Vehicle windows suitable for sound transmission and / or reception

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle window suitable for sound emission, comprising an exciter and a window assembly. The exciter includes a connecting portion and a movable portion. The window assembly includes at least one spacer. The connecting portion includes a mounting portion and a suspension portion. The spacer is fixedly mounted to the mounting portion and the window assembly. The suspension portion has a first surface and the window assembly has a second surface. The first surface is arranged facing the second surface. The window assembly includes a cavity disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The cavity is formed by the first surface and preferably by the second surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle windows. Background Technology

[0002] A surface audio exciter enables sound to be generated from a membrane formed by a wall, such as one made of plaster, glass, or wood. Sound generation is caused by vibrations of the wall, and the exciter is rigidly mounted to the wall. The system, including the exciter and the wall, thus allows for the emission and / or reception of sound and vibration waves. The system also makes it possible to actively control noise or vibration.

[0003] Document EP3725968 describes, for example, a device comprising a window unit and an actuator (also called an actuator or transducer), wherein the actuator is fixedly mounted on the window unit. The window unit forms the roof of a vehicle. A bracket is fixedly mounted on the window unit, and the actuator is snap-fitted onto the bracket.

[0004] However, under high voltage at mid-to-high frequencies, that is, for frequencies between 250 Hz and 20 kHz, the transmission and reception of sound wave devices are limited. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus comprising an exciter and a membrane formed of a glass window unit, which enables the emission and / or reception of sound waves at a higher sound pressure than that emitted and / or received by known apparatuses.

[0006] In the context of this invention, this objective is achieved by a vehicle window suitable for sound emission and / or reception, the vehicle window comprising an actuator and a window assembly, the actuator comprising a connecting portion and a movable portion, the actuator being configured to drive movement between the connecting portion and the movable portion via electrical control.

[0007] The glass window unit includes at least one spacer.

[0008] The connection part includes the mounting part and the floating part.

[0009] The spacer is fixedly installed onto the mounting portion and then onto the glass window assembly.

[0010] The suspended portion has a first surface, and the glass window assembly has a second surface, the first surface being arranged facing the second surface, and the glass window unit including a cavity disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the cavity being partially formed by the first surface and preferably partially formed by the second surface.

[0011] The invention is advantageously accomplished by the following features, which are employed individually or in any technically possible combination thereof:

[0012] The cavity is partially formed by a first surface and partially by a second surface, and has a thickness e defined between the first and second surfaces, the thickness e between the first surfaces being between 1 mm and 5 cm, particularly between 1.5 mm and 1.5 cm, and preferably between 2 mm and 1 cm.

[0013] - The spacer is detachably fixed to the mounting part.

[0014] - The movable part is encapsulated within the connecting part.

[0015] - The glass window unit includes multiple spacers, and the connecting part includes multiple mounting parts. Each spacer is fixedly mounted to a mounting part, which is arranged around the suspended part.

[0016] - The spacer is fixedly mounted to the window element by a joint. The window element includes at least one glass panel. The window unit includes an adhesive layer disposed between the glass panel and the spacer, which contacts the spacer. The adhesive layer preferably includes polyurethane, and the window unit preferably includes a primer layer disposed between the glass panel and the adhesive layer.

[0017] - The spacer includes a mating surface disposed at one end of the spacer, the mating surface having at least one boss that is in direct contact with the glass plate, the adhesive layer being in direct contact with the mating surface and extending along the boss, preferably surrounding the boss.

[0018] - The spacer is configured to adjust the thickness of the separating glass window element and the mounting portion; the spacer is fixedly mounted on the mounting portion.

[0019] - The spacer is a screw.

[0020] - The spacer is a screw, which has a head and a tip, the head including a mating surface.

[0021] - A glass window assembly is a laminated glass window unit comprising at least two glass panels and a sandwich layer disposed between the two glass panels, wherein the sandwich layer preferably comprises PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention is a loudspeaker that includes a glass window unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Another aspect of the invention is a microphone that includes a glass window unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for sound transmission and / or reception implemented by a glass window unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0025] - Sound waves are transmitted or received between the exciter and the glass window assembly by propagation of waves in a solid medium formed by spacers, and simultaneously

[0026] - Sound waves are transmitted or received between the exciter and the glass window assembly by the propagation of waves in the gas medium formed by the cavity. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and must be read in the context of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0028] [ Figure 1 ]- Figure 1 An isometric view of a glass window unit including an actuator and glass window elements according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] [ Figure 2 ]- Figure 2 The image shows a side view of a glass window unit including an actuator and glass window elements according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 The frequency distribution of sound pressure emitted by a glass window unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and by a known glass window unit is shown.

[0031] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 The image shows the connection between the spacer formed by screws and the glass window assembly.

[0032] In all the accompanying drawings, similar elements are labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0033] definition

[0034] The term "sound wave" is understood to be any wave that propagates in an elastic medium by mechanical disturbance, regardless of whether the medium is solid, liquid, and / or gas. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Overall structure of glass window unit 1

[0036] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vehicle window 1 is adapted to transmit and / or receive sound. Preferably, the window unit 1 can be a speaker and / or a microphone.

[0037] The window assembly 1 includes an actuator 2, also referred to by the terms actuator or transducer. The actuator 2 includes a connecting portion 5 and a movable portion 6. The actuator 2 is configured to drive movement between the connecting portion 5 and the movable portion 6 via electrical control. The actuator 2 is adapted to vibrate the window assembly 4 to generate sound waves. Conversely, the actuator 2 is adapted to emit an electrical signal during movement between the connecting portion 5 and the movable portion 6 when the sound waves are received by the window assembly 4.

[0038] The window unit 1 includes a window assembly 4. The window unit 1 includes at least one spacer 7. The connecting portion 5 includes a mounting portion 8 and a suspension portion 9. The spacer 7 is fixedly mounted to the mounting portion 8 and the window assembly 4. Preferably, the spacer 7 has two ends: one end can be fixedly mounted to the mounting portion 8, and the other end can be fixedly mounted to the window assembly 4.

[0039] The suspended portion 9 has a first surface 10. The glass window assembly 4 has a second surface 11. The first surface 10 is arranged to face the second surface 11. The glass window unit 1 includes a cavity 12 disposed between the first surface 10 and the second surface 11, the cavity 12 being partially formed by the first surface 10 and preferably also partially formed by the second surface 11. Alternatively, the cavity 12 may be partially formed by the first surface and partially formed by another surface, for example, belonging to a support fixedly mounted on the glass element 4, the other surface being disposed between the first surface 10 and the second surface 11 and directly opposite the first surface 10.

[0040] Therefore, the exciter 2 is configured to transmit or receive sound waves propagating between the glass window assembly 4 and the exciter 2 by means of wave propagation in a solid medium formed by the spacer 7, and simultaneously, by means of wave propagation in a gaseous medium formed by the cavity 12. The inventors have discovered that the dual transmission of waves through both solid and gaseous media allows for better reproduction of waves with wavelengths between 200 Hz and 20 kHz (i.e., in the mid- or high-frequency range). The sound waves propagating in the spacer 7 are subsequently also propagated via the mounting portion 8, which does not move relative to the glass window assembly 4 when the exciter 2 is activated. The sound waves propagating in the cavity are also propagated via the suspension portion 9, which moves relative to the glass window assembly 4, which preferably vibrates when the exciter 2 is activated.

[0041] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for sound emission and / or reception implemented by a glass window unit 1, according to an embodiment of the invention. The method includes the following steps:

[0042] - Sound waves are transmitted or received between the exciter 2 and the glass window assembly 4 through the propagation of waves in the solid medium formed by the spacer 7, and

[0043] - Sound waves are transmitted or received between the exciter 2 and the glass window assembly 4 by the propagation of waves in the gas medium formed by the cavity 12.

[0044] Therefore, by transmitting waves through both solid and gaseous media, this method allows for better reproduction of sound waves with wavelengths between 200 Hz and 20 kHz (i.e., at mid- or high-frequency levels) compared to known methods that use glass window units including exciters and glass window elements.

[0045] Glass window assembly 4

[0046] The glass window assembly 4 includes at least one glass panel 13. The glass window assembly 4 may include the glass panel 13, or form a laminated glass window unit including at least two glass panels 13, with a sandwich made of viscoelastic plastic arranged between the glass panels 13.

[0047] The window element 4 can be flat or raised. The window element 4 may include an opaque coating. The opaque coating may be, for example, black paint or enamel. The window assembly 4 may include a transparent window portion and an opaque window portion. The opaque window portion may surround the transparent window portion. The window assembly 4 may be colored in thickness on all or part of its surface.

[0048] Glass plate 13 is made of plexiglass or mineral glass. Glass plate 13 may be tempered glass.

[0049] The window assembly 4 can form a laminated window unit. "Laminated window unit" should be understood to mean that the window assembly 4 includes at least two glass panels 13, with an interlayer made of viscoelastic plastic disposed between the glass panels 13. Therefore, compared to a window unit 1 that includes only one glass panel 13, the sound transmission of the window unit 1 is more uniform in the sound emission spectrum.

[0050] The interlayer made of viscoelastic plastic material may comprise one or more layers of viscoelastic polymers, such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), preferably PVB. The interlayer is preferably made of standard PVB, or preferably of acoustic PVB (such as single-layer or triple-layer acoustic PVB). Acoustic PVB comprises three layers: two standard PVB outer layers and one PVB inner layer, the inner layer containing more plasticizer than the standard amount of PVB plasticizer, so that the inner layer is less rigid than the outer layers. The use of acoustic PVB in laminated windows, relative to standard PVB, allows for further improvement in low-frequency reproduction and reduction of vibration problems.

[0051] The window unit 1 is a vehicle window. Specifically, the window unit 1 can be selected from the windshield, side windows, door windows, rear window, and roof window. The window unit 1 can have a quadrilateral shape, particularly a rectangular or trapezoidal shape. The window unit 1 can have straight or curved edges.

[0052] Exciter 2

[0053] The glass window unit 1 may include a single audio exciter 2, or at least two audio exciters, or at least four, at least five, at least ten, or at least fifteen audio exciters, for example, one to two, or two to three, or three to four, or four to five, or five to six, or six to seven, or seven to eight, or eight to nine, or nine to ten, or ten to twelve, or twelve to fifteen, or fifteen to twenty audio exciters 2.

[0054] The audio exciter 2 can be a piezoelectric audio exciter or an electric audio exciter (or an inertial exciter). Preferably, the audio exciter 2 is an electric exciter. In fact, the electric exciter 2 requires a lower voltage than the piezoelectric exciter 2 and includes electrical components that are lighter and cheaper than those of the piezoelectric exciter 2.

[0055] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The movable part 6 can be encapsulated within the connecting part 5. Therefore, the movable part 5 can be protected from external mechanical stress.

[0056] The audio exciter 2 may have a mass of less than 300 grams, preferably between 100 and 200 grams. The exciter 2 may have a diameter between 10 and 150 millimeters, preferably between 30 and 100 millimeters. The exciter 2 may have a thickness between 10 and 50 millimeters, preferably between 12 and 30 millimeters.

[0057] Exciter 2 can be configured to generate high-frequency and / or mid-frequency and / or low-frequency frequencies. "High-frequency" is understood as sound waves with frequencies higher than 2000 Hz. "Mid-frequency" is understood as sound waves with frequencies between 200 and 2000 Hz. "Low-frequency" is understood as sound waves with frequencies lower than 200 Hz. The audio exciter may include a signal filter for limiting the generated frequency band to, for example, high-frequency and / or mid-frequency and / or low-frequency frequencies. The signal filter may limit the frequency band of the transmission frequency to a frequency range having a lower limit greater than or equal to 2000 Hz, or greater than or equal to 200 Hz, or less than or equal to 150 Hz, or an upper limit less than or equal to 200 Hz.

[0058] The audio exciter 2 can be fixedly mounted on the outer periphery of the glass window assembly 4. The outer periphery of the glass window assembly can be the area adjacent to the glass panel or the edge of the glass window assembly 4, and has a width of less than or equal to 30 cm, or less than or equal to 25 cm, or less than or equal to 20 cm, or less than or equal to 15 cm (that is, in the direction orthogonal to the edge of the glass window assembly in the plane of the glass window assembly).

[0059] When the window unit is a windshield, the actuator 2 may be located on the peripheral area of ​​the window assembly, adjacent to the upper edge of the window assembly (i.e., the edge for location on the side of the vehicle roof), and preferably in the central area of ​​this upper peripheral area (e.g., in the upper peripheral portion of this area, extending more than 30 cm, preferably more than 20 cm, on either side of the center of the upper edge in a direction parallel to the upper edge of the windshield). When the windshield includes or is intended to include an interior rearview mirror, the actuator 2 may be arranged near the interior rearview mirror fastener of the windshield (e.g., in a circular area of ​​the windshield with a radius less than or equal to 15 cm, the center of which includes the interior rearview mirror fastener or a location for receiving the fastener of the rearview mirror). The window assembly 4 may include one or more holes allowing the power cable of the actuator 2 to pass through.

[0060] Cavity 12

[0061] refer to Figure 2 A cavity 12 is disposed between the first surface 10 and the second surface 11. Preferably, the cavity 12 is formed by the first surface 10 and the second surface 11. The cavity 12 has a thickness e defined between the first surface 10 and the second surface 11. The thickness e between the first surface 10 and the second surface 11 can be between 1 mm and 5 cm, particularly between 1.5 mm and 1.5 cm, and preferably between 2 mm and 1 cm. Therefore, interference caused by sound reflection can be minimized by a thickness e greater than 1 mm, and sound loss can be limited by a thickness e less than 5 cm, thereby allowing mid-frequency and high-frequency sound waves to propagate between the exciter 2 and the glass window assembly 4.

[0062] Figure 3 The diagram shows the sound pressure emitted by a glass window unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the sound pressure emitted by a known glass window unit. Curve (a) shows the sound pressure emitted by a known glass window. Curve (b) shows the sound pressure emitted by the glass window unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. During the emission of mid-frequency and high-frequency sound waves, an increase in sound pressure is observed for the glass window unit according to an embodiment of the present invention compared to the known glass window.

[0063] Preferably, the cavity 12 is formed by two strictly parallel surfaces. The first surface 10 and the second surface 11 can be strictly parallel. Therefore, acoustic interference caused by differences in the path of waves passing through the cavity 12 can be avoided.

[0064] Spacer 7

[0065] The spacer 7 can be detachably fixed to the mounting part 8. Therefore, since the lifespan of the actuator is usually shorter than that of the vehicle, if the actuator 2 in the window unit 1 ceases to function, the actuator 2 can be replaced.

[0066] The glass window unit 1 preferably includes a plurality of spacers 7. The connecting portion 5 may include a plurality of mounting portions 8, each spacer 7 being fixedly mounted to a mounting portion 8.

[0067] Preferably, the mounting portion 8 is arranged around the suspension portion 9. Therefore, during the excitation process of the exciter 2, the suspension portion 9 can vibrate with a larger amplitude, allowing higher sound pressure levels to be transmitted within the cavity 12. For example, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The mounting part 8 and the floating part 9 can form a square, with the mounting part 8 distributed in the corners of the square.

[0068] refer to Figure 4 The window unit 1 can be fixedly mounted on the window element 4 by means of a joint. The window unit 1 includes at least one glass panel 13. The window unit 1 may include an adhesive layer 14 disposed between and in contact with the spacer 7. The adhesive layer 14 may include polyurethane (PU). The window unit 1 may include a primer layer 15 disposed between the glass panel 13 and the adhesive layer 14. The primer layer 15 may include ethyl acetate, particularly when the glass panel 13 is an acrylic sheet. The primer layer 15 may be formed, for example, from a primer “Silkaprimer 209D”. The primer layer 15 may include a polyisocyanate, particularly when the glass panel 13 is a mineral glass sheet.

[0069] The spacer 7 may include a mating surface 16 disposed at one end of the spacer 7. The mating surface 16 may have at least one boss 17. The boss 17 is in direct contact with the glass plate 13. The adhesive layer 14 may be in direct contact with the mating surface 16 and extends along the boss 17, preferably surrounding the boss 17. Thus, the spacer 7 can be bonded to the glass window assembly 4 while the thickness e can be precisely controlled by the contact between the spacer 7 and the glass window element 4, thereby avoiding variations in thickness e caused by the mechanical conditions of the bonding. Preferably, the mating surface 16 has a plurality of bosses 17. Thus, the thickness e between the different contact points formed between each boss 17 and the glass window assembly 4 can be precisely controlled.

[0070] The spacer 7 can be configured to adjust the thickness e of the spacer separating the glass window element 4 and the mounting portion 8, and the spacer 7 is fixedly mounted on the mounting portion 8. Therefore, the transmission or reception of sound waves within a predetermined frequency range can be facilitated. In fact, the inventors have discovered that, for a given frequency range, the sound pressure at the output end of the glass window unit 1 depends on the thickness e of the cavity.

[0071] The spacer 7 can be a screw 18. Therefore, the screw 18 can adjust the thickness of the spacer separating the glass element 4 and the mounting portion 8, for example, by adjusting the position of the bolt included in the actuator 2, and simultaneously allow the spacer to be detachably and securely mounted to the actuator 2. The screw 18 may have a head 19 and a tip 20. (Reference) Figure 4 The head 19 may include a mating surface 16. The head 19 includes at least one boss 17 that is in direct contact with the glass window element 4.

Claims

1. A vehicle glazing (1) suitable for sound emission and / or reception, comprising an exciter (2) and a glazing assembly (4), the exciter (2) comprising a connection portion (5) and a movable portion (6), the exciter (2) being configured to drive a movement between the connection portion (5) and the movable portion (6) by electrical control, the vehicle glazing (1) comprising at least one spacer (7), the connection portion (5) comprising a mounting portion (8) and a suspension portion (9), the spacer (7) being fixedly mounted to the mounting portion (8) and to the glazing assembly (4), the suspension portion (9) having a first face (10) and the glazing assembly (4) having a second face (11), the first face (10) being arranged facing the second face (11), the vehicle glazing (1) comprising a cavity (12) arranged between the first face (10) and the second face (11), the cavity (12) being partly formed by the first face (10).

2. Vehicle glazing (1) according to claim 1, wherein, the cavity (12) being partly formed by the first face (10) and partly by the second face (11).

3. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the cavity (12) being partly formed by the first face (10) and partly by the second face (11) and having a thickness e defined between the first face (10) and the second face (11), the thickness e between the first face (10) and the second face (11) being between 1 millimeter and 5 centimeters.

4. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the spacer (7) being fixedly mounted to the mounting portion (8) in a removable manner.

5. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the movable portion (6) being encapsulated in the connection portion (5).

6. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of spacers (7), the connection portion (5) comprising a plurality of mounting portions (8), each spacer (7) being fixedly mounted to a mounting portion (8), the mounting portions (8) being arranged around the suspension portion (9).

7. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the spacer (7) being fixedly mounted to the glazing assembly (4) by engagement, the glazing assembly (4) comprising at least one glass sheet (13), the vehicle glazing (1) comprising a layer of glue (14) arranged between the glass sheet (13) and the spacer (7), the layer of glue (14) being in contact with the spacer (7).

8. Vehicle glazing (1) according to claim 7, wherein, the spacer (7) comprising an engagement face (16) arranged at one end of the spacer (7), the engagement face (16) having at least one boss (17), the boss (17) being in direct contact with the glass sheet (13), the layer of glue (14) being in direct contact with the engagement face (16) and extending along the boss (17).

9. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the spacer (7) being configured to adjust a thickness separating the glazing assembly (4) and the mounting portion (8), the spacer (7) being fixedly mounted to the mounting portion (8).

10. Vehicle glazing (1) according to claim 9, wherein, the spacer (7) being a screw (18).

11. Vehicle glazing (1) according to claim 8, wherein, Said spacer is a screw (18) having a head (19) and a tip (20), said head (19) comprising said joint face (16).

12. The vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, Said glazing assembly is a laminated glazing unit comprising at least two glass sheets (13) and a interlayer arranged between said two glass sheets (13).

13. A loudspeaker comprising a vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

14. A microphone comprising a vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

15. A sound emission and / or reception method implemented by a vehicle glazing (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, said method comprising the steps of: - transmitting or receiving acoustic waves between said exciter (2) and said glazing assembly (4) by propagation of waves in a solid medium formed by said spacer (7), and simultaneously, - transmitting or receiving acoustic waves between said exciter (2) and said glazing assembly (4) by propagation of waves in a gaseous medium formed by said cavity (12).

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