Vehicle window with ice removal structure thereon
View Patent ↗A window includes an ice removal structure thereon for weakening the adhesion strength of ice to the window upon an application of voltage. The ice removal structure is at least partially covered and/or coated with a layer of diamond-like carbon (DLC) in certain embodiments. In certain embodiments, the DLC may be of a type known as ta-C which can be very dense and have a large number of sp 3 carbon-carbon bonds. The DLC protects the ice removal structure, and in certain instances can act as a semiconductor in order to aid ice removal. In other embodiments, the ice removal structure may include first and second substantially transparent electrodes sandwiching an anodized layer with columnar structure therebetween.
1. A vehicle windshield comprising:
first and second glass substrates laminated via at least a polymer inclusive interlayer, the first substrate supporting on an interior surface thereof a low-E coating that includes at least one layer comprising Ag sandwiched between at least first and second dielectric layers;
an ice removal structure provided on one of the glass substrates, wherein the ice removal structure comprises a circuit that includes as components through which electrical current flows (a) one of the glass substrates, and (b) a conductive layer spaced from the one glass substrate via an insulator; and
diamond-like carbon (DLC) at least partially covering the ice removal structure in a non-uniform manner, the DLC having an average density of at least 2.4 gm/cm 3 and having more sp 3 carbon-carbon (C—C) bonds than sp 2 carbon-carbon (C—C) bonds.
2. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein at least about 50% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
3. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein at least about 60% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
4. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein at least about 75% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
5. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer of the ice removal structure comprises a conductive grid, and the DLC is provided so as to at least partially cover the conductive grid.
6. The vehicle windshield of claim 5 , wherein a dielectric is provided between the conductive grid and the one substrate.
7. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein the DLC is doped with at least one of N and P in order to make the DLC more conductive.
8. The vehicle windshield of claim 1 , wherein the circuit of the ice removal structure further includes: (c) at least part of the DLC through which current flows between the glass substrate and the conductive layer.
9. A vehicle windshield comprising:
first and second glass substrates laminated via at least a polymer inclusive interlayer,
an ice removal structure provided on one of the glass substrates; and
diamond-like carbon (DLC) at least partially covering the ice removal structure in a non-uniform manner.
10. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the DLC has an average density of at least 2.4 gm/cm 3 and having more sp 3 carbon-carbon (C—C) bonds than sp 2 carbon-carbon (C—C) bonds.
11. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the ice removal structure comprises a circuit that includes as components through which electrical current flows (a) one of the glass substrates, (b) a conductive layer spaced from the one glass substrate via an insulator, and (c) the DLC.
12. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the DLC is doped with at least one dopant in order to make the DLC more conductive.
13. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the DLC is hydrogenated.
14. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein at least about 50% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
15. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein at least about 60% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
16. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein at least about 75% of the carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC are of the sp 3 type.
17. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the ice removal structure comprises a conductive layer which forms at least part of a conductive grid, and the DLC is provided so as to at least partially cover the conductive grid.
18. The vehicle windshield of claim 9 , wherein the DLC is deposited in a thicker manner on or adjacent one sidewall of a conductive member of the ice removal structure that on another sidewall of the conductive member, the another sidewall being located opposite the one sidewall.