GM has filed a patent application for a new electrically heated windshield system. Heated windshields are useful for removing condensation and ice from the glass, improving outward visibility. The new GM patent describes a system that could heat a windshield more quickly and more effectively than a traditional defroster vent.
The GM patent filing in question has been assigned number US 2023/0225016 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on July 13th, 2023. The patent was originally filed on January 12th, 2022, and lists several engineers as the inventors, including Julien P. Mourou (Michigan, U.S.), Rachit Garg (Bangalore, India), Omar Rodrigo Garcia Martinez (Tlalnepantla, Mexico), and Gerard Parij (Michigan, U.S.).
The new GM patent describes an electrically heatable panel with a conductive coating that’s patterned to incorporate narrow regions offering greater current density. This particular conductive profile provides greater heat dissipation within the specific narrow regions.
As the patent lays out, a variety of environmental conditions may affect the visibility of the windshield, such as ice, frost, fog, or mist. As such, the rapid clearing of this accumulated moisture is desirable in order to quickly begin a trip without an extended delay. Although some defroster systems work to clear these conditions by blowing warm air across the windshield, which can clear small regions of the windshield, it may take longer for the rest of the windshield to clear, thus creating a delay for the vehicle operator.
Some automakers use resistive heating to more quickly disperse accumulated moisture on auto glass, such as through the use of conductive inks. However, the patent points out that these defroster grids are not suitable for windshields as they could limit visibility.
In addition, electrically heated windshield systems may incorporate an interior layer in a laminated windshield with a conductive coating to resistively heat the windshield, however, current and power from 12-volt auto accessory power systems can limit their efficacy. Overall, this new GM patent describes a system that could provide some advantages over existing systems.
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Comments
They shatter on other brands, so why not GM?
Using the air vents is also cheaper and less likely to fail.
It also takes a lot more energy to randomly heat the air to warm the window to defrost it.
How, it is wasted heat from the engine coolant?
For EVs that heat generation means wasted energy that could be used for other means.
It’s not wasted energy if it is doing a desired job, whether propelling the vehicle or clearing the windshield.
True, but EV’s weren’t mentioned
Most of these technologies are for EVs that don’t have a lot of waste heat. The very fact ICE have waste heat is what makes them inefficient.
It does take heat to generate electricity with which to charge batteries.
The problem with using the air vents is that it takes a significant amount of time for the engine coolant to warm up and defrost the windshield in frigid climates like Wisconsin in the winter. It gets so cold there and other places that the engine won’t ever fully warm without placing a cardboard sheet or an electric shutter in front of the radiator on frigid winter days and nights. During my last year there, my town had 23 straight days in which the afternoon temperature failed to reach 0 degree Fahrenheit, and the night were much colder, including five consecutive in which the actual temperature dipped to -30, another -30, -31, another -31, and -41 the fifth night (with 60 mph wind gusts that night, resulting in a wind chill 110 below zero. Good luck using the air vents.
Ford did this years ago.
And, promptly stopped offering it when customers complained about dazzling when light came in at particular angles. It was a variation on what Rolls Royce used way back in the 1950s: a very fine grid of heater wires between glass layers. It bore no resemblance to the “scanning line”-looking ones later found on VWs and other European makes.
Ford’s solution is a grid of very thin wires, GM’s patent is for a little more refined design with just a conductive film applied, so there’s no wires that would catch the light at just the right angle. In theory it would be totally invisible
Yes they did, as an option on Thunderbirds in the mid 70’s and it was soon deleted as an expensive failure. Think of it, $ 2000.00 to replace the windshield and that was on a 1975 Thunderbird, further, that was if you could find one as Ford dealers couldn’t order a replacement.
So did GM. I think it was 1996 that I bought my wife a new Cad Seville STS that had a heated windshield. It was great but I thought it was discontinued because of the replace cost.
No, not replacement cost, but replacement frequency. The same problem other manufacturers had,
Some of the dust buster vans had a version I think.
Please make this optional. Not every driver needs this because they drive in a warmer weather (I do) or they have heated garages.
I hope it works and becomes standard because the defrost process on the volts suck without the engine use and if this works well for all EVs only that would be great.
I remember this being discussed some 20 years ago. Obviously, as with all things, some have to wait for the technology to emerge.
Just another reason for insurance companies to jack rates up…electrically heated windshields probably cost an extra dollar or two for replacement. I don’t see this as practical.
Thinking they would still need the current system to clear the side windows
na this can be modified for any window size and only needs some wires.
The problem is that without an ICE, it has to be electrically heated. You’re not going to hold a hair dryer up to the windshield. You need to be able to create a warming of the glass with minimal power usage or it will affect the range of the vehicle. It’s still a safety factor so it has to be reliable. My an easy task.
“Not an easy task.” Damned spell check.
Heated windshields have been around for more than 20 years, very popular in Europe and are great to use.
Available right now on most Kia products. They have very thin lines that are almost invisible. I live in Canada so invaluable.
Aircraft have used electrically heated windscreen panels for 50 years. Not cheap.