Carbon nanotube defrost windows

• US 20110155713A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wang, Yu-Quan, Liu, Liang
• Granted Patent: US 8,426,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/04 Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology
• 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 defrost window includes a transparent substrate, a carbon nanotube film, a first electrode, a second electrode and a protective layer. The transparent substrate has a top surface. The carbon nanotube film is disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode electrically connect to the carbon nanotube film and space from each other. The protective layer covers the carbon nanotube film.

Claims

1. A defrost window, comprising:

a transparent substrate having a top surface;

a carbon nanotube film attached on the top surface of the transparent substrate, the carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a same direction;

a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the carbon nanotube film and spaced from each other, and

a protective layer covering the carbon nanotube film.

2. The defrost window of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are transparent, lamella, and substantially parallel with each other.

3. The defrost window of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are conductive films.

4. The defrost window of claim 3, wherein the conductive film is made of aluminum, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, gold, cesium, or palladium.

5. The defrost window of claim 3, wherein the conductive film is made of indium tin oxide.

6. The defrost window of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are located on a surface of the carbon nanotube film.

7. The defrost window of claim 2, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes of the carbon nanotube film is substantially aligned along a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.

8. The defrost window of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes arranged in a staggered manner.

9. The defrost window of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first electrodes is electrically connected together, the plurality of second electrodes is electrically connected together.

10. The defrost window of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of successively oriented carbon nanotube segments joined end-to-end by Van der Waals attractive force therebetween.

11. The defrost window of claim 10, wherein the carbon nanotube segment comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to each other, and combined by Van der Waals attractive force therebetween.

12. The defrost window of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate, between the transparent substrate and the carbon nanotube film.

13. The defrost window of claim 1, wherein the protective layer is made of made of polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether polysulfones, polyvinyl polychloride, benzocyclobutenes, polyesters, acrylic resins, or epoxy resin.

14. A defrost window, comprising:

a transparent substrate having a top surface;

a plurality of stacked carbon nanotube films disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate, each carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes combined end to end by Van der Waals attractive force therebetween, and oriented along a same direction;

a protective layer covering the carbon nanotube film.

15. The defrost window of claim 14, wherein each two adjacent carbon nanotube films are combined by Van der Waals attractive force therebetween.

16. The defrost window of claim 14, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are transparent, lamella, and substantially parallel with each other.

17. The defrost window of claim 16, wherein the carbon nanotubes of at least one of the carbon nanotube films are oriented along a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one defrost window, comprising;

a transparent substrate having a top surface;

a carbon nanotube film attached on the top surface of the transparent substrate, the carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a same direction;

a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the carbon nanotube film and spaced from each other; and

a protective layer covering the carbon nanotube film; and

an electrical source electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, to apply electrical current to the carbon nanotube film;

a control system electrically connected to the electrical source and controlling a voltage of the electrical source;

a switch electrically connected to the control system;

a sensor electrically connected to the control system and detecting frost on the defrost window.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the sensor sends a signal to the control system when it detects frost on the defrost window.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes of the carbon nanotube film is substantially aligned along a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.