Patent ID: 8084716

Claim:
A man-operated vehicle of the type powered by a battery and including a traction motor configured to move the vehicle between a first location having a cold storage temperature, and a second location having a dew point temperature greater than the cold storage temperature, the vehicle comprising: a windshield mounted onto said vehicle having first and second surfaces exposed to the ambient environment of vehicle operation, wherein the first surface faces an operator console, and the second surface faces away from the operator console; a heating assembly disposed within the windshield and configured to supply heat thereto; and a control circuit for applying power to the heating assembly, the control circuit comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperatures of vehicle operation; a speed sensor for sensing a speed of the man-operated vehicle; a power regulator connected to the heating assembly; and a controller in electrical communication with the heating assembly, the temperature sensor and the speed sensor, the controller being operable to drive the power regulator to maintain the windshield at a predetermined temperature and to adjust the power being applied to the heating assembly from the power regulator based on at least one of a rate of change of the sensed ambient temperature of vehicle operation, the sensed speed of the man-operated vehicle, and a voltage level of the battery.