Vehicle window having bus bar(s) of conductive black frit

• US 8,664,570 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACR II Glass America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Odeh, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): JENNISON, BRIAN W
• Application Number:
  US10/956,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,438 Days
• Field of Search: 219/203, 219/541, 219/522, 219/202, 219/219
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10229 Metallic layers sandwiched by dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• 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 heatable vehicle window includes a substrate that supports a heatable conductor. The heatable conductor may be in the form of a grid of conductors, or alternatively a substantially continuous sheet. First and second conductive bus bars are electrically connected to the heatable conductor. The first and/or second bus bars are each conductive, and include black color pigment, so that the first and/or second bus bars are substantially black in color.

Claims

1. A heatable vehicle window, comprising:

a glass substrate supporting a heatable conductor;

first and second conductive bus bars electrically connected to the heatable conductor, each of the first and second bus bars being located electrically between the heatable conductor and a respective conductive lead;

wherein the heatable conductor is substantially transparent and extends across a central portion of the window including across a substantial portion of a width and length of the window, and wherein the first bus bar and the second bus bar comprise conductive material and frit, and are black in color; and

wherein the heatable conductor and the bus bars are provided on a first major surface of the glass substrate at least partially over and directly contacting a non-conductive black colored layer that is also provided on the glass substrate, and wherein the non-conductive black colored layer is provided along at least one side area of the glass substrate and is not located in a central area of the window.

2. The heatable vehicle window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars comprise Ag particles and black coloring pigment, and are opaque.

3. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive black colored layer is provided along all four sides of the window.

4. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive black colored layer comprises a non-conductive enamel.

5. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars, which are black colored, are made of a material comprising SiO₂ and Ag.

6. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars, which are black in color, comprise Ag particles dispersed therein for conductivity purposes.

7. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the window is a backlite of a vehicle.

8. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars, which are black in color, are opaque and block transmission of visible light.

9. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bus bars is black in color and comprises both conductive material and frit.

10. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars are all formed of the same material, and are black in color.

11. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first bus bar is substantially C-shaped, and the second bus bar is substantially shaped as an inverted C.

12. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bus bars is substantially linear in shape.

13. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the window is a monolithic window.

14. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the window is a laminated window including a pair of substrates laminated to one another via a polymer inclusive interlayer.

15. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein no opaque layer is provided on a major interior surface of the window over the bus bars for hiding the bus bars from view.

16. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the first and second bus bars each comprise a conductive material and black color pigment, so that each of the first and second bus bars is substantially black in color.

17. The heatable window of claim 1, wherein the window has a visible transmission of at least 60%.