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US 2022/0030671 A1Published application
Exterior panel assembly for a vehicle
AssigneeSabic Global Technologies B.V.
InventorsErhard BRUSS, Ronald VAN DER WAL
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AssigneeSabic Global Technologies B.V.
InventorsErhard BRUSS, Ronald VAN DER WAL
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to an exterior panel assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising a sheet having side edges, a first and second surface opposite of each other, and comprising a thermoplastic material, wherein the sheet is transparent to electromagnetic radiation in at least one of the ranges for radio waves, infrared radiation, visible light and ultraviolet radiation; a heating device comprising an infrared emitter for emitting infrared rays towards the sheet; and a housing structure for accommodating the heating device, wherein the housing structure opens up towards the sheet with an opening, and wherein the sheet extends over the opening of the housing structure. The inventor further relates to a vehicle comprising such an exterior panel assembly.
Exterior panel assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing structure forms part of the carrier structure, and extends from the carrier structure towards the sheet.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is adjacent the opening of the housing structure, such that the sheet closes the opening of the housing structure.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing structure forms a device-accommodating portion that allows the heating device to be integrated into the assembly.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a further device-accommodating portion for integrating the safety devices into the assembly and/or wherein the housing structure integrates further devices into the assembly.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an emitting direction of the heating device has a perpendicular component relative to the sheet.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet comprises a thermoplastic substrate and a protective layer.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet further comprises a hardcoat layer on the first surface.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet comprises a first portion having a visible light transmission equal to or greater than 40%, or equal to or greater than 60%, preferably equal to or greater than 75%, more preferably equal to or greater than 88%, measured in accordance with ASTM D1003-00.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet comprises a second portion, having a visible light transmission of the second portion is less than 40%, or equal to or less than 10%, preferably equal to or less than 1%, more preferably equal to or less than 0.1%, measured in accordance with ASTM D1003-00.
Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the infrared emitter is an IR LED or an IR laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.