US 10,588,178 B1Granted

Window heater system

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJohn Nelson, Heather Anne Ralph, Matthew David Mickelson, Brad Nathaniel Arnold, Matthew Christopher Smith, Daniel Joseph Peters, Kevin Bailey

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

During operation, a facility may utilize many sensors, such as cameras, to generate sensor data. Some of these sensors may be housed within protective enclosures. The enclosures may be inside specially controlled environments, such as refrigerators, freezers, and so forth. During operation of the facility, moisture may accumulate on these enclosures, impairing the ability of the camera to acquire an image through the window. Described are devices to selectively heat a viewable area of the window such that moisture accumulation is reduced with minimal power use.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

an enclosure having an interior and an exterior;
a window having a viewable area, wherein the window acts as a barrier between the interior and the exterior;
a camera within the enclosure, the camera proximate to the viewable area and positioned to receive light in a field of view that passes through the viewable area of the window, the window comprising:
a substrate having an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the substrate is transmissive to at least a portion of incident light having a wavelength detectable by the camera;
arranged on the interior side of the substrate:
a first transparent heater element formed from indium tin oxide having a first area and centered within the viewable area;
a second transparent heater element formed from indium tin oxide having a second area greater than the first area and arranged to a first side of the first transparent heater element within at least a portion of the viewable area;
a third transparent heater element formed from indium tin oxide having a third area greater than the first area and arranged to a second side of the first transparent heater element within at least a portion of the viewable area;
and
a heater controller electrically connected to the first transparent heater element, the second transparent heater element, and the third transparent heater element.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

a camera having a field of view;
and
a window having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a viewable area, the window comprising:
a substrate;
a first heater element on an interior surface side of the substrate and within at least a portion of the viewable area, the first heater element having a first electrical resistance and centered on a centerline and a midline of the viewable area;
a second heater element on the interior surface side of the substrate and within at least a portion of the viewable area, the second heater element having a second electrical resistance and placed on a first side of the first heater element and centered on the midline of the viewable area, and wherein the second heater element has a first width at a first portion distal from the center of the viewable area and a second width at a second portion proximal to the center of the viewable area, further wherein the second width is greater than the first width;
a third heater element on the interior surface side of the substrate and within at least a portion of the viewable area, the third heater element having a third electrical resistance and placed on a second side of the first heater element and centered on the midline of the viewable area, and wherein the third heater element has a third width at a third portion distal from the center of the viewable area and a fourth width at a fourth portion proximal to the center of the viewable area, further wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width;
and
wherein:
the first electrical resistance is less than the second electrical resistance;
and
the first electrical resistance is less than the third electrical resistance.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/751,012Filed 25 Jun 2015
Granted: 10 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H05B 3/84
Ohmic-resistance heating: heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows,…
G03B 17/55
Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor: with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
H04N 23/45
Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being…
H04N 23/51
Constructional details: housings