Heated Mirror

• US 20130314791A1
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Ullmann, Andreas, Fix, Walter
• Application Number:
  US13/976,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20130314791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/512
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/002 Heaters using a particular layout for the resistive material or resistive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

The mirror includes a flexible support layer with at least one metallic layer and electrical contacts on the support layer, wherein the metallic layer forms the mirror and contains interruptions smaller than 100 μm, through which metallic layer an electric current applied to the mirror to heat the mirror is evenly distributed along the metallic layer, which has a thickness of about 700 nm or less. The interruptions are so constructed as to avoid hot spots in the metallic layer when heated. The mirror and its heating functions are produced on one production line.

Claims

1. Heated mirror comprising a support layer (5) with at least one metallic layer (1) and electrical contacts (4), wherein the metallic layer (1) contains high-resolution interruptions (3) which are scarcely perceptible to the human eye, through which electric current can be evenly distributed along the metallic layer (1) and thus the metallic layer (1), the layer thickness of which is less than/equal to 700 nm, can be used for heating.

2. Heated mirror according to claim 1, wherein the support layer (5) is transparent.

3. Heated mirror according to one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the result of the interruptions (3) is that adjoining areas of the metallic layer (1) are electrically isolated from one another.

4. Heated mirror according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interruptions (3) are arranged in a meandering pattern.

5. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interruptions (3) have the form of simple lines or bands.

6. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interruptions (3) are cavities in the metallic layer.

7. Heated mirror according to claim 6, wherein the cavities are filled.

8. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the interruptions (3) is less than 100 μ

m.

9. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a second layer with insulating material is provided on the first metallic layer (1) with interruptions (3).

10. Heated mirror according to claim 9, wherein the layer with insulating material is transparent.

11. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interruptions (3) in the metallic layer (1) are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.

12. Heated mirror according to claim 10, wherein a second metallic layer with interruptions is also arranged on the layer with insulating material, which is arranged on the first metallic layer (1) with interruptions (3).

13. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 12, wherein the patterns of the two metallic layers display a moiré

effect.

14. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, which is provided with an additional protective layer (6, 8).

15. Heated mirror according to claim 14, wherein a sensor, transmitter and/or receiver is also integrated into the protective layer (6, 8).

16. Heated mirror according to claim 15, wherein on the side of the metallic layer (1) of the mirror (2), on which the interruptions (3) are also located, conductor paths are provided for selective heating and/or for dimming.

17. Heated mirror according to one of the preceding claims, in which an anti-corrosion layer (6) is applied to a metallic layer.

18. Method for producing a heated mirror, wherein a metallic layer (1) is applied in a structured manner to a support layer (5), such that interruptions (3) are formed which ensure an even distribution of the heat output of the electric current conducted through the metallic layer (1).

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the structured metallic layer (1) is produced by printing.

20. Method according to claim 18, wherein the structured metallic layer (1) is produced in two steps by means of coating and subsequent structuring.

21. Method according to claim 18 or 20, wherein the structuring of the metallic layer (1) is produced by means of a laser.