Electric windshield defroster
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsJames M. Cummins, Gene R. Burnham, William A. Oestreich, James D. Boka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windshield heating system includes a heating element installed in the defroster ductwork of a motor vehicle. An electrical driver provides electrical power to heat the heating element, thereby immediately providing heated air to the windshield of the vehicle when the vehicle is started in cold weather. The electrical power provided to the heating element can be modulated based on (1) temperature of the air before the heating element, (2) temperature of the heating element, and (3) system voltage of the vehicle.
Claims9
A windshield heating apparatus for a motor vehicle having an engine with engine coolant, at least one air duct and a heater core adapted to heat air passing within said air duct, said apparatus comprising:
- an electrical heating element located within said air duct;
- an electrical driver coupled to said electrical heating element and adapted to provide electric current through said electrical heating element;
- means for sensing a temperature of said heater core or of said engine coolant;
- first modulating means coupled to said temperature sensing means and to said electrical driver for modulating said electric current through said electrical heating element in response to said temperature sensing means;
- means for sensing a system voltage of said vehicle;
- second modulating means coupled to said system voltage sensing means and to said electrical driver for modulating said electric current through said electrical heating element in response to said system voltage sensing means;
- a temperature sensor mounted in proximity with said electrical heating element to measure the temperature of said electrical heating element;
- and
- third modulating means coupled to said temperature sensor and to said electrical driver for modulating said electric current through said electrical heating element in response to said temperature sensor.
A windshield heating apparatus for a motor vehicle having an engine with engine coolant, at least one air duct and a heater core adapted to heat air passing within said air duct, said apparatus comprising:
- an electrical heating element located within said air duct;
- an electrical driver coupled to said electrical heating element and adapted to provide electric current through said electrical heating element;
- means for sensing a temperature of said heater core or of said engine coolant;
- a modulator with an input and an output, said input coupled to said temperature sensing means and said output coupled to said electrical driver;
- and
- a temperature sensor mounted in proximity with said electrical heating element to measure the temperature of said electrical heating element;
- wherein
- said modulator has a second input, said second input coupled to said temperature sensor.
A windshield heating apparatus for a motor vehicle having an interior and having at least one air duct adapted to provide heated air into said interior, said apparatus comprising:
- an electrical heating element located within said air duct;
- an electrical driver coupled to said electrical heating element and adapted to provide electric current through said electrical heating element;
- means for sensing a system voltage of said vehicle;
- a modulator with an input and an output, said input coupled to said system voltage sensing means and said output coupled to said electrical driver;
- and
- a temperature sensor mounted in proximity with said electrical heating element to measure the temperature of said electrical heating element;
- wherein
- said modulator has a second input, said second input coupled to said temperature sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.