Rearview mirror heater assembly
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsJames P. Dratz, Taylor A. Warczinsky, David J. Cammenga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dimmable rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic (“EO”) device including an EO medium that is variably transmissive in response to an applied voltage. A heating element includes a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) substrate, and a heater anode trace is located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate. An EO anode trace is located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate with the EO anode trace extending between an EO anode terminal and an EO anode contact.
Claims20
A dimmable rearview mirror assembly, comprising;
- an electro-optic (“EO”) device including an EO medium that is configured to switch between a substantially transparent state, a substantially darkened state, and intermediate states in response to different applied voltage;
- a heating element including:
- a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) substrate;
- a heater anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate including a plurality of heater anode branches;
- a heater cathode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate including a plurality of heater cathode branches at least partially interdigitated with the heater anode branches;
- and
- an EO anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate and the heater anode trace through the PTC substrate.
A dimmable rearview mirror assembly, comprising;
- a heating element including:
- a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) substrate;
- a heater anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate;
- a heater cathode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate;
- an electro-optic (“EO”) anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate and the heater anode trace through the PTC substrate;
- and
- an EO cathode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate and the heater anode trace through the PTC substrate;
- an EO device including:
- a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap;
- a first electrode coupled to the second surface and a second electrode coupled to the third surface, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes are electrically coupled to the EO anode contact and the other of the first and second electrodes is electrically coupled to the EO cathode contact;
- and
- an EO medium located between the first electrode and the second electrode that is variably transmissive based, at least in part, on an applied voltage across the EO anode contact and the EO cathode contact.
A dimmable rearview mirror assembly, comprising;
- an electro-optic (“EO”) device including an EO medium that is variably transmissive in response to an applied voltage;
- a heating element including:
- a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) substrate;
- a heater anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate;
- and
- an EO anode trace located on and electrically coupled with the PTC substrate, the EO anode trace extending between an EO anode terminal and an EO anode contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.