VEHICLE WITH PARTICULATE RESISTANT WINDSHIELD
A vehicle having a particulate resistant windshield comprises a windshield, an ionizer, and a controller. The windshield is disposed in a cab portion of a vehicle. The windshield has a periphery. The ionizer has at least one electrode disposed adjacent the periphery of the windshield. The controller is in electrical communication with the ionizer. The controller generates a signal transmitted to the ionizer to control generation of ions by the ionizer. The ions generated by the ionizer are directed towards at least a portion of the windshield.
1 . A windshield assembly comprising:
a windshield having a periphery; and
an ionizer disposed adjacent the periphery of the windshield, wherein the ionizer has at least one electrode that delivers ions over at least a portion of the windshield.
2 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a controller disposed in electrical communication with the ionizer, the controller selectively generating a signal that causes the ionizer to generate ions.
3 . The windshield assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
the controller being capable of generating an on signal and an off signal to the ionizer.
4 . The windshield assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ionizer delivers ions having a positive charge.
5 . The windshield assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ionizer delivers ions having a negative charge.
6 . The windshield assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
the controller being selectively capable of generating a signal causing the ionizer to produce negatively charged ions, a signal causing the ionizer to produce positively charged ions, and an off signal.
7 . The windshield assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
the controller being capable of generating a signal controlling the intensity of ions produced by the ionizer.
8 . The windshield assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
at least one rain sensor operatively connected to the controller, the controller conditioning the operation of the ionizer upon the absence of rain.
9 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 , wherein the windshield comprises safety glass.
10 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 , wherein the windshield comprises a polymeric material.
11 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ionizer is disposed adjacent a top side of the windshield.
12 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ionizer has a plurality of electrodes.
13 . The windshield assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is directed towards the windshield.
14 . The windshield assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is directed away from the windshield.
15 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a power source that powers the controller and the ionizer.
16 . The windshield assembly of claim 15 , wherein the power source is an electrical system of a vehicle bearing the windshield.
17 . The windshield assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a blower operatively associated with the windshield and the ionizer, the blower moving air across the windshield with ions.
18 . A method of reducing particulate accumulating on a windshield of a vehicle, the method comprising:
generating ions with an ionizer having at least one electrode disposed adjacent a periphery of the windshield;
directing the ions from the ionizer to at least a portion of the windshield; and
repelling particulate adhered to at least the portion of the windshield with the ions.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the ions have an electrical charge identical to an electrical charge of the particulate.
20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
transmitting a control signal from a controller to the ionizer to set an electrical charge of the ions.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the electrical charge is negative.