Heated windshield indicator

• US 10,631,373 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Gauthier, Jennifer Ann, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuqua, Shawntina T
• Application Number:
  US15/153,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20170332446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/02 arranged at the vehicle front , e.g. structure of the glazing, mounting of the glazing on windscreen mounted antenna wire H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/77 Instrument locations other than the dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• 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 windshield assembly is provided herein. The windshield assembly includes a windshield having a frit and an indicator thermally coupled to the windshield to visually coincide with the frit and operable to illuminate in order to indicate a relative temperature of the windshield.

Claims

1. A windshield assembly comprising:

a heating element thermally coupled to a windshield;

an indicator thermally coupled to the windshield and having a light source for illuminating an icon indicating at least one of an activation state of the heating element and a relative temperature of the windshield; and

an optical member positioned on the windshield and configured to redirect emitted light from the light source into an interior of a vehicle.

2. The windshield assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a printed circuit board having a processor in thermal communication with a thermal VIA structure coupled to the printed circuit board.

3. The windshield assembly of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to the windshield by a thermally conductive adhesive in thermal communication with the thermal VIA structure.

4. The windshield assembly of claim 3, wherein the icon is light-transmissive and is defined in a cover disposed atop the printed circuit board.

5. The windshield assembly of claim 4, wherein the light source is provided on the printed circuit board and is configured as a side emitter, and wherein the cover comprises the optical member configured to direct light emitted from the light source toward the icon.

6. The windshield assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a first light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a first visible color and a second light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a second visible color that is visually distinguishable from the first visible color, and wherein the relative temperature of the windshield is based on the icon illuminating in the first visible color, the second visible color, or a combination thereof.

7. The windshield assembly of claim 1, further comprising a photoluminescent structure coupled to the icon and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation provided by the light source.

8. A windshield assembly comprising:

a windshield having a frit;

an indicator thermally coupled to the windshield to visually coincide with the frit and operable to illuminate in order to indicate a relative temperature of the windshield; and

a temperature sensor thermally coupled to a thermal VIA structure having a first pad coupled to a first side of a printed circuit board and a second pad coupled to a second side of the printed circuit board and separated from the first pad by one or more barrels.

9. The windshield assembly of claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board has a processor in thermal communication with the thermal VIA structure coupled to the printed circuit board.

10. The windshield assembly of claim 9, wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to the windshield by a thermally conductive adhesive in thermal communication with the thermal VIA structure.

11. The windshield assembly of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises a light-transmissive icon and a light source provided for illuminating the icon.

12. The windshield assembly of claim 11, wherein the light source is provided on the printed circuit board and is configured as a side emitter, and further comprising an optical member configured to direct light emitted from the light source toward the icon.

13. The windshield assembly of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a first light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a first visible color and a second light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a second visible color that is visually distinguishable from the first visible color, and wherein the relative temperature of the windshield is based on the icon illuminating in the first visible color, the second visible color, or a combination thereof.

14. The windshield assembly of claim 8, wherein the indicator is operated in conjunction with a heating element configured to defrost the windshield.

15. A vehicle indicator, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a processor coupled to a windshield by an adhesive covering a first side of the printed circuit board;

a light source disposed on the printed circuit board;

an icon illuminated by the light source to indicate a relative temperature of the windshield; and

a solder mask positioned on a second side opposing the first side and a third side therebetween of the printed circuit board.

16. The indicator of claim 15, further comprising a thermal VIA structure coupled to the printed circuit board and in thermal communication with the processor.

17. The indicator of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is thermally conductive and the printed circuit board is in thermal communication with the thermal VIA structure.

18. The indicator of claim 15, wherein the light source is provided on the printed circuit board and is configured as a side emitter, and further comprising an optical member configured to direct light emitted from the light source toward the icon.

19. The indicator of claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a first light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a first visible color and a second light-emitting diode configured to emit light of a second visible color that is visually distinguishable from the first visible color, and wherein the relative temperature of the windshield is based on the icon illuminating in the first visible color, the second visible color, or a combination thereof.

20. The indicator of claim 15, disposed to visually coincide with a frit of the windshield.