Glass laminate with inlay obscuration having superior strength and optical quality

Abstract

The use of camera-based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted, are becoming larger and more complex in shape. As the industry moves towards vehicles with full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required and the resolution of the cameras are both increasing. However, the optical quality of thewindshield is less than optimal. One of the problems is caused by the typical black enamel frit that is printed on the glass, prior to heating and bending, to hide or obscure the camera hardware. Theabrupt thermal gradients during bending, caused by the heat absorbing black frit, result in a high level of distortion in the camera field of view. The object of this invention is to provide a laminated automotive glazing having an obscuration area produced by creating an obscuration after heating and bending the glass by removing a portion of the plastic interlayer glass in or near the camera field of view (camera obscuration) or / and in the edges of the windshield (black band) and replacing it with an inlay made of a substantially opaque plastic or other suitable material in or near the camera field of view (camera obscuration) or / and in the edges of the windshield (black band) rather than printing and firing an enamel frit on the glass. This results in a laminate having superior opticalquality, higher strength and a lower probability of breakage as compared to a laminate with a black enamel frit obscuration.

Description

[0001] field of invention [0002] The presently published invention relates to a laminated automotive glass with a camera shield, which is strong and provides a field of view with excellent optical quality, and a method of manufacturing the same. [0003] Background of the invention [0004] Black enamel frit masking is commonly printed on laminated and tempered automotive safety glass. Such shelters have multiple functional and aesthetic requirements. The occlusion must be opaque. This is to prevent the adhesive that attaches the glass to the vehicle from being seen from the outside, and to protect the adhesive from the harmful effects of UV rays. For components mounted on the inner surface of the glass, the shade also serves the same purpose. On heated and coated glass, masking is used to hide coating edges, bus bars, conductors and anything else that detracts from the vehicle's appearance. The screens also had to meet additional aesthetic requirements of having a deep b...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This is also where the highest temperature is needed to bend the glass, resulting in higher thermal gradients and distortion / deformation

Images