Heated Headlight Lenses Patent filed by Rivian

[RIV206]

Interesting read! Would have been helpful with my trip to the mountains last weekend!

https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivia...e-of-electric-truck-owners-biggest-complaints

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[Hatbox_Ghoul]

I agree that this is a great idea, so many car companies are suffering from this issue now that we've changed over to LED.

That said, I'm little concerned about fogging within the housing. As that heating system begins to work, the ice is going to cause localized condensation inside the housing. This will require some level of venting to allow that out, which will also potentially introduce humidity to the lenses during wet conditions, much like the issues we had with HIDs.

Would really like to see it, but unsure if it will solve a problem without creating others.

 

[dradam]

Would be great if the bugs could be worked out and if it does exist one day I hope it can be fitted to early vehicles.

 

[Ohm Boy]

I agree that this is a great idea, so many car companies are suffering from this issue now that we've changed over to LED.

That said, I'm little concerned about fogging within the housing. As that heating system begins to work, the ice is going to cause localized condensation inside the housing. This will require some level of venting to allow that out, which will also potentially introduce humidity to the lenses during wet conditions, much like the issues we had with HIDs.

Would really like to see it, but unsure if it will solve a problem without creating others.

I know nothing about this kind of thing. Would condensation be eliminated with a vacuum sealed housing?

 

[godfodder0901]

I know nothing about this kind of thing. Would condensation be eliminated with a vacuum sealed housing?

Usually not vacuum sealed, but nitrogen back-filled.

 

[R1Thor]

Heated headlights are not new. They've been made for years. Condensation is not a problem Rivian needs to solve. They just need to copy the homework of others.

This patent is for whatever the overlay/film is that will heat the lens, considering heated headlights are not a new innovation. The innovation is the transparent heating element they've developed or are developing. It could be neat. And innovation is neat. But it's potentially unnecessarily complicated. My hope is that it's 1- more uniform 2- more reliable 3- more economical and a bonus would be if it's 4- more efficient (not that resistive wire heating elements are terribly inefficient especially for the minimal amount needed for this application, but hey, EV--the more you can market efficiency, right?).

Here's an example of an aftermarket company (for Jeep) already making the resistive wire version: https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8700-evo-2-db/

 

[malditofman]

Interesting read! Would have been helpful with my trip to the mountains last weekend!

https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivia...e-of-electric-truck-owners-biggest-complaints

Rivian continues to lead and innovate. Drive well.

 

[Seano]

Heated headlights are not new. They've been made for years. Condensation is not a problem Rivian needs to solve. They just need to copy the homework of others.

This patent is for whatever the overlay/film is that will heat the lens, considering heated headlights are not a new innovation. The innovation is the transparent heating element they've developed or are developing. It could be neat. And innovation is neat. But it's potentially unnecessarily complicated. My hope is that it's 1- more uniform 2- more reliable 3- more economical and a bonus would be if it's 4- more efficient (not that resistive wire heating elements are terribly inefficient especially for the minimal amount needed for this application, but hey, EV--the more you can market efficiency, right?).

Here's an example of an aftermarket company (for Jeep) already making the resistive wire version: https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8700-evo-2-db/

I think this should be the new mantra for all the new car cos including Rivian "They just need to copy the homework of others".

I'm all for the ideas that are new and innovative, but as you pointed out, these problems have already been solved for years.

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