A light guide-based open front for displays, related methods, and vehicle interior systems.

Abstract

This application relates to a light-guided hollow front panel for a display, related methods, and vehicle interior systems. This document discloses embodiments of a hollow front panel article for a display. The hollow front panel article includes a cover structure having: an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a glass layer located between the inner and outer surfaces, and a first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment located between the inner surface and the glass layer of the cover structure. The hollow front panel article also includes a light-guided layer having: an inner surface and an outer surface facing the inner surface of the cover structure. A light-extracting layer is located on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the light-guided layer.

Description

[0001] This invention patent application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with international application number PCT / US2018 / 050562, international application date of September 12, 2018, application number 201880059611.X which entered the Chinese national phase, and the invention title "Light guide-based hollow front for display, related methods and vehicle interior system".

[0002] Cross-references to related applications

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 557,987, filed September 13, 2017, pursuant to 35 U.S. SC §119, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure relates to light-guide-based deadfront articles for displays, and more specifically, to vehicle interior systems comprising light-guide-based deadfront articles for displays and methods of forming thereof. Background Technology

[0005] In various applications involving displays, a bare front appearance is desirable for the display surface or functional surface. Generally, a bare front appearance is a way to hide the display or functional surface, thus creating a seamless transition between the display area and the non-display area, or between the bare front area and the non-barrier area or other surfaces in a work-in-progress. For example, in a typical display with a glass or plastic overlay, the edges of the display (or the transition from the display area to the non-display area) are still visible even when the display is off. However, from an aesthetic or design perspective, a bare front appearance is often desirable, so that when the display is off, the display area and the non-display area appear indistinguishable, and the overlay surface presents a uniform appearance. One application where a bare front appearance is desired is in automotive interiors, including displays or touch interfaces within vehicles, and other applications in consumer mobile electronics or home electronics (including mobile devices and home appliances). However, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve a good bare front appearance and a high-quality display when the display is on. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One embodiment of this disclosure relates to a hollow front-facing article for a display. The hollow front-facing article includes a cover structure. The cover structure includes: an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a glass layer located between the inner and outer surfaces, and a first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment located between the inner surface and the glass layer of the cover structure. The hollow front-facing article includes a light-guiding layer, which includes an inner surface and an outer surface facing the inner surface of the cover structure. The hollow front-facing article includes a light-extracting layer located on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the light-guiding layer.

[0007] Another embodiment of this disclosure relates to a vehicle interior system. The vehicle interior system includes: a cover glass layer, a glass light guide layer located beneath the cover glass layer, and a light extraction layer located on the surface of the glass light guide layer. The light extraction layer forms a pattern corresponding to a display graphic. The vehicle interior system includes a first light source optically coupled to the glass light guide layer, such that light from the first light source propagates within the glass light guide layer via total internal reflection. When the first light source is activated, light in the glass light guide layer is extracted through the light extraction layer in the shape of the display graphic, which is visible through the cover glass layer.

[0008] Another embodiment of this disclosure relates to a method for forming a curved hollow front surface for a display. The method includes supporting a hollow front surface article on a support having a curved surface. The hollow front surface article includes: a cover glass layer, a light guide layer located beneath the cover glass layer, and a light extraction layer located on the surface of the light guide layer. The light extraction layer forms a pattern corresponding to a display graphic. The method includes applying a force to the hollow front surface article while it is supported by the support, causing the hollow front surface article to bend, thereby making the hollow front surface article conform to the curved shape of the curved surface of the support. During the application of the force, the maximum temperature of the hollow front surface article is less than the glass transition temperature of the cover glass layer.

[0009] Other features and advantages of this document are set forth in the following detailed description, some of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, or will be recognized by practicing the various embodiments described herein, including the following detailed description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] It should be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are merely exemplary, intended to provide a general overview or framework for understanding the nature and features of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, provide further understanding. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operation of various embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1It is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle having an internal system, which adopts a hollow front article according to one or more embodiments discussed herein.

[0012] Figure 2 This shows a display with an empty front side when the display is off, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3 Displaying the situation when the display is on according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 A display with an empty front.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional side view of a hollow front article for a display employing a light guide, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0015] Figure 5 The illustration shows an assembly of different color light sources according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 4 A display based on a light guide for a hollow front-facing product.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a side view of a curved glass hollow front article for a display according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0017] Figure 7 According to an exemplary implementation, Figure 6 A frontal perspective view of an empty frontal artifact before the glass layers are formed and bent.

[0018] Figure 8 This illustrates a curved glass hollow front article whose shape conforms to a curved display frame according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0019] Figure 9 This illustrates a process for cold-forming a glass hollow front article into a curved shape according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0020] Figure 10 This illustrates a process for forming a curved glass hollow front article employing a curved glass layer, according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Referring generally to the accompanying drawings, vehicle interior systems may include various curved surfaces designed to be transparent (e.g., curved display surfaces), and this disclosure provides articles and methods for forming these curved surfaces from glass materials. Forming curved vehicle surfaces from glass materials can offer numerous advantages compared to typical plastic curved panels commonly found in vehicle interiors. For example, for many curved overlay applications (e.g., display and touchscreen applications), glass is generally considered to offer enhanced functionality and user experience compared to plastic overlay materials.

[0022] Furthermore, it is considered desirable to equip displays with open front panels in many applications, particularly for displays used in vehicle interior systems. Generally speaking, an open front panel is a structure used in displays that obstructs the visibility of display components, icons, or graphics when the display is off, but allows easy observation of the display components when the display is on. Additionally, an open front panel layer on a display or other glass vehicle system component can be used to match the color or pattern of the glass component with adjacent non-glass components, thereby eliminating the visibility of the transition from glass to non-glass. For example, a display with a wood grain or leather patterned open front panel can be used to match the appearance of the display with the surrounding wooden or leather components (e.g., a wooden or leather dashboard) of the vehicle interior system in which the display is installed.

[0023] In specific embodiments, this disclosure relates to the use of cold forming or cold bending processes to form hollow front articles based on curved glass for displays. As described herein, the provided hollow front articles based on curved glass and their manufacturing processes avoid the drawbacks of typical glass thermoforming processes. For example, thermoforming processes are energy-intensive and increase the cost of forming curved glass assemblies compared to the cold bending processes discussed herein. Furthermore, thermoforming processes typically make the application of glass coatings (e.g., hollow front ink or pigment layers) more difficult. For example, many ink or pigment materials cannot be applied to flat sheets of glass material before thermoforming because ink or pigment materials generally cannot withstand the high temperatures of thermoforming. Moreover, applying ink or pigment materials to the surface of a curved glass article after hot bending is significantly more difficult than applying them to a flat glass article.

[0024] Figure 1 The illustration shows a vehicle interior 10 according to an exemplary embodiment, comprising three different vehicle interior systems 100, 200, and 300. Vehicle interior system 100 includes a center console base 110 with a curved surface 120, which includes a display, shown as a curved display 130. Vehicle interior system 200 includes an instrument panel base 210 with a curved surface 220, which includes a display, shown as a curved display 230. Instrument panel base 210 typically includes an instrument panel 215 that may also include a curved display. Vehicle interior system 300 includes an instrument panel steering wheel base 310 with a curved surface 320 and a display (shown as a curved display 330). In one or more embodiments, the vehicle interior system may include a base that includes armrests, pillars, seat backs, floors, headrests, door panels, or any portion of the vehicle interior that includes a curved surface.

[0025] The embodiments of the empty front article described herein can be used in any or all of the vehicle interior systems 100, 200, and 300. Although Figure 1 This document displays the interior of a vehicle, but various implementations of the vehicle's internal systems can be integrated into any type of vehicle, such as trains, automobiles (e.g., cars, trucks, and buses), marine vehicles (boats, ships, and submarines), and aircraft (e.g., drones, airplanes, jets, and helicopters), including manned, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, while this document primarily concerns implementations using empty front surfaces in vehicle displays, it should be understood that the various empty front surface implementations discussed herein can be used in any type of display application.

[0026] See Figure 2 and Figure 3 The empty front 400 of the vehicle display (e.g., display 130, 230 and / or 330) is shown and described. Figure 2 Showing the appearance of the empty front 400 when the relevant display's light source is not activated, and Figure 3 This displays the appearance of the empty front 400 when the light source of the relevant display is activated. For example... Figure 3 As shown, when the light source is active, multiple graphics or icons are visible on the display. When the light source is inactive, icons 410 disappear, and the surface of the empty front 400 displays the desired pattern without being interrupted by icons 410 (e.g., Figure 2 (The leather texture pattern in the text).

[0027] As discussed in more detail below, the hollow front article 400 provides this contrasting icon display by employing one or more colored layers located between the outer glass layer and the light source. The optical properties of the colored layer are designed such that when the light source is off, the icon or the boundary of other display structures located below the colored layer is invisible, but when the light source is on, the icon 410 is visible. In various embodiments, the hollow front article discussed herein is designed to provide a high-quality hollow front, including a high-contrast icon when the light source is on, combined with a high-contrast hollow front appearance when the light source is off. Furthermore, the applicant has provided these various hollow front articles in a manner suitable for cold forming into curved shapes (including complex curved shapes), as described below.

[0028] See Figure 4 and Figure 5The image shows a blank front article 500 for a display according to an exemplary embodiment. The blank front article 500 includes: a cover layer or structure (shown as a cover glass stack 502), a light guide layer (shown as a light guide layer 504), a reflector 506, and a light extraction layer 508. Generally, the cover glass stack 502 includes an outer surface 510, an inner surface 512, a glass layer 514, and an ink layer 516.

[0029] A glass layer 514 is located between the outer surface 510 and the inner surface 512, and an ink layer 516 is located between the inner surface 512 and the glass layer 514. In one embodiment, the ink layer 516 is a single layer of translucent ink or pigment applied to the glass layer 514 to provide the open front function discussed herein. In various embodiments, for example, Figure 4 As shown, ink layer 516 may include two or more layers of ink or pigment material, each with different properties, providing different functions for the hollow front article 500. In a specific embodiment, ink layer 516 includes a first layer 518 of translucent ink or pigment and a second layer 520 of translucent ink or pigment.

[0030] In various embodiments, the first layer 518 is attached, bonded, or adhered to the inner surface of the glass layer 514 and can be applied by a process such as inkjet printing. The first layer 518 can be formed from an ink material, a pigment material, or any suitable layer that simultaneously provides both light transmission and light blocking as discussed herein. Generally, the first layer 518 is a layer with differentiated light transmission properties, serving the following purpose: when the light source is not activated, it blocks the visibility of the display below the first layer 518; however, when the light source is activated, the first layer 518 provides sufficient light transmission, allowing observation of various display components, graphics, etc., through the first layer 518. In specific embodiments, the transmittance of the first layer 518 for light with wavelengths of 400-700 nm is 5% to 30%.

[0031] Besides obstructing the visibility of display components / icons when the display light source is not activated, the first layer 518 is visible to a user viewing the empty front panel 500 from the outside of the outer surface 510. Therefore, the first layer 518 can be formed to provide the desired pattern or appearance for the display incorporating the empty front panel 500, while also eliminating the visibility of the various display components when the light source is not activated. In various embodiments, the first layer 518 is formed, colored, or coated in a manner that provides the desired appearance for the display incorporating the empty front panel 500. In various embodiments, the first layer 518 provides one or more of the following appearances: wood grain design, leather texture design, fabric design, brushed metal design, icon design, and logo. In other embodiments, the first layer 518 can provide a solid colored appearance, such as a flat, uniform black appearance.

[0032] The second layer 520 is located below the first layer 518 and can be applied or printed onto the lower surface of the first layer 518. In the illustrated embodiment, the second layer 520 is an image enhancement layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment located between the first layer 516 and the light extraction layer 508. In a specific embodiment, layer 520 is formed of a white light-transmitting material that increases the contrast of various parts of the empty front article 500 (e.g., the graphics of the display or the patterns, designs, logos, etc. provided by layer 518, as discussed below).

[0033] The hollow front-facing article 500 is equipped with a glass light guide layer 504 and a light extraction layer 508 located on the surface of the glass light guide layer 504. In general, in this arrangement, when the display light source is activated, the glass light guide layer 504 and the light extraction layer 508 work together to form a pattern (in...). Figure 5 (As shown in Figures 530, 532, and 534).

[0034] In a specific embodiment, the glass optical guide layer 504 is a glass material sheet having an inner main surface and an outer main surface, and in Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the light extraction layer 508 is located on the outer main surface of the light guide layer 504. The light extraction layer 508 is printed or coated onto the surface of the light guide layer 504, and its pattern corresponds to one or more display graphics, such as... Figure 5 The figures shown are 530, 532, and 534.

[0035] Figure 5 The display 550 is equipped with an empty front-facing product 500. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the display 550 is equipped with one or more light sources, displayed as white light sources 552, 554, and 556 and colored light sources 562, 564, and 566. In various embodiments, light sources 552, 554, 556, 562, 564, and / or 566 are LED light sources. In various embodiments, light sources 552, 554, 556, 562, 564, and / or 566 can be monochromatic or multicolor.

[0036] In general, the light source is optically coupled to the glass light guide layer 504, allowing light from the light source to propagate within the glass light guide layer 504 via total internal reflection. The light extraction layer 508 extracts light from the glass light guide layer 504 in the shapes of patterns 530, 532, and 534, and due to the light-transmitting properties of the ink layer 516, the shapes of the extracted light are visible from the outside of the display through the cover glass stack 502. This arrangement allows the user to observe patterns 530, 532, and 534 when the light source is activated. When the light source is not activated, the ink layer 516 provides the blocking function discussed herein and blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer 508.

[0037] As can be seen from this description, the function of the hollow front article 500 in providing visibility of patterns 530, 532, and 534 when the light source is activated, as well as blocking display components (e.g., the light extraction patterns forming patterns 530, 532, and 534), stems from the balance of the light-transmitting properties of the various layers and materials constituting the hollow front article 500. Typically, the light extraction layer 508 is formed of an opaque ink material, and the opacity of this ink material is less than a threshold related to the transmittance of light passing through the overlay glass stack 502.

[0038] In one embodiment, the transmittance of light passing through the cover glass stack 502 is greater than 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer 508 is less than 10%. In other embodiments, the transmittance of light passing through the cover glass stack 502 is 20% to 40%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer 508 is less than 75%. In other embodiments, the transmittance of light passing through the cover glass stack 502 is approximately 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer 508 is approximately 10%. In other embodiments, the transmittance of light passing through the cover glass stack 502 is approximately 30%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer 508 is approximately 75%.

[0039] In a specific embodiment, the ink material of the light extraction layer 508 is a white ink material with an average thickness of 0.05 μm to 500 μm. In some such embodiments, the light extraction pattern of the light extraction layer 508 is made of white ink with a reflectivity substantially equal to that of the reflector 506. In various embodiments, the light extraction layer 508 may be visible to the eye or invisible.

[0040] In various embodiments, the light extraction layer 508 is formed of a transparent ink material with nearly 0% opacity. In this embodiment, the light extraction pattern is invisible when the backlight is off, and visible when the backlight is on. In another embodiment, the light extraction layer 508 is located on the bottom or inner surface of the light guide layer 504, and the light confinement features are located on the top surface of the light guide layer 504. In this embodiment, the first segment of the pattern is visible in one color, while the second segment of the pattern is visible in a different color.

[0041] Suitable light extraction features may include a roughened surface on a glass slide, which is achieved either by directly roughening the surface of the glass slide or by coating the slide with a suitable coating (e.g., a diffuse film). In some embodiments, light extraction features can be obtained, for example, by printing reflective elements (e.g., white dots) with a suitable ink (e.g., a UV-curable ink) and then drying and / or curing the ink. In some embodiments, a combination of the aforementioned extraction features may be used.

[0042] In some embodiments, the light transmittance of the cover glass structure 502 is less than 50%. In such embodiments, when the display's light source is not activated, the ink layer 516 is visible from the outside of the cover glass structure 502 and also blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer 508 from the outside of the cover glass structure 502. In a specific embodiment, the total light transmittance through all layers of the cover glass stack 502 is 5%-10% for light with wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm.

[0043] like Figure 4 As best shown, in some embodiments, the glass light-conducting layer 504 is formed of a glass material with an average thickness less than the average thickness of the cover glass layer 514. In some embodiments, the glass light-conducting layer 504 and the cover glass layer 514 are formed of the same glass material. In some other embodiments, the glass light-conducting layer 504 is formed of a first glass material, while the cover glass layer 514 is formed of a second glass material different from the first glass material. In some embodiments, an air gap may be located between the glass light-conducting layer 504 and the cover structure 502, promoting the light-conducting properties of layer 504. In other embodiments, the light-conducting layer 504 is made of a non-glass material (e.g., a polymer material). In a specific non-glass embodiment, the light-conducting layer 504 is formed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).

[0044] See Figure 4 A glass light guide layer 504 is located between the reflector 506 and the cover glass stack 502. Typically, the reflector 506 is a reflective material layer that reflects light extracted from the back side of the light guide layer 504 back into the light guide layer 504 towards the cover glass stack 502. In some embodiments, the reflector 506 serves to increase the light intensity available for display information and to increase the overall display brightness of light from the light guide layer 504 passing through the cover structure 502.

[0045] As described above, by employing a glass light guide as the light source to generate graphics 530, 532, and 534, the applicant believes that the display 550 can provide various advantages. In one exemplary embodiment (such as...) Figure 4 (As best shown), the light guide layer 504 is formed of a sheet of glass material, which includes an edge surface 570 extending between the outer periphery of the inner main surface and the outer main surface of the light guide layer 504. In such embodiments (e.g.) Figure 4 and 5(Illustrated schematically), the light source is optically coupled to the edge surface 570. This arrangement allows the light source of the display 550 to be located in any variety of positions, eliminating the need for the light source to be placed in a stacked arrangement with the empty front article 500. Therefore, by providing a light guide layer 504 (which is thinner than many conventional display stacks, such as LED display stacks), the arrangement of the empty front article 500 enables a thinner display, which is particularly suitable for display placement in some vehicle or vehicle structures that do not have sufficient depth to support conventional displays.

[0046] In some embodiments, the width and length dimensions of the glass light guide layer 504 are substantially the same as those of the overlay glass layer 514, thus providing a single light guide structure coextensive across the entire width and length of the empty front-facing article 500. In other embodiments, the width and / or length dimensions of the glass light guide layer 504 are smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the overlay glass layer 514. In such embodiments, the glass light guide layer 504 can illuminate sub-regions of the empty front-facing article 500.

[0047] In some such embodiments, the empty front article 500 may include a plurality of glass light guide layers 504, each illuminating a different spatial region of the empty front article 500. Figure 5 The different light guide regions are represented by dashed line segments. In some such embodiments, the upper light guide region 572 is optically coupled to a light source 562 having a first color (e.g., blue), the central light guide region 574 is optically coupled to a light source 564 having a second color (e.g., yellow), and the lower light guide region 576 is optically coupled to a light source 566 having a third color (e.g., red). This arrangement enables different light guide regions in space to be illuminated with different colors, allowing a wider range of information to be conveyed through the display 550.

[0048] It should be understood that the glass material or layers of the hollow front article 500 (e.g., glass layer 514 and glass light guide layer 504) can be formed from any glass material discussed herein. Furthermore, the hollow front article 500 can be formed into a curved shape via any forming process discussed herein. In various embodiments, the cover structure 502 may include a functional surface layer 580, which may include at least one of the following: an anti-glare coating, an anti-reflective coating, a scratch-resistant coating, an anti-reflective coating, a semi-mirror coating, or an easy-to-clean coating. The display 550 may also be equipped with touch sensor functionality.

[0049] Optical guide hole front example

[0050] A light guide plate was formed from Corning's trademarked Willow glass, 200 μm thick. A light extraction pattern corresponding to the desired icon was printed on the light guide plate using a Mimaki UJF7151+ printer and UVink LH-100 white ink purchased from Mimaki Global. The white ink thickness was approximately 0.050 μm. Different opacity levels of white ink were used.

[0051] When the opacity of the white ink is above a threshold, the light extraction pattern remains visible even when the backlight is off. When the opacity of the white ink is below a threshold, the light extraction pattern is invisible when the backlight is off. The acceptable opacity threshold varies with the transmittance of the overlay stack 502. When the transmittance of the overlay stack 502 is close to 90%, the acceptable opacity threshold of the white ink in the light extraction layer 508 is approximately 10%. When the transmittance of the overlay stack 502 is approximately 30%, the acceptable opacity threshold of the white ink in the light extraction layer 508 is approximately 75%. Furthermore, when the opacity of the white ink in the light extraction layer 508 is greater than a threshold and the reflectivity of the reflector 506 is substantially equal to the reflectivity of the light extraction layer 508, the light extraction pattern is invisible when the backlight is off, and visible when the backlight is on.

[0052] Curved glass front and cold forming

[0053] See Figure 6-10 This document shows and describes various dimensions, shapes, curvatures, glass materials, etc., of open fronts based on curved glass, as well as various processes used to form open fronts based on curved glass. It should be understood that, although for purposes of explanation, Figure 6-10 The description is of a simplified curved hollow front structure 2000, but the hollow front structure 2000 can be any hollow front article embodiment discussed herein.

[0054] like Figure 6 As shown, in one or more embodiments, the hollow front article 2000 includes a curved outer glass layer 2010 having at least a first radius of curvature R1, and in various embodiments, the curved outer glass layer 2010 is a sheet of complex curved glass material having at least one additional radius of curvature. In various embodiments, R1 is about 60 mm to about 1500 mm.

[0055] The curved hollow front article 2000 includes a hollow front colored layer 2020 (e.g., the ink / pigment layer discussed above) located along the inner main surface of the curved outer glass layer 2010. Typically, the hollow front colored layer 2020 is printed, colored, or molded to provide wood grain designs, leather textures, fabric designs, brushed metal designs, graphic designs, solid colors, and / or logos. The curved hollow front article 2000 may also include any additional layers 2030 as discussed above (e.g., high optical density layers, light guide layers, reflector layers, display modules, display stack layers, light sources, etc.) or any of those possibly related to displays or vehicle internal systems as discussed herein.

[0056] As discussed in more detail below, in various embodiments, the curved hollow front article 2000, comprising a glass layer 2010 and a colored layer 2020, can be cold-formed together to form a curved shape, such as... Figure 6 As shown. In some embodiments, the curved hollow front article 2000, comprising a glass layer 2010, a colored layer 2020, and an additional layer 2030, can be cold-formed together to form a curved shape, such as... Figure 6 As shown. In other embodiments, glass layer 2010 may be shaped into a curved shape, and then coatings 2020 and 2030 may be applied after the curve is formed.

[0057] See Figure 7 It shows that in the formation of Figure 7 The outer glass layer prior to the curved shape shown in 2010. In general, the applicant believes that the article and process discussed herein provide a high-quality hollow front structure using glass whose dimensions, shape, composition, strength, etc., are not previously available.

[0058] like Figure 7 As shown, the outer glass layer 2010 includes a first primary surface 2050 and a second primary surface 2060 opposite to the first primary surface 2050. An edge surface or subsurface 2070 connects the first primary surface 2050 and the second primary surface 2060. The thickness (t) of the outer glass layer 2010 is substantially constant and is defined as the distance between the first primary surface 2050 and the second primary surface 2060. In some embodiments, the thickness (t) used herein refers to the maximum thickness of the outer glass layer 2010. The outer glass layer 2010 includes a width (W), defined as a first maximum dimension of the first or second primary surface perpendicular to the thickness (t), and the outer glass layer 2010 also includes a length (L), defined as a second maximum dimension of the first or second primary surface perpendicular to both the thickness and the width. In other embodiments, the dimensions discussed herein are average dimensions.

[0059] In one or more embodiments, the thickness (t) of the outer glass layer 2010 is from 0.05 mm to 2 mm. In various embodiments, the thickness (t) of the outer glass layer 2010 is about 1.5 mm or less. For example, the thickness can be in the following ranges: about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.15 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.2 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.35 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.45 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.55 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.65 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1.4 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1.3 mm. About 0.1mm to about 1.2mm, about 0.1mm to about 1.1mm, about 0.1mm to about 1.05mm, about 0.1mm to about 1mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.95mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.9mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.85mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.8mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.75mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.7mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.65mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.6mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.55mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.5mm, about 0.1mm to about 0.4mm, or about 0.3mm to about 0.7mm.

[0060] In one or more embodiments, the width (W) of the outer glass layer 2010 is within the following ranges: approximately 5 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 10 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 15 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 20 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 25 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 30 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 35 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 40 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 45 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 50 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 55 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 60 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 65 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 70 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 75 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 80 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 85 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 90 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 95 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 100 cm to approximately 250 cm. 0cm, about 110cm to about 250cm, about 120cm to about 250cm, about 130cm to about 250cm, about 140cm to about 250cm, about 150cm to about 250cm, about 5cm to about 240cm, about 5cm to about 230cm, about 5cm to about 220cm, about 5cm to about 210cm, about 5cm to about 200cm, about 5cm to about 190cm, about 5cm to about 180cm, about 5cm to about 170cm, about 5cm to about 160cm, about 5cm to about 150cm, about 5cm to about 140cm, about 5cm to about 130cm, about 5cm to about 120cm, about 5cm to about 110cm, about 5cm to about 100cm, about 5cm to about 90cm, about 5cm to about 80cm, or about 5cm to about 75cm.

[0061] In one or more embodiments, the length (L) of the outer glass layer 2010 is within the following ranges: approximately 5 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 10 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 15 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 20 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 25 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 30 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 35 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 40 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 45 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 50 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 55 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 60 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 65 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 70 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 75 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 80 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 85 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 90 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 95 cm to approximately 250 cm, approximately 100 cm to approximately 250 cm. 0cm, about 110cm to about 250cm, about 120cm to about 250cm, about 130cm to about 250cm, about 140cm to about 250cm, about 150cm to about 250cm, about 5cm to about 240cm, about 5cm to about 230cm, about 5cm to about 220cm, about 5cm to about 210cm, about 5cm to about 200cm, about 5cm to about 190cm, about 5cm to about 180cm, about 5cm to about 170cm, about 5cm to about 160cm, about 5cm to about 150cm, about 5cm to about 140cm, about 5cm to about 130cm, about 5cm to about 120cm, about 5cm to about 110cm, about 5cm to about 100cm, about 5cm to about 90cm, about 5cm to about 80cm, or about 5cm to about 75cm.

[0062] like Figure 6 As shown, the outer glass layer 2010 is formed into a curved shape having at least one radius of curvature (shown as R1). In various embodiments, the outer glass layer 2010 can be formed into a curved shape via any suitable process (including cold forming and hot forming).

[0063] In a specific embodiment, the outer glass layer 2010 is individually formed as follows via a cold forming process. Figure 6 The curved shape shown, or the outer glass layer 2010 shaped as shown after layers 2020 and 2030 are attached. Figure 6The bending shape is shown. As used herein, the terms "cold-bent," "cold-formed," or "cold-formed" refer to bending the glass front at a cold-forming temperature below (as described herein) the softening point of the glass. A cold-formed glass layer is characterized by asymmetrical surface compression between a first primary surface 2050 and a second primary surface 2060. In some embodiments, the corresponding compressive stresses in the first primary surface 2050 and the second primary surface 2060 are substantially equal before the cold-forming process or for the case of cold forming.

[0064] In some such embodiments where the outer glass layer 2010 is not strengthened, the first primary surface 2050 and the second primary surface 2060 do not exhibit perceptible compressive stress prior to cold forming. In some such embodiments where the outer glass layer 2010 is strengthened (as described herein), the first primary surface 2050 and the second primary surface 2060 exhibit compressive stresses that are substantially equal to each other before cold forming. In one or more embodiments, after cold forming (e.g., as described herein), Figure 6 As shown), the compressive stress on the second main surface 2060 (i.e., the concave surface after bending) increases (i.e., the compressive stress on the second main surface 2050 is greater after cold forming than before cold forming).

[0065] Not limited to theory, cold forming processes increase the compressive stress of the formed glass article to compensate for the tensile stress imposed during bending and / or forming operations. In one or more embodiments, the cold forming process causes the second primary surface 2060 to experience compressive stress, while the first primary surface 2050 (e.g., a convex surface after bending) experiences tensile stress. The tensile stress experienced by surface 2050 after bending results in a net decrease in surface compressive stress, thereby strengthening the compressive stress on surface 2050 of the glass sheet after bending to be less than the compressive stress on surface 2050 when the glass sheet is flat.

[0066] Furthermore, when a reinforced glass sheet is used for the outer glass layer 2010, the first and second main surfaces (2050, 2060) are already under compressive stress, and therefore the first main surface 2050 can withstand greater tensile stress during bending without the risk of breakage. This enables the reinforced embodiment of the outer glass layer 2010 to more closely conform to the bending surface (e.g., shaped to have a smaller R1 value).

[0067] In various embodiments, the thickness of the outer glass layer 2010 is adjusted to allow for greater flexibility, thereby achieving the desired radius of curvature. Furthermore, a thinner outer glass layer 2010 may be more easily deformable, potentially compensating for shape fits and gaps that may arise from the shape of the support or frame (as described below). In one or more embodiments, the thin and reinforced outer glass layer 2010 exhibits greater flexibility, particularly during cold forming. This greater flexibility in the glass articles discussed herein allows for consistent bending without heating.

[0068] In various embodiments, the outer glass layer 2010 (and therefore the open front 2000) can have a composite curvature including a principal radius and a lateral curvature. A complexly curved cold-formed outer glass layer 2010 can have different radii of curvature in two independent directions. Thus, according to one or more embodiments, a complexly curved cold-formed outer glass layer 2010 can be characterized as having a “lateral curvature” where the cold-formed outer glass layer 2010 is curved along an axis parallel to a given scale (i.e., a first axis) and also along an axis perpendicular to the same scale (i.e., a second axis). The curvature of the cold-formed outer glass layer 2010 can be even more complex when a significant minimum radius is combined with a significant lateral curvature and / or curvature depth.

[0069] See Figure 8 The image shows a display assembly 2100 according to an exemplary embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the display assembly 2100 includes a frame 2110 that (directly or indirectly) simultaneously supports a light source (displayed as a display module 2120) and a hollow front structure 2000. Figure 8 As shown, the open front structure 2000 and the display module 2120 are connected to the frame 2110, and the display module 2120 is positioned such that a user can observe the light, images, etc., produced by the display module 2120 through the open front structure 2000. In various embodiments, the frame 2110 can be formed from various materials (e.g., plastics (PC / ABS, etc.), metals (Al alloys, Mg alloys, Fe alloys, etc.)). Various processes, such as casting, machining, stamping, injection molding, etc., can be used to form the curved shape of the frame 2110. Although Figure 8 The light source shown is in the form of a display module; however, it should be understood that the display assembly 2100 may include any light source discussed herein for generating graphics, icons, images, displays, etc., through any open frontal implementation discussed herein. Furthermore, although the frame 2110 is shown as a frame associated with the display assembly, the frame 2110 may be any support or frame structure associated with a vehicle's internal system.

[0070] In various embodiments, the systems and methods described herein enable the formed empty front structure 2000 to conform to a wide range of bending shapes that the frame 2110 may possess. For example... Figure 8 As shown, frame 2110 has a support surface 2130 having a curved shape, and empty front structure 2000 is shaped to match the curved shape of support surface 2130. It will be understood that empty front structure 2000 can be shaped in a wide range of shapes to conform to the desired frame shape of display assembly 2100, which in turn can be shaped to fit as part of a vehicle interior system, as described herein.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, the open front structure 2000 (specifically, the outer glass layer 2010) is shaped to have a first radius of curvature R1 of about 60 mm or greater. For example, R1 can be in the following ranges: about 60 mm to about 1500 mm, about 70 mm to about 1500 mm, about 80 mm to about 1500 mm, about 90 mm to about 1500 mm, about 100 mm to about 1500 mm, about 120 mm to about 1500 mm, about 140 mm to about 1500 mm, about 150 mm to about 1500 mm, about 160 mm to about 1500 mm, about 180 mm to about 1500 mm, about 200 mm to about 1500 mm, about 220 mm to about 1500 mm, about 240 mm to about 1500 mm, about 240 mm to about 1500 mm. mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 250mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 260mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 270mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 280mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 290mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 300mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 350mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 400mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 450mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 500mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 550mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 600mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 6 50mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 700mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 750mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 800mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 900mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 9500mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 1000mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 1250mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1400mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1300mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1200mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1100mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1000mm, approximately 6 0mm to about 950mm, about 60mm to about 900mm, about 60mm to about 850mm, about 60mm to about 800mm, about 60mm to about 750mm, about 60mm to about 700mm, about 60mm to about 650mm, about 60mm to about 600mm, about 60mm to about 550mm, about 60mm to about 500mm, about 60mm to about 450mm, about 60mm to about 400mm, about 60mm to about 350mm, about 60mm to about 300mm, or about 60mm to about 250mm.

[0072] In one or more embodiments, the support surface 2130 has a second radius of curvature of about 60 mm or greater. For example, the second radius of curvature of the support surface 2130 can be in the following ranges: about 60 mm to about 1500 mm, about 70 mm to about 1500 mm, about 80 mm to about 1500 mm, about 90 mm to about 1500 mm, about 100 mm to about 1500 mm, about 120 mm to about 1500 mm, about 140 mm to about 1500 mm, about 150 mm to about 1500 mm, about 160 mm to about 1500 mm, about 180 mm to about 1500 mm, about 200 mm to about 1500 mm, about 220 mm to about 1500 mm. 500mm, approximately 240mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 250mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 260mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 270mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 280mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 290mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 300mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 350mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 400mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 450mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 500mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 550mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 600mm to approximately 1500mm 0mm, approximately 650mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 700mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 750mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 800mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 900mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 9500mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 1000mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 1250mm to approximately 1500mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1400mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1300mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1200mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1100mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 1000mm Approximately 60mm to approximately 950mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 900mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 850mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 800mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 750mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 700mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 650mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 600mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 550mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 500mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 450mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 400mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 350mm, approximately 60mm to approximately 300mm, or approximately 60mm to approximately 250mm.

[0073] In one or more embodiments, the hollow front structure 2000 is cold-formed, thereby exhibiting a first radius of curvature R1 that differs from a second radius of curvature of the support surface 2130 of the frame 2110 by less than 10% (e.g., about 10% or less, about 9% or less, about 8% or less, about 7% or less, about 6% or less, or about 5% or less). For example, the support surface 2130 of the frame 2110 exhibits a radius of curvature of 1000 mm, and the hollow front structure 2000 is cold-formed, thus having a radius of curvature of about 1100 mm with a value of about 900 mm.

[0074] In one or more embodiments, the first main surface 2050 and / or the second main surface 2060 of the glass layer 2010 include a surface treatment or functional coating. The surface treatment may cover at least a portion of the first main surface 2050 and / or the second main surface 2060. Exemplary surface treatments include at least one of the following: an anti-glare coating, an anti-reflective coating, a scratch-resistant coating, an anti-reflective coating, a semi-mirror coating, or an easy-to-clean coating.

[0075] See Figure 9 The diagram illustrates a method 2200 for forming a display assembly comprising a cold-formed hollow front structure (e.g., hollow front structure 2000). In step 2210, a hollow front stack or structure (e.g., hollow front structure 2000) is supported and / or placed on a curved support. Generally, the curved support may be the frame of the display (e.g., frame 2110) defining the perimeter and curved shape of the vehicle display. Generally, the curved frame includes a curved support surface, and one of the main surfaces 2050 and 2060 of the hollow front structure 2000 is positioned to contact the curved support surface.

[0076] In step 2220, when supported by the support, a force is applied to the hollow front structure, causing it to bend into a shape conforming to the bending shape of the support. In this way, a hollow front structure, as described above, is formed from a generally flat hollow front structure. Figure 6 The illustrated curved hollow front structure 2000. In this arrangement, the bending of the flat hollow front structure forms a curved shape on the main surface facing the support, while also resulting in corresponding (however, complementary) bending on the main surface opposite the frame. The applicant believes that by bending the hollow front structure directly onto the curved frame, the need for a separate bending die or mold (typically required in other glass bending processes) is eliminated. Furthermore, the applicant believes that by directly forming the hollow front article into a curved frame, a wide range of radii of curvature can be achieved in a low-complexity manufacturing process.

[0077] In some embodiments, the force applied in step 2220 may be air pressure applied via a vacuum clamp. In some embodiments, an air pressure differential is created by applying a vacuum to the hermetic encapsulation surrounding the frame and the empty front structure. In a specific embodiment, the hermetic encapsulation is a flexible polymer shell, such as a plastic bag or pouch. In other embodiments, an air pressure differential is created by generating increased air pressure around the empty front structure and the frame using an overpressure device (e.g., an autoclave). The applicant has also found that air pressure provides a consistent and highly uniform bending force (compared to contact-based bending methods), which further results in a robust manufacturing process. In various embodiments, the air pressure differential is 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres (atm), specifically 0.7 to 1.1 atm, and more specifically 0.8 to 1 atm.

[0078] In step 2230, during the bending process, the temperature of the hollow front structure is maintained below the glass transition temperature of the outer glass layer material. Therefore, method 2200 is a cold forming or cold bending process. In specific embodiments, the temperature of the hollow front structure is maintained below 500 degrees Celsius, 400 degrees Celsius, 300 degrees Celsius, 200 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Celsius. In specific embodiments, during the bending process, the hollow front structure is maintained at or below room temperature. In specific embodiments, during the bending process, the hollow front structure is not actively heated via heating elements (furnace, oven, etc.) as is done in cases where glass is thermoformed into a curved shape.

[0079] As mentioned above, in addition to providing processing advantages such as eliminating expensive and / or slow heating steps, the curved hollow front structures produced by the cold forming process discussed herein are believed to possess various properties superior to those achievable via hot forming processes. For example, the applicant believes that, at least for some glass materials, heating during the hot forming process reduces the optical properties of the curved glass sheet; therefore, the hollow front articles based on curved glass formed using the cold forming process / system discussed herein simultaneously provide the curved glass shape and improved optical quality believed to be unattainable by hot bending processes.

[0080] Furthermore, many glass coating materials (e.g., anti-glare coatings, anti-reflective coatings, etc.) are applied via deposition processes (e.g., sputtering), which are generally unsuitable for application to curved surfaces. Additionally, many coating materials (e.g., blank ink / pigment materials) cannot withstand the high temperatures associated with hot bending processes. Therefore, in the specific embodiments discussed herein, layer 2020 is applied to the outer glass layer 2010 prior to cold forming. Thus, the applicant believes that the process and system discussed herein allow for bending of glass after one or more coating materials have been applied to the glass article, unlike typical hot forming processes.

[0081] In step 2240, the curved empty front structure is attached or secured to the curved support. In various embodiments, the attachment between the curved empty front structure and the curved support can be accomplished using an adhesive material. Such adhesives can include any suitable optically clear adhesive for bonding and securing the empty front structure relative to the display assembly (e.g., relative to the display frame). In one example, the adhesive may include an optically clear adhesive, trade name 8215, available from 3M. The adhesive thickness can range from about 200 μm to about 500 μm.

[0082] Adhesive materials can be applied in various ways. In one embodiment, the adhesive is applied using a spray gun and then uniformly applied using a roller or drop die. In various embodiments, the adhesive discussed herein is a structural adhesive. In specific embodiments, the structural adhesive may include adhesives selected from one or more of the following classes: (a) toughened epoxy (Masterbond EP21TDCHT-LO, 3M Scotch Solder Epoxide DP460 off-white); (b) flexible epoxy (Masterbond EP21TDC-2LO, 3M Scotch Solder Epoxide 2216B / A grey); (c) acrylics (LORD Adhesive 410 / Accelerator 19w / LORD AP 134 Primer, LORD Adhesive 852 / LORD Accelerator 25GB, Loctite HF 8000, Loctite AA4800); (d) urethanes (3M Scotch Solder Urethane DP640 brown); and (e) silicones (Dow Corning 995). In some cases, sheet-like structural adhesives (e.g., stage B epoxy adhesives) can be used. Alternatively, pressure-sensitive structural adhesives (e.g., 3M VHB strips) can be used. In such embodiments, the use of pressure-sensitive adhesives enables the bonding of curved, empty front structures to the frame without requiring a curing step.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the method includes arranging or mounting a curved display in a vehicle interior system 100, 200, 300.

[0084] See Figure 10The method 2300 for forming a display using a curved hollow front structure is shown and described. In some embodiments, in step 2310, the glass layer of the hollow front structure (e.g., outer glass layer 2010) is formed into a curved shape. The forming in step 2310 can be cold forming or hot forming. In step 2320, after forming, a hollow front ink / pigment layer (e.g., layer 2020) is applied to the glass layer. Then, in step 2330, the curved hollow front structure is attached to a frame (e.g., frame 2110 of the display assembly 2100 or other frames that may be associated with a vehicle interior system).

[0085] glass materials

[0086] The various glass layers (e.g., outer glass layer 2010) of the open front structure discussed herein can be formed from any suitable glass composition, including: soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, alkaline aluminosilicate glass, alkaline borosilicate glass, and alkaline borosilicate glass.

[0087] Unless otherwise stated, the glass compositions disclosed herein are described as mole percentages (mol%) analyzed on an oxide basis.

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may include SiO2 in amounts of about 66 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 67 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 68 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 69 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 70 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 72 mol% to about 80 mol%, about 65 mol% to about 78 mol%, about 65 mol% to about 76 mol%, about 65 mol% to about 75 mol%, about 65 mol% to about 74 mol%, about 65 mol% to about 72 mol%, or about 65 mol% to about 70 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therein.

[0089] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains Al2O3 in an amount greater than about 4 mol% or greater than about 5 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains Al2O3 in the following ranges: greater than about 7 mol% to about 15 mol%, greater than about 7 mol% to about 14 mol%, about 7 mol% to about 13 mol%, about 4 mol% to about 12 mol%, about 7 mol% to about 11 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 15 mol%, 9 mol% to about 15 mol%, about 9 mol% to about 15 mol%, about 10 mol% to about 15 mol%, about 11 mol% to about 15 mol%, or about 12 mol% to about 15 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the upper limit of Al2O3 may be about 14 mol%, 14.2 mol%, 14.4 mol%, 14.6 mol%, or 14.8 mol%.

[0090] In one or more embodiments, the glass layer herein is described as an aluminosilicate glass article or a composition comprising aluminosilicate glass. In such embodiments, the resulting glass composition or article comprises SiO2 and Al2O3 and is not soda-lime silicate glass. In this regard, the amount of Al2O3 contained in the resulting glass composition or article is about 2 mol% or more, 2.25 mol% or more, 2.5 mol% or more, about 2.75 mol% or more, or about 3 mol% or more.

[0091] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition comprises B2O3 (e.g., about 0.01 mol% or more). In one or more embodiments, the glass composition comprises B2O3 in amounts of: about 0 mol% to about 5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 3 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 2 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.5 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 5 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 3 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 2 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 1 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 0.5 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition is substantially free of B2O3.

[0092] As used herein, the expression “substantially free” relative to a component of a composition means that the component was not actively or intentionally added to the composition in the initial formulation, but may be present as an impurity in an amount of less than about 0.001 mol%.

[0093] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition optionally contains P2O5 (e.g., about 0.01 mol% or more). In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains a non-zero amount of P2O5, up to and including 2 mol%, 1.5 mol%, 1 mol%, or 0.5 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition is substantially free of P2O5.

[0094] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may include a total amount of R2O greater than or equal to about 8 mol%, greater than or equal to about 10 mol%, or greater than or equal to about 12 mol% (this is the total amount of alkali metal oxides such as Li2O, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O, and Cs2O). In some embodiments, the total amount of R2O contained in the glass composition is in the following ranges: about 8 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 18 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 16 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 14 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 12 mol%, about 9 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 10 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 11 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 12 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 13 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 10 mol% to about 14 mol%, or 11 mol% to about 13 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may be substantially free of Rb₂O and Cs₂O, or substantially free of both Rb₂O and Cs₂O. In one or more embodiments, R₂O may comprise only the total amount of Li₂O, Na₂O, and K₂O. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may contain at least one alkali metal oxide selected from Li₂O, Na₂O, and K₂O, wherein the alkali metal oxide is present in an amount greater than about 8 mol% or more.

[0095] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains Na2O in an amount greater than or equal to about 8 mol%, greater than or equal to about 10 mol%, or greater than or equal to about 12 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the composition contains Na2O in the range of about 8 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 18 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 16 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 14 mol%, about 8 mol% to about 12 mol%, about 9 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 10 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 11 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 12 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 13 mol% to about 20 mol%, about 10 mol% to about 14 mol%, or 11 mol% to about 16 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therein.

[0096] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition comprises less than about 4 mol% K2O, less than about 3 mol% K2O, or less than about 1 mol% K2O. In some cases, the glass composition may include K2O in amounts of about 0 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 3.5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 3 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 2.5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 2 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1.5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.2 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.1 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 3.5 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 3 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 2.5 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 2 mol%, about 0.5 mol% to about 1.5 mol%, or about 0.5 mol% to about 1 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therein. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may be substantially free of K2O.

[0097] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition is substantially free of Li2O.

[0098] In one or more embodiments, the amount of Na2O in the composition may be greater than the amount of Li2O. In some cases, the amount of Na2O may be greater than the total amount of Li2O and K2O. In one or more alternative embodiments, the amount of Li2O in the composition may be greater than the amount of Na2O or may be greater than the total amount of Na2O and K2O.

[0099] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may contain a total amount of RO from about 0 mol% to about 2 mol% (this is the total amount of alkaline earth metal oxides such as CaO, MgO, BaO, ZnO, and SrO). In some embodiments, the glass composition contains a non-zero amount of RO, up to about 2 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains RO in amounts of: about 0 mol% to about 1.8 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1.6 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1.5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1.4 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1.2 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 1 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.8 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 0.5 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0100] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition contains less than about 1 mol%, less than about 0.8 mol%, or less than about 0.5 mol% of CaO. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition is substantially free of CaO.

[0101] In some embodiments, the amount of MgO contained in the glass composition is in the following ranges: about 0 mol% to about 7 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 6 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 5 mol%, about 0 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 7 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 6 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 5 mol%, about 0.1 mol% to about 4 mol%, about 1 mol% to about 7 mol%, about 2 mol% to about 6 mol%, or about 3 mol% to about 6 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0102] In one or more embodiments, the amount of ZrO2 contained in the glass composition is equal to or less than about 0.2 mol%, less than about 0.18 mol%, less than about 0.16 mol%, less than about 0.15 mol%, less than about 0.14 mol%, or less than about 0.12 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the range of ZrO2 contained in the glass composition is as follows: about 0.01 mol% to about 0.2 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.18 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.16 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.15 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.14 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.12 mol%, or about 0.01 mol% to about 0.10 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0103] In one or more embodiments, the amount of SnO2 contained in the glass composition is equal to or less than about 0.2 mol%, less than about 0.18 mol%, less than about 0.16 mol%, less than about 0.15 mol%, less than about 0.14 mol%, or less than about 0.12 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the range of SnO2 contained in the glass composition is as follows: about 0.01 mol% to about 0.2 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.18 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.16 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.15 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.14 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.12 mol%, or about 0.01 mol% to about 0.10 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0104] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may contain oxides that impart color or tint to the glass article. In some embodiments, the glass composition contains oxides that prevent discoloration of the glass article when it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Examples of such oxides include, but are not limited to, oxides of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ce, W, and Mo.

[0105] In one or more embodiments, the glass composition comprises Fe expressed as Fe₂O₃, wherein the amount of Fe present is up to (and includes) about 1 mol%. In some embodiments, the glass composition is substantially free of Fe. In one or more embodiments, the amount of Fe₂O₃ contained in the glass composition is equal to or less than about 0.2 mol%, less than about 0.18 mol%, less than about 0.16 mol%, less than about 0.15 mol%, less than about 0.14 mol%, or less than about 0.12 mol%. In one or more embodiments, the range of Fe₂O₃ contained in the glass composition is as follows: about 0.01 mol% to about 0.2 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.18 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.16 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.15 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.14 mol%, about 0.01 mol% to about 0.12 mol%, or about 0.01 mol% to about 0.10 mol%, and all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0106] When the glass composition contains TiO2, the amount of TiO2 present may be about 5 mol% or less, about 2.5 mol% or less, about 2 mol% or less, or about 1 mol% or less. In one or more embodiments, the glass composition may be substantially free of TiO2.

[0107] An exemplary glass composition comprises: SiO2 in an amount of about 65 mol% to about 75 mol%, Al2O3 in an amount of about 8 mol% to about 14 mol%, Na2O in an amount of about 12 mol% to about 17 mol%, K2O in an amount of about 0 mol% to about 0.2 mol%, and MgO in an amount of about 1.5 mol% to about 6 mol%. Optionally, SnO2 may be included in the amounts disclosed anywhere else herein.

[0108] Properties of reinforced glass

[0109] In one or more embodiments, the outer glass layer 2010 or other glass layer of any of the empty front-face article embodiments discussed herein may be formed from a strengthened glass sheet or article. In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the layer of the empty front-face structure discussed herein may be strengthened to include compressive stress extending from the surface to the depth of compression (DOC). The compressive stress region is balanced by a central portion exhibiting tensile stress. At the DOC, the stress transforms from normal (compressive) stress to normal (tensile) stress.

[0110] In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the hollow front structure discussed herein can be mechanically strengthened by employing a mismatch in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the glass portions, thereby creating regions of compressive stress and a central region exhibiting tensile stress. In some embodiments, the glass article can be thermally strengthened by heating the glass to a temperature above its glass transition point and then rapidly quenching it.

[0111] In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the empty front structure discussed herein can be chemically strengthened by ion exchange. During ion exchange, larger ions having the same valence or oxidation state replace or exchange ions at or near the glass surface. In those embodiments where the glass article comprises alkaline aluminosilicate glass, the ions in the surface layer of the article, as well as the larger ions, are monovalent alkali metal cations, such as Li. + Na + K + 、Rb + and Cs + Alternatively, the monovalent cations in the surface layer can be monovalent cations other than alkali metal cations, such as Ag. + Replacement. In such embodiments, the monovalent ions (or cations) exchanged into the glass article generate stress.

[0112] Ion exchange processes are typically performed by immersing glass articles in a molten salt bath (or two or more molten salt baths) containing larger ions to be exchanged with smaller ions in the glass article. It should be noted that aqueous salt baths can also be used. Furthermore, the bath composition can contain more than one type of larger ion (e.g., Na+ and K+) or a single type of larger ion. Those skilled in the art will understand that the parameters of the ion exchange process, including but not limited to bath composition and temperature, immersion time, number of immersions of the glass article in the salt bath (or multiple salt baths), the use of multiple salt baths, and other steps (e.g., annealing and washing), are generally determined by factors such as the composition of the glass layer with an empty front structure (including the structure of the article and any crystalline phases present), and the required DOC and CS of the glass layer with an empty front structure obtained through strengthening.

[0113] Exemplary molten salt bath compositions may include nitrates, sulfates, and chlorides containing large alkali metal ions. Typical nitrates include KNO3, NaNO3, LiNO3, NaSO4, and combinations thereof. Depending on the glass thickness, bath temperature, and glass (or monovalent ion) diffusivity, the temperature of the molten salt bath typically ranges from about 380°C to a maximum of about 450°C, while the immersion time ranges from about 15 minutes to a maximum of about 100 hours. However, different temperatures and immersion times may also be used.

[0114] In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the hollow front structure can be immersed in a molten salt bath of 100% NaNO3, 100% KNO3, or a combination of NaNO3 and KNO3 at a temperature of about 370°C to about 480°C. In some embodiments, the glass layer of the hollow front structure can be immersed in a mixed molten salt bath containing about 5% to about 90% KNO3 and about 10% to about 95% NaNO3. In one or more embodiments, after immersion in the first bath, the glass article can be immersed in a second bath. The first bath and the second bath can have different compositions and / or temperatures. The immersion times in the first bath and the second bath can be different. For example, the immersion in the first bath can be longer than the immersion in the second bath.

[0115] In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the hollow front structure can be immersed in a mixed molten salt bath containing NaNO3 and KNO3 (e.g., 49% / 51%, 50% / 50%, 51% / 49%) at a temperature less than about 420°C (e.g., about 400°C or about 380°C) for less than about 5 hours or even about 4 hours or less.

[0116] Ion exchange conditions can be adjusted to provide a "spiking" or to increase the slope of the stress distribution at or near the surface of the resulting empty frontal structure glass layer. Spiking can result in a larger surface CS value. Due to the unique properties of the glass composition used in the empty frontal structure glass layer described herein, such spikes can be achieved through single-bath or multi-bath processes, where the baths have a single composition or a mixture of compositions.

[0117] In one or more embodiments, when more than one type of monovalent ion is exchanged into the glass article used to form the empty front structure, the different monovalent ions may exchange into different depths within the glass layer (and generate stresses of different magnitudes at different depths within the glass article). The relative depths of the resulting stress-generating ions can be determined, and these relative depths can cause the stress distribution to have different characteristics.

[0118] CS is measured using methods known in the art, such as by a surface stress meter (FSM) using commercially available instruments, such as the FSM-6000 manufactured by Orihara Industrial Co., Ltd. (Japan). Surface stress measurement relies on the accurate measurement of the stress optical coefficient (SOC), which is related to the birefringence of the glass. SOC is measured using methods known in the art, such as the fiber and four-point bending method, and the large cylinder method, both of which are described in ASTM standard C770-98 (2013) entitled “Standard Test Method for Measurement of Glass Stress-Optical Coefficient,” the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, CS can refer to “maximum compressive stress,” which is the highest compressive stress value measured in the compressive stress layer. In some embodiments, the maximum compressive stress is located at the surface of the glass article. In other embodiments, the maximum compressive stress can be generated at a certain depth below the surface, thus giving a compression distribution that appears as a “buried peak”.

[0119] Depending on the strengthening method and conditions, DOC can be measured by an ion exchange microscopy (FSM) or by a scattered light polarizer (SCALP) (such as the SCALP-04 scattered light polarizer from Glassstress Ltd., Tallinn, Estonia). When glass articles are chemically strengthened by ion exchange treatment, either an FSM or a SCALP can be used, depending on the type of ions exchanged into the glass article. When stress is generated in the glass article by exchanging potassium ions, an FSM is used to measure DOC. When stress is generated in the glass article by exchanging sodium ions, a SCALP is used to measure DOC. When stress is generated in the glass article by exchanging both potassium and sodium ions, a SCALP is used to measure DOC because it is believed that the exchange depth of sodium ions represents DOC, and the exchange depth of potassium ions represents the change in the magnitude of compressive stress (rather than the change in stress from compression to tension); in such glass articles, the exchange depth of potassium ions is measured by an FSM. The center tension, or CT, is the maximum tensile stress and is measured by SCALP.

[0120] In one or more embodiments, the glass article used to form the hollow front structure can be strengthened to exhibit a DOC, which is described as a fraction of the thickness t of the glass article (as described herein). For example, in one or more embodiments, the DOC may be equal to or greater than about 0.05t, equal to or greater than about 0.1t, equal to or greater than about 0.11t, equal to or greater than about 0.12t, equal to or greater than about 0.13t, equal to or greater than about 0.14t, equal to or greater than about 0.15t, equal to or greater than about 0.16t, equal to or greater than about 0.17t, equal to or greater than about 0.18t, equal to or greater than about 0.19t, equal to or greater than about 0.2t, or equal to or greater than about 0.21t. In some implementations, the DOC can be in the following ranges: about 0.08t to about 0.25t, about 0.09t to about 0.25t, about 0.18t to about 0.25t, about 0.11t to about 0.25t, about 0.12t to about 0.25t, about 0.13t to about 0.25t, about 0.14t to about 0.25t, about 0.15t to about 0.25t, about 0.08t to about 0.24t, about 0.08t to about 0.23t, about 0.08t to about 0.22t, about 0.08t to about 0.21t, about 0.08t to about 0.2t, about 0.08t to about 0.19t, about 0.08t to about 0.18t, about 0.08t to about 0.17t, about 0.08t to about 0.16t, or about 0.08t to about 0.15t. In some cases, the DOC can be about 20 μm or smaller. In one or more embodiments, the DOC can be about 40 μm or larger (e.g., about 40 μm to about 300 μm, about 50 μm to about 300 μm, about 60 μm to about 300 μm, about 70 μm to about 300 μm, about 80 μm to about 300 μm, about 90 μm to about 300 μm, about 100 μm to about 300 μm, about 110 μm to about 300 μm, about 120 μm to about 300 μm, about 140 μm to about 300 μm, about 150 μm to about 300 μm, about 40 μm to about 290 μm, about 40 μm to about 28 μm). 0 μm, about 40 μm to about 260 μm, about 40 μm to about 250 μm, about 40 μm to about 240 μm, about 40 μm to about 230 μm, about 40 μm to about 220 μm, about 40 μm to about 210 μm, about 40 μm to about 200 μm, about 40 μm to about 180 μm, about 40 μm to about 160 μm, about 40 μm to about 150 μm, about 40 μm to about 140 μm, about 40 μm to about 130 μm, about 40 μm to about 120 μm, about 40 μm to about 110 μm, or about 40 μm to about 100 μm.

[0121] In one or more embodiments, the pressure (CS) of the glass article used to form the hollow front structure (which may be found at the surface of the glass article or at a depth in the glass article) may be about 200 MPa or greater, 300 MPa or greater, 400 MPa or greater, about 500 MPa or greater, about 600 MPa or greater, about 700 MPa or greater, about 800 MPa or greater, about 900 MPa or greater, about 930 MPa or greater, about 1000 MPa or greater, or about 1050 MPa or greater.

[0122] In one or more embodiments, the maximum tensile stress or center tension (CT) of the glass article used to form the hollow front structure can be about 20 MPa or greater, about 30 MPa or greater, about 40 MPa or greater, about 45 MPa or greater, about 50 MPa or greater, about 60 MPa or greater, about 70 MPa or greater, about 75 MPa or greater, about 80 MPa or greater, or about 85 MPa or greater. In some embodiments, the maximum tensile stress or center tension (CT) can be in the range of about 40 MPa to about 100 MPa.

[0123] Aspect (1) of this disclosure pertains to a hollow front article for a display, comprising: a cover structure including: an inner surface, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, a glass layer between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment between the inner surface and the glass layer of the cover structure; a light guide layer including: an inner surface and an outer surface facing the inner surface of the cover structure; and a light extraction layer located on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the light guide layer.

[0124] Aspect (2) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (1), wherein the light extraction layer forms a pattern corresponding to the display graphic.

[0125] Aspect (3) of this disclosure is a blank front article of aspect (1) or (2), wherein the light extraction layer is formed of an opaque ink material, wherein the opacity of the ink material is less than a threshold related to the transmittance of light through the overlay structure layer.

[0126] Aspect (4) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (3), wherein the transmittance of light through the covering structure is greater than 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is less than 10%.

[0127] Aspect (5) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (3), wherein the transmittance of light through the covering structure is about 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is about 10%.

[0128] Aspect (6) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (3), wherein the transmittance of the covering structure is 20% to 40%, and the opacity of the ink material of the light extraction layer is less than 75%.

[0129] Aspect (7) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (3), wherein the transmittance of light through the covering structure is about 30%, and the opacity of the ink material of the light extraction layer is about 75%.

[0130] Aspect (8) of this disclosure pertains to the blank front article of aspect (3), wherein the ink material is a white ink material with an average thickness of 0.05 μm to 500 μm.

[0131] Aspect (9) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (8), wherein the light transmittance of the cover structure is less than 50%, such that when the light source of the display is not activated, the first layer of the light-transmitting ink or pigment is visible from the outside of the cover structure, and blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer from the outside of the cover structure.

[0132] Aspect (10) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (9), wherein the first layer of the translucent ink or pigment includes any one of the following: wood grain design, leather grain design, fabric design, brushed metal design, graphic design and logo.

[0133] Aspect (11) of this disclosure is a blank front article of any one of aspects (1) to (10), wherein the covering structure further includes an image enhancement layer of the light-transmitting ink or pigment located between the first layer of the light-transmitting ink or pigment and the light extraction layer.

[0134] Aspect (12) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (11), wherein the total transmittance of all layers of the covering glass layer for light with wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm is 5% to 10%.

[0135] Aspect (13) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (12), wherein the glass layer of the covering structure has an average thickness of 0.05 mm to 2 mm between the inner and outer surfaces.

[0136] Aspect (14) of this disclosure is a blank front article of any one of aspects (1) to (13), wherein the average thickness between the inner and outer surfaces of the light guide layer is less than the average thickness of the glass layer of the cover structure.

[0137] Aspect (15) of this disclosure pertains to any one of aspects (1) to (14) of an empty front article, wherein the glass layer of the covering structure is formed of a reinforced glass material, and the light guide layer is formed of at least one of a glass material and a polymer material.

[0138] Aspect (16) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (15), wherein the covering structure is curved and includes a first radius of curvature.

[0139] Aspect (17) of this disclosure pertains to the empty front article of aspect (16), wherein the first radius of curvature is about 60 mm to about 1500 mm.

[0140] Aspect (18) of this disclosure is a blank front article of aspect (16) or (17), wherein the covering structure includes a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

[0141] Aspect (19) of this disclosure pertains to the empty front article of aspect (18), wherein the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature have different curvature axes.

[0142] Aspect (20) of this disclosure pertains to an empty front article of any of aspects (16) to (19), wherein the covering structure is cold-formed to a curved shape.

[0143] Aspect (21) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (20), wherein the maximum thickness of the glass layer covering the structure is less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0144] Aspect (22) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any one of aspects (1) to (21), wherein the maximum thickness of the glass layer covering the structure is 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.

[0145] Aspect (23) of this disclosure is an empty front article belonging to any one of aspects (1) to (22), wherein the covering structure has a width and a length, wherein the width ranges from about 5 cm to about 250 cm, and the length ranges from about 5 cm to about 250 cm.

[0146] Aspect (24) of this disclosure is an empty front article of any of aspects (1) to (23), which further includes a reflector positioned such that a light guide layer is located between the reflector and the cover structure.

[0147] Aspect (25) of this disclosure pertains to an internal system of a vehicle, comprising: a cover glass layer; a glass light guide layer located beneath the cover glass layer; a light extraction layer located on the surface of the glass light guide layer, wherein the light extraction layer forms a pattern corresponding to a display graphic; and a first light source optically coupled to the glass light guide layer such that light from the first light source propagates within the glass light guide layer via total internal reflection; wherein, when the first light source is activated, light in the glass light guide layer is extracted through the light extraction layer in the shape of the display graphic, which is visible through the cover glass layer.

[0148] Aspect (26) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of aspect (25), wherein, when the first light source is not activated, the pattern formed by the light extraction layer is invisible through the covering glass layer.

[0149] Aspect (27) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of aspect (25) or (26), wherein the glass light guide layer includes: an inner main surface; an outer main surface; and an edge surface extending between the outer perimeters of the inner main surface and the outer main surface; wherein a first light source is optically coupled to the edge surface of the glass light guide layer.

[0150] Aspect (28) of this disclosure pertains to a vehicle interior system of any of aspects (25) to (27), and further includes a second light source optically coupled to a glass light guide layer, such that light from the second light source propagates within the glass light guide layer via total internal reflection, wherein the first light source has a first color and the second light source has a second color different from the first color.

[0151] Aspect (29) of this disclosure pertains to a vehicle interior system of any of aspects (25) to (28), which further includes a plurality of additional light sources optically coupled to a glass light guide layer, each of the plurality of additional light sources having a different color, wherein the glass light guide layer is configured to display each different color in different areas over the space covering the glass layer.

[0152] Aspect (30) of this disclosure pertains to the internal system of a vehicle in any of aspects (25) to (29), wherein the covering glass layer includes a first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment located between the covering glass layer and the glass light-conducting layer.

[0153] Aspect (31) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of aspect (30), wherein the first layer of the light-transmitting ink or pigment has a light transmittance level of less than 50%, such that when the first light source is not activated, the first layer of the light-transmitting ink or pigment is visible from the outside of the covering glass layer, and it blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer from the outside of the covering glass layer.

[0154] Aspect (32) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of aspect (30) or (31), wherein the first layer of the translucent ink or pigment includes any of the following: wood grain design, leather texture design, fabric design, brushed metal design, graphic design, and logo.

[0155] Aspect (33) of this disclosure pertains to the internal system of a vehicle of any one of aspects (25) to (32), wherein the covering glass layer is formed of a tempered glass material and has an average thickness of 0.05 mm to 2 mm between the inner main surface and the outer main surface.

[0156] Aspect (34) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of any one of aspects (25) to (33), wherein the covering glass layer includes a radius of curvature of 60 mm to 1500 mm along at least one of the inner and outer surfaces.

[0157] Aspect (35) of this disclosure pertains to the vehicle interior system of any of aspects (25) to (34), and further includes a reflector positioned such that a glass light guide layer is located between the reflector and a cover glass layer.

[0158] Aspect (36) of this disclosure pertains to a method for forming a curved hollow front surface for a display, comprising: supporting a hollow front surface article on a support having a curved surface, wherein the hollow front surface article includes: a cover glass layer, a light guide layer located below the cover glass layer, and a light extraction layer located on the surface of the light guide layer, wherein the light extraction layer forms a pattern corresponding to a display graphic; and when supported by the support, applying a force to the hollow front surface article, causing the hollow front surface article to bend, thereby making the hollow front surface article conform to the curved shape of the curved surface of the support; wherein, during the application of the force, the maximum temperature of the hollow front surface article is less than the glass transition temperature of the cover glass layer.

[0159] Aspect (37) of this disclosure pertains to the method of aspect (36), which further includes: applying an adhesive between the curved surface of the support and the surface of the empty front article; and, during the application of force, bonding the empty front article to the support surface of the frame by the adhesive.

[0160] Aspect (38) of this disclosure pertains to the method of aspect (36) or (37), wherein the covering glass layer is at least one of chemically strengthened and thermally strengthened, and the light guide layer is formed of at least one of a glass material and a polymer material.

[0161] Aspect (39) of this disclosure is a method of any one of aspects (36) to (38), wherein the cover glass layer includes first and second opposing main surfaces, wherein the maximum thickness of the cover glass layer measured between the first and second main surfaces is less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0162] Aspect (40) of this disclosure is a method of any one of aspects (36) to (39), wherein the maximum temperature of the hollow front article is less than 200 degrees Celsius during the application of the force.

[0163] Aspect (41) of this disclosure is a method belonging to any one of aspects (36) to (40), which further includes a reflector placed such that the light guide layer is located between the reflector and the glass layer.

[0164] Aspect (42) of this disclosure is a method of any one of aspects (36) to (41), which further includes optically coupling a light source to a light guide layer.

[0165] Unless otherwise stated, it is not intended to be construed as requiring the steps of any method described herein to be performed in a specific order. Therefore, when a method claim does not actually state that its steps follow a certain order, or does not specifically indicate in the claims or description that the steps are limited to a specific order, it is not intended to imply any particular order. Furthermore, the article “a” as used herein is intended to include one or more components or elements, and is not intended to be construed as indicating only one.

[0166] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the illustrated embodiments. Because those skilled in the art will conceive of various improvements, combinations, sub-combinations, and variations of the disclosed embodiments that incorporate the spirit and essence of the embodiments, the disclosed embodiments should be considered to include the entire scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hollow front article for a display, comprising: The overlay structure includes: Inner surface; The outer surface opposite to the inner surface; A glass layer located between the inner and outer surfaces; and The first layer of translucent ink or pigment located between the inner surface of the covering structure and the glass layer; The optical guide layer includes: Inner surface; and The outer surface facing the inner surface of the covering structure; A light extraction layer is located on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein the light extraction layer is formed of an ink material with opacity, wherein: The light extraction layer is configured to extract light from a light source outside the light guide layer in the shape of a display graphic, making that shape visually visible through the overlay structure. The first layer of translucent ink or pigment includes any of the following: wood grain design, leather texture design, fabric design, brushed metal design, graphic design, and logo, as well as... The overlay structure also includes a white light-transmitting ink or pigment image enhancement layer located between the first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment and the light extraction layer, the image enhancement layer increasing the contrast of a portion of the first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment.

2. The empty front-facing article as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The light extraction layer is arranged on the outer surface of the light guide layer in a pattern corresponding to the display graphics.

3. The blank front article as described in any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The opacity of the ink material is below a threshold related to the transmittance of light passing through the cover structure, so that the light extraction layer is invisible when viewed from the outside of the cover structure in the absence of light incident from a light source onto the light guide layer.

4. The empty front-facing article as described in claim 3, wherein, The light transmittance through the covering structure is greater than 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is less than 10%.

5. The empty front-facing article as described in claim 3, wherein, The light transmittance through the covering structure is 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is 10%.

6. The empty front-facing article as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The transmittance of the covering structure is 20% to 40%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is less than 75%.

7. The empty front-facing article as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The light transmittance through the covering structure is 30%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is 75%.

8. The blank front article as described in any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The ink material is a white ink material with an average thickness of 0.05 μm to 500 μm.

9. The blank front article as described in any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The light transmittance of the cover structure is less than 50%, so that when the light source of the display is not activated, the first layer of light-transmitting ink or pigment is visible from the outside of the cover structure, and blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer from the outside of the cover structure.

10. The blank front article as described in any one of claims 1-2, wherein, For light with wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm, the total transmittance through all layers of the covering glass is 5%–10%.

11. The blank front article as claimed in any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The cover structure is curved, including a first radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is 60 mm to 1500 mm, and the cover structure is cold-formed.

12. The hollow front article of any one of claims 1-2, further comprising a reflector positioned such that the light-guiding layer is located between the reflector and the overlay structure.

13. An internal system of a vehicle, comprising: The overlay structure includes: Covering glass layer; A first layer of translucent ink or pigment disposed on a glass-covered layer, wherein the first layer of translucent ink or pigment includes any of the following: wood grain design, leather texture design, fabric design, brushed metal design, graphic design, and logo; and An image enhancement layer of white translucent ink or pigment is arranged on the first layer, which increases the contrast of a portion of the first layer of translucent ink or pigment; A glass light guide layer is attached to the cover structure, wherein the first layer and the image enhancement layer are arranged between the cover structure and the glass light guide layer; A light extraction layer located on the surface of the glass light guide layer; and A first light source is optically coupled to the glass light guide layer, so that light from the first light source propagates within the glass light guide layer via total internal reflection; When the first light source is activated, light in the glass light guide layer is extracted through the light extraction layer in the shape of the display graphic, which is visible through the covering glass layer. When the first light source is not activated, the light extraction layer is invisible through the covering glass layer.

14. The vehicle interior system as claimed in claim 13, wherein, The light extraction layer is arranged on the surface of the light guide layer in a pattern corresponding to the display graphics.

15. The vehicle interior system as claimed in any one of claims 13-14, wherein, The glass optical guide layer includes an edge surface that extends between the outer perimeter of the main surface of the glass optical guide layer; The first light source is optically coupled to the edge surface of the glass light guide layer.

16. The vehicle interior system of any one of claims 13-14, further comprising a second light source optically coupled to the glass light guide layer, such that light from the second light source propagates within the glass light guide layer via total internal reflection, wherein, The first light source has a first color, while the second light source has a second color that is different from the first color.

17. The vehicle interior system as claimed in any one of claims 13-14, wherein, A light extraction layer is formed from an ink material, wherein the opacity of the ink material is lower than a threshold related to the transmittance of light passing through the overlay structure, so that the light extraction layer is invisible when the first light source is not activated.

18. The vehicle interior system as claimed in claim 17, wherein, One of the following situations applies: The light transmittance through the covering structure is greater than 90%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is less than 10%. The transmittance of the covering structure is 20% to 40%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is less than 75%. The light transmittance through the covering structure is 30%, and the opacity of the ink material in the light extraction layer is 75%.

19. The vehicle interior system as claimed in claim 17, wherein, The first layer of the translucent ink or pigment has a light transmittance level of less than 50%, so that when the first light source is not activated, the first layer of the translucent ink or pigment is visible from the outside of the covering glass layer, and it blocks the visibility of the light extraction layer from the outside of the covering glass layer.

20. The vehicle interior system as claimed in any one of claims 13-14, comprising a plurality of light-guiding layers that illuminate different areas of the covered article.

Images