PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10314116-B1
Application Number: US-201715595158-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Glazed panel heating systems

Abstract:
A heating system includes a conductive layer disposed on a pane surface of a glass pane, a first busbar extending along a first pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer, and a second busbar extending along a second pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer. Applying power to the first busbar causes current to travel from the first busbar along the conductive layer to the second busbar, heating the pane surface.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heating system, comprising:
 a conductive layer disposed on a pane surface of a glass pane; 
 a first busbar extending along a first pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer; and 
 a second busbar extending along a second pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer; 
 wherein applying power to the first busbar causes current to travel from the first busbar along the conductive layer to the second busbar, heating the pane surface, 
 wherein the first pane edge portion includes an edge treatment comprising at least one of a cut edge, a seamed edge, a swiped edge, a machine-ground edge, or a machine-polished edge, and 
 wherein the first busbar extends along the edge treatment of the first pane edge portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trace extending along the edge treatment of the first pane edge portion between a power connection and the first busbar. 
 
     
     
       3. The heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pattern in the conductive layer, the pattern forming a current path between the first busbar and the second busbar. 
 
     
     
       4. The heating system of  claim 3 , wherein the pattern includes lines or voids etched or carved into the conductive layer. 
     
     
       5. The heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the lines are non-equidistantly spaced to focus heating predetermined portions of the pane surface of the glass pane. 
     
     
       6. The heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the lines are equidistantly spaced and extend alternatingly from the first pane edge portion Doll and the second pane edge portion of the glass pane to evenly distribute heating across the pane surface of the glass pane. 
     
     
       7. The heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the lines or voids in the conductive layer are filled with an index-matched, non-conductive material. 
     
     
       8. The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pane edge portion extends along a top edge of the glass pane and the second pane edge portion extends along a bottom edge of the glass pane. 
     
     
       9. The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pane edge portion and the second pane edge portion extend along a bottom edge of the glass pane. 
     
     
       10. A heating system, comprising:
 a first glass pane; 
 a second glass pane; 
 an interlayer extending between a pane surface of the first glass pane and a pane surface of the second glass pane; 
 a first conductive layer extending between the pane surface of the first glass pane and the interlayer; 
 a second conductive layer extending between the pane surface of the second glass pane and the interlayer; 
 a first busbar extending along a first edge portion of the first glass pane and in electrical contact with a first edge portion of the first conductive layer; 
 a second busbar extending along a first edge portion of the second glass pane and in electrical contact with a first edge portion of the second conductive layer; and 
 a trace extending between a second edge portion of the first glass pane and a second edge portion of the second glass pane along an edge portion of the interlayer and in electrical contact with a second edge portion of the first conductive layer and a second edge portion of the second conductive layer; 
 wherein applying power to the first busbar causes current to travel from the first busbar along the first conductive layer to the trace along the edge portion of the interlayer and along the second conductive layer to the second busbar, heating the pane surfaces of the first glass pane and the second glass pane. 
 
     
     
       11. The heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the interlayer is a first interlayer, further comprising:
 a second interlayer extending between the pane surface of the first glass pane and the first conductive layer. 
 
     
     
       12. The heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the interlayer is a first interlayer, further comprising:
 a second interlayer extending between the pane surface of the second glass pane and the second conductive layer. 
 
     
     
       13. The heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first power connection located on the first edge portion of the first glass pane in electrical contact with the first busbar; and 
 a second power connection located on the first edge portion of the second glass pane in electrical contact with the second busbar. 
 
     
     
       14. The heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the first edge portion of the first glass pane extends along a bottom edge of the first glass pane, the second edge portion of the first glass pane extends along a top edge of the first glass pane, the first edge portion of the second glass pane extends along a bottom edge of the second glass pane, and the second edge portion of the second glass pane extends along a top edge of the second glass pane. 
     
     
       15. The heating system of  claim 10 , wherein a pattern of lines or voids etched or carved into the first or second conductive layer and filled with an index-matched, non-conductive material form a current path between the trace and the first or second busbar. 
     
     
       16. A heating system, comprising:
 a glass pane, comprising:
 a trace extending along a first pane edge portion; 
 a first busbar extending along a second pane edge portion; and 
 a conductive layer extending along a pane surface and in electrical contact with the trace and the first busbar; and 
 
 a seal, comprising:
 a sealing surface, wherein the glass pane has a contact position where the first pane edge portion of the glass pane contacts the sealing surface of the seal and a non-contact position where the glass pane does not contact the seal; and 
 a second busbar extending along the sealing surface, wherein the second busbar contacts the trace extending along the first pane edge portion of the glass pane with the glass pane in the contact position; 
 
 wherein applying power to the trace causes current to travel from the trace to the second busbar to the conductive layer to the first busbar with the glass pane in the contact position, heating the pane surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The heating system of  claim 16 , wherein the seal blocks visibility of the trace and the second busbar with the glass pane in the contact position. 
     
     
       18. The heating system of  claim 16 , wherein the first pane edge portion extends along a top edge of glass pane and the second pane edge portion extends along a bottom edge of the glass pane. 
     
     
       19. The heating system of  claim 16 , wherein the first pane edge portion extends along a side edge of glass pane and the second pane edge portion extends along a bottom edge of the glass pane. 
     
     
       20. The heating system of  claim 16 , wherein a pattern of lines or voids etched or carved into the conductive layer and filled with an index-matched, non-conductive material form a current path between the second busbar, the trace, and the first busbar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/342,342, filed May 27, 2016, and entitled “Glazed Panel Heating Systems,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to glazed panel heating systems. More particularly, the disclosure relates to heating systems for glass panes that leverage low-profile busbars. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Laminated glass, or safety glass, is traditionally formed by bonding either a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) interlayer between two glass panes using a vacuum to remove air from between the glass panes and heat and/or pressure to bond the glass panes together, for example, using an autoclave. Laminated glass can be treated to reduce solar heating or a greenhouse effect by including a coating or glazing, for example, of a silver infrared reflecting (IRR) material along with or as part of the interlayer between the two glass panes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure relates to a glazed panel heating system. In one aspect of the disclosure, a heating system includes a conductive layer disposed on a pane surface of a glass pane, a first busbar extending along a first pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer, and a second busbar extending along a second pane edge portion of the glass plane in electrical contact with the conductive layer. Applying power to the first busbar causes current to travel from the first busbar along the conductive layer to the second busbar, heating the pane surface. 
     In another aspect of the disclosure, a heating system includes a first glass pane, a second glass pane, and an interlayer extending between pane surfaces of the first glass pane and the second glass pane. The heating system also includes a first conductive layer extending between the pane surface of the first glass pane and the interlayer and a second conductive layer extending between the pane surface of the second glass pane and the interlayer. The heating system also includes a first busbar extending along an edge portion of the first glass pane and in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, a second busbar extending along an edge portion of the second glass pane and in electrical contact with second conductive layer, and a trace extending along an edge portion of the interlayer and in electrical contact with the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. Applying power to the first busbar causes current to travel from the first busbar along the first conductive layer to the trace and along the second conductive layer to the second busbar, heating the pane surfaces of the first glass pane and the second glass pane. 
     In another aspect of the disclosure, a heating system includes a glass pane comprising a trace extending along a first pane edge portion, a first busbar extending along a second pane edge portion, and a conductive layer extending along a pane surface and in electrical contact with the trace and the first busbar. The heating system also includes a seal comprising a sealing surface. The glass pane has a contact position where the first pane edge portion contacts the sealing surface. The seal further includes a second busbar extending along the sealing surface. The second busbar contacts the trace with the glass pane in the contact position. Applying power to the trace causes current to travel from the trace to the second busbar across the conductive layer to the first busbar with the glass pane in the contact position, heating the pane surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure is best understood using the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Similar reference numerals in the drawings designate similar elements. Note that the dimensions of the various features can be expanded or reduced for clarity. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a frameless laminated glass panel front view. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view of  FIG. 1A  with a busbar applied to an edge treatment of a glass pane. 
         FIG. 2A  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view of  FIG. 2A  with a trace extending along an edge of a conductive layer. 
         FIG. 3A  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view with etchings in the coating, glazing, or film deposited on a glass pane. 
         FIG. 3B  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view with etchings in the coating, glazing, or film deposited on a glass pane. 
         FIG. 4A  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view of  FIG. 4A  with a busbar coupled to a seal or structure abutting a glass pane. 
         FIG. 5A  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view of  FIG. 5A  with a busbar covered by an overmold. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an example of a computing device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Glazed panel heating systems are described that leverage low-profile or hidden busbars that increase the transparent area of a glazed panel, reduce the need for frits applied to a surface of the glazed panel or frames enclosing edge portions of the glazed panel, and provide heating of the glazed panel, for example, in defrost or defog conditions. Several low-profile approaches include applying busbars to edge treatments of glazed panels, locating busbars and traces along edge portions of conductive interlayers disposed between glass panes, and locating busbars or traces on surfaces that contact glazed panels, such as seals or fixed structures. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a frameless laminated glass panel front view.  FIG. 1B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 1A . The frameless laminated glass panel includes a glass heating system with a conductive layer  100 , glass panes  102   a,b , interlayer  104 , busbars  106   a,b , and power connections  110 . 
     The conductive layer  100  can be formed using, for example, metallic or metal-oxide coatings or dielectric thin films, such as a silver infrared-reflective (IRR) coating or an indium tin oxide (no) film. The coatings or films that form the conductive layer  100  provide solar energy reflection while selectively transmitting visible light and allowing electrical conductivity between the busbars  106   a,b . The conductive metal or metal-oxide used to form the conductive layer  100  can be sprayed or deposited in one or more layers on one of the glass panes  102   a,b , for example, to form a coating, or can be applied using a PET film adhered to the interlayer  104  laminated between the glass panes  102   a,b.    
     The glass panes  102   a,b  can be formed using, for example, standard transparent glass materials. Alternatively, the glass panes  102   a,b  can be formed using tempered glass, optical cast plastics, or any other material that is both generally transparent and suitable for coating or glazing in a manner required for use of the glazed panel heating systems described here. 
     The interlayer  104  used for adhesion during lamination can be formed of PVB or EVA as described above. Other materials suitable for the interlayer  104  include thermoset EVA, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and polyester (PE). The type and thickness of the material chosen for the interlayer  104  can be based on the type and thickness of the glass panes  102   a,b  used for a given glazed panel application. 
     The busbars  106   a,b  can be formed using, for example, conductive metals such as copper, silver, gold, or aluminum. The busbars  106   a,b  can be disposed along pane edge portions in the form of a strip or deposited using processes such as screen printing or thin-film deposition. In the example of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the busbars  106   a,b  extend along opposing pane edge portions of the glass pane  102   a  with the upper busbar  106   a  extending along a top edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  and the lower busbar  106   b  extending along a bottom edge portion of the glass pane  102   a . Other configurations for the busbars  106   a,b  are also possible. The conductive layer  100  extends along a pane surface of the glass pane  102   a  and is in electrical contact with the busbars  106   a,b.    
     The power connections  110  in the examples of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and in various embodiments of the disclosure described below can be designed to supply power to or carry power from the busbars  106   a,b . In other words, one of the power connections  110  supplies power to one of the busbars  106   b , causing current to travel along the conductive layer  100 , heating the glass panes  102   a,b . The other of the power connections  110  carries power away from the conductive layer  100 , for example, to a ground (not shown). 
     The glass heating system of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  can be used, for example, with a side window in a vehicle where both movement and increased transparency of the laminated glass panel are desired. The upper busbar  106   a  can be located along an edge treatment  112  of the glass pane  102   a  as further described below. The lower busbar  106   b  can be located along a lower edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  and can be hidden from view, for example, by a fixed structure  114 . 
     If the laminated glass panel serves as a side window of a vehicle door, the fixed structure  114  can be a belt line of the vehicle door. The position of the glass pane  102   a  in respect to the belt line of the vehicle door is such that the lower edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  is blocked from view by the belt line. Even when the frameless laminated glass panel is designed to move up and down, that is, into and out of, the vehicle door, the lower edge portion of the frameless laminated glass panel will remain covered by the fixed structure  114 , that is, the belt line. Designing mechanisms to control this movement, such as rails, guides, and seals, is simplified by the absence of a frame around the laminated glass panel. 
       FIG. 1A  shows one power connection  110  coupled to a central portion of the lower busbar  106   b  and another power connection  110  coupled to the upper busbar  106   a  through a trace  118 . The trace  118  can extend along the edge treatment  112  of the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  to reach the upper busbar  106   a .  FIG. 1A  also shows a current path  116  in lines with arrows as extending from the upper busbar  106   a  to the lower busbar  106   b . The upper busbar  106   a  extends along only an upper corner of the curved upper edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  such that the trace  118  is required to electrically couple the upper busbar  106   a  and the power connection  110 . 
     The trace  118  can include, for example, a conductive wire or foil sufficient to carry current between the power connection  110  and the upper busbar  106   a . The lengths of the upper busbar  106   a  and the trace  118  can vary depending on the desired shape and distribution of the current path  116 . As the lower busbar  106   b  extends for most of the lower edge portion of the glass pane  102   a , the current path  116  fans out as it travels from the upper busbar  106   a  to the lower busbar  106   b . The current path  116  is not visible. Instead, the dotted lines and arrows of the current path  116  show the progression of heating across the glass pane  102   a  when power is applied to the upper busbar  106   a  using the power connection  110 . Various current paths are possible, for example, depending on the placement and size of the busbars  106   a,b  and the trace  118 . 
     As best shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 1B , the laminated glass panel includes the glass panes  102   a,b , the conductive layer  100 , and the interlayer  104 , with the conductive layer  100  and the interlayer  104  disposed between the glass panes  102   a,b . The upper busbar  106   a  can be applied to the edge treatment  112  of an upper edge portion of the glass pane  102   a . Various edge treatments  112  for the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  are possible. The edge treatment  112  can be a machine-ground edge, for example, where a grinding wheel is used to generate a smooth finish on the edge of the glass. Machine-ground edge treatments include shaping the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  with a round or pencil-edge shape having a “C”-shaped radius or shaping the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  with a flat-edge shape where a 45-degree chamfer is applied to top and bottom corners of the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a , though other shapes are also possible. The edge treatment  112  can also be a machine-polished edge, for example, where a machine-ground edge portion of the glass pane  102   a  is polished to a sheen finish. The edge treatment  112  can also be a cut edge or a seamed edge, i.e. a safety seam edge or swiped edge, where sanding is used to lightly chamfer the edge portion of the glass pane  102   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the upper busbar  106   a  is located along the edge treatment  112  of the upper edge portion of the glass pane  102   a , and the lower busbar  106   b  extends along a lower edge portion of the glass pane  102   a . The conductive layer  100  is in contact with the busbars  106   a,b . The upper busbar  106   a  is located in such a manner as to limit visibility of the upper busbar  106   a  while retaining transparency through most of the glass pane  102   a . For example, the upper busbar  106   a  is shown as having a curved shape pressed against the curved edge treatment  112 . 
     As the presence of the edge treatment  112  can limit transparency of the glass pane  102   a  at the location of the edge treatment  112 , locating the upper busbar  106   a  along the edge treatment  112  can block visibility of the upper busbar  106   a  based on the limited transparency of the edge treatment  112 . This relationship holds whether the edge treatment  112  is rounded, slanted, ground, polished, or otherwise shaped or applied to the upper edge portion of the glass pane  102   a . Locating the upper busbar  106   a  along the edge treatment  112  also allows for increased transparency of the frameless laminated glass panel as compared, for example, to solutions where the upper busbar  106   a  would be located between the glass panes  102   a,b.    
       FIG. 2A  shows a frameless laminated glass panel front view.  FIG. 2B  shows a frameless laminated glass panel sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 2A . The frameless laminated glass panel includes a glass heating system with conductive layers  200 , glass panes  202   a,b , interlayers  204 , busbars  206   a,b , power connections  210 , and a trace  218  extending along an edge of the conductive layers  200 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a front view of the glass pane  202 B and shows, in hidden view, that the trace  218  extends for the entire upper edge portion of the laminated glass panel.  FIG. 2A  also shows that a current path  216 , represented in lines with arrows, is generated by applying power to one of the power connections  210  is such that current travels along a surface of the glass pane  202   b  from the trace  218  to the busbar  206   b . If the other of the glass panes  202   a  were shown, current would travel from the busbar  206   a  to the trace  218  in an upward direction. Varied lengths and positions for the busbars  206   a,b  and the trace  218  can be used to form a variety of current paths  216  across the glass panes  202   a,b  in order to heat the surfaces of the glass panes  202   a,b  in a manner desired for the application. Each of the busbars  206   a,b  can be in electrical contact with one of the power connections  210 , with the pair of power connections  210  being located on lower edge portions but on opposite corners and on opposing glass panes  202   a,b  of the laminated glass panel. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2B , the laminated glass panel includes a first glass pane  202   a , a second glass pane  202   b , an interlayer  204 , and a pair of conductive layers  200 . The interlayer  204  in the example of  FIG. 2B  differs from that of prior examples in that it is bisected by a pair of conductive layers  200 . The conductive layers  200  can be formed, for example, of IRR layers deposited on opposing sides of a PET film. The first busbar  206   a  extends along a lower edge portion of the first glass pane  202   a  and is in electrical contact with one of the conductive layers  200 . The second busbar  206   b  extends along a lower edge portion of the second glass pane  202   b  and is in electrical contact with the other of the conductive layers  200 . The trace  218  extends along an upper edge portion of the interlayer  204  and is in electrical contact with both of the conductive layers  200 . 
     In one alternative of the  FIG. 2B  embodiment, each of the glass panes  202   a ,  202   b  can be coated with a conductive layer  200 , and the interlayer  204  can be disposed between the two conductive layers  200  instead of being bisected by a PET film coated on both sides with conductive layers  200 . Applying power to the first busbar  206   a  using a power connection  210  causes current to travel from the first busbar  206   a  along either the the first conductive layer  200  to the trace  218  and along the second conductive layer  200  to the second busbar  206   b , heating pane surfaces of the first glass pane  202   a  and the second glass pane  202   b.    
     By locating the trace  218  along an edge portion of the interlayer  204 , the busbars  206   a,b  can be located in a manner that is easily blocked from visibility by a fixed structure  214 , such as a belt line of a vehicle door. Further, the trace  218  can be blocked from visibility or nearly blocked from visibility through the glass panes  202   a,b  based on its position as extending along an upper edge portion of the interlayer  204 . Though the trace  218  could be visible from a position above the laminated glass panel, it would barely be visible through the glass panes  202   a,b  of the laminated glass panel based on the orientation at which the trace  218  extends in respect to the viewing direction through the glass panes  202   a,b . This position for the trace  218  is desirable in frameless applications for the glass panes  202   a,b.    
       FIG. 3A  shows a frameless laminated glass front view with a non-conductive pattern  320  formed in the coating, glazing, or film forming a conductive layer  300  on the glass pane  302   b .  FIG. 3B  shows another frameless laminated glass panel front view with another non-conductive pattern  320  formed in the coating, glazing, or film forming the conductive layer  300  on the glass pane  302   b . The pattern  320  can be etched into the conductive layer  300 , reserved as a void surrounded by the conductive material of the conductive layer  300 , or otherwise formed as a non-conductive portion of the conductive layer  300 . The pattern  320  serves to direct a current path  316  shown in lines with arrows along the glass pane  302   b  between a first busbar  306   a  in electrical contact with the conductive layer  300  and a second busbar  306   b  in electrical contact with the conductive layer  300 . Applying power, using, for example, a power connection  310 , to the first busbar  306   a  causes current to travel from the first busbar  306   a  along the current path  316  between the various portions of the pattern  320  to the second busbar  306   b , heating a surface of the glass pane  302   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , the pattern  320  can include lines spaced and staggered in a manner that focuses heating in specific areas of the glass pane  302   b  and avoids heating other areas of the glass pane  302   b . Alternatively, and as shown in  FIG. 3B , the pattern  320  can include equidistantly spaced lines alternatingly extending from perpendicular edge portions of the glass pane  302   b  to evenly distribute heating across the glass pane  302   b  when power is applied. If the lines of the pattern  320  are etched or voided, the etching or voids can be filled with an index-matched, non-conductive material to mask the etching and avoid refraction, masking the pattern  320  from visibility through the laminated glass panel. Though two example patterns  320   s  are shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a variety of patterns are possible. 
     The use of patterns  320  etched, carved, or otherwise differentiated from the conductive layer  300  on the glass pane  302   b  to direct the current path  316  allows specific areas of the glass pane  302   b  to be targeted for heating while at the same time co-locating the busbars  306   a,b  along the same edge portion of the laminated glass panel to hide the busbars  306   a,b  from view behind, for example, structure  314  such as a belt line of a vehicle door when the remainder of the glass pane  302   b  is frameless. The pattern  320  can also be formed using various styles and shapes of etchings or carvings (not shown) for decorative purposes. That is, decorations can be made visible on the glass pane  302   b  during the heating process if desired. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a frameless laminated glass panel front view.  FIG. 4B  shows a frameless laminated glass sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 4A . The frameless laminated glass panel includes a glass heating system with a conductive layer  400 , glass panes  402   a,b , an interlayer  404 , busbars  406   a,b , power connections  410 , a trace  418 , and a seal  422 . The seal  422  is configured to contact upper edge portions of one or both of the glass panes  402   a,b  when the laminated glass panel is moved into a contact position with the seal  422 . The seal  422  can be, for example, located along a door frame or a door header when the laminated glass panel is used as a vehicle side window. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a front view of the glass pane  402   a  and shows that each of the busbars  406   a,b  can be in electrical contact with a power connection  410 . The lower, first busbar  406   a  can be located adjacent a lower edge portion of the glass pane  402   a . The upper, second busbar  406   b  can be located along a sealing surface of the seal  422 .  FIG. 4A  also shows, in hidden view, that the trace  418  can extend for the entire upper edge portion of the glass pane  402   a  such that contact between the trace  418  and the upper busbar  406   b  is possible when the glass pane  402   a  is in the contact position. 
       FIG. 4A  also shows a current path  416  in lines with arrows. The current path  416  is generated by applying power to the upper power connection  410  when the laminated glass panel is in the contact position such that current travels from the upper busbar  406   b  on the seal  422 , to the trace  418  on the glass pane  402   a , along a surface of the glass pane  402   a , and to the lower busbar  406   a . The lower busbar  406   a  can be located in a manner that is easily blocked from visibility by a structure  414 , such as a belt line of a vehicle door. The upper busbar  406   b  is also located in a manner that is easily blocked from visibility based on its placement along the sealing surface of the seal  422 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4B , the laminated glass panel includes the glass panes  402   a,b  sandwiching the conductive layer  400  and the interlayer  404 . The glass pane  402   a  includes the trace  418  extending along a first, upper pane edge portion, the first busbar  406   a  extending along a second, lower pane edge portion, and the conductive layer  400  extending along a pane surface of the glass pane  402   a . The conductive layer  400  is in electrical contact with the trace  418  and the first busbar  406   a . The first pane edge portion of the glass pane  402   a  can be designed for contact with the seal  422  when the laminated glass panel is moved to the contact position.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the laminated glass panel in a non-contact position for clarity. 
     The seal  422  can include a sealing surface, and the contact position of the laminated glass panel can put the upper pane edge portion of the glass pane  402   a  in contact with the sealing surface of the seal  422 . The seal  422  can also include a second busbar  406   b  extending along the sealing surface. The second busbar  406   b  can contact the trace  418  when the laminated glass panel is in the contact position with the upper pane edge portion of the glass pane  402   a  being pressed against the sealing surface of the seal  422 . Applying power to the trace  418  causes current to travel from the trace  418  to the second busbar  406   b , across the conductive layer  400 , to the first busbar  406   a  when the laminated glass panel is in the contact position, heating the pane surface. 
     The positions of the second busbar  406   b  and the trace  418  can also be reversed, that is, the second busbar  406   b  can extend along the upper pane edge portion of the glass pane  402   a  and the trace  418  can extend along the sealing surface of the seal  422 . In this example, applying power to the trace  418  would similarly cause current to travel from the trace  418  to the second busbar  406   b  across the conductive layer  400  to the first busbar  406   a  when the laminated glass panel is in the contact position, heating the pane surface. The ability to couple the second busbar  406   b  to the sealing surface is beneficial, for example, when the glass pane  402   a  is part of a frameless vehicle side window, as the second busbar  406   b  will not obstruct visibility through the laminated glass panel. 
       FIG. 5A  shows a frameless laminated glass panel front view.  FIG. 5B  shows a frameless laminated glass sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 5A . The laminated glass panel includes a glass heating system with a conductive layer  500 , glass panes  502   a,b , an interlayer  504 , busbars  506   a,b , power connections  510 , a trace  518 , and a seal  522 . The seal  522  is shown in dotted-line view in  FIG. 5A  as obstructing both the busbar  506   a  and the trace  518  from view. The seal  522  can be used, for example, when the laminated glass panel is a side window in a convertible vehicle or when the laminated glass panel abuts a second laminated glass panel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the seal  522  can be attached to a side edge portion of the laminated glass panel. The busbar  506   b  can extend along a lower edge portion of the laminated glass panel that remains hidden behind a structure  514 , such as a belt line of a vehicle door, regardless of the position of the laminated glass panel. Applying power to the trace  518 , using, for example, the left-side power connection  510 , causes current to travel in a current path  516  represented in lines and arrows from the trace  518  to the busbar  506   a , across the conductive layer  500 , to the busbar  506   b , heating a pane surface of the glass pane  502   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the two glass panes  502   a,b  sandwich the interlayer  504 . The conductive layer  500  extends along a pane surface of the glass pane  502   a . The trace  518  extends along a pane edge portion of the glass pane  502   b , with the trace  518  in contact with the conductive layer  500 . The positions of the trace  518  and the conductive layer  500  in respect to the glass panes  502   a,b  can also be reversed without impacting the function of the glass heating system. 
     The seal  522  can encapsulate, be adhered to, or be otherwise designed to surround or cover edge portions of both of the glass panes  502   a,b , that is, to cover an edge portion of the laminated glass panel in a fixed manner or in a manner that allows the laminated glass panel to slide along the seal  522 . The busbar  506   a  can extend along a sealing surface of the seal  522  in a manner such that the busbar  506   a  contacts one or both of the trace  518  and the conductive layer  500  when the seal  522  is in a contact position with the glass panes  502   a,b . For example, when the seal  522  is coupled to the laminated glass panel, the busbar  506   a  can extend along an exterior edge of the trace  518  and the conductive layer  500  as shown with the seal  522  surrounding edge portions of the glass panes  502   a,b . Including the busbar  506   a  as part of the seal  522  increases the transparent surface area of the glass panes  502   a,b  since the busbar  506   a  does not need to be packaged between the glass panes  502   a,b.    
     The various embodiments of the glass heating system described above provide a faster defrosting solution for vehicle glass than is possible using HVAC-based defrost systems. The resulting defrost pattern can be better controlled in terms of uniformity, and the use of a glazed panel heating system does not negatively impact passenger comfort by diverting climate control resources. Though the examples are described above in respect to frameless glass, the low-profile options would also be suitable in a more traditional framed-glass or framed-panel system, for example, for architectural purposes. Further, though laminated glass is used in the examples, many of the glazed panel heating systems described above can be executed using a single pane of glass or other transparent, heatable material. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an example of a computing device  624 . The computing device  624  can be a single computing device or a system that includes multiple computing devices working cooperatively. As an example, the computing device  624  could be a vehicle-based computing device such as a vehicle ECU that sends commands to the glazed panel heating systems in the above-described embodiments. Alternatively, the computing device  624  could be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a mobile device such as a smart phone. 
     In the illustrated example, the computing device  624  includes a processor  626 , a memory device  628 , a storage device  630 , one or more input devices  632 , and one or more output devices  634  which are interconnected by a bus  636 . The computing device  624  can also include a bus interface  638  for connecting peripheral devices to the bus  636 . 
     The processor  626  can be any type of device that is able to process or manipulate information, including devices that are currently known and devices that may be developed in the future. As an example, the processor  626  can be a conventional central processing unit (CPU). Although the illustrated example shows a single processor, multiple processors can be used instead of a single processor. 
     The memory device  628  can be used to store information for immediate use by the processor  626 . The memory device  628  includes either or both of a random access memory (RAM) device and a read only memory (ROM) device. The memory device  628  can be used to store information, such as program instructions that can be executed by the processor  626 , and data that is stored by and retrieved by the processor  626 . In addition, portions of the operating system of the computing device  624  and other applications that are being executed by the computing device  624  can be stored by the memory device during operation of the computing device  624 . 
     The storage device  630  can be used to store large amounts of data persistently. As examples, the storage device  630  can be a hard disk drive or a solid state drive. 
     The input devices  632  can include any type of device that is operable to generate computer interpretable signals or data in response to user interaction with the computing device  624 , such as physical interaction, verbal interaction, or non-contacting gestural interaction. As examples, the input devices  632  can include one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-sensitive panel with or without an associated display, a trackball, a stylus, a microphone, a camera, or a three-dimensional motion capture device. 
     The output devices  634  can include any type of device that is able to relay information in a manner that can be perceived by a user. As examples, the output devices  634  can include one or more of an LCD display screen, an LED display screen, a CRT display screen, a printer, an audio output device such as a speaker, or a haptic output device. In some implementations, the output devices  634  include a display screen and the input devices  632  include a touch sensitive panel that is integrated into the display screen to define a touch-sensitive display screen. 
     The bus  636  transfers signals and/or data between the components of the computing device  624 . Although depicted as a single bus, it should be understood that multiple or varying types of buses can be used to interconnect the components of the computing device  624 . The bus interface  638  can be any type of device that allows other devices, whether internal or external, to connect to the bus  636 . In one implementation, the bus interface  638  allows connection to a controller area network (CAN) bus of a vehicle.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170515
Publication Date: 20190604
Grant Date: 20190604
Priority Date: 20160527
Inventors: Kingman, David E.
Kamei, Ibuki
WILSON, JAMES R.
RAFF, JOHN
MELCHER, MARTIN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05B3/86", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/84", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/84", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10155", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10174", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B17/10036", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/011", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/013", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/86", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/84", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/011", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/013", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 66673569