Illuminable assembly glass

Abstract

The invention relates to a glazing (1) comprising:-at least one first pane (1) having a first main surface (I) and a second main surface (II),-a coating (20) having a first main surface (III) and a second main surface (IV), the first main surface (III) of the coating (20) being arranged on the second main surface (II) of the first pane (1),-at least one light source (4), the invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising a coating (20) having at least one main surface (III, IV), a light source (4) connected to the coating (20) such that light of the light source (4) can be coupled into the coating (20), and at least one light out-coupling device (6) for coupling light out of the coating (20) via at least one of the main surfaces (III, IV), -the refractive index n20 of the coating (20) is greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass sheet (1), and-the extinction coefficient k20 of the coating (20) is lower than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass sheet (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an illuminable or lighting-equipped glass, preferably as a single glass pane or laminated glass pane, and in particular as a roof pane of a vehicle glazing.

[0002] In a lighting-equipped glass or light distribution system, light is typically coupled into a planar light guide of the equipped glass by utilizing the total reflection effect, which is known, for example, from WO 2008 / 047442 A1, JP 2011 086547A or JP 2015 043321 A.

[0003] WO 2010 / 049638 A1, WO 2013 / 053629 A1, WO 2014 / 060409 A1, WO 2015 / 095288A2 or WO 2022 / 218741 A1 disclose coupling light via a side surface (also referred to as a side edge) of a glass pane. If the light source is placed very close to the glass edge, light can thereby be coupled very effectively and over the entire width of the light guide into the light guide. Thereby, very uniform planar illumination can be achieved. This principle is well-known and is very common, for example, for display backlighting and decorative lighting applications.

[0004] In other applications, such as in the case of a roof pane of a vehicle glazing in the automotive field, such light coupling via one of the side surfaces is difficult because it is adhesively bonded into the vehicle body and the glass pane typically has rounded edges, so-called C-shaped cuts. Since for the most effective light coupling, the side surface must be as smooth as possible, complex smoothing and polishing or other special treatments of the side surface are required.

[0005] Inserting a light source into a recess, such as in a mechanical drill hole, and thereby coupling light into the glass pane is known from WO 2013 / 110885 A1, WO 2018 / 178591 A1 or WO 2019 / 105855 A1. However, point light coupling makes it difficult to achieve uniform illumination of the entire glass pane. In addition, due to technical reasons, the edges of the drill holes are matte, which also reduces the efficiency of light coupling. Moreover, the drill holes cause mechanical weakening of the equipped glass.

[0006] Alternatively, the light source can be arranged on one of the main surfaces of the glass pane, and light can be coupled into the glass pane via one of the main surfaces, which is known, for example, from WO 2022 / 096365 A1.

[0007] In WO 2014 / 060409 A1, an additional single safety glass plate is installed under the actual laminated glass plate by means of a casing or housing, and its only function is the function of light guiding. This results in a considerable additional production cost as well as additional weight and space requirements for the entire roof glass plate.

[0008] Now, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembled glass which can be manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner and which enables particularly efficient illumination of the assembled glass.

[0009] The object of the present invention is achieved according to the present invention by means of the assembled glass according to independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims.

[0010] The assembled glass according to the present invention at least comprises the following features:

[0011] - at least a first glass plate, which has a first main surface and a second main surface,

[0012] - a coating having a first main surface and a second main surface, wherein the coating is arranged such that the first main surface is on the second main surface of the first glass plate,

[0013] - at least one light source, wherein the light source is connected to the coating such that light from the light source can be coupled into the coating, and

[0014] - at least one light outcoupling device for coupling out light from the coating via at least one of the main surfaces,

[0015] wherein, for at least one wavelength λ of the light from the light source,

[0016] - the refractive index n of the coating 20 is greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate, and

[0017] - the extinction coefficient k of the coating 20 is less than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the present invention, the light source is connected to the coating according to the present invention such that light from the light source can be coupled at an angle θ greater than or equal to the total reflection angle θ 完全 (θ total ) in the coating.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the light source is configured such that light is substantially not coupled into the first glass plate or another (e.g., second) glass plate. In particular, the light is not coupled into the coating via the first glass plate.

[0020] The present invention is based on the following finding by the inventors: Glass - whether it is inorganic glass (such as soda-lime glass) or polymer glass - is generally described as transparent. By utilizing total internal reflection, the light coupled into the glass plate can be retained in the glass, with almost no reflection loss at the interface with other media (such as air). However, even in glass, there is extinction that generally depends on the wavelength, and thus there is an intensity loss that increases with the path length in the medium. This is particularly disadvantageous in the case of tinted glass plates or in arrangements where the light source is far from the light-coupling output position.

[0021] In the present invention, a coating is arranged on the first glass plate, and the coating a) has a higher refractive index and thus forms a planar optical waveguide, and b) has a low extinction coefficient such that the coupled light has less propagation loss in the medium. The combination of these two allows a high light intensity to be coupled out even at positions on the glass assembly that are far from the corresponding light source.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the light source (4) is adapted to emit light of at least one wavelength λ in the wavelength range of visible light (VIS), preferably in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the extinction coefficient k of the coating 20 is at least 1.5 times smaller, preferably at least 2 times smaller, particularly preferably at least 5 times smaller, and especially at least 10 times smaller than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the extinction coefficient k at a wavelength λ of 550 nm 20 is less than or equal to 1*10 -6 , preferably less than or equal to 1*10 -7 , and particularly preferably less than or equal to 1*10 -8 .

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the coating has a substantially constant thickness d 20 .

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the coating has a thickness d that is at least the minimum wavelength λ of the light from the light source 20 .

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the coating has a thickness d of from 380 nm to 10 µm, preferably from 780 nm to 5 µm, and in particular from 800 nm to 2 µm 20 .

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the coating is deposited on the second major surface of the first glass plate by a thin film deposition method.

[0029] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coating according to the invention is deposited by methods known per se, preferably by cathodic sputtering or magnetron-assisted cathodic sputtering. This is particularly advantageous with regard to simple, rapid, inexpensive and uniform coating of the substrate. Cathodic sputtering is carried out in an inert gas (for example argon) atmosphere or in a reactive gas atmosphere, for example by adding oxygen or nitrogen.

[0030] However, the coating according to the invention can also be applied by other methods known to the person skilled in the art, for example by physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or by wet chemical methods, such as the sol-gel process, such as spraying, dip coating, spin coating or casting.

[0031] Generally, the sol-gel process is understood to mean the condensation of colloidal dissolved particles into a three-dimensional network, where the size of the colloids can vary between 1 nm and several thousand nanometers. In spraying, the sol is atomized by supplying a certain amount of air and subsequently transported to the substrate as very small particles. In dip coating, the substrate is immersed in the solution and then pulled out again at a constant speed. In the casting process, the synthetic solution is dropped onto the substrate and the solvent is allowed to evaporate. Production of a coating by casting is also based on the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) mechanism. The films produced in this way can be significantly thicker than those produced by dip coating or spin coating.

[0032] For the production of coatings containing silicon dioxide or consisting of silicon dioxide, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is particularly preferred, where the coating is formed by the reaction of a silicon-containing gas such as silane or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, also known as tetraethoxysilane).

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the coating contains titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, in particular Si3N4, zirconium silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride and / or silicon dioxide, in particular SiO2, or consists of them.

[0034] In a further advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the refractive index n of the coating20 is at least 0.1 greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate, preferably at least 0.2, and in particular at least 0.2 to 1.5.

[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the assembled glass according to the invention comprises at least one preferably transparent light coupling device, wherein a light source is connected to the first main surface of the coating via the light coupling device such that light from the light source can be coupled into the coating.

[0036] Transparent is understood in the context of the present invention to mean an object, in particular a light coupling device, a light output coupling device and / or a transparent body, which has a transmittance of greater than 20%, preferably greater than 50%, particularly preferably greater than 70%, and in particular greater than 85% in the visible spectral range.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the invention, the light coupling device is adapted to deflect a part of the light from the light source in transmission by scattering, reflection, refraction or diffraction.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the invention, the light coupling device is adapted to couple a part of the light from the light source into the coating at an angle θ greater than or equal to the total reflection angle θ 完全 in the coating. The angle θ is the angle of incidence or reflection relative to the vertical direction of the main surface of the glass plate. Advantageously, the part of the light coupled into the coating from the light source at an angle θ greater than or equal to the total reflection angle θ 完全 is increased by at least 50 times, preferably at least 200 times.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment, the light coupling device is preferably introduced into the second main surface of the coating by laser structuring, mechanical structuring (such as sandblasting) and / or etching (preferably chemical or physical etching). A flat, irregular surface structure that causes diffuse light scattering when illuminated is particularly suitable. Alternatively, a linear or grid-like (e.g., cross-grid-like) structure can be introduced.

[0040] In a further advantageous embodiment, the light coupling device according to the invention is not integrally formed with the coating.

[0041] In an alternative advantageous embodiment, the light coupling device is printed, for example by inkjet or screen printing, on the second main surface of the coating. Advantageously, the printed material contains particles adapted to scatter, refract, diffract or reflect light.

[0042] In a further alternative advantageous embodiment, the light coupling device contains or consists of a transparent body, which is integrally connected to the second main surface of the coating, for example by gluing.

[0043] The transparent body according to the invention preferably contains or consists of a structured plastic film or plastic sheet (e.g., having light-scattering, light-refracting, light-diffracting, or light-reflecting particles) or a holographic film. The transparent body according to the invention can also contain a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as randomly arranged or grid-like arranged pyramids, or linearly arranged steps (also referred to hereinafter as stepped prisms), or consist of them. The transparent body generally has a surface structure constituted by such microprisms. Such microprisms can be advantageously manufactured by machining such as stamping or embossing, by chemical etching, by lithography, or other transfer techniques.

[0044] The refractive index n of the transparent body 10 is preferably from n1–0.3 to n1+0.3, particularly preferably from n1–0.2 to n1+0.2, and especially from n1–0.15 to n1+0.15, where n1 is the refractive index of the first glass plate.

[0045] In another alternative advantageous embodiment, the light-coupling device, and in particular the transparent body, is part of the light source, such as part of the housing.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light source is connected directly or only via the light-coupling device to the coating. The light source is specifically configured such that light is not coupled into the first glass plate or another glass plate.

[0047] It should be understood that the assembled glass according to the invention can have one or more light sources, the light of which is coupled into the coating according to the invention through one or more of the above-mentioned light-coupling devices, and different light-coupling devices can also be combined in one assembled glass.

[0048] In an advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the invention, the light source is adapted to emit visible light.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the invention, the light source contains at least one light-emitting diode (LED), preferably at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED), at least one laser diode, at least one incandescent lamp, and / or at least one gas discharge lamp, or consists of them. A light source having a plurality of laser diodes or light-emitting diodes arranged particularly in a strip shape on a carrier strip is particularly advantageous.

[0050] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the assembled glass according to the invention, the light source, and in particular a plurality of laser diodes or light-emitting diodes, are arranged in a meandering, wavy, or zigzag manner on the coating according to the invention, particularly in a circular or annular form. This allows a particularly large amount of light to be coupled into the coating.

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment of the glass assembly according to the invention, the light output coupling device is adapted to couple out a part of the light guided into the coating according to the invention on at least one major surface of the coating, preferably by scattering, reflection, refraction or diffraction.

[0052] Advantageously, the light output coupling device is introduced into the first major surface of the coating according to the invention, into the second major surface and / or into the coating, and / or is arranged on the first major surface and / or the second major surface.

[0053] For this purpose, the light output coupling device is preferably introduced into the first major surface and / or the second major surface of the coating according to the invention by laser structuring, mechanical structuring (such as sandblasting) and / or by etching.

[0054] Alternatively or in combination, the light output coupling device can preferably be integrally connected to the first major surface and / or the second major surface of the coating according to the invention by printing or gluing with a colorant, a paste or particles, particularly preferably light-scattering, light-refracting or light-reflecting particles.

[0055] Alternatively or in combination, the light output coupling device can contain or consist of particles, particularly preferably light-scattering, light-refracting, light-diffracting or light-reflecting particles, scattering centers or cavities, which are arranged within the coating according to the invention. Such scattering centers or cavities can be introduced into the coating, for example, by laser structuring.

[0056] Alternatively or in combination, the light output coupling device can contain or consist of at least one transparent body, which is integrally connected to the first or second major surface of the coating according to the invention, for example, by gluing it or arranging it on the first glass plate before applying the coating, wherein the transparent body preferably contains or consists of:

[0057] a) A structured plastic film or plastic plate, or

[0058] b) A transmissive holographic film.

[0059] Advantageously, the structured plastic film or plastic plate has a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as stepped prisms.

[0060] Alternatively or in combination, the light output coupling device can be a reflector, which is integrally connected to the second or first major surface of the coating according to the invention, for example, by gluing, wherein the reflector preferably contains or consists of:

[0061] a) A structured plastic film or plastic plate, or

[0062] b) Transmission holographic film. Advantageously, the structured plastic film or plastic sheet has a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as stepped prisms.

[0063] If such a light output coupling device is arranged, for example, on the second major surface of the coating according to the invention, the light is coupled out, for example, via the second major surface and can be seen by an observer looking at the coating according to the invention via the second major surface.

[0064] Alternatively or in combination, the light output coupling device can be a transparent body which is connected, for example by gluing - preferably integrally - to the first or second major surface of the coating according to the invention. Advantageously, the transparent body then contains, preferably is structured, particularly preferably diffusely scattering or directionally refracting (e.g. by means of microprisms) transparent layers, plastic films or plastic sheets, or consists of them, and the refractive index n 10 ’ of the transparent body is significantly greater than n1. In particular, n 10 is at least +0.2 or at least +0.5 greater than n1. Such a light coupling device can, for example, be a rough film coated with titanium oxide (TiO x ). If such a light output coupling device is arranged, for example, on the second major surface of the coating according to the invention, the light is coupled out, for example, via the second major surface and can be seen by an observer looking at the coating according to the invention via the second major surface.

[0065] The transparent body of the light output coupling device according to the invention can contain a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as pyramids arranged randomly or in a grid pattern, or steps arranged linearly (also referred to below as stepped prisms), or consist of them. The transparent body generally has a surface structure formed by such microprisms. Such microprisms can advantageously be manufactured by machining such as stamping or embossing, by chemical etching, by lithography or other transfer techniques.

[0066] In an advantageous development of the invention, the assembled glass according to the invention has at least one light amplification device. The light amplification device is arranged opposite the light coupling device with respect to the coating according to the invention. Opposite here preferably means that the light amplification device is arranged at least in the region of the orthogonal projection of the light coupling device onto the coating according to the invention.

[0067] The light amplification device can be arranged directly between the first major surface of the coating and the second major surface of the first glass plate. In particular, the light amplification device is not formed integrally with the coating.

[0068] The light amplification device according to the invention is particularly suitable for reflecting (preferably specular reflection), scattering (preferably diffuse scattering) or diffracting, preferably at an angle greater than or equal to θ 完全The angle θ redirects the light emerging from the coating back into the coating.

[0069] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the assembled glass is a monolithic assembled glass, for example a monolithic glass plate.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment, the assembled glass according to the invention is a laminated glass plate. The second glass plate is preferably connected to the first major surface of the first glass plate by at least one intermediate layer, preferably by lamination.

[0071] In principle, all electrically insulating substrates that are thermally stable, chemically stable and dimensionally stable under the conditions of manufacturing and using the composite glass plate according to the invention are suitable as the first glass plate and the second glass plate.

[0072] The first glass plate and / or the second glass plate (if present) preferably contain glass or consist of glass, particularly preferably flat glass, most particularly preferably float glass, such as soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass or quartz glass, or transparent plastics, preferably rigid transparent plastics, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride and / or mixtures thereof. The first glass plate and / or the second glass plate are preferably transparent, particularly for the use of the glass plate as a windshield or rear window of a vehicle or for other uses that require a high light transmittance. In the context of the present invention, "transparent" means a glass plate having a transmittance greater than 70% in the visible spectral range. In particular, at least the first glass plate and preferably the second glass plate consist of transparent glass.

[0073] However, for glass plates that are not in the driver's traffic-related field of view, such as for roof glass plates, the transmittance can also be much lower, for example greater than 5%. For this purpose, for example, the second glass plate and / or the intermediate layer can be colored or tinted.

[0074] The thickness of the first glass plate and / or the second glass plate can vary within a wide range and can thus ideally be adapted to the requirements of various individual cases. Preferably, a standard thickness of 1.0 mm to 25 mm, preferably 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm, is used for vehicle glass, and a standard thickness of preferably 4 mm to 25 mm is used for furniture, equipment and buildings. The size of the glass plates can vary within a wide range and depends on the size of the use according to the invention. The first and second glass plates have a surface area of 200 cm 2 to at most 20 m 2 as is common, for example, in the fields of vehicle manufacturing and construction.

[0075] The assembled glass can have any three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the three-dimensional shape has no shaded areas so that they can be coated with additional coatings, for example, by cathodic sputtering. Preferably, the glass plate is planar or slightly or significantly curved in one or more spatial directions. In particular, a planar substrate is used. The glass plate can be colorless or colored.

[0076] In the case of laminated glass plates, the first glass plate and the second glass plate are connected to each other by at least one intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is preferably transparent or colored or tinted. The intermediate layer preferably contains at least one plastic or is made of at least one plastic, preferably polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the intermediate layer can also contain, for example, polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylate, polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, casting resin, acrylate, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyvinyl fluoride, and / or ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, or their copolymers or mixtures. The intermediate layer can be formed by one layer or even by multiple layers of films stacked on top of each other, where the thickness of the film is preferably from 0.025 mm to 1 mm, usually 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm. The intermediate layer is preferably thermoplastic, and after lamination, the first glass plate, the second glass plate, and any other intermediate layer can be bonded to each other. A so-called acoustic damping intermediate layer is particularly advantageous, which preferably consists of three PVB layers, where the middle layer is designed to be softer than the two outer layers.

[0077] The intermediate layer can also be a functional intermediate layer, in particular an intermediate layer that reflects infrared radiation, absorbs infrared radiation, absorbs UV radiation, is at least partially colored, and / or is at least partially tinted. For example, the thermoplastic intermediate layer can also be a band-pass filter film.

[0078] The terms "first glass plate" and "second glass plate" are chosen to distinguish between the two glass plates of the laminated glass plate according to the present invention. No statement regarding the geometric arrangement is associated with these terms. When, for example, the laminated glass plate according to the present invention is provided in an opening in a vehicle or a building to separate the interior from the external environment, the first glass plate can face the interior or the external environment.

[0079] The first glass plate and / or the second glass plate (if present) can have other suitable layers known per se, such as an anti-reflection coating, a non-stick coating, an anti-scratch coating, a photocatalytic coating, or a sunscreen coating, or a low-emissivity coating. It should be understood that the additional layer on the second main surface of the first glass plate must not impair the performance of the coating according to the present invention, and in particular, the total reflection of light in the coating.

[0080] In addition, the assembled glass may optionally have additional functional elements, in particular electronically controllable optical elements, such as PDLC elements, electrochromic elements, etc., which are usually arranged between the first glass plate and the second glass plate.

[0081] Another aspect of the present invention includes an assembled glass assembly, which comprises the assembled glass according to the present invention and a voltage source or control electronics connected to the light source. The voltage source or control electronics can control the light source so that it emits light when a voltage is applied.

[0082] Another aspect of the present invention includes a method for manufacturing the assembled glass according to the present invention, wherein at least

[0083] S1: Provide a first glass plate, and

[0084] S2: Deposit the coating on the first main surface of the first glass plate by a thin film deposition method.

[0085] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention, before the second method step (S2), a light source, preferably a laser diode and / or a light emitting diode, is arranged on the second main surface of the first glass plate, so that after depositing the coating in the second method step (S2), light can be coupled into the coating according to the present invention. Particularly preferably, the light is coupled into the coating parallel to the extension direction of the coating.

[0086] For example, at least one prefabricated micro light emitting diode or micro laser diode can be arranged on the second main surface of the first glass plate.

[0087] A simple light emitting diode or laser diode has a p-n junction layer with an insulator therebetween and two conductive layers at the top and bottom. Alternatively, the laser diode or light emitting diode or the corresponding strip can be directly deposited on the first glass plate as a substrate using semiconductor manufacturing methods.

[0088] In another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the light or a part of the light from the light source is coupled into the coating according to the present invention at an angle θ greater than or equal to the total reflection angle θ 完全 of the angle θ.

[0089] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention includes the following steps:

[0090] - Preferably by laser structuring, mechanical structuring such as sandblasting, etching, coating, printing or applying a transparent body, arrange a light coupling device, preferably a light scattering, light reflection, light refraction or light diffraction light coupling device, on the first main surface of the coating,

[0091] - At least one light source is arranged on the optical coupling device, and at least one light output coupling device is arranged on or in the coating.

[0092] The assembled glass according to the invention can be, for example, a roof glass panel, a windshield, a side window or a rear window of a vehicle, or another vehicle assembled glass, such as a partition glass panel in a vehicle, preferably in a rail vehicle or a bus. Alternatively, the assembled glass can be, for example, architectural glass in the facade of a building, or a partition glass panel inside a building, or a built-in component in furniture or equipment.

[0093] Another aspect of the invention includes using the assembled glass according to the invention in a building, particularly in an access area, a window area, a roof area or a facade area, using the assembled glass according to the invention as a built-in component in furniture and equipment, and using the assembled glass according to the invention in a means of transportation for traveling on land, in the air or on water, particularly in trains, ships and motor vehicles, such as a windshield, a rear window, a side window and / or a roof glass panel.

[0094] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of the drawings and embodiments of the embodiments. The drawings are schematic representations and are not to scale. The drawings do not limit the present invention in any way.

[0095] In the drawings:

[0096] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an assembled glass according to the invention showing an example of using a single glass plate is shown.

[0097] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an assembled glass according to the invention showing an example of using a laminated glass plate is shown.

[0098] Figure 3A ,B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an assembled glass according to the invention, which uses an example of a single glass plate to illustrate the method according to the invention, and

[0099] Figure 4 A schematic plan view of the second main surface of the coating of the assembled glass according to the invention is shown, in which the light sources are arranged in a wavy manner.

[0100] Figure 1 ( Figure 1) shows a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an assembled glass 101 according to the invention using a single glass plate. The single glass plate can be, for example, an automotive assembled glass, a building assembled glass, or a component of a piece of furniture or (electrical) equipment. The assembled glass 101 is, for example, a roof glass plate of a vehicle. The assembled glass 101 can also be part of a heat-insulating assembled glass unit and can be used, for example, as an outer glass plate or an inner glass plate in a window of a building. Alternatively, the assembled glass 101 can be arranged inside and can be, for example, the assembled glass of a meeting room.

[0101] The assembled glass 101 contains a glass plate 1, which is also referred to as the first glass plate 1 in the context of the present invention. The first glass plate 1 has dimensions of, for example, 1.4 m × 1.5 m. The first glass plate 1 is composed of, for example, soda-lime glass. The thickness of the first glass plate 1 is, for example, 3 mm. It should be understood that the thickness of the first glass plate 1 can be adapted to a specific use. The first glass plate 1 can, for example, contain prestressed, partially prestressed, or non-prestressed glass. Alternatively, the first glass plate 1 can be composed of plastic (such as polycarbonate).

[0102] The first glass plate 1 has a first major surface I and another opposite second major surface II. The first glass plate 1 is further defined by four circumferential side surfaces, which are arranged orthogonally to the major surfaces I and II.

[0103] A coating 20 according to the invention is arranged on the first glass plate 1. The second major surface II of the first glass plate 1 is in direct contact with the first major surface III of the coating 20.

[0104] The first glass plate 1 is composed of, for example, tinted glass, which has a transmittance of 10% when viewed through the first glass plate 1.

[0105] The coating 20 is composed of, for example, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and has a thickness d of, for example, 1 μm 20 。

[0106] The refractive index n of the coating 20 20 is, for example, 1.76 at a wavelength of 550 nm, and the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate 1 is, for example, 1.51 at a wavelength of 550 nm. The refractive index n of the coating 20 20 is thus 0.25 greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate 1.

[0107] The extinction coefficient k of the coating 20 20 is less than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate 1 over the entire wavelength range of visible light, i.e., in the range from 380 nm to 780 nm.

[0108] The extinction coefficient k of the coating 20 20 For example, at a wavelength of 550 nm, it is < 1×10 -9 , and the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate 1 is, for example, 2.3×10 at the same wavelength of 550 nm -5 . At a wavelength of 550 nm, the extinction coefficient k of the coating 20 20 is thus more than 20,000 times smaller than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate 1.

[0109] The assembled glass 101 includes a light source 4, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), which emits light in the visible range, for example. The light beam from the light source 4 is guided in the direction of the coating 20 and impinges substantially orthogonally on the second major surface IV of the coating 20.

[0110] For example, an optical coupling device 5 is arranged between the light source 4 and the coating 20, and couples most of the light from the light source 4 into the first glass plate 1 at an angle θ (theta) greater than or equal to the total internal reflection angle θ 完全 by scattering, reflection, refraction or diffraction. The total internal reflection angle θ 完全 depends on the refractive index of the light-guiding medium and is approximately 59° for the angle between this coating 20 (n = 1.76) and the first glass plate 1 (n = 1.51).

[0111] Due to the total internal reflection principle, all the light coupled into the coating 20 at an angle θ ≥ θ 完全 propagates through the coating 20 without loss at the interface. In Figure 1 this, this is schematically shown by the light beam L1. The attenuation of the coupled light only occurs by extinction within the medium of the coating 20.

[0112] The optical coupling device 5 can be designed in different ways. In the present exemplary embodiment, it consists of a region of the second major surface IV of the coating 20, in which scattering centers are introduced into the second major surface IV by laser structuring.

[0113] For example, an optical output coupling device 6 is arranged on the second major surface IV of the coating 20. The optical output coupling device 6 can be arranged at any desired position on the first major surface III or the second major surface IV of the coating 20 and is particularly arranged offset from the optical coupling device 5 (i.e., not directly opposite).

[0114] The optical coupling device 5 according to the present invention is known to those skilled in the art, for example, from WO 2022 / 096365A1, and will not be discussed in more detail herein.

[0115] The optical coupling device 5 can be introduced, for example, by laser structuring into the second major surface IV of the coating 20. For this purpose, for example, a diffraction grating with a periodicity of 1 μm and a groove depth of 100 nm is structured into the surface. For this purpose, for example, a short-pulse laser is moved over the major surface IV in a linear pattern. Alternatively, a diffusing surface structuring can be introduced into the surface by local removal. For this purpose, a short-pulse laser with a power of 10 watts is moved over the second major surface IV in a grid-like pattern.

[0116] Alternatively, a transparent body can be arranged between the light source 4 and the coating 20 as the optical coupling device 5. The surface of the transparent body facing the light source 4 has, for example, a stepped prism, which is adapted to refract most of the light from the light source 4 and couple it into the coating 20 at an angle θ > θ 完全 For this purpose, the glass plate contact surface of the transparent body is flat and is directly bonded to the major surface IV of the coating 20. The transparent body consists, for example, of plastic and in particular of a photosensitive polymer, and the stepped prism is introduced into it by a suitable microstructuring or exposure method.

[0117] For example, the structuring of the major surfaces III, IV of the coating 20 is suitable as an optical output coupling device 6, in which total reflection is prevented and light can leave the coating 20 via the respective major surfaces III, IV. Alternatively, the optical output coupling device 6 can comprise an imprint on the coating 20 or light-scattering, light-refracting, light-diffracting or light-reflecting particles, scattering centers, cavities or unevenness introduced into the coating 20. Such scattering centers, cavities or unevenness can be introduced into or onto the coating 20, for example, by laser structuring.

[0118] In the present exemplary embodiment, the optical output coupling device 6 is designed, for example, as an imprint of fine light-scattering particles on the second major surface IV of the coating 20. As a result, the total reflection of the light beam L1 is interrupted at the interface between the coating 20 and the surrounding air, and the light is coupled out of the coating 20 by scattering.

[0119] In one embodiment of the invention, the assembly glass 101 can comprise an optical amplification device (not shown), which is arranged opposite the coating 20 of the light source 4. The task of the optical amplification device is to redirect most of the light, which passes through the coating 20 at an angle θ < θ 完全 and immediately leaves again, preferably at an angle θ > θ 完全Return to the coating 20. The optical amplification device preferably employs mechanisms of reflection, refraction, diffraction, and / or scattering. Such optical amplification devices are known to those skilled in the art, for example, from WO 2022 / 096365 A1, and will not be discussed in more detail herein.

[0120] The optical amplification device significantly increases the intensity of the light coupled into the coating 20 under total reflection and thereby also increases the intensity of the light that can be coupled out.

[0121] Figure 2 ( Figure 2 ) shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an assembled glass according to the invention using a laminated glass plate. Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 the development of the assembled glass 101 according to the invention. Figure 1 The assembled glass 101 has a structure similar to that of Figure 2 the assembled glass 101 such that only the differences will be discussed below and reference will additionally be made to Figure 1 the description.

[0122] Contrary to Figure 1 the assembled glass 101, Figure 2 in the first glass plate 1 is connected to the second glass plate 2 via an intermediate layer 3 by lamination, for example, in an autoclave. The intermediate layer 3 is firmly connected to the first major surface I of the first glass plate 1 on one side and to the second major surface II' of the second glass plate 2 on the opposite side.

[0123] The assembled glass 101 has dimensions of, for example, 1.6 m × 1.5 m. The first glass plate 1 is arranged, for example, to face the interior of the vehicle in the installed position. In other words, the second major surface II of the first glass plate 1 can be accessed from the inside, while conversely, the first major surface I' of the second glass plate 2 faces outwards relative to the vehicle interior. The first glass plate 1 and the second glass plate 2 are composed of soda-lime glass, for example. The thickness of the first glass plate 1 is, for example, 1.6 mm, and the thickness of the second glass plate 2 is, for example, 2.1 mm. It is to be understood that the first glass plate 1 and the second glass plate 2 can have any desired thickness and can also have the same thickness, for example. The intermediate layer 3 is preferably composed of an acoustic damping 3-layer PVB film. The second glass plate 2 and the intermediate layer 3 are, for example, transparent, i.e., neither colored nor tinted.

[0124] In this embodiment, the optical coupling device 5 consists of a transparent body 10 that contains a plastic film 12 glued to the second major surface IV of the coating 20. The plastic film 12 is printed with light-scattering particles, for example, that diffusely scatter the light from the light source 4.

[0125] For example, the light output coupling device 6 is also arranged here on the second main surface IV of the coating 20. It should be understood that it can also be arranged on the first main surface III of the coating 20 or within the coating 20.

[0126] Figure 2 The assembled glass 101 shown in to Figure 2 is particularly suitable as a roof glass panel for a motor vehicle. For this purpose, for example, functional elements having electro - controllable optical properties, such as PDLC functional elements, can be arranged between the first glass plate 1 and the second glass plate 2.

[0127] Figure 3A ( Figure 3A ) and 3B( Figure 3B ) show a schematic cross - sectional view of another embodiment of the assembled glass 101 according to the invention using a laminated glass plate, and illustrate method steps according to the invention of the manufacturing method according to the invention. Figure 3A and 3B show Figure 1 an embodiment according to the invention of the assembled glass 101, Figure 1 the assembled glass 101 having a structure similar to that of Figure 3B the assembled glass 101 of Figure 1 such that only the differences will be discussed below and reference will additionally be made to the description of

[0128] In the method according to the invention for manufacturing the assembled glass 101 according to the invention, in a first method step S1, the first glass plate 1 is provided, and in a subsequent second method step S2, the coating 20 according to the invention is deposited on the second main surface II of the first glass plate 1 by a thin - film deposition method.

[0129] Figure 3A shows the first glass plate 1 during the first method step S1, in which a light source 4 in the form of an LED is additionally arranged on the second main surface II of the first glass plate 1. For example, the LED is glued as a finished component to the first main surface II of the first glass plate 1. Alternatively, the LED can also be manufactured directly on the first glass plate 1 using a suitable semiconductor construction method.

[0130] Subsequently, in the second method step S2, the coating 20 according to the invention is deposited on the second main surface II of the first glass plate 1.

[0131] Figure 3BShows a finished assembled glass 101 according to the present invention. A light source 4, namely an LED, is arranged on the second main surface II of the first glass plate 1 such that after depositing the coating 20 in the second method step S2, light from the light source 4 can be coupled into the coating 20. This means that the light source 4 can couple its light, for example, substantially parallel to the extension direction of the main surface of the coating 20 (i.e., couple into the end face of the coating 20 and thereby at the total reflection angle θ 完全 coupled.

[0132] Figure 4 ( Figure 4 ) shows a schematic plan view of another assembled glass 101 according to the present invention in a plan view of the main surface IV of the coating 20.

[0133] The light source 4 is designed as a strip of individual LEDs arranged in a wavy manner in the outer region of the windshield. The wavy shape increases the length of the strip and thereby the number of light sources 4, such that overall more light can be coupled into the coating 20 and thereby more light can be coupled out of the coating 20 via the light output coupling element 6. Alternatively, the light source 4 can be zigzag, sinusoidal or sawtooth shaped.

[0134] The assembled glass 101 according to the present invention with the coating 20 according to the present invention has many advantages over assembled glasses of the prior art:

[0135] - The coating according to the present invention can be manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner;

[0136] - By using a coating with a lower extinction coefficient, the reduction of the light intensity within a single glass plate is reduced;

[0137] - The assembled glass according to the present invention is easier to recycle, especially when using a glass-based coating compared to a polymer-based coating;

[0138] - Suitable light output coupling means (patterns, structures) can be introduced into or onto the coating easily and cost-effectively, for example by direct laser structuring.

[0139] This is unexpected and surprising to those skilled in the art.

[0140] List of reference numerals

[0141] 1 First glass plate

[0142] 2 Second glass plate

[0143] 3 Intermediate layer

[0144] 4 Light source

[0145] 5 Optical coupling device

[0146] 6 Optical output coupling device

[0147] 10 Transparent body or reflector

[0148] 11 Step prism

[0149] 12 Plastic film

[0150] 20 Coating

[0151] 101 Mounting glass

[0152] L1 Light beam

[0153] θ Angle (θ)

[0154] θ 完全 Total reflection angle (θ)

[0155] k1 Extinction coefficient of the first glass plate 1

[0156] k 20 Extinction coefficient of the coating 20

[0157] n1 Refractive index of the first glass plate 1

[0158] n 10 Refractive index of the transparent body or reflector 10

[0159] n 20 Refractive index of the coating 20

[0160] I First main surface, outer surface of the first glass plate 1

[0161] II Second main surface, inner surface of the first glass plate 1

[0162] I’ First main surface, outer surface of the second glass plate 2

[0163] II’ Second main surface, inner surface of the second glass plate 1

[0164] III First main surface, outer surface of the coating 20

[0165] VI Second main surface, inner surface of the coating 20

Claims

1. An assembled glass (101), comprising: - at least a first glass plate (1), the first glass plate (1) having a first major surface (I) and a second major surface (II), - a coating (20) having a first major surface (III) and a second major surface (IV), wherein the coating (20) is arranged such that the first major surface (III) is on the second major surface (II) of the first glass plate (1), - at least one light source (4), wherein the light source (4) is connected to the coating (20) such that light from the light source (4) can be coupled into the coating (20), and - at least one light output coupling device (6) for coupling out light from the coating (20) via at least one of the major surfaces (III,IV) of the coating (20), Among them, for at least one wavelength λ of the light from the light source (4), - The refractive index n of the coating (20) 20 is greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate (1), and -The extinction coefficient k of the coating (20) 20 is less than the extinction coefficient k1 of the first glass plate (1).

2. The assembled glass (101) according to claim 1, wherein the light source (4) is connected to the coating such that light from the light source (4) can be coupled at an angle θ greater than or equal to the total internal reflection angle θ in the coating (20). 完全 coupled at an angle θ.

3. The assembled glass (101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source (4) is adapted to emit light having at least one wavelength λ in the wavelength range of visible light (VIS), preferably in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm.

4. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the extinction coefficient k 20 is at least 1.5 times smaller, preferably at least 2 times smaller, particularly preferably at least 5 times smaller, and especially at least 10 times smaller than the extinction coefficient k1.

5. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the extinction coefficient k at a wavelength λ of 550 nm 20 is less than or equal to 1×10 -6 , preferably less than or equal to 1×10 -7 , and particularly preferably less than or equal to 1×10 -8 .

6. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the coating (20) has a thickness d that is at least the wavelength λ of the light from the light source (4). 20 , preferably from 380 nm to 10 μm, particularly preferably from 780 nm to 5 μm, and especially from 800 nm to 2 μm.

7. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coating (20) is deposited on the first glass plate (1) by a thin film deposition method, preferably by one of the following methods: - cathode sputtering or magnetron sputtering, - chemical vapor deposition or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, - wet chemical methods such as sol-gel method, in particular ο spraying, ο dip coating, ο spin coating, or ο casting.

8. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the coating (20) contains or consists of the following: - titanium oxide, - aluminum oxide, - silicon nitride, - zirconium silicon nitride, or - silicon dioxide.

9. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the refractive index n of the coating (20) 20 is at least 0.1, preferably at least 0.2, and in particular at least 0.2 to 1.5 greater than the refractive index n1 of the first glass plate (1).

10. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the light source (4) contains light emitting diodes, preferably organic light emitting diodes, laser diodes, incandescent lamps and / or gas discharge lamps, or consists of them.

11. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the light output coupling device (6) is designed to couple out the light guided in the coating (20) on at least one of the major surfaces (III,IV) of the coating (20) preferably by scattering, preferably diffuse scattering, reflection, refraction or diffraction.

12. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the light output coupling device (6) - is introduced into the first major surface (III) and / or into the second major surface (IV) by laser structuring, mechanical structuring such as sandblasting, or by etching, and / or - is preferably integrally connected to the first major surface (III) and / or the second major surface (IV) of the coating (20) by printing or gluing with a colorant, a paste or particles, particularly preferably by light scattering, light refraction or light reflection particles, and / or - Arranged within the coating (20), preferably by particles, particularly preferably by light-scattering, light-refracting or light-reflecting particles, scattering centers and / or cavities within the coating (20), and / or - Is a transparent body (10), which is connected, for example - preferably integrally - to the second major surface (IV) of the coating (20), for example by gluing, where the transparent body (10) preferably contains or consists of the following: a) A structured plastic film (12) or plastic sheet, particularly preferably having a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as stepped prisms (11), or b) A transmissive holographic film, and / or - Is a reflector (10), which is connected, for example - preferably integrally - to the second major surface (III) of the coating (20), for example by gluing, where the reflector (10) preferably contains or consists of the following: a) A structured plastic film (12) or plastic sheet, particularly preferably having a planar arrangement of microprisms, such as stepped prisms (11), or b) A reflective holographic film, and / or - Is a transparent body (10), which is connected, for example - preferably integrally - to the second major surface (IV) of the coating (20), for example by gluing, where the transparent body (10) preferably has a structured, particularly preferably diffusely scattering or directionally refracting transparent layer, plastic film (12) or plastic sheet, such as by microprisms, or consists of them, and the refractive index n of the transparent body 10 ' is significantly greater than n1, in particular at least +0.2 or at least +0.5 greater.

13. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second glass plate (2) is connected to the first major surface (I) of the first glass plate (1) by at least one intermediate layer (3), and preferably the intermediate layer (3) contains or consists of at least one thermoplastic film, which is particularly preferably made of polyvinyl butyral, and in particular, the intermediate layer (3) is transparent, colored or tinted.

14. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first glass plate (1) and / or the second glass plate (2) contains or consists of glass, preferably flat glass, particularly preferably soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass or quartz glass, or a polymer, preferably polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate and / or a mixture or combination thereof, and particularly preferably the first glass plate (1) and / or the second glass plate (2) consists of transparent glass, or is colored or tinted.

15. The assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the light source (4) is directly or via an optical coupling device (5) connected to the coating (20), and the light source (4) is specifically designed such that light (4) is not coupled into the first glass plate (1) and / or not coupled into the second glass plate.

16. A method for manufacturing the assembled glass (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: S1: Provide a first glass plate (1), and S2: Deposit a coating (20) on the first main surface (I) of the first glass plate (1) by means of thin-film deposition.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein before the second method step (S2), a light source (4), preferably a light-emitting diode, preferably an organic light-emitting diode, or a laser diode, is arranged on the second main surface (II) of the first glass plate (1) such that after depositing the coating (20) in the second method step (S2), light can be coupled into the coating (20), preferably parallel to the extension direction of the coating (20) and preferably at the total reflection angle in the coating (20).

18. Use of the assembled glass (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in a vehicle for land, air or water travel, in particular a motor vehicle, for example as a windshield, rear window, side window and / or roof glass plate, and as a functional single piece, and as a built-in component in furniture, equipment and buildings, or as a building assembled glass in the field of construction or in the field of indoor or outdoor architectural design.

Images