Heated Glass Element: Description and Operation

The heated windshield system is designed to melt ice and frost from the vehicle windshield three to five times faster than the conventional defroster system. The actual time required to device a particular vehicle will depend on weather conditions, air flow across windshield, and on the amount of ice to be cleared. The system has an automatic cycle "ON" time of four minutesthe first time it is turned "ON" while the vehicle is in "PARK". If more heat is needed, additional two-minute cycles may be used by turning the system "ON" again.

If the system is activated while the vehicle is not in "PARK" (or if the vehicle is shifted from "PARK" during the first two minutes of the initial four minute cycle), the cycle time is reduced to two minutes. If the vehicle is shifted from "PARK" after the first two minutes of the initial four minute cycle, the system will continue the four minute cycle.

The driver operates the system by means of a heated windshield "Front De-Ice" momentary push-button switch located in Climate Control Center (CCC). On vehicles equipped with the Analog Instrument Cluster, the switch is located in the Climate Control Panel (CCP) in the center console. An LED indicator (CCC) or VF icon (CCP) shows when the system is functioning. The heated windshield system can be turned "OFF" anytime during an automatic timed cycle by pushing the switch again.

The system utilizes a special windshield with a conductive film sandwiched between the layers of windshield glass. The metal film in the windshield will block out some radio or microwave signals. Therefore, the heated windshield will reduce the useful range of devices such as garage door openers and radar detectors.

The system is powered by a modified version of the vehicle"s standard generator that has three special phase terminals to provide AC power to the system"s power module.

The Heated Windshield Power module converts the three phase AC voltage to a higher DC voltage for use by the heated windshield.

The Heated Windshield Control module acts as the system timer, turning "OFF" the heated windshield after each cycle. Additionally, it can disable the system if a failure is detected.

The control module is activated it requests an increased idle from the PCM (if the system is in "Park" or "Neutral" the PCM will increase the idle to near 1200 RPM). The control module sends a signal to the power module enabling DC current to the windshield. The DC current is produced in the power module from three phase AC current received from the generator. While the system is active, the control module will keep the LED indicator (CCC) or VF icon (CCP) lit.