361/779, 361/803, 361/777, 359/603, 359265-271
• US Class Current: 361/772
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

A power distribution system is provided for an automobile mirror assembly or the like, and includes a flexible membrane having electrical traces electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system, and connecting sites for electrically connecting to various power consumers in the mirror assembly.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution system for a plurality of electric power consumers in an automobile, comprising:

a power center;

an electrical connection from said power center adapted for electrical connection to an electrical power source; and

an electrical power distributing unit electrically connected to said power center, and including;

a flexible substrate; and

a plurality of circuit conductive traces on said substrate, each having a connection site for connecting to one of the consumers, said conductive traces including a buss trace adapted for connection to said power center and a plurality of distributing traces emanating from said buss trace.

2. The electrical power distribution system of claim 1, including a housing comprising an external mirror pod containing said power center and said distributing unit.

3. The electrical power distribution system of claim 2, wherein each said consumer is disposed in said housing.

6. The electric power distribution system of claim 1, said substrate having a mirror heater thereon.

7. The electric power distribution system of claim 1, said traces applied by one of screen printing, pad printing, coating, painting, and etching.

9. The electrical power distribution system of claim 1, said substrate including at least one elongated flexible arm, with at least one connection site at an end of said at least one arm.

10. The electrical power distribution system of claim 1, said substrate including a plurality of edges, with at least one connection site provided along at least one edge of said plurality of edges.

4. The electrical power distribution system 2, said substrate having a mirror heater thereon.

5. The electrical power distribution system 4, wherein each said consumer is disposed in said housing.

8. The electrical power distribution system 1, said traces comprising one of copper, aluminum and conductive epoxy.

11. An electric power distribution system, comprising:

a power center;

an electrical connection from said power center adapted for electrical connection to a power source; and

a flexible power distributing unit including;

a substrate having first and second surfaces; and

a conductive layer applied on one said surface of said substrate, said conductive layer including a plurality of traces having a buss trace connected to said power center, a plurality of distributing traces emanating from said buss trace, and each said trace each having a connecting site for electrically connecting to a power consumer.

12. The electric power distribution system of claim 11, said conductive layer applied by one of screen printing, pad printing, coating, painting, and etching.

13. The electric power distribution system of claim 11, including a PTC heater applied on said second surface of said substrate.

14. The electric power distribution system of claim 13, said conductive layer applied by one of screen printing, pad printing, coating, painting and etching.

15. The electric power distribution system of claim 14, said conductive layer comprising one of copper, aluminum and conductive epoxy.

16. The electric power distribution system of claim 11, said conductive layer comprising one of copper, aluminum and conductive epoxy.

17. An automobile exterior mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror pod adapted for connection to an automobile body;

a mirror body and a plurality of electrical consumers associated with said mirror body disposed in said pod;

a power center disposed in said pod, said power center adapted for electrical connection to a power source; and

a flexible power distributing unit connected to said power center, said power distributing center having a flexible substrate and a plurality of electrically conductive traces disposed thereon, each said trace being electrically connected to and emanating from a buss trace that is electrically connected to said power center; and

a connection site on each said trace for connecting to said consumers.

18. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 17, said substrate attached to said mirror body.

19. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 17, said substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said traces disposed on one said surface and a mirror heater disposed on the other said surface.

20. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 19, said traces applied by one of screen printing, pad printing, coating, painting and etching.

21. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 20, said traces comprising one of copper, aluminum and conductive epoxy.

22. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 21, said substrate being mylar.

23. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 17, said substrate having a main body and an elongated arm extending from said main body;

a trace from said main body extending along said arm and a connection site on said arm.

24. The automobile exterior mirror assembly of claim 17, said substrate having edges, and connection sites disposed along said edges.