Patent US5354966A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5354966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Window defogging system with optically clear overlay having multi-layer silver bus bars and electrically isolating peripheral grooves
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1994-01-31
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Granted: 1994-10-11
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Expires: 2014-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A window defogging system that comprises a power supply and an optically clear overlay includes a sheet of heat-stabilized polyester (13) having a hard coat layer (15) on one surface and an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer (17) on the other surface. The ITO layer (17) is scored around its periphery (19) to create a groove that electrically isolates the edge of the ITO layer from an interior heating zone (23). Additional grooves create electrically isolated regions (26a, 26b, 28a and 28b). Multiple layers of silver are printed atop the ITO layer (17), along opposing edges of the interior (heater) zone (23), to create bus bars (25a, 25b). The bus bars end at terminal regions (29a, 29b) that are connected directly to the power supply. The housing (61) of the power supply is supported by connectors mounted in the optically clear overlay. In some versions of the invention, a dielectric layer (33a, 33b) is located along a portion of the bus bars, between the multiple layers of silver. The power supply includes a temperature-sensing device, e.g., a thermistor, that senses the temperature of the interior zone and uses this information to control the application of power to the ITO layer via the bus bars.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott W. Sperbeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:23
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/84; H05B3/20; H05B3/34; H05B3/36; H05B2203/00; H05B2203/011; H05B2203/013; H05B2203/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A window defogger system comprising: (a) a power supply mounted in a housing; and (b) an optically clear overlay suitable for positioning on one surface of a window to be defogged, said optically clear overlay comprising: (i) an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate including a sheet of heat stabilized polyester, a hard coat layer on one surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester and an ITO layer located on the other surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester, said ITO layer including means for electrically isolating the edge of said ITO layer from an interior heating zone; (ii) a pair of bus bars located along opposing edges of said interior heating zone, said bus bars being formed of multiple layers of silver deposited atop said ITO layer; and (iii) attachment means for mounting said power supply housing on said optically clear overlay and connecting said bus bars to said power supply.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A window defogger system comprising: (a) a power supply mounted in a housing; and (b) an optically clear overlay suitable for positioning on one surface of a window to be defogged, said optically clear overlay comprising: (i) an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate including a sheet of heat stabilized polyester, a hard coat layer on one surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester and an ITO layer located on the other surface of said sheet of heat stabilized polyester, said ITO layer including means for electrically isolating the edge of said ITO layer from an interior heating zone; (ii) a pair of bus bars located along opposing edges of said interior heating zone, said bus bars being formed of multiple layers of silver deposited atop said ITO layer; and (iii) attachment means for mounting said power supply housing on said optically clear overlay and connecting said bus bars to said power supply.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for electrically isolating the edge of said ITO layer from an interior heating zone comprises a peripheral groove formed on the periphery of said ITO layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 1 including a dielectric layer located between said multiple layers of silver of each of said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 1 wherein said bus bars are L-shaped and oriented such that the one leg of each of said bus bars is located along one of said opposing edges of said interior heating zone and the other legs extend toward one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 4 including a dielectric layer located between said multiple layers of silver of each of said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 4 wherein said other legs of said L-shaped bus bars are electrically isolated from said interior heating zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 6 including a dielectric layer located between said multiple layers of silver of each of said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 6 wherein said other legs of said L-shaped bus bars are electrically isolated from said interior heating zone by grooves in said ITO layer that surround said other legs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 8 including a dielectric layer located between said multiple layers of silver of each of said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 8 wherein said attachment means includes a plurality of terminals extending orthogonally outwardly from said ITO substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 10 wherein one of said plurality of terminals is electrically connected to each of said bus bars.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 11 wherein said terminals that are electrically connected to said bus bars are connected to the ends of said other legs of said bus bars remote from said legs that are located along opposing edges of said interior heating zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means includes a plurality of terminals extending orthogonally outwardly from said ITO substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The window defogging system claimed in claim 13 wherein one of said plurality of terminals is electrically connected to each of said bus bars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for creating an optically clear overlay suitable for use in a window defogging system comprising the steps of: electrically isolating the edge of an ITO layer located on one surface of a sheet of heat stabilized polyester from an interior heating zone; creating bus bars formed of multiple layers of silver along opposing edges of said interior heating zone; and creating a connecting mechanism for electrically connecting said bus bars to a power source such that the housing of said power source is supported by said optically clear overlay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for creating an optically clear overlay suitable for use in a window defogging system comprising the steps of: electrically isolating the edge of an ITO layer located on one surface of a sheet of heat stabilized polyester from an interior heating zone; creating bus bars formed of multiple layers of silver along opposing edges of said interior heating zone; and creating a connecting mechanism for electrically connecting said bus bars to a power source such that the housing of said power source is supported by said optically clear overlay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process claimed in claim 15 wherein said step of electrically isolating the edge of an ITO layer from an interior heating zone comprises creating a groove in said ITO layer adjacent to the periphery of said ITO layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process claimed in claim 15 including the step of adding a layer of dielectric between the multiple layers of silver that create said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process claimed in claim 15 wherein said bus bars have an L-shaped configuration and are oriented such that one leg of each of said bus bars is located along one of said opposing edges of said interior heating zone and the other legs extend toward one another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process claimed in claim 18 including the step of adding a layer of dielectric between the multiple layers of silver that create said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process claimed in claim 18 including the step of electrically isolating said other legs of said bus bars from said interior heating zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process claimed in claim 20 including the step of adding a layer of dielectric between the multiple layers of silver that create said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process claimed in claim 20 wherein said other legs of said bus bars are isolated from said interior heating zone by grooves in said ITO layer that surround said other legs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process claimed in claim 22 including the step of adding a layer of dielectric between the multiple layers of silver that create said bus bars along a part of the length of said bus bars.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-10 | 1998-04-11 | 1998-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-10 | 2002-04-11 | 2002-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-10 | 2006-04-11 | 2006-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |