Optically transparent insulating sheet for improving radio

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically transparent sheet (2) for regionally delimiting a space (1). The sheet (2) has a shaped carrier material (7) which has an inner coating (8) facing the space (1) and an outer coating facing away from the space (1). The inner coating (8) and the outer coating (9) each consist at least partially of an electrically conductive material such that they can function as an antenna against electromagnetic radiation (5, 6). The sheet bar (2) also has an electrically conductive connection (11, 13) which connects the inner coating (8) to the outer coating (9) in an electrically conductive manner. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (3) having such a sheet (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an optically transparent plate for regionally defining a space. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having such a plate, particularly for regionally defining the interior space of the vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Wireless communication and data transmission via radio waves are now widespread and used extensively. For example, many people use mobile devices, and motor vehicles are increasingly equipped with devices and functions requiring wireless or radio-based communication, such as with external servers and / or other vehicles. However, people typically remain in enclosed spaces, and motor vehicles, due to their metal shells, can form Faraday cages. Within enclosed spaces, such as the interiors of buildings and enclosed motor vehicles, radio wave reception can be severely limited by attenuation or shielding. Furthermore, although glass is nominally permeable to radio waves, such as conventional window glass, it can still cause significant attenuation of radio waves, such as mobile communication signals or WLAN signals. This can be exacerbated by the thermal protective coating, typically metallic, that the window glass may have. While omitting such a thermal protective coating can improve the transmission of radio waves through the corresponding plate, this is not a viable solution for achieving improved radio reception in the enclosed space beyond, and for enabling or supporting the transmission of radio signals from such space to the external environment. Therefore, further improvements are needed in this area.

[0003] For example, US 2024 / 0 088 568 A1 describes a windshield for a vehicle having a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a resin interlayer disposed between them. A metallized IRR (Infrared Restriction) interlayer is also present between the resin interlayer and the second glass layer. This IRR interlayer includes a first slit element and a second slit element arranged in a dipole configuration. The slit elements are formed through triangular slits, trapezoidal slits, and rectangular slits, respectively. However, this arrangement still cannot simultaneously achieve optimal thermal protection and very good radio wave reception in the space behind the windshield. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to achieve improved radio communication with the external environment in an enclosed space.

[0005] The technical problem described herein is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Other possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the specification and drawings. The features, advantages, and possible embodiments set forth within the scope of the specification for one of the technical solutions of the independent claims should be considered, at least similarly, as the features, advantages, and feasible embodiments of the corresponding technical solutions of the other independent claims, as well as any possible combination of the technical solutions of the independent claims, and, where necessary, one or more dependent claims.

[0006] The sheet according to the invention is optically transparent and intended for regionally defining a space. This can, for example, mean that the sheet can be used as window glass or a visual element or a light-transmitting roof element in various types of vehicles, i.e., for use in motor vehicles, rail vehicles, aircraft, ships and / or similar objects, or in buildings. The sheet according to the invention has a molded optically transparent sheet material or a main material or carrier material, or a sheet element made of such a carrier material. Therefore, the carrier material or the sheet element formed therefrom can be at least substantially shape-stable or bend-resistant, and determines the shape or form of the sheet or forms the basic shape or basic structure of the sheet. The carrier material has an inner coating on the inner side facing the defined space in a prescribed installation position, and an outer coating on the outer side opposite to the inner coating, facing away from the defined space in the prescribed installation position, i.e., facing the external environment. The inner and outer coatings are respectively formed at least partially of a conductive material, i.e., may contain such material or consist entirely or partially of such material. Thus, the inner and outer coatings can function as antennas for electromagnetic radiation, i.e., radio waves. Accordingly, the inner and outer coatings can be structured to have or form an antenna structure. The plate according to the invention also has at least one or exactly one conductive, i.e., electrically connected connection portion or corresponding conductive connecting element that electrically connects the inner and outer coatings.

[0007] The inner and outer coatings can be deposited or laminated onto the carrier material, for example. Since the coatings, i.e., the inner and outer coatings, are at least partially formed of conductive materials, especially metallic materials, they can inherently possess relatively high reflectivity or shielding properties against electromagnetic waves and infrared radiation in the frequency bands commonly used for communication and data transmission today, compared to the carrier material. Therefore, the coatings can advantageously limit heat input into the enclosed space defined by the plate, but on the other hand, at least in principle, suppress radio reception within the enclosed space or the transmission of radio signals from the interior to the exterior of the space via the plate. The conductive connection between the inner and outer coatings according to the invention solves the latter problem without significantly reducing the thermal protection effect of the coatings. In fact, since the plate according to the invention has two coatings, its thermal protection effect is even better than that of a conventional plate with only one metallic thermal protection coating.

[0008] The conductive connections of the coating allow radio waves propagating from the outside to the outer coating to be conducted to the inner coating in the form of corresponding electrical signals or voltage waves, and then radiated from the inner coating into the space defined by the plate. Conversely, radio signals transmitted from the space defined by the plate can propagate to the inner coating and, correspondingly, be conducted to the outer coating via the conductive connections, where they are radiated into the external environment. The conductive connections effectively enable particularly low-resistance and low-attenuation penetration of radio waves in both directions. Therefore, the plate according to the invention can improve the reception and transmission characteristics from or into a space defined or enclosed at least regionally by the plate, because the coating, together with the conductive connections, can effectively form an antenna that enables radio connections from inside the enclosed space to the outside or into the enclosed space.

[0009] In one feasible embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer coatings are infrared-reflective thermal protective coatings. For this purpose, the coatings may, for example, comprise infrared-reflective metal oxides. The coatings may also, for example, comprise or include the conductive material and the infrared-reflective substrate material, respectively. The conductive material can then form corresponding antenna structures that can be embedded in the infrared-reflective substrate material. Similarly, the coatings may, for example, be infrared protective films or include infrared protective films. Overall, this allows for both good radio penetration and good thermal protection through the plate according to the invention.

[0010] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, the carrier material is electrically insulating, i.e., non-conductive. The carrier material can be, for example, a plastic material, but especially glass. This allows for remarkably good optical transparency of the sheet, making it readily usable as window glass or roof components, etc., and enabling the viewing of the surrounding environment or the illumination of a defined space by natural sunlight.

[0011] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer coatings are wholly or partially composed of silver or silver-containing materials. The inner and / or outer coatings can therefore be silver or contain silver, such as Ag3. This enables particularly high thermal or infrared reflectivity and simultaneously achieves particularly good electrical conductivity. The conductive connection between the inner and outer coatings can also be wholly or partially composed of silver or silver-containing materials. This not only enables a particularly low-resistance connection between the inner and outer coatings but also enables particularly simple fabrication of the sheet. This allows the conductive connection and coating to be manufactured or applied to the carrier material, for example, in a single working step.

[0012] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, the carrier material has at least one through-hole, such as a through portion or through hole. This through-hole can be located in the central region of the carrier material, i.e., spaced from the outer edge or outer corner of the carrier material or sheet. The through-hole can, for example, be at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension surface of the carrier material, i.e., completely penetrating the carrier material from the inside to the outside. A conductive connection between the inner and outer coatings, or, if necessary, one of a plurality of conductive connections, is guided through the through-hole. The through-hole can be completely filled by the conductive connection or its material. The through-hole can be particularly small, for example, having a diameter of at most a few millimeters, so that heat input entering the defined space through the sheet is not significantly affected. The design proposed herein allows for flexible and therefore optimized positioning of at least one connection between the inner and outer coatings as needed. This can, for example, optimize antenna performance, i.e., radio penetration. Furthermore, through the proposed embodiment of the invention, the conductive connection can be particularly robust and reliable, i.e., not easily damaged.

[0013] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, at least one of the conductive connections between the inner and outer coatings, or if necessary, a plurality of conductive connections, is arranged on the outer edge of the carrier material. Thus, depending on the arrangement or sealing of the plates, this conductive connection can, for example, be covered by the frame or sealing portion of the plates. Therefore, this connection does not affect the optical transparency of the area of ​​the plate visible in the center or in the prescribed mounting position, nor does it affect the thermal protection effect of the plate. The connection can here, for example, be implemented in the form of a regional coating on the outer edge, narrow side, or end side of the carrier material or the corresponding plate element. This makes the connection particularly easy to manufacture because, for example, it is not necessary to create through-holes in the carrier material.

[0014] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer coatings each have an antenna gain of at least 1, and in particular greater than 1, for at least one predetermined frequency band. This is particularly suitable for mobile radio bands, i.e., one or more frequency ranges between 700 MHz and 2600 MHz and / or, for example, a frequency range or band around 5.5 GHz. The inner and outer coatings, or their antenna structures or the antennas formed therefrom, can have an antenna gain of at least 1, for example, at least for directions substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer sides or perpendicular to the main extension plane of the coating. For the outer coating or the corresponding outer antenna, the direction producing the maximum antenna gain can particularly point away from the direction of the inner coating, and for the inner coating, the direction producing the maximum antenna gain can particularly point away from the direction of the outer coating. Through the design of the coatings proposed herein or the design of the corresponding antennas or antenna structures, attenuation of the transmission path, i.e., in particular attenuation of the conductive connections, can be at least partially compensated. This enables particularly good reception or particularly good radio connectivity within the space defined by the plate.

[0015] In another feasible embodiment of the invention, the panel is a window glass, side window glass, windshield, front window, rear window, or roof element, i.e., at least part of a sliding roof or sunroof of a motor vehicle. As mentioned at the outset, this could be a beneficial application because motor vehicles increasingly use mobile communication connections, and passengers in motor vehicles also commonly use mobile terminal devices. Furthermore, the increase in heat in the interior space of the motor vehicle, such as due to solar radiation, should be avoided or limited as much as possible, as such an increase in heat limits usability and increases the energy demand for temperature control or air conditioning.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a plate according to the invention. Thus, a motor vehicle according to the invention may have a plate according to the invention, for example, as described elsewhere, as a window glass, side window glass, windshield, front window, rear window, or as a roof element. A motor vehicle according to the invention may be, in particular, a motor vehicle mentioned in connection with or corresponding to a plate according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Other features of the invention can be derived from the following description and from the accompanying drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the specification, as well as the features and combinations of features shown separately in the following description and / or drawings, can be used not only in the combinations given respectively, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0018] The accompanying diagram, shown as the only illustration, depicts a motor vehicle with plates designed to improve radio reception within the vehicle's interior space. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an enclosed space 1 is shown, which is defined by a plate 2 in a location or area. Space 1 may be, for example, the interior space of a motor vehicle 3. Here, an electronic mobile device 4 is located within space 1. The mobile device 4 may be, for example, a mobile phone, which can be used by the occupants of the motor vehicle 3. For different functions of the mobile device 4 or for communication with devices or apparatuses outside space 1 or motor vehicle 3, such as mobile communication towers or external server devices, the mobile device 4 transmits outgoing radio signals 5. These signals must leave space 1 and, for this purpose, penetrate plate 2, for example. Similarly, the response signal, i.e., the incoming radio signal 6, must reach the mobile device 4 from outside space 1 or motor vehicle 3 and, for this purpose, penetrate plate 2, for example, in the opposite direction.

[0020] The plate 2 has a central carrier material 7, which may be, for example, an actual glass plate or a material formed from an actual glass plate. The carrier material 7 has an inner coating 8 on its inner side facing the space 1 or the mobile device 4. On its outer side, i.e., on its outer side facing away from the space 1, the carrier material 7 has an outer coating 9. The inner coating 8 and the outer coating 9 may be at least partially metallic coatings used to reduce heat input into the space 1 through the plate 2. Simultaneously, the inner coating 8 and the outer coating 9 may function as an antenna.

[0021] To transmit radio waves or corresponding electrical signals propagating to one of the coatings 8 and 9 to the other coating 9 and 8 respectively, the plate 2 also has corresponding transmission paths. Here, the carrier material 7 has, for example, a through-hole 10, in which a conductive connection between the inner coating 8 and the outer coating 9 is arranged. Since the through-hole 10 is located in the central or inner region of the plate 2 or the carrier material 7, the conductive connection or transmission path arranged here is also referred to as an internal connection 11. Similarly, a conductive connection connecting the inner coating 8 and the outer coating 9 is exemplarily arranged at the outer edge 12 of the plate 2 or the carrier material 7, which is referred to here as an external connection 13. Through at least one electrical connection, namely the internal connection 11 and / or the external connection 13, an electrical signal can be transmitted from the inner coating 8 or the corresponding internal antenna to the outer coating 9 or the corresponding external antenna, and vice versa. This enables efficient low-attenuation penetration of the emitted radio signal 5 and the incident radio signal 6 through the plate 2.

[0022] Therefore, plate 2 forms a device that enables and improves or supports the reception of radio waves in enclosed spaces 1, where the reception of radio waves would otherwise be limited. Coatings 8 and 9 can be, for example, thermally protective coatings containing or made of silver. Corresponding antennas can be formed therefrom or by other materials or media, for example, embedded therein or containing such thermally protective coatings. Overall, this enables optimized thermal performance, while also achieving the important additional function of improved reception and transmission characteristics, namely, the possibility of wireless communication in space 1.

[0023] List of reference numerals

[0024] 1 Space

[0025] 2 plates

[0026] 3 Motor vehicles

[0027] 4. Mobile devices

[0028] 5. Transmitted radio signals

[0029] 6. Incident radio signals

[0030] 7 Carrier Materials

[0031] 8. Inner coating

[0032] 9. Outer coating

[0033] 10 Through Holes

[0034] 11 Internal connection section

[0035] 12 outer edges

[0036] 13 External connection parts

Claims

1. An optically transparent panel (2) for regionally delimiting a space (1), the panel having a shaped carrier material (7) which in the prescribed installed position has an inner coating (8) on the inner side facing the space (1) and an outer coating (9) on the opposite outer side which in the prescribed installed position faces away from the space (1), wherein The inner coating (8) and the outer coating (9) are at least partially composed of an electrically conductive material, so that the inner coating and the outer coating can thereby function as an antenna for electromagnetic radiation (5, 6), the sheet further having an electrically conductive connection (11, 13) which electrically connects the inner coating (8) with the outer coating (9).

2. The sheet (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner coating (8) and / or the outer coating (9) is an infrared-reflecting heat protection coating.

3. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The carrier material (7) is not electrically conductive.

4. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The carrier material (7) is glass.

5. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The inner coating (8) and / or the outer coating (9) is composed wholly or partially of silver.

6. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The carrier material (7) has a through-hole (10), and the connection (11) which connects the inner coating (8) with the outer coating (9) leads through the through-hole (10).

7. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The connection (13) which connects the inner coating (8) with the outer coating (9) is arranged at the outer edge (12) of the carrier material (7) on the outside.

8. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The inner coating (8) and the outer coating (9) each have an antenna gain of at least 1 for at least one predetermined frequency band, in particular a mobile radio frequency band.

9. The sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The sheet (2) is a window pane or side window pane or front window pane or rear window pane or roof element for a motor vehicle (3).

10. A motor vehicle (3) having a sheet (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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