Tesla patents a revolutionary windshield

Tesla has shown great concern about having a competitive windshield that covers all of the driver’s needs. The company has registered a study on windshields in which it states that this component has a major influence on design, safety, the operation of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and future autonomous driving.

Tesla’s windshields already stood out for their competence and elegant, futuristic appearance. They are made of tempered glass, making them stronger and more resistant to breakage. They also feature a special coating designed to reduce glare and protect passengers from UV rays. Its windshields are designed with very advanced technology: instead of using conventional water jets, the wiper system uses air jets to remove dirt and debris from the windshield.

Driven by its commitment to launching a competent windshield, Tesla has introduced a state-of-the-art windshield with novel shapes never seen before in automotive glass manufacturing. The company describes it as: “Automotive glass structure with characteristic lines and related manufacturing methods”.

This new method developed by Tesla involves the application of heat using a laser to a flat glass structure in order to bend it and form a characteristic line in its structure. Another method used by the American company is the use of a press to apply additional forces, or a vacuum suction process, thereby giving the structure its corresponding shape.

“A faceted windshield with aggressive characteristic lines can be formed. A glass structure can have a characteristic line with a bend radius of between 2 mm and 5 cm. In this way, glass structures can be created with shapes and configurations that were previously not available through conventional bending methods.”

The company shows us illustrations suggesting that the first Tesla vehicle to incorporate these windshields and enjoy these technological features will be the Tesla Cybertruck. The electric pickup from Tesla has already accumulated more than one and a half million reservations, and it is expected to reach the market later this year.

Tesla has been at the forefront of windshields for years

Tesla has spent many years designing windshields and patenting innovations related to them. In 2019, the company launched a new patent for an electromagnetic wiper covering the entire glass. This was first seen on the Model X, a model that features the largest windshield in the world. It consists of a mechanism that hides under the hood and slides across the entire windshield along rails. These windshields significantly improve the aerodynamics and friction of the car and allow for the installation of ADAS cameras.

Two years later, in 2021, they patented a windshield wiper system that we have already discussed. It works with laser beams and cleans away dirt or even water accumulated on the glass, potentially making conventional wipers obsolete one day. The company also reports that its future models will feature solar panels.

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