Warning light system with dedicated windshield heating element

A warning light system that is provided for a motor vehicle includes a warning light assembly and a heating element carried on a windshield of the motor vehicle, vehicle forward of the warning light assembly. The heating element is dedicated to providing a clear sight path to the warning light and thereby increasing its effectiveness. A related method is also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a warning light system having a dedicated windshield heating element to defog, defrost and deice the upper margin of the windshield directly in front of the warning light assembly so as to maintain a clear sight path to the warning light and thereby increasing its effectiveness.

BACKGROUND

Unmarked police vehicles commonly include warning lights that are mounted on the interior of the vehicle adjacent the interface between the windshield and the roof panel. Such lights function the same as an exterior, roof mounted light bar.

Such interior mounted warning lights direct light through the upper margin of the windshield. Significantly, the windshield wipers do not clear this area of the windshield in front of the warning lights from ice and snow buildup. That buildup can render the warning lights ineffective by blocking the warning lights from view.

This document relates to a new and improved warning light system incorporating a dedicated heating circuit to maintain the windshield in front of and adjacent to the warning lights free and clear of ice and snow and thereby maximizing the visibility and effectiveness of the warning lights for enhanced public safety.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a warning light system is provided for a motor vehicle. That warning light system includes a warning light assembly and a heating element carried on a windshield of the motor vehicle, vehicle forward of the warning light assembly.

The warning light assembly may include a light source and a lens that directs light from the light source through a designated portion of the windshield. That designated portion of the windshield may be provided along an upper margin of the windshield above an area of the windshield cleared by windshield wipers of the motor vehicle.

The warning light assembly may also include a roof mounting bracket to secure the warning light assembly to a roof panel of the motor vehicle. The heating element may comprise a decal with a resistance heating element. That heating element may also have a shape corresponding to the front face of the lens.

The warning light system may also include a controller. That controller may be configured to activate the heating element in response to activation of a windshield defroster of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, that controller may be configured to activate the heating element in response to data indicating (a) the presence of falling precipitation and (b) an ambient temperature below a predetermined threshold temperature.

In accordance with still another aspect, a motor vehicle is provided comprising: (a) a windshield, (b) a windshield wiper system for sweeping a field of the windshield, (c) a heating element attached to an upper margin of the windshield above that field, and (d) a warning light assembly. The warning light assembly may include a light source and a lens for directing light from the light source through the upper margin of the windshield and the heating element.

The warning light assembly may also include a roof mounting bracket. The heating element may be provided vehicle forward and adjacent to the lens. The heating element and the lens may also have a common shape.

The motor vehicle may also include a controller configured to activate the heating element in response to activation of a windshield defroster of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the motor vehicle may include a controller configured to activate the heating element in response to data indicating: (a) current precipitation and (b) an ambient temperature below a predetermined threshold temperature.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a method is provided of increasing the effectiveness of a warning light assembly positioned in the interior of the motor vehicle. That method may comprise the steps of: (a) energizing a heating element on a windshield of the motor vehicle in front of the warning light assembly, (b) clearing ice, fog or snow from a portion of the windshield in front of the warning light assembly and (c) directing light from the warning light assembly through the portion of the windshield cleared of ice, fog or snow.

The method may further include the step of dedicating the heating element to maintaining a clear sight path through the windshield to the warning light assembly so that light emitted by the warning light assembly is clearly visible to the public.

Further, the method may include the stop of energizing, by a controller, the heating element in response to activation of a windshield defroster. Alternatively, the method may include the step of energizing, by a controller, the heating element in response to: (a) current precipitation and (b) an ambient temperature below a predetermined threshold temperature.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the warning light assembly system, the motor vehicle equipped with the warning light system and the related method of increasing the effectiveness of a warning light assembly positioned in an interior of a motor vehicle. As it should be realized, the warning light system, motor vehicle and method are all capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the system, motor vehicle and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made toFIG. 1illustrating a motor vehicle10equipped with the warning light system12. As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the motor vehicle10includes a windshield14and a windshield wiper system16including wipers18that sweep and clear a field20of the windshield.

The warning light system12includes a warning light assembly22having a mounting bracket24for securing the warning light assembly to a roof panel26of the motor vehicle10.

As should be appreciated from viewingFIG. 2, the warning light assembly22includes a light source28, a reflector30and a lens32. When activated, light emitted by the light source28is concentrated by the reflector30and directed through the lens32through a designated portion34of the windshield14vehicle forward of the warning light assembly22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the warning light assembly22is mounted on the roof panel26adjacent the interface of the windshield14and the roof panel. Thus, the portion34through which the light from the light source28is directed is at an upper margin of the windshield above the area or field20that is cleared by the windshield wipers18.

As should also be appreciated from viewingFIGS. 1-5, the warning light system12also includes a heating element36. The heating element36is carried on the windshield14of the motor vehicle10vehicle forward of the warning light assembly22. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating element36comprises a decal and a resistance heating element. As best illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, the lens32of the warning light assembly22has a front face provided adjacent to and directly behind the heating element36. Further, the heating element36and the lens32may share a common shape. As a result light from the light source28directed through the lens32is also directed through the windshield14and the heating element36. More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3, the heating element36defines a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the rectangular shape defined by the lens32. In contrast, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, the heating element36defines a rectangular shape that is slightly smaller than the rectangular shape defined by the lens32.

Reference is now made toFIG. 5illustrating a heating circuit38for the warning light system12. That heating circuit38incorporates the heating element36. A controller40is connected to the heating element36. The controller40may comprise a computing device such as a dedicated microprocessor or electronic control unit (ECU). In the illustrated embodiment, the controller40comprises one or more processors, one or more memories and one or more network interfaces that communicate with each other over a communication bus.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5, the controller40may be connected to a windshield defroster monitoring device42such as a heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) control module of the motor vehicle10. Thus, the controller40may be configured to activate the heating element36in response to activation of the windshield defroster of the motor vehicle10based upon data provided to the controller from the windshield defroster monitoring device42.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5, the controller40may also be connected to a precipitation monitoring device44and an ambient temperature monitoring device46. Such a precipitation monitoring device44may comprise a rain sensor such as currently provided on motor vehicles equipped with an automatic windshield wiper control system. The ambient temperature monitoring device may be a temperature sensor or other control module capable of providing ambient temperature data to the controller40. As a consequence, the controller40may be configured to activate the heating element36in response to data received from the devices44and46indicating (a) that precipitation is currently falling and (b) an ambient temperature is below a predetermined threshold temperature such as, for example, 1 degree C.

Consistent with the above description, a method is provided of increasing the effectiveness of a warning light assembly22positioned in an interior of a motor vehicle10. That method comprises energizing the heating element36on the windshield14of the motor vehicle10in front of the warning light assembly22. The method also includes the step of clearing ice, fog or snow from the portion34of the windshield14in front of the warning light assembly22and the step of directing light from the warning light assembly22through that portion of the windshield.

Further, the method includes dedicating the heating element36to maintaining a clear sight path through the windshield14to the light emitted by the warning light source28/warning light assembly22.

Still further, the method includes the step of energizing, by the controller40, the heating element36in response to activation of a windshield defroster of the motor vehicle10. Alternatively, or in addition, the method includes energizing, by the controller40, the heating element36in response to (a) current precipitation (as indicated by the device44) and (b) an ambient temperature below a predetermined threshold temperature (as indicated by the device46).

As should be appreciated from the preceding description, the motor vehicle10includes a warning light system12that incorporates a dedicated heating circuit38and dedicated heating element36specifically adapted to clear ice, fog or snow from the portion34of the windshield14in front of the warning light assembly22thereby enhancing the visibility of the warning light emitted by the light source28. This increases the effectiveness of the warning light and enhances public safety.