Windowpane System and Vehicle Incorporating Same
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorAshutosh Tomar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A windowpane system (101) comprising: a windowpane (102); and at least one primary light source (105); each primary light source (105) being arranged so that light (106) from the primary light source (105) passes into the windowpane (102) through a first surface of the windowpane (102), the light (106) then travelling within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more second surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times, wherein at least some of the light from the primary light source is absorbed by the windowpane as the light from the primary light source passes through the windowpane.
Claims22
A windowpane system, comprising:
- a windowpane;
- and
- at least one primary light source;
- the at least one primary light source being arranged so that light therefrom passes into the windowpane through a first surface of the windowpane, the light then travelling within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times,
- wherein at least some of the light from the at least one primary light source is absorbed by the windowpane,
- wherein the at least one primary light source comprises a scanning light source.
(canceled)
A method of heating a windowpane via at least one primary light source, the method comprising:
- passing light from the at least one primary light source into the windowpane through a first surface of the windowpane, such that the light then travels within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times,
- wherein at least some of the light from the at least one primary light source is absorbed by the windowpane as the light from the at least one primary light source passes through the windowpane, and
- wherein the at least one primary light source comprises a scanning light source.
12-13. (canceled)
A method for detecting a flaw in a windowpane, the method comprising:
- passing light from at least one primary light source into the windowpane through a first surface of the windowpane, such that the light then travels within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times;
- detecting light from the at least one primary source with a sensor;
- comparing a sensed light level at the sensor with an expected sensed light level;
- and
- creating a record of a fault if the sensed light level is different from the expected sensed light level.
A vehicle comprising a windowpane system, the windowpane system comprising:
- a windowpane;
- and
- at least one primary light source;
- the at least one primary light source being arranged so that light therefrom passes into the windowpane through a first surface of the windowpane and travels within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times,
- wherein at least some of the light from the at least one primary light source is absorbed by the windowpane, and
- wherein the at least one primary light source comprises is a scanning light source.
A vehicle comprising a windowpane system, the windowpane system including a windowpane, at least one primary light source, at least one sensor that detects radiation from the at least one primary light source, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to:
- pass light from the at least one primary light source into the windowpane through a first surface of the windowpane, such that the light then travels within the windowpane until it has undergone total internal reflection from one or more surfaces of the windowpane a plurality of times,
- detect light from the at least one primary source with the at least one sensor;
- compare a sensed light level at the at least one sensor with an expected sensed light level;
- and
- create a record of a fault if the sensed light level is different from the expected sensed light level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.