# US 11,898,718 B2 · Vehicle lighting assembly with lens heating device and receptacle connector assembly for same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,718 B2 - Document ID: US11898718B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/557,333 - Filed: 2021-12-21 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-05 - Assignees: Antaya Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Antaya Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Tyler Folger; Stefanie Merry; M. Jarod Scherer; Stephen C. Antaya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898718B2 ## CPC - F21S 45/60: Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting - B60S 1/026: {using electrical means} - F21V 21/002: making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing (F21V21/35 takes precedence) - H01R 11/12: End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/6315: {allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence)} - H05B 3/06: Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders - H05B 3/08: having electric connections specially adapted for high temperatures - H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields - B60Q 1/0017: {Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function} - H01R 2101/00: One pole - H01R 2201/00: Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - H05B 2203/016: Heaters using particular connecting means - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A lighting assembly is presented herein. The lighting assembly includes a receptacle terminal having a connection portion defining an aperture configured to receive a corresponding plug terminal along a longitudinal axis and a terminal housing defining an opening and a cavity in which the connection portion is disposed. The connection portion is sized, shaped, and arranged within the cavity to be movable along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting assembly, comprising: a receptacle terminal having a connection portion defining an aperture configured to receive a corresponding plug terminal along a longitudinal axis; and a terminal housing defining an opening and a cavity in which the connection portion is disposed, wherein the connection portion is sized, shaped, and arranged within the cavity to be movable along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal housing cover defining a second opening attached to the terminal housing and configured to enclose the connection portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighting assembly according to claim 2, wherein the terminal housing and the terminal housing cover are integrally formed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighting assembly according to claim 3, wherein a hinge is disposed between the terminal housing and the terminal housing cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle terminal has an attachment portion configured to attach the receptacle terminal to a wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is characterized as having a circular ring shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein an attachment portion of the receptacle terminal that is configured to attach the receptacle terminal to a wire is angularly offset relative to the connection portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion defines a contact spring configured to exert a contact force on the corresponding plug terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighting assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a lens covering a light source; a heating circuit disposed on a surface of the lens and connected to the corresponding plug terminal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lighting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The lighting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the corresponding plug terminal has a cylindrical body and a rounded tip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lighting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the connection portion defines a plurality of contact springs arranged about the aperture that are configured to exert a contact force on the corresponding plug terminal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The lighting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the corresponding plug terminal is soldered to the heating circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The lighting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the lens has a luminous transmittance greater than or equal to 0.9. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The lighting assembly according to claim 9, wherein the heating circuit comprises a plurality of radial elements extending from a central portion of the lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lighting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the heating circuit comprises a plurality of concentric elements interconnected to the plurality of radial elements. ### Claim 17 A lighting assembly, comprising: a lens covering a light source comprising a light emitting diode; a resistive heating circuit disposed on a surface of the lens and connected to a post terminal; a receptacle terminal having a connection portion defining an aperture configured to receive the post terminal along a longitudinal axis; and a terminal housing defining an opening and a cavity in which the connection portion is disposed, wherein the connection portion is sized, shaped, and arranged within the cavity to be movable along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighting assembly according to claim 17, wherein the post terminal is attached to connection pads of the heating circuit by a low temperature solder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The lighting assembly according to claim 17, wherein the post terminal is attached to the heating circuit by process selected from a list consisting of adhering the post terminal to the heating circuit using an electrically conductive adhesive and welding the adhering the post terminal to the heating circuit using a spin welding process.