US 11,983,908 B2
Systems and methods for controlling a window heating element
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); Katherine Howard-Cone, Canton, MI (US); John Robert Van Wiermeersch, Novi, MI (US); Hussein Berry, Dearborn, MI (US); and John Budaj, Dearborn, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/060,726.
Prior Publication US 2022/0105781 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. G06V 10/00 (2022.01); B60S 1/00 (2006.01); B60S 1/02 (2006.01); B60S 1/08 (2006.01); B60S 1/60 (2006.01); H05B 1/02 (2006.01); H05B 3/86 (2006.01)
CPC G06V 10/00 (2022.01) [B60S 1/00 (2013.01); B60S 1/026 (2013.01); H05B 1/0236 (2013.01); B60S 1/0844 (2013.01); B60S 1/603 (2013.01); H05B 3/86 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a heating element configured to heat a rear window of a vehicle;
a camera configured to capture an image of the rear window;
an analysis module, wherein the analysis module includes an algorithm that is configured to, based on the image, identify a state of the rear window, and wherein the state includes a first state that is one of frosted or fogged and a second state that is clear; and
a controller configured to:
control a wiper to move over the rear window at a same time the camera captures the image of the rear window such that the image of the rear window includes the wiper, wherein the state of the rear window is determined based on a level of visibility of the wiper in the image; and
control the heating element based on the state of the rear window such that:
if the state is the first state, the heating element remains on; and
if the state is the second state, the heating element is turned off.