CAPACITIVE SWITCHING ZONE WINDOW GLASS INTENDED FOR CONTACTLESS CONTROL OF A FUNCTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a window pane (100) comprising several capacitive switching zones (10), intended to separate a passenger compartment from an external environment. The window pane (100) comprises a pane (1) having an inner surface (iv) and a coating (6) which is arranged at least partially on the inner surface (iv) of the pane (1), and respectively a capacitive switching zone (10) is electrically separated from the coating (6) by at least one separation line (7) free of coating and can be electrically connected to sensor electronics (14). The window pane also comprises a detection zone (11) for the non-contact detection of an object moved by a person within an activation zone and the direction of its movement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a window pane with a coating and capacitive switching area, a window pane arrangement, a method for manufacturing the window pane and its use.

[0002] Modern car interiors typically feature a panoramic roof. A panoramic roof has a composite structure that includes a transparent glass panel. In summer, intense direct sunlight can cause the vehicle to heat up considerably. In winter, at low outside temperatures, the glass panel acts as a heat sink, and the interior can become uncomfortably cold. To cool the interior in summer and heat it in winter, the vehicle's air conditioning system must generate a high heating output to prevent the interior from overheating or cooling down through the glass panel.

[0003] To prevent excessive heating of the interior, vehicle windows are equipped with a heat-reflective coating. These so-called low-E coatings are known, for example, from WO 2013 / 131667 A1. Such a low-E coating reflects a significant portion of solar radiation, particularly in the infrared range, which leads to reduced heating of the vehicle interior in summer.

[0004] Furthermore, it is known that a coated window pane can additionally have a switching area for controlling a function, e.g. heating function, see e.g. WO2015 / 162107 A1.

[0005] Such switching areas can be formed by a surface electrode or by an arrangement of two coupled electrodes, for example, as capacitive switching areas. When an object approaches the switching area, the capacitance of the surface electrode to ground or the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the two coupled electrodes changes. The change in capacitance is measured by a circuit arrangement or sensor electronics, and a switching signal is triggered when a threshold value is exceeded. Circuit arrangements for capacitive switches are known, for example, from EP 0 899 882 A1. According to the prior art, a switching signal is triggered when a contact surface of the capacitive switching area is touched by a human hand. Touching the vehicle window leaves contamination in the form of fingerprints and other particles that can impair the functionality of the switching area.

[0006] EP 1477351 A2 shows a sensor arrangement for a wiper control located in a recess.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved window pane which has a capacitive switching area, the actuation of which does not soil the window pane.

[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved according to the invention by a window pane with several capacitive switching areas according to independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] The window pane according to the invention with several capacitive switching areas, for separating an interior from an external environment, comprises a pane with an inner surface and a coating which is at least partially arranged on the inner surface of the pane, wherein each capacitive switching area is electrically separated from the coating by at least one coating-free dividing line and is electrically connectable to sensor electronics and has a detection area for contactless detection of an object moved by a person in an activation area and its direction of movement.

[0010] Non-contact detection of a person, preferably their hand or an object with similar permittivity characteristics, is present within the meaning of the invention when the person, their hand, or the object is detected by the detection area without physical contact with the window pane. In other words, when the capacitive switching area generates an electrical signal, i.e., when an electrical charge transfer takes place from the switching area to the sensor electronics, without the window pane being touched by the person, their hand, or the object.

[0011] Such a capacitive switching area allows a function to be controlled depending on the proximity of a person, their hand, or an object. Because a moving object is detected without contact, no dirt from the object gets onto the window pane, and the function of the capacitive switching area is not impaired.

[0012] Window panes can be used in a variety of ways: In the case of a window pane as a vehicle window, it can be, for example, a roof window, a windshield, a rear window, a side window, or any other glazing that encloses the vehicle interior. The outer surface of the pane refers to the surface that faces outwards, away from the vehicle interior. The inner surface, therefore, refers to the surface of the pane that faces the vehicle interior.

[0013] In the case of a window pane, whether used as an architectural element or as building glazing, the pane can be, for example, facade glazing, a roof pane, or any other type of glazing that defines a living space or building interior. The outer surface of the pane refers to the surface facing outwards, away from the interior. The inner surface, therefore, refers to the surface facing the interior.

[0014] The inner surface has a so-called low-E coating. The outer surface is then the surface of the pane opposite the inner surface.

[0015] The so-called low-E coating contains at least one functional layer and optionally one or more adhesive layers, barrier layers, and / or antireflective layers. The low-E coating is preferably a layer system consisting of at least one adhesive layer, one functional layer, one barrier layer, one antireflective layer, and another barrier layer. Particularly suitable low-E coatings contain a functional layer made of at least one electrically conductive oxide (TCO), preferably indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO₂:F), antimony-doped tin oxide (SnO₂:Sb), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al), and / or gallium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ga).

[0016] Particularly advantageous low-E coatings according to the invention have an interior emissivity of the window pane according to the invention of less than or equal to 60%, preferably less than or equal to 45%, particularly preferably less than or equal to 30%, and especially less than or equal to 20%. Interior emissivity is defined as the measure that indicates how much thermal radiation the pane, in its installed position, emits into an interior space, for example, of a building or a vehicle, compared to an ideal thermal radiator (a black body). For the purposes of the invention, emissivity is understood to be the normal total emissivity at 283 K according to standard EN 12898.

[0017] The surface resistance of the low-E coating can range from 10 ohms / square to 200 ohms / square, and preferably from 10 ohms / square to 100 ohms / square, particularly preferably from 15 ohms / square to 50 ohms / square, and especially from 20 ohms / square to 35 ohms / square.

[0018] The absorption of the low-E coating according to the invention in the visible spectral range is preferably from about 1% to about 15%, and particularly preferably from about 1% to about 7%. The absorption of the coating can be determined by measuring the absorption of a coated pane and subtracting the absorption of the uncoated pane. Upon reflection, the window pane according to the invention preferably exhibits a color value a* of -15 to +5 and a color value b* of -15 to +5, viewed from the side provided with the low-E coating. The values ​​a* and b* refer to the color coordinates according to the colorimetric model (L*a*b* color space).

[0019] Furthermore, the low-E coating can exhibit low absorption and low reflection in the visible spectral range, and therefore high transmission. The low-E coating can thus also be used on glass surfaces where a significant reduction in transmission is undesirable, for example, in building windows, or is prohibited by law, for example, in windshields or front side windows of motor vehicles.

[0020] The low-E coating has the advantage of being corrosion-resistant. Therefore, the low-E coating can be applied to the surface of the glass that, when installed, will face an interior space, such as a vehicle or building. On this surface, the low-E coating is particularly effective at reducing the emission of heat radiation from the glass into the interior during the summer and the emission of heat into the outside environment during the winter.

[0021] Such low-E coatings are particularly suitable for providing vehicle owners with sufficient thermal comfort in roof glazing to eliminate the need for mechanical sunshades. The functional layer exhibits reflective properties towards thermal radiation, especially infrared radiation, but is largely transparent in the visible spectral range. According to the invention, the functional layer contains at least one transparent, electrically conductive oxide (TCO). The refractive index of the functional layer material is preferably between 1.7 and 2.5. The functional layer preferably contains at least indium tin oxide (ITO). This results in particularly good results with regard to the emissivity and bendability of the coating according to the invention.

[0022] The indium tin oxide is preferably deposited by magnetic field-assisted cathode sputtering using an indium tin oxide target. The target preferably contains 75 wt.% to 95 wt.% indium oxide and 5 wt.% to 25 wt.% tin oxide, as well as manufacturing-related impurities. The deposition of the indium tin oxide preferably takes place under a protective gas atmosphere, for example, argon. A small proportion of oxygen can also be added to the protective gas, for example, to improve the homogeneity of the functional layer.

[0023] The target can alternatively preferably contain at least 75 wt.% to 95 wt.% indium and 5 wt.% to 25 wt.% tin. The deposition of the indium-tin oxide then preferably takes place with the addition of oxygen as a reaction gas during cathode sputtering.

[0024] The emissivity of the disk according to the invention can be influenced by the thickness of the functional layer. The thickness of the functional layer is preferably from 40 nm to 200 nm, particularly preferably from 90 nm to 150 nm, and most preferably from 100 nm to 130 nm, for example, about 120 nm. In this range for the thickness of the functional layer, particularly advantageous values ​​for the emissivity and a particularly advantageous ability of the functional layer to withstand a mechanical transformation such as bending or prestressing without damage are achieved.

[0025] The functional layer can also contain other transparent, electrically conductive oxides, such as fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO2:F), antimony-doped tin oxide (SnO2:Sb), indium zinc mixed oxide (IZO), gallium-doped or aluminum-doped zinc oxide, niobium-doped titanium oxide, cadmium stannate and / or zinc stannate.

[0026] The anti-reflective coating reduces reflections in the visible spectral range at the window pane according to the invention. In particular, the anti-reflective coating achieves high transmission in the visible spectral range through the window pane according to the invention, as well as a more neutral color impression of reflected and transmitted light. The anti-reflective coating also improves the corrosion resistance of the functional layer. The material of the anti-reflective coating preferably has a refractive index that is lower than that of the material of the functional layer. The refractive index of the material of the anti-reflective coating is preferably less than or equal to 1.8.

[0027] Exemplary coating systems suitable as low-E coatings and methods for their production are known, for example, from WO 2013 / 131667 A1.

[0028] In the window pane according to the invention, several capacitive switching areas are electrically separated by at least one coating-free dividing line from the low-E coating. This means that the areas separated by the dividing line are electrically isolated from one another. Advantageously, the areas separated by the dividing line are galvanically isolated from one another.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the detection area is designed to generate an electric field. The electric field extends within the activation area. When an object is moved into the activation area, the object causes a change in the electric field, which is detected by the capacitive switching area. This change depends on the object's position, thus enabling position detection as well.

[0030] The capacitive switching areas of a window pane according to the invention can be used for the electrical control of a function inside or outside the window or composite pane, preferably a change in the optical transparency of a functional intermediate layer, in particular a suspended particle device (SPD) layer, polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer or an electrochromic intermediate layer, the window pane, a heating function, a lighting, in particular a light source arranged on or in the window pane, such as an LED.

[0031] The transparency can be adjusted in stages. This makes it possible to implement graduated sun protection and to forgo the installation of a conventional, mechanical sunshade roller blind.

[0032] A particular advantage is that the detection area can recognize the object and its direction of movement. This means that not only is a change in transparency triggered, but the direction of the change is also recorded. For example, a person's swiping gesture along the window pane in one direction can cause a gradual darkening, and a swiping gesture in the opposite direction can reduce the darkness.

[0033] According to the invention, the detection area is formed into at least two strip-shaped sub-areas, the length of which is significantly greater than their width. This expands the activation area and increases the sensitivity of the capacitive switching area.

[0034] Dividing the detection area into several sub-areas allows an object to be detected depending on its position.

[0035] In such an arrangement, two adjacent sub-areas form two electrodes that are capacitively coupled. The capacitance of the capacitor formed by the electrodes changes when an object, preferably a human hand, approaches. This change in capacitance is measured by sensor electronics, and a switching signal is triggered when a threshold is exceeded. The sensitive area is defined by the shape and size of the region in which the electrodes are capacitively coupled. One of the two adjacent sub-areas can be coupled to ground potential.

[0036] The sub-areas are arranged at a spacing corresponding to the width of the dividing line and are free of coating. One longitudinal axis of the sub-areas runs parallel to one side of the inner surface. Each sub-area has a length corresponding to one side of the inner surface.

[0037] The surface area corresponds to the area of ​​the sensor. The width of each sub-area can be constant. Alternatively, the width of the sub-areas can vary. By arranging the sub-areas in parallel, almost the entire inner surface can serve as a detection area. The sub-area connected to ground potential can have a significantly smaller width than its neighboring sub-area. For example, one sub-area can be approximately ten times wider than its neighboring sub-area connected to ground potential.

[0038] The arrangement of the sub-areas allows the activation zone to extend across a surface parallel to the inner surface towards the interior. Preferably, the activation zone can have a width of 10 cm or less. Using this activation zone, an object, such as a human hand, can be detected without physical contact, and a signal can be generated.

[0039] The capacitive switching area according to the invention can have a detection area, a supply line area and a connection area, wherein the supply line area electrically connects the detection area to the connection area and the connection area can be electrically connected to sensor electronics.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the length-to-width ratio of the supply line area is less than or equal to 1:700, and preferably 1:3 to 1:100. If the supply line area does not have a constant width, for example, if it is trapezoidal or teardrop-shaped, then, within the scope of the present invention, the width is understood to be the average width of the supply line area.

[0041] The length of the lead-in section is 1 cm to 70 cm, preferably 1 cm to 12 cm, and particularly 3 cm to 8 cm. The width of the lead-in section is preferably 0.5 mm to 10 mm, and particularly preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The shape of the lead-in section is preferably rectangular, strip-shaped, or linear. The lead-in section can be straight, but also curved, angled, L-shaped, U-shaped, or any other curvilinear shape. The lead-in section can be easily adapted to the specific characteristics of the disk, such as areas free of the low-E coating, and can, for example, be routed around them.

[0042] The detection area can, in principle, have any shape. Particularly suitable detection areas are teardrop-shaped. Alternatively, angular shapes are possible, for example, triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, or other quadrilaterals or higher-order polygons. Rounded corners are particularly advantageous. This applies to the transition area between the detection area and the supply line area and / or the supply line area and the connection area. It is especially advantageous if the corners have a radius of curvature of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 8 mm.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment of the disc according to the invention, the width t 1 of the dividing lines is from 30 µm to 200 µm and preferably from 70 µm to 140 µm. Such thin dividing lines allow for reliable and sufficiently high electrical insulation and at the same time do not, or only minimally, interfere with the view through the composite disc.

[0044] In an advantageous embodiment, the switching area forms a surface electrode. The capacitance of this surface electrode is measured by external capacitive sensor electronics. The capacitance of the surface electrode changes relative to ground when a suitable object (preferably a human hand) comes near it. This change in capacitance is measured by the sensor electronics, and a switching signal is triggered when a threshold value is exceeded. The switching area is defined by the shape and size of the surface electrode.

[0045] The area of ​​the low-E coating located outside the capacitive switching area—hereinafter referred to as the ambient area—can be connected to the sensor electronics via a further connection area. The ambient area can encompass the entire low-E coating outside the capacitive switching area. Alternatively, the ambient area can be separated from the entire low-E coating by one or more dividing lines and be electrically isolated from the capacitive switching area and the surrounding low-E coating. The dividing line that borders the capacitive switching area and separates the ambient area from the remaining surrounding low-E coating preferably has a distance of 0.1 mm to 200 mm, more preferably 0.5 mm to 100 mm, and particularly preferably 1 mm to 11 mm. This distance thus corresponds to the width of the ambient area.The surrounding area can encompass all capacitive switching areas, individual capacitive switching areas, or individual groups of capacitive switching areas.

[0046] The capacitive switching area and, optionally, the surrounding area according to the invention are integrated into the window pane according to the invention. Therefore, no separate switch or similar component is required that needs to be attached to the window pane. Preferably, the window pane also has no other components arranged on its surfaces within the viewing area. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a thin window pane design and minimal obstruction of the view through the window pane.

[0047] Another aspect of the invention comprises a composite disc with a capacitive switching area and a coating, comprising at least: an inner disc consisting of a disc according to the invention with a capacitive switching area and the coating, an outer disc with an inner surface and at least one intermediate layer that connects the inner surface of the outer disc with an outer surface of the inner disc.

[0048] The inner surface of the composite disc thus corresponds to the inner surface of the inner disc (i.e., the disc according to the invention) and the outer surface of the composite disc corresponds to the outer surface of the outer disc.

[0049] In the case of a laminated glass pane, the inner and outer panes are bonded together by at least one intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is preferably transparent. The intermediate layer preferably contains at least one plastic, preferably polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the intermediate layer can also contain, for example, polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylate, polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, casting resins, acrylates, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyvinyl fluoride, and / or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The intermediate layer can be formed by one or more films arranged one above the other, the thickness of each film preferably being from 0.025 mm to 1 mm, typically 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm.The intermediate layers are preferably thermoplastic and, after lamination, bond the inner pane, the outer pane, and any further intermediate layers together. The intermediate layer preferably has a relative permittivity of 2 to 4, and particularly preferably of 2.1 to 2.9.

[0050] An advantageous aspect of the invention comprises a pane arrangement with a window pane or a composite pane according to the invention and sensor electronics, which are electrically connected via the connection area to the capacitive switching area and optionally via a further connection area to the surrounding surface. The sensor electronics are capacitive sensor electronics.

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment of the switching arrangement according to the invention, the sensitivity of the sensor electronics is selected such that the sensor electronics generate a switching signal when an object moved by a person in an activation area is detected.

[0052] It is understood that the detection range can also detect multiple fingers or other parts of the human body. Within the scope of this invention, "detection" refers to any interaction with the switching area that leads to a measurable change in the measurement signal, i.e., in this case, the capacitance.

[0053] The output switching signals can be arbitrary and adapted to the requirements of the respective application. For example, a switching signal can represent a positive voltage, such as 12 V; no switching signal can represent 0 V; and another switching signal can represent +6 V. The switching signals can also correspond to the CAN_High and CAN_Low voltages common in a CAN bus and alternate around an intermediate voltage value. The switching signal can also be pulsed and / or digitally encoded.

[0054] The particular advantage of such a disc arrangement according to the invention lies in the fact that the switching signal does not require any contact with the window pane or the composite pane.

[0055] The sensitivity of the sensor electronics can be determined through simple experiments, depending on the size of the detection range, the geometry, and the ratio between the width and length of the lead wire. It is particularly advantageous to keep the lead wire width as small as possible. Changing the reference capacitance of the connected sensor electronics also significantly increases the sensitivity of the switching range.

[0056] In an advantageous embodiment of a disk arrangement according to the invention, the connection area is connected to a flat conductor, a metallic wire, in particular a round conductor or a stranded conductor, and led away from the disk surface. The integrated disk arrangement can then be connected particularly easily at the point of use to a voltage source and a signal line that evaluates the switching signal of the sensor circuit, for example in a vehicle via a CAN bus.

[0057] Basically, all electrically insulating substrates are suitable as panes, inner panes and outer panes, provided they are thermally and chemically stable and dimensionally stable under the conditions of manufacture and use of the window or composite pane according to the invention.

[0058] The pane, or the inner pane and the outer pane, preferably contain glass, particularly preferably flat glass, float glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass, or clear plastics, preferably rigid clear plastics, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and / or mixtures thereof. The pane, or the inner pane and the outer pane, are preferably transparent, especially for use as a windshield or rear window of a vehicle or in other applications where high light transmission is desired. For the purposes of this invention, a pane is considered transparent if it has a transmission in the visible spectral range greater than 70%. However, for panes that are not within the driver's field of vision relevant to traffic, for example, for roof windows, the transmission can be much lower, for example, greater than 5%.

[0059] The thickness of the pane, or of the inner and outer panes, can vary widely and thus be ideally adapted to the requirements of the individual case, particularly to achieve asymmetric switching. Standard thicknesses of 1.0 mm to 25 mm are preferably used, more preferably 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm for vehicle glass and more preferably 4 mm to 25 mm for furniture, appliances, and buildings. The size of the window and the laminated pane can vary widely and depends on the size of the application according to the invention. For example, window and laminated panes have typical surface areas of 200 cm² to 20 m², as is common in vehicle construction and architecture.

[0060] The window or laminated pane can have any three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the three-dimensional shape has no shadowed areas, so that it can be coated, for example, by cathode sputtering. Preferably, the panes are flat or slightly or strongly curved in one or more directions. Flat panes are particularly common. The panes can be colorless or colored.

[0061] The disk or inner disk and the outer disk preferably have a relative permittivity ε r,1 / 4 of 2 to 8 and particularly preferably of 6 to 8.

[0062] In an advantageous embodiment of the window pane or the composite pane according to the invention, the connection area is arranged at the outer edge of the pane. The distance to the outer edge is preferably less than 10 cm, and particularly preferably less than 0.5 cm. This allows for electrical contacting of the connection area, for example with a foil conductor, under an optically inconspicuous black print or with a cover.

[0063] The electrical conductor is preferably designed as a foil conductor or flexible foil conductor (flat conductor, ribbon conductor). A foil conductor is defined as an electrical conductor whose width is significantly greater than its thickness. Such a foil conductor is, for example, a strip or band containing or consisting of copper, tinned copper, aluminum, silver, gold, or alloys thereof. The foil conductor has, for example, a width of 2 mm to 16 mm and a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm. The foil conductor may have an insulating, preferably polymeric, sheathing, for example, based on polyimide. Foil conductors suitable for contacting electrically conductive coatings in discs have a total thickness of only, for example, 0.3 mm. Such thin foil conductors can be easily and aesthetically arranged on the inner surface and, for example, glued in place.A foil conductor tape can contain several electrically isolated, conductive layers.

[0064] The electrical connection between the connection area and the electrical supply line is preferably made using electrically conductive adhesives, which ensure a secure and permanent electrical connection between the connection area and the supply line. Alternatively, the electrical connection can also be made using clamps or spring contacts. Alternatively, the supply line can also be printed onto the connection area, for example, by means of a baked-on, metal-containing, and in particular silver-containing, electrically conductive printing paste or soldering, especially ultrasonic soldering.

[0065] In an advantageous embodiment of the window pane or composite pane according to the invention, the detection area can be directly marked or is marked by an active, dimmable light source, preferably by a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or other active light sources, such as a luminescent material, preferably a fluorescent or phosphorescent material.

[0066] The light source preferably comprises an LED or OLED. Its particular advantages lie in its small dimensions and low power consumption. The wavelength range emitted by the light source can be freely selected within the visible light spectrum, for example, according to practical and / or aesthetic considerations.

[0067] The light source can be positioned at any point on the pane, or on the inner or outer pane, in particular via a seat and at the side edge of the window pane or laminated pane, or in a small recess between the inner and outer panes. Preferably, the light source is positioned centrally within the detection area.

[0068] Another aspect of the invention comprises a method for manufacturing a window pane with a capacitive switching area, comprising at least: (a) Applying a coating to an inner surface of a disk, (b) introducing at least one dividing line, electrically dividing the coating into several capacitive switching areas and / or at least one surrounding area, preferably by laser structuring or by mechanical or chemical ablation.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment of the inventive method for producing a composite disk with a capacitive switching area, the process steps a) and b) can also be reversed.

[0070] The coating can be applied using methods known per se, preferably by magnetic field-assisted cathode sputtering. This is particularly advantageous with regard to simple, fast, cost-effective, and uniform coating of the disks. However, the electrically conductive layer can also be applied, for example, by vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), or by wet chemical processes.

[0071] The removal of individual separation lines in the coating is preferably carried out using a laser beam.

[0072] Lamination, i.e., the bonding of the inner pane, intermediate layer, and outer pane, is preferably carried out under the influence of heat, vacuum, and / or pressure. Methods known per se for manufacturing a laminated pane can be used.

[0073] Another aspect of the invention includes the use of the window pane or composite pane with capacitive switching area according to the invention in buildings, in particular in the access area, window area, roof area or facade area, as a built-in component in furniture and appliances, in means of transport for traffic on land, in the air or on water, in particular in trains, ships and motor vehicles, for example as a windshield, rear window, side window and / or roof window.

[0074] Another aspect of the invention includes the use of the window pane according to the invention with several capacitive switching areas or the composite pane for the electrical control of a function inside or outside the composite pane, preferably a heating function, a lighting, in particular a light source such as an LED arranged in the composite pane, a change in the optical transparency of a functional intermediate layer, in particular a suspended particle device (SPD) layer or an electrochromic intermediate layer.

[0075] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawing does not limit the invention in any way.

[0076] They show: Figure 1A: A top view of an embodiment of a pane arrangement according to the invention with a window pane according to the invention; Figure 1B: Cross-sectional view along the section line AA' from Figure 1A Figure 2 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a disk arrangement according to the invention with several capacitive switching areas; Figure 3 shows a top view of a further alternative embodiment of a disk arrangement according to the invention with a composite disk according to the invention and with several capacitive switching areas; Figure 4 shows a top view of a further alternative embodiment of a disk arrangement according to the invention with a composite disk according to the invention and with several capacitive switching areas for controlling a light source; and Figure 5 shows a detailed flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for manufacturing a window pane.

[0077] Figure 1Ashows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a disc arrangement 200 according to the invention with a window pane 100 according to the invention, using the example of a roof pane of a motor vehicle.

[0078] The window pane 100 has a coating 6 over almost its entire surface. The coating 6 is a so-called low-E coating 6, which is divided into different, electrically isolated areas by uncoated dividing lines 7. In this example, electrically isolated means that the areas are galvanically isolated from each other, i.e., that no direct current (DC) can flow between the areas.

[0079] The dividing line 7 has a width of, for example, only 100 µm and is introduced into the low-E coating 6, for example, by laser structuring. Dividing lines 7 with such a small width are barely perceptible and only slightly impair the view through the window pane 100, which is particularly aesthetically pleasing and of particular importance for driving safety, especially when used in the field of vision of vehicles.

[0080] In the lower section of the window pane 100, the low-E coating 6, for example, has two capacitive switching areas 10. The two capacitive switching areas 10 are electrically separated by a common ambient area 15. Each switching area 10 comprises a detection area 11, which is approximately square and transitions into a strip-shaped lead-in area 12. The width and length of the detection area 11 are, for example, each 40 mm.

[0081] The capacitive switching area 10 generates an electric field that extends within an activation zone. The activation zone is arranged over a surface parallel to the inner surface and extends towards the interior. Preferably, the activation zone has a width of less than or equal to 10 cm in the direction of the interior. Using the provided activation zone, an object, for example, a human hand, can be detected without contact, and a signal can be generated. When an object is moved into the activation zone, the object causes a change in the electric field, which is detected by the capacitive switching area.

[0082] The width of the supply line area 12 is, for example, 1 mm. The supply line area 12 is connected to a terminal area 13. The terminal area 13 has a rectangular, in particular square, shape and an edge length of, for example, 12 mm. The length of the supply line area is approximately 48 mm. The surrounding area 15 is separated from the remaining low-E coating 6 by a dividing line 7. The surrounding area 15 is rectangular and encompasses both capacitive switching areas 10.

[0083] The connection area 13 is electrically connected to a foil conductor 17 via an electrical conductor connection. A reliable electrically conductive connection is preferably achieved using an electrically conductive adhesive. The foil conductor 17 consists, for example, of a 50 µm thick copper foil and is insulated, for example, with a polyimide layer outside the connection area 13. This allows the foil conductor 17 to extend beyond the lower edge of the window pane 100, over the surrounding area 15, without an electrical short circuit. It is understood that the electrical connection of the connection area to the outside can also be routed to the outside via insulated wires or through an area where the low-E coating of the surrounding area is interrupted.

[0084] The foil conductor 17 is connected, for example, to a capacitive sensor electronics unit 14 located outside the window pane 100. The sensor electronics unit 14 is capable of precisely measuring changes in capacitance between the switching area 10 and the surrounding area 15 and, depending on a threshold value, transmitting a switching signal, for example, to the CAN bus of a vehicle. Any function in the vehicle can be switched via this switching signal. For example, a light in or on the window pane 100 can be switched on or off.

[0085] If the window pane 100 is used, for example, as a roof pane in a motor vehicle, the length of the supply line area 12 can be selected so that the driver of the vehicle, the front passenger or occupants on the rear seat of the vehicle can easily reach the detection area 11 of the switching area 10.

[0086] In the illustrated embodiment example, the design and coordination of the sensor electronics 14 are such that when a hand moves within the activation area, i.e., near the inner surface IV, Fig. 2 A switching signal is triggered when the disk 1 is positioned above the detection area 11 of the capacitive switching area 10.

[0087] In Figure 1B is a cross-sectional representation along the section line AA' from Figure 1AThe window pane 100, for example, comprises a single pane 1. The window pane 100 is, for example, a vehicle window, and in particular the roof window of a passenger car. The dimensions of the window pane 100 are, for example, 0.9 m x 1.5 m. The window pane 100 contains a pane 1, which, for example, is intended to separate a vehicle interior from its external environment when installed. That is, the inner surface IV of the pane 1 is accessible from the interior, whereas the outer surface III of the pane 1 faces outwards with respect to the vehicle interior. The pane 1 is, for example, made of soda-lime glass and was manufactured using the float process. The thickness d 1 of the pane 1 is, for example, 2.1 mm. In principle, the pane 1 can also have other thicknesses. For example, the pane 1 can have a thickness of 4 mm when used as building glazing.

[0088] The inner surface IV of the disc 1 is coated with a low-E coating 6. Table 1 shows three examples of low-E coatings 6 according to the invention with functional layers made of, for example, ITO. Each low-E coating 6 of examples 1-3 consists of a layer stack of: disc 1 / adhesive layer / functional layer / barrier layer / antireflective layer. Table 1 material thickness Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Anti-reflective coating SiO2 :Al 45 nm 40 nm 80 nm Barrier layer Si 3 N 4 :Al 12 nm 20 nm 12 nm Functional layer ITO 120 nm 120 nm 120 nm Adhesive layer SiO2 :Al 30 nm 30 nm 40 nm Disc or inner disc 1 Soda-lime glass

[0089] The in Figure 1B The illustrated low-E coating 6 consists, for example, of the layer system according to Example 1 from Table 1. In another example, low-E coating 6 consists of the layer system according to Example 2 from Table 1, and in yet another example, of the layer system according to Example 3 from Table 1.

[0090] The window pane 1 with the exemplary layer systems according to Examples 1-3 has an interior-side, normal total emissivity of less than or equal to 30% and a surface resistance of 20 ohms / square to 30 ohms / square. The window pane according to the invention, when reflected, exhibits, for example, a color value a* of -3 to +4 and a color value b* of -7 to +4, viewed from the side provided with the Low-E coating 6 according to the invention. The values ​​a* and b* refer to the color coordinates according to the colorimetric model (L*a*b* color space).

[0091] Such a window pane 1 according to the invention can be clear and, for example, have a transparency of greater than or equal to 80% in the visible range. To avoid glare in the visible range caused by sunlight, the pane 1 can also be heavily tinted and have a transparency of less than or equal to 20% in the visible range. It is understood that the low-E coating 6 can also consist of other layer systems with low emissivity.

[0092] Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a disk arrangement 200 according to the invention with several capacitive switching areas 10. The illustrated embodiment essentially corresponds in structure to the window disk 100 according to the invention. Figure 1A , so that only the respective differences will be discussed below.

[0093] The capacitive switching areas 10 of the window pane 100 control the optical transparency of a functional intermediate layer of the pane arrangement 200, in particular a suspended particle device (SPD) layer, polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer or an electrochromic intermediate layer,

[0094] In this example, the detection area 11 is subdivided into several elongated sub-areas 5. These sub-areas 5 are strip-shaped and extend across almost the entire inner surface of the window pane 100. A sub-area 5 can have a width of 2 cm to 0.3 cm. Alternatively, each sub-area 5 can have a length extending over half the width of the window pane 100, so that the window pane 100 has two separate detection areas 11. Each separate detection area 11 has a sensor circuit 14, which can be individually assigned to each sub-area 5.

[0095] Each sub-area 5 is electrically connected to a foil conductor 17 via an electrical conductor connection. A sub-area 5 can be coupled to ground potential via the foil conductor 17, while its directly adjacent sub-area 5 is connected to an electrical potential via the foil conductor 17. The foil conductors 17 are connected to the capacitive sensor electronics 14 outside the window pane 100. Dividing the detection area into several sub-areas 5 enables the detection of an object depending on its position.

[0096] The electric field extends within the activation area almost across the entire inner surface IV of the window pane 100 towards the interior. The strip-shaped design of the sub-areas 5 expands the activation area and increases the sensitivity of the capacitive switching range.

[0097] When an object, preferably a hand, is moved into the activation area, the object causes a change in the electric field, which is detected by the capacitive switching area. This change depends on the object's position, thus enabling position detection as well. Due to the advantageous strip-shaped design of the sub-areas 5, the change in transparency occurs in steps, with each step corresponding to one sub-area 5.

[0098] Detection area 11 detects the object and its direction of movement. This means that not only is a change in transparency triggered, but the direction of the change is also recorded. For example, a person's swiping gesture along the window pane in one direction can cause a gradual darkening, while a person's swiping gesture in the opposite direction can reduce the darkening.

[0099] In an alternative embodiment of the window pane 100 according to the invention, the capacitive switching area 10 controls the opening and closing of the roof pane. The opening or closing position of the side pane is determined by the position and direction of the hand's swiping gesture.

[0100] In a further embodiment of the disc arrangement 200 according to the invention with a window pane 100 according to the invention, the disc arrangement 200 can serve as a windshield of a motor vehicle, in which the upper area can be darkened in stages.

[0101] In a further alternative embodiment of the disc arrangement 200 according to the invention, with a window pane 100 according to the invention, the disc arrangement 200 can serve as a side window of a motor vehicle. In such an embodiment, the capacitive switching area 10 controls the opening and closing of the side window. The opening or closing position of the side window is determined by the position and direction of the hand's swiping gesture. Additionally, the side window can be closed via a button control.

[0102] The in Figure 3 The illustrated embodiment of a pane arrangement 201 corresponds in structure essentially to the composite pane 101 according to the invention with a window pane according to Figure 1AThe composite pane 101, for example, comprises an inner pane 1 and an outer pane, which are connected to each other via an intermediate layer. The inner pane 1 corresponds in its function to pane 1 from Figure 1A

[0103] In the middle, lower section of the composite disk 101, the low-E coating 6 has several capacitive switching areas 10 which extend in an almost parallel arrangement over one longitudinal side of the composite disk 101.

[0104] The low-E coating 6 is divided into different, electrically isolated areas by uncoated dividing lines 7. Each capacitive switching area 10 is electrically separated from an ambient area 15. Each switching area 10 comprises a detection area 11, which is approximately teardrop-shaped and transitions into a strip-shaped supply area 12. The width and length of the detection area 11 are, for example, 40 mm each. The width of the supply area 12 is, for example, 1 mm. The supply area 12 is connected to a terminal area 13. The terminal area 13 has a square shape with rounded corners and an edge length of, for example, 12 mm. The length of the supply area is approximately 48 mm.

[0105] In an alternative embodiment of the disc arrangement 201 according to the invention, with a window pane 101 according to the invention, the disc arrangement 201 can serve as a side window of a motor vehicle and have capacitive switching areas 10 for opening and closing the side window. The opening or closing position of the side window is determined by the position and direction of the hand's swiping gesture.

[0106] Figure 4Figure 1 shows an alternative embodiment in which a functional intermediate layer is laminated between the inner pane 1 and the outer pane in the composite pane 101. Here, the functional intermediate layer is connected to the inner pane 1 and the outer pane, for example, via two thermoplastic intermediate layers made of a PVB film. The functional intermediate layer exhibits, for example, electrically controllable optical transparency and preferably contains a suspended particle device (SPD) layer or an electrochromic intermediate layer.

[0107] Additionally, the composite disc 101 includes two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 21, for example multicolor LEDs, between the inner disc 1 and the outer disc 4, which have been laminated into the composite disc 101. The light from the LEDs 21 marks the area of ​​the capacitive button 10 and / or serves as a lighting element, which can be controlled via the corresponding capacitive switching area 10.

[0108] The composite panel 101 serves as a roof panel in a vehicle. The position and length of the detection area 12 can be selected so that the driver or passengers can easily reach the detection area 11 of the switching area 10 from their respective seats. It is understood that several capacitive buttons 10 can also be arranged in the composite panel 100, for example, one for each vehicle occupant.

[0109] The design and coordination of the sensor electronics 14 is such that a switching signal is triggered when a hand of the driver or passenger is detected in the detection area 11 of the capacitive switching area 10.

[0110] Alternatively, the position of the capacitive buttons can also be randomly distributed across the inner surface. The LED 21 can be controlled by a gesture from the driver or passenger, characterized by a specific direction and position. This has the particular advantage that the LEDs can be individually controlled, allowing the driver or passenger to select a color value tailored to their needs.

[0111] In a further embodiment of a composite disc 101 according to the invention, the composite disc 101 is designed as a windshield, wherein the composite disc 101 is shown in a view directed towards the inner surface IV of the inner disc 1, i.e., as seen from the driver's position. The design and configuration of the sensor electronics 14 are such that, to control the transparency of the windshield, the driver moves their hand into the detection area 11 of the capacitive switching area 10 to trigger a switching signal. A capacitive switching area 10 is particularly advantageous in which the switching signal can be generated without touching the windshield.The driver's concentration and focus are not distracted by having to touch a specific point on the windshield. Instead, a switching signal is triggered by extending the hand towards the detection area and reaching the activation zone near the inner surface IV. A further advantage of contactless control is that the driver does not soil the windshield with fingerprints.

[0112] Figure 5 Figure 1 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the inventive method for manufacturing a window pane 100 with a capacitive switching area 10. The inventive method comprises the following steps: I. Applying a low-E coating 6 to an inner surface (IV) of a disk 1 and II. Introducing at least one dividing line 7 which electrically divides the low-E coating 6 into at least one capacitive switching area 10 and at least one ambient area 15, preferably by laser structuring or by mechanical or chemical ablation.

[0113] Particularly advantageous and surprising is a pane arrangement 200 with a window pane 100 or a pane arrangement 201 with a laminated pane 101, in which the sensitivity of the sensor electronics 14 is adjusted in such a way that a contactless triggering of the switching process from an inner surface IV of the window pane 100 or the laminated pane 101 is possible.

[0114] This result was unexpected and surprising for the expert. Reference symbol list:

[0115] 1. Pane, inner pane 5. Partial area 6. Low-E coating 7. Dividing line 10. Capacitive switching area 11. Detection area 12. Supply line area 13. Connection area 14. Capacitive sensor electronics 15. Ambient area 17. Foil conductor 21. Light-emitting diode (LED) 100. Window pane 101. Composite pane 200, 201. Pane arrangement d 1 , Thickness A-A'. Section line III. Outer surface of pane 1 or inner pane 1 IV. Inner surface of pane 1 or inner pane 1

Claims

1. Window pane (100) having a plurality of capacitive switching regions (10), for separating an interior from an external environment, comprising: - a pane (1) having an inner surface (IV) and - a coating (6) that is arranged at least partially on the inner surface (IV) of the pane (1), wherein a respective capacitive switching region (10) is electrically separated from the coating (6) by at least one coating-free dividing line (7) and can be electrically connected to a sensor electronics system (14) and has a detection region (11) for contactlessly detecting an object moved by a person in an activation region and the direction of movement thereof, wherein the detection region (11) is implemented in at least two strip-shaped subregions (5), the subregions are arranged at a coating-free distance corresponding to the width of the dividing line (7), a longitudinal axis of the subregions (5) runs parallel to one side of the inner surface, a subregion (5) has a length that corresponds to a side length of the inner surface (IV). the subregions (5) are arranged parallel to one another.

2. Window pane (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the capacitive switching region (10) is provided for generating an electric field that extends within the activation region.

3. Window pane (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection region (11) has a region that corresponds substantially to the inner surface (IV).

4. Window pane (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the activation region has an region parallel to and of the size of the inner surface (IV) and a width of 10 cm in the direction of the interior.

5. Window pane (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the capacitive switching region has a supply line region (12), a connection region (13), and a surrounding region (15), wherein the supply line region (12) is provided as an electrical connection between the detection region (11) and the connection region (13) and the connection region (13) can be electrically connected to a sensor electronics system (14).

6. Window pane (100) according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the capacitive switching region (10) is provided for generating an electrical signal and / or the detection region includes a light source.

7. Pane arrangement (101) comprising: - a window pane (100) according to one of claims 1 through 6 and - a capacitive sensor electronics system (14) that is electrically connected to the detection region (11), wherein the sensitivity of the sensor electronics system (14) is selected such that it outputs a switching signal upon detection of an object moved by a person in an activation region.

8. Composite pane (101), at least comprising - an inner pane (1) that consists of a pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, - an outer pane (2) having an inner surface (II), and - at least one intermediate layer (2) that joins the inner surface (II) of the outer pane (2) areally to an outer surface (III) of the inner pane (1) and the capacitive switching region (10) is provided for electrically controlling the optical transparency of the intermediate layer or of an electrochromic intermediate layer.

9. Method for producing a window pane (100) according to one of claims 1 through 6, at least comprising: (a) Applying a coating (6) on an inner surface (IV) of a pane (1), (b) Introducing at least one dividing line (7) that electrically divides the coating (6) into a plurality of capacitive switching regions (10) and / or at least one surrounding region (15), preferably by laser patterning or by mechanical or chemical ablation.

10. Use of the window pane (100) according to one of claims 1 through 6 or the composite pane (110) according to claim 8 in means of transportation for travel on land, in the air, or on water, in particular in motor vehicles, for example, as a windshield, rear window, side windows, and / or roof panel as well as a functional individual piece, and as a built-in component in furniture, appliances, and buildings, in particular as an electric heater.