Provided is a windshield including a glass body with a rectangular shape including a peripheral edge that includes a first side and a second side and a third side that meet the first side; and a heating element disposed at or near the peripheral edge of the glass body, the heating element heating the glass body for deicing. The glass body includes a first region extending along the first side, a second region located along the first side adjacent to the first region, and a third region located along the first side adjacent to the second region on an opposite side to the first region. The heating element is disposed at least in the first region and the second region, heats the first region to higher temperatures than the second region, and heats the second region to higher temperatures than the third region.

A window assembly includes a polymeric interlayer provided between an inner pane of glass and an outer pane of glass. The inner pane and outer pane each have a first major surface and a second major surface. The second major surface of the outer pane and the first major surface of the inner pane face each other. The window assembly also includes a connector assembly. The connector assembly has a wire assembly. The wire assembly has a terminal connector. The terminal connector has a width and a height. The width is greater than the height. The terminal connector is attached to a busbar provided on the second major surface of either the inner pane or the outer pane. A potting layer is provided over the terminal connector. The potting layer separates the terminal connector from an electrically conductive portion of a vehicle adjacent thereto.

A transparent pane, having at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating connected to at least two collection electrodes, provided for electrically connecting to a supply voltage to generate a heating current that flows across a heating field formed between the at least two collection electrodes is described. The heating field includes at least one communication window free from the heatable, electrically conductive coating. The transparent pane further includes at least one heatable, electrically conductive coating, and at least two additional electrodes. The additional electrodes are connected to one of the two collection electrodes via a respective current supply line.

Disclosed is a thermal protection cover for a vehicle. The cover is comprised of a top layer, a bottom layer, a heating element, and a battery. The heating element is connected to the battery by a connector. The battery is place at one of the corner of the cover in a socket to avoid water deposition in the surrounding area. The heating element is insulated and made up of gauge wire or metal rods and further the heating element is sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer of the cover. The heating element runs in a looped configuration which traverses the length and width of the covering and heats the entire cover. Once activated, the temperature of the insulated heating element quickly rises, warms the surface of the cover and efficiently melts accumulated ice or snow. The cover operates on a rechargeable battery source.

An adhesive connector for making an electrical connection to a conductor formed on a support surface is provided. The adhesive connector includes a substrate and a metal strip attached to a first surface of the substrate, wherein the metal strip is configured to engage a releasable electrical connector. The adhesive connector also includes a conductive strip attached to a second surface of the substrate and a conductive staple configured to secure the conductive strip, the substrate, and the metal strip together. The adhesive connector further includes an electrically-conducting adhesive that coats a first portion of the conductive strip, and is configured to provide electrical contact to a conductor formed on a support surface.

A windshield heating device includes: a heating wire that heats a first part of a windshield of a vehicle, the first part being located in front of a camera; a glass heating apparatus that heats a second part of the windshield, the second part including the first part; and a control unit that controls energization to the heating wire and the glass heating apparatus. The control unit is configured: to determine whether energization to the glass heating apparatus is performed when heating of the first part is requested; to control so that energization to the heating wire is performed when it is determined that the energization to glass heating apparatus is not performed; and to control energization to the heating wire so that an amount of energization to the heating wire is reduced when it is determined that energization to the glass heating apparatus is performed.

A method for regulating, with a computer, a resistive element arranged to deice and/or demist a support, the method including: a) a loop for monitoring the temperature T and the moisture level H at the support; b) a deicing and/or demisting sequence which, as long as the temperature T and the moisture level H monitored by the monitoring loop a) are indicative of an absence of frost or mist on the support, keeps the resistive element inactive and, in the contrary case, demands, in a step b2), the circulation of a current I in the resistive element so that the latter dissipates a thermal power P.sub.th, adjusted according to the temperature T and the moisture level H, and providing deicing or demisting of the support over a predetermined period D.sub.p.

A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The heating element is comprised of an electrical conductor material that varies the amperage drawn between hot and cold ambient temperature operation. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.

Vehicle apparatus includes a glass windshield and a wiper system. A wiper blade has a parking region on the windshield. A deicer selectably provides heat to the parking region. A windshield temperature sensor detects a temperature of the windshield at the parking region. A head-up display is mounted proximate the windshield to display a temperature indicator responsive to the detected temperature. An automatic control circuit is configured to automatically deactivate the deicer when detecting a deiced condition in response to the detected temperature. A manual control element is configured to manually activate and deactivate the deicer. Thus, excessive heating can be avoided based on feedback of the windshield temperature. In addition, the driver is reminded that the deicer is active in a way that simultaneously provides information enabling the driver to independently evaluate the vehicle conditions and to make informed decisions about when to intervene in the automatic operation.

A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The heating element is comprised of an electrical conductor material that varies the amperage drawn between hot and cold ambient temperature operation. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.