Definition
A small panel of laminated glass or plastic, embedded with electrical heating elements, fitted to a section of the windshield to keep that area clear of ice, frost, and fog by warming the surface to a temperature above the freezing point.
Plain English
A heated patch on the windshield that melts ice and clears fog from a small viewing area, similar in idea to the heated rear window of a car.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of windshield ice protection, especially on aircraft that need a heated viewing area during flight in icing conditions.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains clear forward visibility essential for safe flight and instrument approaches in icing conditions.
Analogy
It works somewhat like a heated rear window in a car: electrical heat warms a specific viewing area so ice or frost does not block it.
Intuition Check
Do not read “plate” as a solid metal cover or something that blocks the windshield. Here it means a clear heated panel used to keep a viewing area open.
Example Sentence 1
Before descending into the icing layer, the pilot switched on the electrically heated plate so the windshield would stay clear for landing.
Example Sentence 2
Before departure in winter conditions the crew verified the electrically heated plate was operational.