# US 10,479,287 B2 · Dual plane heater for vehicle sensor system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,287 B2 - Document ID: US10479287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/525,750 - Filed: 2015-11-08 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-22 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Piotr Sliwa; John F. Healey; Edward F. Bulgajewski; Uwe Stapf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479287B2 ## CPC - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60S 1/02: Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices {(wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling of windows or windscreens B60J1/2002)} - B60S 1/0848: {Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle} - B60S 1/56: 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)} - H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields - B60R 2011/0026: {Windows, e.g. windscreen} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## 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). ## Claims ### Claim 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 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 framing a field of view of the through-windshield sensor, 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, wherein the electrical resistance heater includes a first portion extending inside the enclosed volume to attach to the windshield at a periphery of the area of the windshield abutting the enclosed volume, and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing provides sidewalls extending rearwardly from the windshield and supporting the electrical resistance heater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adapter of claim 2 wherein the housing is coupled to a thermoplastic polymer electrical resistance heater with the conductive polymer attached to the sidewalls of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adapter of claim 3 wherein the conductive polymer is a positive temperature coefficient material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1 wherein the second portion attaches to a lowermost sidewall of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adapter of claim 6 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The adapter of claim 6 wherein the first and second portions are formed through a die cutting operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing provides mechanical support for the through-windshield sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adapter of claim 1 wherein the through-windshield sensor is selected from the group consisting of an optical imaging camera, a radar system, and an ultrasound system. ### Claim 11 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 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; an electrical resistance heater supported by the housing and framing a field of view of the through-windshield sensor, 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; and the housing providing sidewalls extending rearwardly from the windshield and supporting the electrical resistance heater, wherein the first face of the housing provides a first flange surface abutting the inner surface of the windshield and including an adhesive for attachment of the first flange surface to the windshield, and wherein the second face of the housing provides a second flange surface abutting a front surface of the sensor system and positioned on a flange extending inwardly from the sidewalls, and including an attachment means for attaching the second flange surface to the sensor system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicular sensor system of claim 11 wherein the through-windshield sensor is selected from the group consisting of an optical imaging camera, a radar system, and an ultrasound system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicular sensor system of claim 11 wherein the housing is coupled to a thermoplastic polymer electrical resistance heater with a conductive polymer attached to the sidewalls of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicular sensor system of claim 13 wherein the conductive polymer is a positive temperature coefficient material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicular sensor system of claim 13 wherein the conductive polymer is attached to the inner surface of the sidewalls proximate to the enclosed volume. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vehicular sensor system of claim 11 wherein the first and second flange surfaces are opposite sides of the sidewall defining the enclosed volume. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicular sensor system of claim 16 wherein the second flange surface includes an adhesive for attaching the second flange surface to the front surface of the sensor system. ### Claim 18 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 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; an electrical resistance heater supported by the housing and framing a field of view of the through-windshield sensor, 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; and sidewalls on the housing extending rearwardly from the windshield and supporting the electrical resistance heater, wherein the first face of the housing provides a first flange surface abutting the inner surface of the windshield and including an adhesive for attachment of the first flange surface to the windshield, and wherein the second face of the housing provides a second flange surface abutting a front surface of a sensor system and positioned on a flange extending inwardly from the sidewalls, and including an attachment means for attaching the second flange surface to the sensor system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The adapter of claim 18 wherein the housing is coupled to a thermoplastic polymer electrical resistance heater with a conductive polymer attached to the sidewalls of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The adapter of claim 19 wherein the conductive polymer is a positive temperature coefficient material.