Glass panel assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glass panel assembly for a roof assembly of a vehicle, the glass panel assembly having a laminated glass panel, the laminated glass panel includes a first glass panel having a first glass panel upper surface and an opposing first glass panel lower surface and a second panel having a second glass panel upper surface and an opposing second glass panel lower surface. The first glass panel and the second glass panel are laminated to each other at the first glass panel lower surface and the second glass panel upper surface by a lamination layer. The light out-coupling device is arranged between the lamination layer and the second glass panel. At least one light in-coupling component is provided on the lower surface of the second glass panel. The light in-coupling assembly includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light coupling elements, wherein the light in-coupling elements are rectangular prisms.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a glass panel assembly for a roof assembly of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to such a glass panel assembly, which is provided with at least one light incoupling assembly. Such a glass panel assembly is particularly useful for providing patterned lighting inside a vehicle passenger compartment. Background Art

[0002] In existing glass panel assemblies on top of the basic glass layer, an additional layer of glass is required, which glass layer, considered in a top view, is smaller than the basic glass layer, because light incoupling is achieved from the side of the glass and sufficient space should be provided for positioning of the light incoupling assembly. Such existing glass panel assemblies may include a laminated glass panel with two or even three separate glass panels located on top of each other. Summary of the invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved glass panel assembly of this type.

[0004] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a glass panel assembly is provided, which is used for a roof assembly of a vehicle, and the glass panel assembly has a laminated glass panel, which includes a first glass panel having a first glass panel upper surface and an opposite first glass panel lower surface, and a second glass panel having a second glass panel upper surface and an opposite second glass panel lower surface, wherein the first glass panel and the second glass panel are laminated to each other at the first glass panel lower surface and the second glass panel upper surface through a laminating layer, and wherein a light outcoupling device is arranged between the laminating layer and the second glass panel, and at least one light incoupling component is arranged on the lower surface of the second glass panel, wherein the light incoupling component includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light incoupling elements, and wherein the light incoupling elements are rectangular prisms.

[0005] The glass panel assembly according to the invention combines a number of advantageous features, such as low weight, high strength and very efficient incoupling of light into the glass panel.

[0006] In one embodiment of the glass panel assembly, each rectangular prism may be made of transparent glass or extra-transparent glass, and wherein the rectangular prism is provided with a light incoupling surface that receives light from a nearby light source and an exit surface that emits light from the rectangular prism into a second glass panel. Preferably, the rectangular prism is made of extra-transparent glass, however, for cost reasons, it is conceivable to use transparent glass. Since the prism is located near the light source and the prism is relatively short compared to the length or width of the second glass panel, transparent glass may be sufficient to achieve the light transmittance requirements. Light from the light source enters the light incoupling surface and is directly guided to the exit surface and / or is directly reflected toward the exit surface via the inner surface of the wall opposite to the exit surface of the rectangular prism.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the exit surface of each rectangular prism is connected to the lower surface of the second glass panel by a thin layer of optical adhesive. The lower surface of the second glass panel has no surface treatment in the area where the plurality of rectangular prisms are connected to the lower surface.

[0008] In order to have a good physical and optical connection between the rectangular prisms and the lower surface of the second glass panel, a thin layer of optical adhesive is applied between the surfaces.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the light incoupling components extends along one or more of the lateral or transverse edge regions of the laminated glass panel. The laminated glass panel includes a curvature along its length and width. Each rectangular prism is a straight strip of glass material connected to the curved surface of the lower surface of the second glass panel by an optical adhesive. The glass panel assembly can be equipped with a light incoupling component. Typically, these light incoupling components are fixed along the relative lateral edges of the lower surface of the second glass panel by an optical adhesive. However, the light incoupling components can also be placed along the front and rear edges of the lower surface of the second glass panel. Because these glass panel assemblies are used for the roof assembly of the vehicle, such glass panel assemblies usually have a curved surface. The prism made of glass may have to be pre-bent to ensure that the curvature of the lower surface of the second glass panel and the glass strip match together. The pre-bending of the glass strip makes the glass strip expensive, which is disadvantageous. Using a straight glass strip in the case of a long glass strip is disadvantageous due to the high stress in the glass material when the glass strip adopts the curvature of the lower surface of the second glass panel. In the case of a shorter glass strip, the shorter strip can be bonded to the lower surface of the second glass panel in such a way that the shorter strip remains straight when fixed by the optical adhesive. This shorter straight glass strip is bonded to the glass panel assembly without any preload.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of rectangular prisms are connected to the lower surface of the second glass panel, each prism is adjacent to each other, and the prisms are placed in a row. Adjacent rectangular prisms are optically interconnected laterally by an optical adhesive.

[0011] When using shorter straight glass strips, an array of these strips is obviously needed to cover, for example, the lateral side edges of the lower surface of the second glass panel. It is advantageous to glue these adjacent rectangular glass strips side by side to obtain a continuous row of glass strips. Each light source, in the present invention an LED, is placed on a PCB strip extending along the rectangular prism array and is able to emit light into the light incoupling surface of the rectangular prism. The LED emits light at an angle of 120 degrees. In order to ensure that the light is not reflected by the inner surface of the rectangular prism, the prisms are interconnected laterally by optical adhesive. This allows a portion of the light from the LED to be emitted through adjacent rectangular prisms. This is advantageous for the uniformity of the light pattern reflected into the interior of the vehicle.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the thickness t of the optical adhesive between the rectangular prism and the lower surface of the second glass panel varies between a minimum value and a maximum value measured between points L and R. Due to the curved shape of the lower surface of the second glass panel, the distance between the surface and the straight rectangular prism varies from the lateral left side to the opposite lateral right side. In practice, the curvature of the lower surface is particularly large, so the variation in thickness t is small.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the length L of the rectangular prism is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm, more specifically 66 mm. The width W of the rectangular prism is in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm, more specifically 17 mm. The height H of the rectangular prism is in the range of 1.6 mm to 2.5 mm, more specifically 2.1 mm. The distance D is the distance between each adjacent LED, which is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm, more specifically 33 mm.

[0014] The ranges mentioned provide a good basis for the generation of light and the homogeneity of the light pattern into the vehicle interior. The specific values ​​mentioned in the individual ranges provide the best results for the generation of light and the light pattern.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the invention, a PCB strip carrying a plurality of light sources extends along the light receiving edges of a plurality of rectangular prisms, and wherein the PCB strip is connected to the lower surface of the second glass panel or to a cover element covering the light incoupling assembly. It is conceivable to connect the PCB strip to the lower surface of the second glass panel, which would be a simple and inexpensive construction method. However, it is also conceivable that the PCB strip containing the LED array is connected to the inside of the cover strip and the cover element of the rectangular prism array. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of a roof panel assembly according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle roof comprising a glass panel assembly according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a plan view of a vehicle roof including a glass panel assembly according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower surface of a glass panel including rectangular prisms and a PCB strip with LEDs.

[0020] Figure 4 According to the first embodiment, Figure 3 Line IV-IV in passes through the cross section of the laminated glass panel, the rectangular prism and the PCB strip with LEDs.

[0021] Figure 5 is a plan view of the lower surface of a glass panel with rectangular prisms and a PCB strip with LEDs.

[0022] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the position of the rectangular prisms and LEDs relative to the curved lower surface of the second glass panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] exist Figure 1 In the figure, the top of a vehicle 1 is shown, which has a fixed roof part 2, a frame part 3 (only in Figure 1 The frame member 2 is mounted on the roof member 2, and the inner side of the frame member surrounds (or defines) a roof opening 4. A portion (e.g., the front) of the roof opening 4 is covered by a movable panel 5, while the remaining portion (e.g., the rear) of the roof opening 4 is covered by a fixed panel 6.

[0024] exist Figure 2 , the movable panel 5 and the fixed panel 6 are schematically shown in their respective positions relative to the fixed roof part 2. Of course, the movable panel 5 can be moved to another position (for example, partially backwards on the fixed panel 6) for at least partially releasing the corresponding part of the roof opening 4. The mechanism for achieving such movement of the movable panel 5 is well known in the art and is therefore not further described here. As an exemplary embodiment, the movable panel 5 and the fixed panel 6 both define a laminated glass panel 25, which is part of the glass panel assembly according to the present invention and will be described in detail. However, it should be noted that in other embodiments, it is also possible that only one of the movable panel and the fixed panel defines such a laminated glass panel 25. In Figure 2In FIG, light incoupling components 7a-d and 8a-d are indicated in dashed lines. Such light incoupling components 7, 8 may be provided in any desired pattern (e.g. at all lateral and transverse edges of the panels 5, 6 as shown, or e.g. only at some edges, e.g. only at the side edges of the panels, thus only at 7a,b and 8a,b, and in a similar manner for both panels or in a different manner for both panels). Although Figure 2 As shown, the location of the light incoupling components 7, 8 near the edge of the panels 5, 6 is preferred, but other locations are also contemplated. Each light incoupling component 7, 8 can be covered by a cover element 22, which hides the rectangular prism 17 and the PCB strip 31 with the light source 16 (i.e., LED) from the internal view of the vehicle 1.

[0025] exist Figure 3 , a laminated glass panel 25 is shown with the lower surface 11 being viewed. In this embodiment, a lateral edge region 29 with rows of rectangular prisms 17 is shown, in this embodiment there are 5 prisms in one row. Adjacent to the row of rectangular prisms 17, a PCB strip 31 is placed with the light emitting side of the LEDs 16 pointing towards the light incoupling surfaces 27 of the prisms 17. In this embodiment, each light incoupling surface 27 of the prisms 17 receives light from two LEDs 16 arranged adjacently. Depending on the radius of the inner surface 14 of the second glass panel 12 and the size of the laminated glass panel 25, more or less rectangular prisms 17 can be used. For example, if the radius of the lower surface 14 is relatively small, a greater number of prisms 17 can be used. This is related to the following. When the straight shaped rectangular prisms 17 are glued to the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12 with the optical adhesive 18 during the manufacturing process, there will be a varying distance filled with the optical adhesive 18 between the straight rectangular prisms 17 and the curvature of the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12, which is in a circular cross-sectional shape. However, this distance cannot vary too much, as this may affect the uniformity of the light outcoupling pattern from the laminated glass panel 25 to the interior. As previously mentioned, 2 LEDs 16 are used with respect to one rectangular prism 17. It is conceivable that fewer LEDs 16 or more than two are used per rectangular prism 17, depending on the length L of the prism 17 and the requirements for light generation of the light emitted to the interior of the vehicle 1. The PCB strip 31 can be an elongated strip that is flexible and can be bonded to the curved lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12. The flexibility of the PCB strip 31 allows a constant distance of glue between the PCB strip 31 and the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12. The PCB strip 31 can be bonded by an optical adhesive 18 or by another type of adhesive, whichever adhesive is a cheaper solution.

[0026] Figure 4A cross-sectional view is shown showing the laminated glass panel 25, rectangular prisms 17, PCB strip 31, LED 16 and cover element 22. The cross-sectional view is taken along Figure 2 , which is a typical view of the cross section, regardless of where the inner coupling components 7, 8 are placed along the lateral or transverse edges 29, 30 of the movable panel 5 or the fixed panel 6. The laminated glass panel 25 has a rectangular prism 17 at its second glass panel lower surface 14, which is adhered to the lower surface 14 by an optical adhesive 18. An LED 16 is arranged at the light incoupling surface 27 of the rectangular prism 17, and the LED 16 is capable of emitting light into the light incoupling surface 27 of the rectangular prism 17. The LED 16 is mounted on a PCB strip 31, which is connected to the lower surface 14 by an adhesive member 32. The light emitted by the LED 16 enters the rectangular prism 17 and leaves the prism at the exit surface 28 of the prism, and enters the body of the second glass panel 12 via the optical adhesive 18. The light outcoupling device 26 is arranged between the second glass panel 12 and the laminate layer 15. The light guided in the inner body of the second glass panel 12 can be reflected at the light outcoupling device 26 and emitted into the interior of the vehicle 1. It is also conceivable that the light outcoupling device 26 is part of the laminate layer 15. A covering element 22 covers the light incoupling components 7, 8. Such a covering element 22 is an elongated portion extending along the edge region of the laminated glass panel 25. The covering element 22 is typically connected by an adhesive element 33 on one edge facing the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12. At the opposite end, the covering element 22 can be connected to the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12 by a similar adhesive element. This can be the case when the laminated glass panel 25 is provided with a partial encapsulation, in which only the short sides of the first and second glass panels 9, 12 and the laminate layer 15 are sealed with an encapsulation material. In the case where the laminated glass panel 25 is fully encapsulated, whereby the encapsulation material is also formed against the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12 in the lateral and lateral edge regions 29, 30, the covering element 22 is fixed to the encapsulation material 21. The rectangular prism 17 can have a shape such as Figure 4 The thickness H shown is within the range of 1.6 mm and 2.5 mm, more specifically 2.1 mm.

[0027] Figure 5A plan view of the light incoupling assembly 7, 8 is shown. As shown, the LED 16 emits light into the rectangular prism 17. In this embodiment, a row of 5 rectangular prisms 17 is connected to the lower surface 14 of the second glass panel 12. In this embodiment, each rectangular prism 17 receives light from 2 LEDs 16. The light emitted into the rectangular prism 17 as seen in the plan view has a light pattern at an angle of 120 degrees. Due to the maximum length L of the rectangular prism 17, the prism will not be sufficient to guide all of the light of a given LED 16 to its exit surface 28. Therefore, light emitted by the LED 16 towards extreme angles will be partially guided through adjacent rectangular prisms 17. In order to ensure that the light is not reflected at the walls inside the rectangular prism 17, the adjacent rectangular prisms 17 are interconnected by an optical adhesive 18 so that part of the light passes through the adjacent rectangular prisms 17 and travels into the body of the second glass panel 12 via the optical adhesive 18. The PCB strip 31 extends along the row of rectangular prisms 17 and has substantially the same length as the row of rectangular prisms 17. The length L of the rectangular prism (17) is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm, more specifically 66 mm. The width W of the rectangular prism (17) is in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm, more specifically 17 mm. The distance D shown is the distance between each adjacent LED (16), which is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm, more specifically 33 mm.

[0028] Figure 6 An enlarged schematic view of the second glass panel 12 is shown, here 3 rectangular prisms 17. The view is a side view looking at the short sides and the light incoupling surface 27 of the second glass panel 12. The middle one of these rectangular prisms 17 is drawn with two LEDs 16, which emit light into the light incoupling surface 27 of the rectangular prism 17. The light of the LEDs is emitted through the rectangular prisms 17, the optical adhesive 18 and into the body of the second glass panel 12. It can be seen here that the light not only passes through the optical adhesive 18 at the exit surface 28 of the determined rectangular prism 17, but also through the optical adhesive 18 interconnecting the adjacent rectangular prism 17 and through the adjacent rectangular prism 17 and its exit surface 28. Thus, it is ensured that the light pattern emitted by the light outcoupling means 26 into the interior of the vehicle 1 has a uniform appearance for the occupants.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments which can vary widely within the scope of the invention defined by the appending claims.

Claims

1. A glass panel assembly for a roof assembly of a vehicle (1), the glass panel assembly having a laminated glass panel (25), the laminated glass panel comprising a first glass panel (9) having a first glass panel upper surface (10) and an opposite first glass panel lower surface (11), and a second glass panel (12) having a second glass panel upper surface (13) and an opposite second glass panel lower surface (14), wherein: The first glass panel (9) and the second glass panel (12) are laminated to each other at the first glass panel lower surface (11) and the second glass panel upper surface (14) by means of a laminating layer (15), wherein a light outcoupling device (26) is arranged between the laminating layer (15) and the second glass panel (12), and at least one light incoupling component (7, 8) is arranged on the second glass panel lower surface (14), It is characterized in that the light incoupling assembly (7, 8) comprises a plurality of light sources (16) and a plurality of light incoupling elements (17), wherein the light incoupling elements are rectangular prisms (17).

2. The glass panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each rectangular prism (17) is made of transparent glass or extra-transparent glass, and wherein the rectangular prism 17 is provided with a light incoupling surface (27) for receiving light from a nearby light source 16 and an exit surface (28) for emitting light from the rectangular prism (17) into the second glass panel (12).

3. The glass panel assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each rectangular prism (17) is connected by its exit surface (28) to the second glass panel lower surface (14) by a thin layer of optical adhesive (18).

4. The glass panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laminated glass panel (25) includes curvature along its length and width.

5. The glass panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one light incoupling component (7, 8) extends along one or more of the lateral or transverse edge regions (29, 30) of the laminated glass panel (25).

6. The glass panel assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plurality of rectangular prisms (17) are connected to the second glass panel lower surface (14), each rectangular prism (17) is adjacent to another and the plurality of rectangular prisms (17) are arranged in a row.

7. The glass panel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: Each rectangular prism (17) is a straight strip of glass material which is attached to the curved surface of the lower surface (14) of the second glass panel by an optical adhesive (18).

8. The glass panel assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: The thickness t of the optical adhesive (18) between the rectangular prism (17) and the lower surface (14) of the second glass panel varies between a minimum value and a maximum value measured between points L and R.

9. The glass panel assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: Adjacent rectangular prisms (17) are optically interconnected laterally by an optical adhesive (18).

10. The glass panel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second glass panel lower surface (14) has no surface treatment in the area where the plurality of rectangular prisms (17) are connected to the second glass panel lower surface (14).

11. The glass panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length L of the rectangular prism (17) is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm.

12. The glass panel assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that: The width W of the rectangular prism (17) is in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm.

13. The glass panel assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that: The height H of the rectangular prism (17) is in the range of 1.6 mm to 2.5 mm.

14. The glass panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A PCB strip (31) carrying a plurality of light sources (16) extends along the light receiving edges of the plurality of rectangular prisms (17), wherein the PCB strip (31) is connected to a second glass panel lower surface (14) of the second glass panel (12) or to a covering element (22) covering the light incoupling components (7, 8).

15. The glass panel assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that: The distance D between each adjacent light source (16) is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

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