Described herein are methods for forming resistive heaters and force sensing elements on a flexible substrate, and devices that include these elements to provide a force responsive conductive heater, such as a seat heater in a vehicle. The methods include printing a conductive ink on a flexible substrate that is heated to 30° C. to 90° C. before and/or during the printing process and curing the substrate to produce a conductive pattern thereon. The conductive inks generally include a particle-free metal-complex composition formulated from at least one metal complex and a solvent, and optionally, a conductive filler material.

A cable cap for a heating cable, and a heating cable assembly including a heating cable and a cable cap, in which the cable cap includes a power indicator that illuminates when sufficient power is supplied to the distal end of the heating cable. The indicator gives an installer or a user an indication that the heating cable is functioning properly the entire length of the heating cable. The cable cap may further include a connection feature, such as an aperture, that provides a connection point for a cable pulling device such as a fish tape.

A method, equation, system, and device for electrically heating Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and other transparent conductive materials having a uniform sheet resistivity for defogging and de-icing in a cold environment. The use of nonparallel busbars for connecting the conductive materials reduces excessive and dangerous hot zones. The mathematical analysis and equations provide a means of precisely providing an intermittent electrical connection so that the Watt density and heating is uniform, allowing much higher temperature for de-icing and defogging and more efficient use of energy. This same concept can be used for three dimensional formed heaters to compensate for non uniform sheet resistivity. Also shown are a means of improved busbar designs and an equation and a means of altering sheet resistivity to produce electric heaters with non parallel busbars of various shapes for uniform heating

A laminated glass according to the present invention includes: a first glass plate having a rectangular shape, and including a first side and a second side opposing the first side; a second glass plate arranged opposing the first glass plate, and having substantially the same shape as the shape of the first glass plate; an intermediate film arranged between the first glass plate and the second glass plate; a first bus bar extending along an end portion closer to the first side; a second bus bar extending along an end portion closer to the second side; and a plurality of heating lines extending so as to connect the first bus bar and the second bus bar to each other, wherein at least some of the plurality of heating lines are heating lines having different lengths.

An assembly includes a movable door assembly and a heating element. The movable door assembly is configured to be disposed on an exterior of a vehicle. The heating element is coupled to the movable door assembly, and is configured to receive energy from a battery disposed on the vehicle and to heat at least a portion of the movable door assembly.

The concept of the present invention describes configurations to provide uniform heat distribution of resistive heaters. This configuration allows successful anti-icing and deicing with relatively low applied power. One aspect involves the use of a thin film heater applied just underneath the topcoat to efficiently direct all heat to the surface, allowing anti-icing and de-icing with minimal power. This can be accomplished by employing a hybrid electrode interface, using a metal foil or metal braid that is attached to the aircraft surface with a structural adhesive that has been smoothed along the edges with metal-filled adhesive. Another aspect of the present invention uses an array of heater cells created as a single sheet and a heat spreading material, provided underneath or overtop of the heater cells.

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a resistive wire having a circumference. The apparatus further includes a first fiberglass layer disposed about the circumference of the resistive wire and along a length of the resistive wire. The apparatus further includes a second fiberglass layer. The apparatus further includes a third fiberglass layer, the second fiberglass layer disposed between the first fiberglass layer and the third fiberglass layer, the third fiberglass layer forming an outer layer and surrounding the second fiberglass layer.

A sheet-shaped heat generator includes a pseudo sheet structure including a plurality of metal wires arranged at an interval, the metal wires each including a core including a first metal and a metal film provided on an exterior of the core, the metal film including a second metal different from the first metal, in which a volume resistivity of the first metal is in a range from 1.0×10.sup.−5 [Ω.Math.cm] to 5.0×10.sup.−4 [Ω.Math.cm], and a standard electrode potential of the second metal is +0.34 V or more.

A snow and ice melt system for a roof may feature heat plates which protect and contact heat cable to distribute heat over a wider area than cable alone. Specially tailored ends in the plates create attachment structures by which the plates are assembled, and by which heat cable is contained. Specially formed caps cover roof valley locations with specially engineered folds and channels tailored to protect the cable in these valley locations and allow heat panel stacking and interlocking to cover an entire roof.

A vehicle including a rear bumper having an upper surface, a power source, and a heating element in communication with the power source is provided. The heating element extends in a vehicle lateral direction and along substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may operable when a tailgate is in a closed position. Thus, debris, such as ice, dirt, and the like, accumulating on the upper surface of the rear bumper may be melted by the heating element prior to the tailgate opening. The heating element may be configured to heat substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may be configured to heat upon a condition being satisfied such as, for example, a vehicle start operation or outside temperature being below a predetermined threshold.