Eastman Kodak Company
Printed transparent heaters using embedded micro-wires

Abstract:

A transparent heater includes a plurality of high aspect ratio micro-wires. A plurality of channels is formed into the surface of a transparent substrate within an active heater region. The channels have a width of between 4 microns and 9 microns to insure that they are invisible to the naked eye, and a depth that is at least 1.5 times the width. Spacing between the channels is preferably at least 100 .mu.m. Micro-wires are formed by at least partially filling the channels with a conductive material. Power source connections are provided to connect to an electrical power source to supply a current through the plurality of micro-wires. An average optical transmittance of the transparent heater within the active heater region is greater than 50 percent.