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US 6,727,468 B1Granted
Flexible heating system having high transmissivity
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorPaul R. Nemeth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes an LCD panel providing a surface. A flexible heating system of the invention includes a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate disposed adjacent the surface of the LCD panel and a substantially transparent resistive heating element formed on the flexible sheet substrate. One or more serpentine shaped thermal sensors are formed in the resistive heating element. Control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensors and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element and other heaters controls the heating element and other heaters based resistances of the serpentine shaped thermal sensors.
Claims17
A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:
- an LCD panel providing a surface;
- a flexible heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate disposed adjacent the surface of the LCD panel;
- a substantially transparent resistive heating element formed on the flexible sheet substrate;
- and
- a first serpentine shaped thermal sensor formed in and from a portion of the resistive heating element;
- and
- control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensor and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element, the control circuitry controlling the substantially transparent resistive heating element based upon a resistance of the serpentine shaped thermal sensor.
5 more elements
A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:
- an LCD panel providing a surface;
- a flexible heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate disposed adjacent the surface of the LCD panel;
- a substantially transparent resistive heating element formed on the flexible sheet substrate;
- a first serpentine shaped thermal sensor formed in the resistive heating element;
- control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensor and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element, the control circuitry controlling the substantially transparent resistive heating element based upon a resistance of the serpentine shaped thermal sensor;
- wherein the substantially transparent resistive heating element comprises a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO);
- and
- wherein the first serpentine shaped thermal sensor is formed in the layer of ITO between two traces comprised of removed portions of the layer of ITO.
6 more elements
A heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate;
- a layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material formed on the flexible sheet substrate and providing a heating element;
- a serpentine shaped thermal sensor formed in and from a portion of the layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material;
- and
- control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensor and to the heating element provided by the layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material, the control circuitry controlling the heating element based upon a resistance of the serpentine shaped thermal sensor.
2 more elements
A heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate;
- a layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material formed on the flexible sheet substrate and providing a heating element;
- a serpentine shaped thermal sensor formed in the layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material;
- control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensor and to the heating element provided by the layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material, the control circuitry controlling the heating element based upon a resistance of the serpentine shaped thermal sensor;
- wherein layer of substantially transparent resistive heating material comprises a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO);
- and
- wherein the serpentine shaped thermal sensor is formed in the layer of ITO between two traces comprised of removed portions of the layer of ITO.
4 more elements
A heating system for a display device, the heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent substrate disposed outwardly of a display generating surface of the display device, wherein said display generating surface has a central viewable area and a periphery;
- a substantially transparent resistive heating element disposed on said substantially transparent substrate;
- a serpentine shaped thermal sensor disposed on a portion of said substantially transparent substrate which is disposed outwardly of said central viewable area;
- control circuitry coupled to said serpentine shaped thermal sensor and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element;
- and,
- the control circuitry configured so as to control said substantially transparent heating element in response to an electrical impedance of said serpentine shaped thermal sensor.
3 more elements
A heating system comprising:
- a substantially transparent substrate;
- a substantially transparent resistive heating element disposed on said substantially transparent substrate;
- a serpentine shaped thermal sensor disposed on said substantially transparent substrate;
- control circuitry coupled to said serpentine shaded thermal sensor and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element;
- the control circuitry configured so as to control said substantially transparent heating element in response to an electrical impedance of said serpentine shaded thermal sensor;
- wherein said serpentine shaped thermal sensor is disposed in a void in said substantially transparent resistive heating element;
- and
- wherein said substantially transparent resistive heating element and said serpentine shaped thermal sensor are each made of an identical resistive material of substantially similar thickness disposed on said substantially transparent substrate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.