Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6255624
-
Patent Number
6,255,624
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 22, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 3, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walberg; Teresa
- Dahbour; Fadi H.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 219 203
- 219 219
- 219 522
- 219 541
- 219 543
- 219 547
- 338 307
- 338 308
- 338 309
- 338 314
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An electrically heated backlite assembly and method of making same includes a glass panel and an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to the glass panel. The electrically nonconductive coating has an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly also includes an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically conductive coating has a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to the first undulations at the selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly includes a conductor strip attached to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to de-ice and defog the glass panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more specifically, to an electrically heated backlite assembly and method of making the same for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a glass panel for an opening on a vehicle. It is also known to provide an electrically heated backlite on the glass panel to defog or de-ice the same, thereby providing a clear window in the vehicle. An example of such an electrically heated backlite is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,522 to Boaz. In this patent, the electrically heated backlite includes an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to a glass panel and an electrical resistance heater overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically heated backlite also includes an electrical conductor bonded to a terminal end of the heater.
To manufacture the electrically heated backlite, the opaque, electrically non-conductive coating is black in the form of an ink or paint, which is screen printed onto the glass panel. The electrical resistance heater line is silver in the form of an ink or paint, which is screen printed onto the electrically non-conductive coating and the glass panel.
Although these electrically heated backlites have worked well, it is desirable to deposit a heavier layer of silver to help in the terminal soldering process at selected locations. It is also desirable to provide an electrically heated backlite that does not require modification of the screen that prints the silver on the glass panel. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an electrically heated backlite assembly and method that meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is an electrically heated backlite assembly including a glass panel and an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to the glass panel. The electrically nonconductive coating has an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly also includes an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically conductive coating has a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to the first undulations at the selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly includes a conductor strip attached to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to deice and defog the glass panel.
The present invention is also a method of making an electrically heated backlite assembly. The method includes the steps of providing a glass panel, depositing an electrically nonconductive coating on the glass panel and forming an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The method also includes the steps of depositing an electrically conductive coating on the electrically nonconductive coating and the glass panel and forming an inner surface with second undulations at the selected areas complementary to the first undulations of the electrically nonconductive coating and an outer surface being generally smooth. The method further includes the steps of attaching a conductor strip to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to de-ice and defog the glass panel.
One advantage of the present invention is that a new electrically heated backlite assembly is provided for a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that a method of making the electrically heated backlite assembly is provided to vary the amount of silver deposited in the screen printing process. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly has a heavier or thicker layer of silver deposited at selected locations to help in the terminal soldering process. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly has a surface contour on the glass panel controlled to vary the amount of silver deposit. A further advantage of the present invention is that the electrically heated backlite assembly does not require modification of the construction of the screen that prints the silver.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a partial elevational view of an electrically heated backlite assembly, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a sectional view taken along line
2
—
2
of FIG.
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
FIGS. 1 and 2
, one embodiment of an electrically heated backlite assembly
10
, according to the present invention, is shown for a vehicle (not shown). The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
is mounted to vehicle structure surrounding an opening
14
of the motor vehicle. The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
can be employed at a number of places on the vehicle, including the front or rear doors or front or rear of the vehicle. To that end, the specific electrically heated backlite assembly
10
shown in FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
is for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation.
The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
includes a glass sheet or panel
12
. The glass panel
12
is generally planar and rectangular in shape. The glass panel
12
in made of a transparent material such as glass, plastic or the like. The glass panel
12
may have any suitable thickness such as five millimeters. The glass panel
12
has a surface
14
to face the interior of the vehicle. The surface
14
is generally smooth. It should be appreciated that the glass panel
12
is conventional and known in the art.
The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
also includes an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating
16
bonded to the glass panel
12
. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the electrically nonconductive coating
16
extends around the entire perimeter of the glass panel
12
. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
has an inner surface
18
which abuts and is bonded to the surface
14
of the glass panel
12
. The inner surface
18
is generally smooth. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
also has an outer surface
20
spaced from the inner surface
18
. The outer surface
20
is generally smooth. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
has a predetermined width such as desired by styling requirements. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
has a predetermined thickness such 0.0008 inches to 0.0015 inches. The outer surface
20
includes a plurality of undulations or contours
22
at selected or predetermined locations such as terminal areas for a function to be described. Each undulation
22
has a peak
24
and valley
26
. The peaks
24
have a thickness approximately equal to the predetermined thickness of the electrically nonconductive coating
16
. The valleys
26
have a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inches from the inner surface
18
. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
provides a sight shield for lending more uniform characteristics to the appearance of the glass panel
12
when viewed from the outside of the vehicle. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
is used to block out the color developed by a layer of silver material to be described which is used to form the terminal areas and grid lines to be described. Preferably, the electrically nonconductive coating
16
is a black or neutral in color, however, the color can be selected to give a better color coordination with the exterior color of the vehicle in which the electrically heated backlite assembly
10
is installed. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
is made of a black ceramic material. The electrically nonconductive coating
16
is in the form of an ink or paint that is screen printed to the glass panel
12
by conventional screen printing processes. It should be appreciated that the material for the electrically nonconductive coating
16
is conventional and known in the art.
The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
further includes an electrically conductive coating
28
overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and glass panel
12
. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the electrically conductive coating
28
forms terminal areas on the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and thin grid lines on the glass panel
12
extending laterally across the glass panel
12
. The electrically conductive coating
28
has an inner surface
30
which abuts the outer surface
20
of the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and the outer surface
14
of the glass panel
12
. The inner surface
30
is generally smooth at non-selected locations. The electrically conductive coating
28
also includes an outer surface
32
spaced from the inner surface
30
. The outer surface
32
is generally smooth.
The electrically conductive coating
28
has a predetermined width such as is required to carry the electrical current load, preferably 0.25 inches to 1.5 inches. The electrically conductive coating
28
has a predetermined thickness such 0.0005 inches to 0.001 inches. The inner surface
30
includes a plurality of undulations or contours
34
complementary to the undulations
22
of the electrically nonconductive coating
16
at the terminal areas. Each undulation
34
has a peak
36
and valley
38
. The peaks
36
have a thickness greater than the predetermined thickness of the electrically conductive coating
28
such as 0.0015 inches to form a heavier or thicker deposit. The valleys
38
have a thickness approximately equal to the predetermined thickness of the electrically conductive coating
28
. Preferably, the electrically conductive coating
28
is a silver ceramic material. The electrically conductive coating
28
is in the form of an ink or paint that is screen printed onto the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and the glass panel
12
by conventional screen printing processes. It should be appreciated that the material for the electrically conductive coating
28
is conventional and known in the art. It should also be appreciated that the electrically conductive coating
28
does not have undulations in the grid lines.
The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
includes a conductor or terminal strip
40
attached by solder
42
to the outer surface
32
of the electrically conductive coating
28
at the terminal areas thereof. The conductor strip
40
extends longitudinally and is generally rectangular in shape. The conductor strip
40
is connected to a power source (not shown) such as controller. It should be appreciated that the controller provides the power to the conductor strip
40
and, in turn, to the electrically conductive coating
28
, which provides heat to the glass panel
12
in order to de-ice or defog the same. It should be appreciated that the conductor strip
40
is conventional and known in the art.
A method, according to the present invention, is disclosed of making the electrically heated backlite assembly
10
. The method includes the step of providing the glass panel
12
. The method includes the step of depositing the electrically nonconductive coating
16
by providing a screen and printing the electrically nonconductive coating
16
onto the glass panel
12
. The printing of the electrically nonconductive coating
16
is accomplished by conventional screen-printing and includes forming the outer surface
20
with the undulations
22
at selected locations, preferably at the terminal areas. The method includes the step of depositing the electrically conductive coating
28
by providing a screen and printing the electrically conductive coating
28
on the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and the glass panel
12
. The printing of the electrically conductive coating
28
is accomplished by conventional screen printing and includes forming the inner surface
30
with undulations
34
at the selected areas, preferably the terminal areas, complementary to the undulations
22
in the electrically nonconductive coating
16
and forming the outer surface
32
generally smooth. The method includes the step of disposing the conductor strip
40
against the electrically conductive coating
28
at the terminal areas and attaching the conductor strip
40
to the electrically conductive coating
28
by a solder layer
42
to form the electrically heated backlite assembly
10
. The step of attaching is accomplished by conventional soldering processes. The electrically heated backlite assembly
10
is then shipped to an assembly plant for installation or assembly to the vehicle by conventional methods known in the art.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
- 1. An electrically heated backlite assembly comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to said glass panel, said electrically nonconductive coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to said electrically nonconductive coating, said electrically conductive coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations, wherein said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations has a thickness greater than a thickness at non-selected locations; and a conductor strip attached to said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said electrically conductive coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel.
- 2. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive coating is a silver ceramic material.
- 3. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrically nonconductive coating is a black ceramic material.
- 4. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass panel has a surface being generally smooth.
- 5. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said electrically conductive coating is generally smooth at nonselected locations.
- 6. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys.
- 7. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 1 including solder to attach said conductor strip to said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations.
- 8. An electrically heated backlite assembly comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to said glass panel, said electrically nonconductive coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to said electrically nonconductive coating, said electrically conductive coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations; a conductor strip attached to said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said electrically conductive coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel; wherein said glass panel has a surface being generally smooth; and wherein said electrically nonconductive coating has an inner surface abutting said surface of said glass panel, said inner surface being generally smooth at nonselected locations.
- 9. An electrically heated backlite assembly comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to said glass panel, said electrically nonconductive coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to said electrically nonconductive coating, said electrically conductive coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations; a conductor strip attached to said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said electrically conductive coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel; wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys; and wherein said peaks of said electrically conductive coating have a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches from said outer surface.
- 10. An electrically heated backlite assembly comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to said glass panel, said electrically nonconductive coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to said electrically nonconductive coating, said electrically conductive coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations; a conductor strip attached to said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said electrically conductive coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel; wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys; and wherein said valleys of said electrically nonconductive coating have a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inches from said glass panel.
- 11. An electrically heated backlite assembly for a vehicle comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive black ceramic coating bonded to said glass panel, said black ceramic coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive silver ceramic coating overlying and bonded to said black ceramic coating, said silver ceramic coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations, wherein said electrically conductive coating at the selected locations has a thickness greater than a thickness at non-selected locations; and a conductor strip attached to said silver ceramic coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said silver ceramic coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel.
- 12. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said outer surface of said silver ceramic coating is generally smooth at nonselected locations.
- 13. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said black ceramic coating has an inner surface abutting said glass panel, said inner surface being generally smooth at nonselected locations.
- 14. An electrically heated backlite assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys.
- 15. An electrically heated backlite assembly for a vehicle comprising:a class panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive black ceramic coating bonded to said glass panel, said black ceramic coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive silver ceramic coating overlying and bonded to said black ceramic coating, said silver ceramic coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations; a conductor strip attached to said silver ceramic coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said silver ceramic coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel; wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys; and wherein said peaks of said silver ceramic coating have a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches from said outer surface.
- 16. An electrically heated backlite assembly for a vehicle comprising:a glass panel; an opaque, electrically nonconductive black ceramic coating bonded to said glass panel, said black ceramic coating having an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; an electrically conductive silver ceramic coating overlying and bonded to said black ceramic coating, said silver ceramic coating having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to said first undulations at the selected locations; a conductor strip attached to said silver ceramic coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to said silver ceramic coating to heat said glass panel to de-ice and defog said glass panel; wherein said first undulations and said second undulations comprise a plurality of peaks and valleys; and wherein said valleys of said black ceramic coating have a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inches from said glass panel.
- 17. A method of making an electrically heated backlite assembly comprising the steps of:providing a glass panel; depositing an electrically nonconductive coating on the glass panel and forming an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations; depositing an electrically conductive coating on the electrically nonconductive coating and the glass panel and forming an inner surface with second undulations at the selected locations complementary to the first undulations of the electrically nonconductive coating and an outer surface being generally smooth and depositing the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations in a thickness greater than nonselected locations; and attaching a conductor strip to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to de-ice and defog the glass panel.
- 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of depositing the electrically nonconductive coating comprises providing a screen and screen printing the electrically nonconductive coating on the glass panel.
- 19. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of depositing the electrically conductive coating comprises providing a screen and screen printing the electrically conductive coating over the electrically nonconductive coating and the glass panel.
US Referenced Citations (26)