Dual Plane Heater for Vehicle Sensor System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017334366-A1
Application number	US-201515525750-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Nov 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heater system for clearing moisture (frozen and liquid) from a windshield ( 14 ) around a through-windshield vehicle sensor ( 18 ) provides a chamber between the sensor and the windshield containing air that may be heated by a chamber supported heating element ( 30, 51 ). The warm air within the chamber applies heat over the windshield in the critical viewing area ( 26 ) without obstructing the sensor ( 18 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An adapter for a through-windshield sensor comprising:
a housing having a first face attachable to an inner surface of a windshield and a second face attachable to a front face of the through-windshield sensor to define an enclosed volume therebetween, the enclosed volume located with respect to the through-windshield sensor to permit sensing by the through-windshield sensor through an area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume; and an electrical resistance heater supported by the housing and communicating with the enclosed volume to heat air within the enclosed volume to improve transparency of the windshield against environmental moisture by heating the area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume.

2 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing provides sidewalls extending rearwardly from the windshield and supporting the electrical resistance heater.

3 . The adapter of claim 2 wherein the housing is a thermoplastic polymer electrical resistance heater with a conductive polymer attached to the sidewalls.

4 . The adapter of claim 3 wherein the conductive polymer is a positive temperature coefficient material.

5 . The adapter of claim 3 wherein the conductive polymer is attached to an inner surface of the sidewalls proximate to the enclosed volume.

6 . The adapter of claim 4 wherein the sidewalls fit within a receiving pocket of the through-windshield sensor to extend along corresponding sidewalls of the receiving pocket of the through-windshield sensor.

7 . The adapter of claim 2 wherein the first face of the housing provides a first flange surface abutting an inner surface of the windshield and including an adhesive for attachment of the flange surface to the windshield.

8 . The adapter of claim 7 wherein the second face of the housing provides a second flange surface abutting a front surface of the through-windshield sensor and including an attachment means for attaching the second plane surface to the through-windshield sensor.

9 . The adapter of claim 8 wherein the first and second flange surfaces are opposite sides of a single flange extending radially outward around the enclosed volume.

10 . The adapter of claim 9 wherein the flange surface of the second face includes an adhesive for attaching the flange surface to the front surface of the through-windshield sensor.

11 . The adapter of claim 8 wherein the second flange surface is on a flange extending inwardly from the sidewalls.

12 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein the electrical resistance heater includes a first portion extending inside the enclosed volume to attach to the windshield at a periphery of an area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume.

13 . The adapter of claim 12 wherein the electrical resistance heater is a conductive polymer on a flexible substrate and further includes a second portion deformable with respect to a plane of the first portion to attach to a wall of the housing.

14 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein the second portion attaches to a lowermost sidewall of the housing.

15 . The adapter of claim 13 wherein the first and second portions may be formed from a single continuous sheet of flexible material with the second portion formed from the single continuous sheet from an area within the first portion.

16 . The adapter of claim 15 wherein the first and second portions are electrically joined by a flexible arm formed from the single continuous sheet within the first portion and outside of the second portion.

17 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing provides mechanical support for the through-windshield sensor.

18 . A vehicular sensor system comprising:
a through-windshield sensor for providing signals representing sensed environment outside of a vehicle; a housing having a first face attachable to an inner surface of a windshield and a second face attachable to a front face of the through-windshield sensor to define an enclosed volume therebetween, the enclosed volume located with respect to the through-windshield sensor to permit sensing by the through-windshield sensor through an area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume; and an electrical resistance heater supported by the housing and communicating with the enclosed volume to heat air within the enclosed volume to improve transparency of the windshield against environmental moisture by heating an area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume.

19 . The vehicular sensor system of claim 18 wherein the through-windshield sensor is selected from the group consisting of an optical imaging camera, a radar system, and an ultrasound system.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Sliwa Piotr
• Healey John F

Classifications

• B60R2011/0026

  Windows, e.g. windscreen · CPC title

• B60S1/56

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title

• B60R11/04 Primary

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60S1/0848

  Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle · CPC title

• B60S1/02

  Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices {(wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling of windows or windscreens B60J1/2002)} · CPC title