Wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel

• US 20070285819A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Glass Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Engineered Glass Products LLC
• Inventors: Gerhardinger, Peter F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,968,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/48
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• 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 wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel assembly is provided that includes a metal oxide coated glass panel with a panel frame, an opening frame that cooperates with the coated glass panel frame to allow the panel to cover a panel opening, a receiving coil that is positioned in the panel frame and that is wired to the panel, and a sending coil that is positioned in the opening frame and that is wired to an electrical power source. When the electrical power source supplies electrical power to the sending coil, the sending coil wirelessly induces an electrical current in the receiving coil, which causes the dielectric panel to provide heat.

Claims

1. A wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated dielectric panel assembly, comprising:

a dielectric panel having a metal oxide coating disposed thereon and having a panel frame disposed on at least a portion of a periphery thereof;

an opening frame cooperating with the panel frame to allow the dielectric panel to cover a panel opening;

a receiving coil being disposed in the panel frame and being in electrical communication with the metal oxide coating; and

a sending coil being disposed in the opening frame, being in wireless inductive electrical communication with the receiving coil, and being in electrical communication with an electrical power source;

wherein electrical power from the electrical power source, by way of the sending coil and the receiving coil, is utilized by the dielectric panel to heat the dielectric panel.

2. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second dielectric panel, wherein the dielectric panels are laminated to one another.

3. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source operates in a frequency range of 20 to 40 kilohertz.

4. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric panel comprises glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic.

5. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric panel is transparent.

6. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide coating is an electrically conductive doped metal oxide thin film coating disposed on a surface of the dielectric panel.

7. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein the thin film coating is one micron or less in thickness.

8. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein the thin film coating comprises a thermal low emissivity coating.

9. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein the thin film coating is non-magnetic.

10. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric panel, with panel frame, are separable from the opening frame.

11. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises a microprocessor.

12. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein a wireless inductive coupling assembly conforms to wiring codes regarding wires having voltages that exceed 42 volts as set by the National Electrical Code.

13. The wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein a wireless inductive coupling assembly meets Underwriters Laboratory wiring codes on exposed wiring connectors at 110-250 volts.

14. An architectural panel assembly comprising the wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel frame is a sash and the opening frame is a jamb.

15. A commercial panel assembly comprising the wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1.

16. An automotive panel assembly comprising the wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1.

17. An appliance panel assembly comprising the wireless inductive coupling assembly of claim 1.

18. An insulating glass panel assembly, comprising:

a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet, the first glass sheet having a major surface with a conductive thin film coating disposed thereon, at least two bus bars disposed on the conductive thin film coating, and the glass sheets having a panel frame disposed on at least a portion of a periphery thereof;

a spacer disposed between the two glass sheets on a periphery thereof, the spacer forming a gap between the two glass sheets, and the bus bars being adjacent the gap;

an opening frame cooperating with the panel frame to allow the glass sheets to cover a panel opening;

a receiving coil being disposed in the panel frame and the receiving coil being in electrical communication with the glass sheets; and

a sending coil being disposed in the opening frame, being in wireless inductive electrical communication with the receiving coil, and being in electrical communication with an electrical power source;

wherein electrical power from the electrical power source, by way of the sending coil and the receiving coil, is utilized by the glass sheets to heat the glass sheets.

19. A method of making a wireless inductive coupling assembly, comprising:

disposing a receiving coil in a panel frame of a dielectric panel; and

disposing a sending coil in an opening frame, the opening frame cooperating with the panel frame to allow the dielectric panel to cover a panel opening;

wherein the receiving coil and the sending coil are capable of wireless inductive electrical communication.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing electrical power to the sending coil by way of an electrical power source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical power source operates in a frequency range of 20 to 40 kilohertz.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the dielectric panel comprises glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the dielectric panel is transparent.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the dielectric panel has an electrically conductive doped metal oxide thin film coating disposed on a surface of the panel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the thin film coating is one micron or less in thickness.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the thin film coating comprises a low emissivity coating.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the thin film coating is non-magnetic.