Patent ID: 6100500
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A vehicle glass clearing system for a vehicle having a windshield, a back window, and exterior side view mirrors, comprising:an installed portion; andan auxiliary heating element system that is powered through said installed portion and that is at least partly positionable adjacent the exterior surface of the vehicle's windshield;said installed portion including an auxiliary heating element system power socket incorporated within one of said exterior side view mirrors, a back window resistive heating element, left and right side view mirror resistive heating elements, a windshield resistive heating element, a first variable duty heating element drive circuit, a first heating element selector switch, a second variable duty heating element drive circuit, a second heating element selector switch, a third variable duty heating element drive circuit, and a third heating element selector switch;said first heating element drive circuit being in electrical driving connection with said back window resistive heating element;said second heating element drive circuit being in electrical driving connection with said left and right side view mirror resistive heating elements and said windshield resistive heating element;said third heating element drive circuit being in electrical driving connection with said back window resistive heating element, said left and right side view mirror resistive heating elements, and said windshield resistive heating element;said first heating element drive circuit being activated by depressing said first heating element selector switch;said second heating element drive circuit being activated by depressing said second heating element selector switch;said third heating element drive circuit being activated by depressing said third heating element selector switch;said auxiliary heating element system including a power plug electrically mateable with said auxiliary heating element system power socket, a heating element sheath having securing magnets in connection therewith, said sheath shaped to conform to at least a part of the exterior of the vehicle's windshield, an auxiliary heating element positioned within said heating element sheath, a moisture sensor having a moisture sensed output, a temperature sensor having a temperature sensed output, and an auxiliary heating element control and drive circuit powered through said power plug, in electrical driving connection with said auxiliary heating element, and providing a variable power output to said auxiliary heating element in response to the condition of a temperature sensed input connected to said temperature sensed output and a moisture level sensed input connected to said moisture sensed output.