Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2001-11-20
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C219S541000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320159
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a window heating system, in particular for heating a window of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Window heating systems of the generic type are known. They usually possess a resistance heating device that is constituted in the form of electrical conductors arranged in meandering fashion on the window that is to be heated. The electrical conductors are applied onto a surface of the window as thin, planar or linear conductive strips or, in the case of composite windows, are integrated into a window pane cavity. When the resistance heating device is connected to a heating voltage source, usually the motor vehicle battery, the flow of an electrical current results in heating of the resistance heating device, which thereupon warms up the window that is to be heated.
In order to connect the resistance heating device to the heating voltage source, it is known to use an electrical switching means that can be activated by an operator of the motor vehicle. The electrical switching means are, for example, relays. These are usually arranged on a circuit board arranged in the instrument panel of the motor vehicle. It is further known to use, instead of the mechanical relays, semiconductor switching means, for example power transistors, although for adaptation to existing contact structures of the mechanical relays they are placed in adapter housings. Besides the additional costs associated therewith as a result of the use of the adapter housing, installation on a circuit board arranged below an instrument panel of the motor vehicle is relatively complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The window heating system according to the present invention offers, in contrast, the advantage that contacting of the resistance heating device to a heating voltage source is possible in a simple and economical fashion. Because the switching means is a semiconductor switching means arranged directly on the window that is to be heated, it is advantageously possible to contact the semiconductor switching means (available as standard components), without interposition of an adapter housing, directly to the resistance heating device on the window that is to be heated. Besides the elimination of an additional adapter housing, a further advantage which results is that the window to be heated serves simultaneously as support for the semiconductor switching means, and thus, by corresponding design of the resistance heating device, a circuit board for connection of the semiconductor switching means is simulated in simple fashion.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for the semiconductor switching means to contain intelligent circuit components with which, preferably, automatic temperature sensing and temperature control of the resistance heating element are possible. In particular and very advantageously, by arranging the semiconductor switching means which has the intelligent circuits directly on the window it is possible to perform a direct temperature measurement of the window that is to be heated, and the window heating system can be automatically switched in or out as a function of a selectable control threshold.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4132881 (1979-01-01), Ciarniello et al.
patent: 4266267 (1981-05-01), Ruegg
patent: 4538170 (1985-08-01), Yerman
patent: 5459348 (1995-10-01), Smith
patent: 5624591 (1997-04-01), DeTrapani
patent: 5821501 (1998-10-01), Zorn
patent: 5852284 (1998-12-01), Teder et al.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Paik Sang
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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