Window support for dynamic laminated glazing

Abstract

The invention relates to a glazing (1) comprising: at least one glass sheet (11, 12); the electric device (13) is arranged on the embedded glass (1); a connector (14) electrically connected to the electrical device (13); the window supporting piece (15) is provided with a body (151) which is fixed on the edge of the embedded glass (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminated glass, particularly a laminated glass intended for use as a dynamic glass, and more particularly a dynamic glass having a window support fixed to the glass. Background Technology

[0002] This invention is primarily intended for use in the production of automotive window tints, but is not limited thereto. The invention relates to a window tint having electrical devices requiring electrical connection, such as antennas or functional films or displays for controlling the light transmittance of the tint. For example, in the construction industry, such tints with functional films are dynamic tints that can be dimmed at will, particularly electronically, to protect against solar heat and glare. In the construction industry, smart windows can dim at will to prevent light from entering the room when the weather is sunny, or brighten when the weather is cloudy to maximize the entry of light or light from displays (in the case of dynamic tints including integrated displays). Additionally, in the construction industry, tints are typically flat or have low curvature. Furthermore, designers and automakers are increasingly demanding that side or rear windows have functional films (such as switchable films) to control the level of light entering the vehicle interior for thermal comfort and / or privacy and acoustic comfort purposes.

[0003] In the automotive industry, such fitted glass is used for vehicle roofs, windshields, rear windows, and side windows (including triangular window glass). In particular, these automotive fitted glass units also include window supports that serve as mounting brackets or support frames. These window supports are primarily used for mechanical and structural purposes, such as holding, attaching, fixing, or connecting the fitted glass. These window supports are especially widely used in vehicle sliding side windows, with the sliding mechanism connected to the window support. Furthermore, frame-like window supports are also widely used in automobiles for fixed fitted glass.

[0004] Furthermore, automotive designers are exploring the use of at least one type of automotive embedded glass as a display. Therefore, the desire is to integrate the display into the embedded glass, and more specifically, into laminated embedded glass. However, due to the properties of functional films, it is difficult to laminate the display into the embedded glass. Alternatively, the display can be combined with a switchable film to increase light contrast while maintaining thermal comfort and / or privacy.

[0005] Automotive laminated glass, such as roofs, windshields, rear windows, quarter windows, and side windows, is often curved to fit the design of the vehicle. The curved shapes are becoming increasingly complex, with high curvature values. The curved shapes are typically achieved by applying pressure and / or heating to the laminated glass. Bending methods are those commonly known and understood by those skilled in the art for bending automotive and / or architectural laminated glass.

[0006] In the prior art, the use of liquid crystal (LC) films in embedded glass has been envisioned as a means of providing controlled visual isolation. In these applications, the primary function is to transform substantially transparent embedded glass into only semi-transparent glass. These applications do not involve specific embodiments designed to provide electrical connections with the embedded glass. In particular, providing rigid electrical connections for automotive embedded glass is even more challenging because it is subjected to vibration, shock, significant temperature variations, or tension, especially at these electrical connections, during manufacturing and / or use, and because such embedded glass is subject to movement in the case of sliding windows.

[0007] WO 2022218953 describes a curved laminated glass having a functional film and an optically transparent adhesive for filling the space between the functional film and the glass. It also describes the mechanical structure of such a glass.

[0008] US 10858875 describes a connector that wraps around the edge of an embedded glass, and a window support that is aligned with the connector to provide a rigid electrical connection to an electrical device.

[0009] US 7123202 describes a cover for connectors on an embedded glass plate to protect electrical devices.

[0010] It is also known from EP 2801689 that a connector is integrated into the edge of an embedded glass, and a window support has a corresponding socket, wherein the connector is fitted onto the edge of the embedded glass, provided that the connector is attached to the corresponding socket.

[0011] In conventional manufacturing processes, electrical devices have their own connectors, and are attached / secured to the glass insert, for example, via lamination, with one end of the connector suspended / extending from the glass insert. Then, during the placement / installation of the glass insert to or within a vehicle or building frame, the free end of the connector is plugged in to supply power to the electrical device. Unfortunately, during placement / installation, the connector may be subjected to tensile forces greater than anticipated, or during use, the glass insert may be subjected to frequent vibrations and impacts due to the nature of the vehicle, which can degrade / loosen the connector connection. The connector may also be exposed to water or moisture. Therefore, electrical connection failures of the connector due to the aforementioned reasons can occur in glass inserts containing such electrical devices, leading to malfunctions of the electrical device and consequently, rejection by automakers and end customers. Therefore, a solution is needed to ensure a rigid and robust electrical connection to the electrical device.

[0012] Classic processes for connecting connectors to power supplies eventually lead to functional defects over time, which are unacceptable to automakers and customers. Therefore, when defects occur during the use of the window sill, repair, replacement, or even retrofitting solutions are required. Existing technologies propose integrating window supports to provide a rigid electrical connection to electrical devices; however, most solutions described in the prior art do not allow for repair, replacement, or retrofitting. Furthermore, existing solutions focused on specific electrical devices (integrating connectors into the window supports as antennas for electrical devices) are incompatible with switchable functional films as electrical devices. This approach is disadvantageous to manufacturers due to escalating production costs, while all other competitors aim to reduce them. Moreover, such solutions suggest integrating connectors into the window supports or the window sill, requiring extensive design changes that contradict classic processes—namely, establishing new assembly lines, new molds, etc. Adapting to such solutions proposed in the prior art requires cumulative changes throughout the production line, which translates to significant time and cost. In addition to the long time and high cost, there is a risk of damaging the window sill when installing / assembling it to the window sill. As suggested by existing technology, aligning electrical connections with window supports can cause immediate failure of the electrical connections during installation if the window supports are not properly assembled or if the assembly of the window supports may damage the electrical connections. In such cases, the alignment between the window supports and the glazing requires precise processes. Furthermore, unsuitability for retrofitting implies a complete replacement of the glazing, which can be devastating for the customer. Moreover, providing water protection for the electrical connections of electrical installations should not increase the thickness of the glazing, as such a structural change would require design modifications, thus again incurring time and cost for the manufacturer. In conclusion, it remains necessary to protect the electrical connections of electrical installations on the glazing, provided that such protection is cost-effective, practically simple, compatible with virtually all electrical installations and conventional manufacturing processes, and acts as a robust yet flexible rigid connection to compensate for vibration, impact, or sliding movement of the glazing. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a fitted glass having an electrical device and a window support fixed to the fitted glass, the window support having a fixing device for a connector for the electrical device, to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

[0014] This invention provides a fitted glass with electrical components and a window support, which can be integrated into, but is not limited to, curved fitted glass and / or laminated fitted glass. More specifically, this invention provides a fixing device for a connector for the electrical components integrated into the window support. This invention relates to an automotive laminated fitted glass including electrical components, but is not limited thereto.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a laminated mounting glass, the mounting glass comprising at least: a. A first glass sheet having an outer surface (P1) and an inner surface (P2), b. Electrical installations, c. A second glass sheet having an outer surface (P3) and an inner surface (P4), d. At least one adhesive layer for laminated glass sheets.

[0016] Laminated glass comprises at least two glass sheets. In different embodiments, the laminated glass may comprise three or more glass sheets and more than one electrical device, provided that the electrical devices may be different from each other.

[0017] More specifically, the present invention relates to a fitted glass comprising at least one glass sheet, an electrical device with a connector, and a window support to be fixed to the fitted glass, wherein the window support includes a fixing device for securing the connector thereto. Specifically, the free-hanging end of the connector is fixed to the fixing device. This window support with a fixing device allows the window support to be used with any electrical device (fitted glass with virtually any connector), and also allows the window support to be used with fitted glass without an electrical device, i.e., a one-stop universal solution. Furthermore, by arranging the fixing device as an extension of the window support, the aforementioned problems caused by improper fixing of the window support are eliminated.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, the fixing device at least partially encloses the free end of the connector. Enclosure and / or encapsulation of the connector provides a rigid and robust connection. Therefore, the emphasis on the connector end should be understood as the root cause of the aforementioned problem being the looseness / freedom / slackness of the connection joint, or in other words, the (interconnection) interface, and that fixing the cable / wire does not provide a worthwhile and reasonable improvement to this problem. Therefore, the fixing device of the present invention provides a robust electrical connection to the electrical device by focusing on the root cause and making only appropriate and simple intervention to the window support.

[0019] Additionally, the mounting device and connector are sealed together to provide protection against water and moisture ingress. Preferably, a sealing material is applied to the connector after it has been secured to the mounting device.

[0020] Furthermore, thanks to the intelligent approach to designing mounting devices, all the aforementioned benefits for connectors can also be applied to connector mating parts, namely the wiring harness or mating connector that comes from the power supply or control unit by default.

[0021] Furthermore, the fixing device of the present invention aims to provide high-quality mounted glass with electrical devices at a lower cost by eliminating additional process steps and reducing design changes in production.

[0022] The above detailed description is provided primarily for clarity of understanding, and those skilled in the art can make modifications after reading this disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, this detailed description should not be construed as an unnecessary limitation. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The invention will now be further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements in various figures. These examples are provided by way of illustration rather than limitation. The drawings are schematic and not to scale. These drawings do not limit the invention in any way. Further advantages will be explained by example. The invention can be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a view of a vehicle with fitted glass.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a laminated glass according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a window support member installed on a fitted glass according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a window support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 The window support members in different embodiments of the present invention are shown, while Figure 6 A fixing device with clips was demonstrated.

[0029] The components shown in the attached diagram are numbered as follows: 1. Installed glass 11. First glass sheet 12. Second glass sheet 13. Electrical installations 14. Connector 15. Window support components 151.Ontology 152. Fixing device 16. Connection Interface 161. Connector mating parts 17. Mezzanine Detailed Implementation

[0030] The invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments and certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but only by the claims.

[0031] While some embodiments described herein include features that are not included in other embodiments, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and to form different embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, any claimed embodiment may be used in any combination as described in the appended claims.

[0032] As used herein, spatial or directional terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “above,” “below,” “top,” and “bottom,” etc., are relevant to the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention can take various alternative orientations, and therefore these terms are not to be considered limiting. Furthermore, all figures used in the specification and claims to represent dimensions, physical properties, processing parameters, amounts of components, reaction conditions, etc., should in all cases be understood to be modified by the term “approximately.” Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical values ​​listed in the following specification and claims are approximations that can be modified to obtain the desired properties according to the invention.

[0033] Furthermore, all ranges disclosed herein should be understood to include both the starting and ending range values, and to encompass any and all subranges contained therein. For example, the specified range “1 to 10” should be considered to include (and encompass) any and all subranges between the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges begin with a minimum value of 1 or greater (e.g., 1 to 6.1) and end with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10). Further, as used herein, the terms “deposited on” or “set on” mean deposited or set on but not necessarily in surface contact with. For example, a coating “deposited on a substrate” does not exclude the presence of one or more other coating films of the same or different composition between the deposited coating and the substrate.

[0034] The use of the term "comprising" in this specification and claims does not exclude other elements or steps. When referring to singular nouns, the use of indefinite or definite articles, such as "a" or "an," or "the," includes the plural form of that noun unless otherwise specified. In this document, "configured to" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "suitable for," "capable of," "modified into," "manufactured into," "able to," or "designed to" in both hardware and software, depending on the context. In any case, the statement "the apparatus is configured to do..." can mean "the apparatus can do..." in conjunction with another apparatus or component.

[0035] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe an order of time, space, ranking, or any other manner. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in orders other than those described or illustrated herein. When a component element (e.g., a first component element) is described as "(functionally or communicatively) coupled to" or "connected to" another component element (e.g., a second component element), it should be understood that the component element can be directly connected to that other component element, or can be connected to that other component element through other component elements (e.g., a third component element).

[0036] In the following description, unless otherwise stated, the expressions “substantially”, “approximately”, “near”, or “close to” preferably mean within 10%, preferably within 5%, that is, in this context, these terms should be understood as within ±10%, or even ±5%. Tolerances can be selected according to the nature of the intended application.

[0037] In the following description, unless otherwise stated, the terms "liquid adhesive", "optical coupling material", "optical resin", "optical coupling adhesive", "optically transparent adhesive" and "liquid resin" are used interchangeably, as are the terms "functional film", "film", "electro-functional film" and "electrical-functional film", and the terms "flow", "fluid flow", "liquid flow" and "liquid adhesive flow".

[0038] This invention introduces an improvement to a fitted glass (1) comprising: at least one glass sheet (11, 12); an electrical device (13) disposed on the fitted glass (1); a connector (14) electrically connected to the electrical device (13) and optionally extending / suspending from the fitted glass (1); and a window support (15) having a body (151) preferably fixed adjacent to the connector (14) on the edge of the fitted glass (1). Before proceeding to the details of the invention, the definition of the fitted glass (1) and the structure of the proposed fitted glass (1) will be explained herein.

[0039] The mounting glass (1) comprises at least one glass sheet (11, 12). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting glass (1) is laminated and comprises a first glass sheet (11) having an outer surface (P1) and an inner surface (P2), and a second glass sheet (12) having an outer surface (P3) and an inner surface (P4). In different embodiments, the mounting glass (1) may comprise more than two glass sheets, such as a triple-mounted glass or the like.

[0040] For simplicity, the numbering of the glass sheets (11, 12) in the continuation of the specification refers to the numbering commonly used for the mounting glass (1). Thus, the surface of the laminated glass that comes into contact with the external environment of the vehicle is referred to as surface 1 (P1), and the surface that comes into contact with the internal medium (i.e., the passenger compartment of the vehicle) is referred to as surface 4 (P4). To avoid any confusion, the terms “external” and “internal” refer to the orientation of the mounting glass (1) during its installation in the vehicle as the mounting glass (1). In summary, these terms are used interchangeably in the following description, i.e., the first glass sheet (11) may have surfaces 1 and 2, or surfaces 3 and 4, of the mounting glass, while the second glass sheet (12) may correspondingly have surfaces 3 and 4, or surfaces 1 and 2, meaning that the first glass sheet (11) may be used as the outer side or the inner side of the mounting glass (1). According to the present invention, the glass may be sodium-calcium-silicon, aluminosilicate or borosilicate type glass, etc., and the composition of the mounting glass (1) is not critical to the purpose of the present invention.

[0041] According to the invention, the term "lamination" refers to the step of providing a layered structure in which the electrical device (13) and more particularly the functional membrane (such as a switchable membrane alone or in combination with another functional membrane) and one or more glass sheets (11, 12) are separated by an adhesive interlayer (17) extending substantially across the entire interface between the electrical device (13) and the glass sheets (11, 12) facing the electrical device (13).

[0042] The electrical device (13) according to the invention is positioned between surface 2 (P2) and surface 3 (P3), where it can be protected from damage, or it can be positioned on surface P1 or P4 of the mounting glass (1). The electrical device (13) can be any electrical device commonly used on vehicle mounting glass (1), such as a heating grille / coating or antenna on the mounting glass, a functional film for transparency alteration or display purposes, or the display itself. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical device (13) is a functional film laminated inside the mounting glass (1).

[0043] "Functional film" refers to, for example, an electrochromic device in which a change is achieved by altering the state of coloring ions in a composition contained within these mounted glasses (1), and which is sensitive to the application of high pressure and high temperature. Also discussed are mounted glasses (1) comprising suspended particle layers that are ordered or disordered depending on the application of voltage (e.g., a system referred to as a suspended particle device (SPD)), or even polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films comprising polymers containing voltage-sensitive liquid crystals or even host-guest liquid crystal films, the liquid crystal matrix of which includes polymers, inorganic particles, or dichroic dyes. More specifically, "electro-functional film" is a liquid crystal (LC) film that provides controlled visual isolation. In these applications, the primary function is to transform a substantially transparent mounted glass (1) into a semi-transparent mounted glass. The electro-functional film can be a display film that is electrically operated to display images and / or videos to be seen from the exterior and / or interior of a vehicle containing the mounted glass (1). The “electric functional film” can be made of OLED, and more particularly well-known AMOLED. The mounting glass (1) according to the invention can include a combination of a switchable film and an OLED film. According to one embodiment of the invention, the functional film has a smaller size than the first glass sheet (11) and the second glass sheet (12). According to the invention, the functional film is powered via a flexible connector (14). Methods of connecting the functional film to a power source are well known. For the purposes of this invention, the functional film is not limited to the examples given above, and it should be understood broadly that any functional film suitable or unsuitable for interlaminar lamination (such as PVB lamination) can be used in the mounting glass (1). Therefore, when the functional film is incorporated into the laminated curved mounting glass (1) and positioned on a vehicle, particularly as a glass-mounted roof or side window, the functional film must advantageously have good aesthetics and, in the case of a switchable film, quick switching between on / off modes, and, in the case of an integrated display (such as an OLED display), clear images / information / video.

[0044] A connector (14) is used to energize and connect to an electrical device (13), and optionally extends on the mounting glass (1), i.e., one end of the connector (14) is connected to the electrical device (13), and the other end of the connector (14) is freely suspended from the mounting glass (1) and extends to connect to its mating part. The connector (14) may be a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connector, or a flexible flat cable (FFC) connector, or a ribbon connector, or a flat connector, or a simple wiring device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector (14) is an FPC connector, with one end connected to the electrical device (13) and the other end extending from the mounting glass (1).

[0045] The window support (15) has a body (151) fixed to the edge of the fitted glass (1), preferably adjacent to the connector (14). The window support (15) is attached to the fitted glass (1) via its body (151). The window support (15) is adjacent to the freely suspended connector (14), and in this context, the term “adjacent” should be understood as the distance between the window support (15) and the connector (14) being less than 10 cm. In different embodiments, the window support (15) serves as a mounting bracket (also called a retainer device) for the sliding window, especially the side window glass, of a vehicle, or as a separator for a quarter window glass fastener (QLF) or a rear door fastener (RDF), or as a frame for a quarter window glass fastener or a rear door fastener. The quarter window glass fastener or rear door fastener is a common designation for a fixed fitted glass (1) used in vehicles, and the separator or frame should be understood as a means for securing such fitted glass (1), typically with the separator partially enclosing the edge of the fitted glass and the frame completely enclosing the edge of the fitted glass. Such window supports (15) can be made of plastic, thermoplastic or metal materials, and are typically made of polypropylene (PP). An example of such a window support (15) is shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0046] In one embodiment of the invention, the body (151) is configured to at least partially clamp the glazing glass (1) in the middle. In this embodiment, the body (151) has a U-shaped cross-section, thereby allowing the glazing glass (1) to be fitted therein. In one embodiment of the invention, the body (151) is configured to at least partially clamp the glazing glass (1) in the middle. The term “clamping in the middle” should be understood to mean that the outer surface (P1, P4) of the glazing glass (1) is in contact with the window support (15), that is, the glazing glass (1) is inserted into the window support (15), and “partially” should be understood to mean that not the entire surface of the glazing glass (1) and the window support (15) are in contact with each other. Preferably, the body (151) has a U-shaped profile (cross-section), and the glazing glass (1) is fitted into the middle of the body (151). The window support (15) is fitted to the glazing glass (1) by means of its U-shaped cross-section, which at least partially clamps the glazing glass (1) therein. In different embodiments, the body (151) may be composed of different smaller parts, which means that the body (151) is not necessarily a single piece.

[0047] According to one example of the present invention, Figure 1 A laminated automotive side window glass is shown; the side window glass is intended to be fixed to the vehicle body. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to side window glass, and in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the laminated embedded glass (1) can be used in any embedded glass of a vehicle, and in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the laminated embedded glass (1) can be used outside the automotive industry, i.e., anywhere a laminated embedded glass (1) is required, such as in buildings, etc.

[0048] As an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 The illustrated glass panel (1) comprises a first glass sheet (11) having an outer surface (P1) and an inner surface (P2), and a second glass sheet (12) having an inner surface (P3) and an outer surface (P4). This glass panel (1) is laminated. The first glass sheet (11) of the glass panel (1) is the sheet that contacts the exterior of the vehicle. The second glass sheet (12) is the sheet that contacts the interior space of the vehicle. However, as described above, the order can be changed, and the glass panel (1) can also be a three-layer glass panel or any kind of glass panel having at least two glass sheets (11, 12). The glass panel (1) may also include additional electrical devices (13) laminated internally.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and / or second glass sheets (11, 12) are bent in a previous step before the electrical device (13) is provided on at least one surface of the first and / or second glass sheets (11, 12), i.e. before the lamination process. However, the curvature of the mounting glass (1) is not critical to the invention.

[0050] According to another embodiment of the invention, the mounting glass (1) comprises a first glass sheet (11), a second glass sheet (12), and a pressure-sensitive (preferably) electro-functional membrane serving as an electrical device (13) between the glass sheets (11, 12), and at least one fluid (such as a liquid adhesive or, for example, an optical coupling material) serving as an adhesive interlayer (17), the at least one fluid being configured to contact the functional membrane and the inner surfaces (surface 2 or face 3 as described above) of the first and / or second glass sheets (11, 12) to provide an adhesive function. This configuration of the glass sheets (11, 12) having the functional membrane can be achieved in any way, and the invention relates to a fixing device (152) for providing a robust electrical connection for the mounting glass (1) having such a functional membrane.

[0051] Therefore, the present invention relates to any fitted glass (1), whether tempered or laminated, whether for vehicles or buildings, the fitted glass including an electrical device (13) and a window support (15), the electrical device having a connector (14) for energizing the electrical device (13), the window support being fixed to the edge of the fitted glass, preferably adjacent to the connector (14).

[0052] The window support (15) of the present invention includes a fixing device (152) for securing a connector (14) thereto, and is suitable for mounting glass (1) according to the above definition, including an electrical device (13) having a connector (14), more specifically, the connector (14) extending from the electrical device (13) is secured to the fixing device (152) to strengthen the electrical connection of the electrical device (13). As described above, the free end of the connector (14) (in other words, the socket / plug / socket portion of the connector (14), and, in the case where the connector (14) does not have a socket / plug / socket, the free wire end of the connector (14)) is secured to the fixing device (152). The fixing device (152) may be part of the window support (15) or as an extension on the window support (15). Preferably, the fixing device (152) and the window support (15) are produced in the same mold. In some other embodiments, the fastening device (152) may be an additional part that can be removably attached to the window support (15). The fastening device (152) provides an anchoring function for the connector (14), that is, to stabilize the connection of the connector (14).

[0053] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing device (152) at least partially encapsulates the connector (14). The connector (14) is fixed to the fixing device (152), and the fixing device (152) at least partially encloses the connector (14). By fixing the free end of the connector (14), the tension on the other end of the connector (14) is significantly reduced, i.e., a secure connection is provided for the electrical device (13).

[0054] In this embodiment, the retaining device (152) includes a clip for snap-fit ​​engagement of the connector (14). In this version, the retaining device (152) is a simple, conventional clip for snap-fit ​​connection. The connector (14) is secured to the clip during installation to provide a secure connection and avoid the aforementioned problems. Furthermore, the clip solution is very cost-effective and simplifies the installation process.

[0055] In another version of this embodiment, the retaining device (152) includes a cavity for mounting the connector (14) thereon. The retaining device (152) in this version includes walls (not shown) forming the cavity for the connector (14). Similar to the clip embodiment, the connector (14) is mounted onto the cavity for secure fixation. After the connector (14) is secured into the cavity, the cavity may be filled with potting compound to provide a seal, as will be described below.

[0056] In another version of this embodiment, the fixing device (152) includes a socket into which the connector (14) is inserted. The connector (14) of the electrical device (13) is connected to the socket on the window support (15), and the mating part (161) of the connector, i.e., the wiring harness from the vehicle, is also connected to a corresponding socket on the window support (15). The socket on the window support (15) may be a bidirectional socket for electrically connecting the connector (14) and its mating part (161), or it may be two sockets on the window support (15) for respectively connecting the connector (14) and its mating part (161), and the two sockets are electrically connected to each other by an electrical connector extending through the window support (15).

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the fixing device (152) includes at least one clip, at least one cavity, and at least one socket for different connectors (14) extending from the fitted glass (1), preferably from different electrical devices (13) disposed on the fitted glass (1). In this version of the embodiment, the fixing device (152) is disposed on both sides of the window support (15). Thus, through the combination of different embodiments, a more robust and reliable electrical connection of the electrical devices (13) is possible.

[0058] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing device (152) and the connector (14) are sealed together. A potting compound is poured onto the fixing device (152) to cover and seal the connector (14), provided that the seal is performed after the connector (14) has been secured to the fixing device (152). The potting compound can be a conventional epoxy resin used for sealing electronic circuits. The seal of the connector (14) provides protection against water or dust ingress.

[0059] In another embodiment of the invention, the connector (14) and its mating member (161) form a connection interface (16), and the connection interface (16) is disposed on the mounting device (152). The free end of the connector (14) is connected to its mating member (161) during installation, and the structure formed by the two is referred to as the connection interface (16). All embodiments described above for the connector (14) are applicable to / compatible with the connector mating member (161), meaning that the connector mating member (161) is also fixed to the mounting device (152), even if the end of the connector (14) does not include a socket / plug / socket. The connector mating member (161) is also referred to as an electronic control unit (ECU) from the vehicle or a wiring harness from the power supply.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the window support (152) is configured to be fixed to the glass (1) as a retainer / mounting device. Glasses (1) used in the automotive field, particularly side windows (side window glass) of vehicles, require retainers, i.e., mounting devices, also called brackets, for window sliding / opening mechanisms. Such parts are typically permanently fixed to the glass (1) with adhesives. In this embodiment, the window support (15) serves as a mounting / retainer for the glass (1). The window support (15) is permanently fixed to the glass (1) by means of adhesives or any means for permanent fixation, so that the window support can also be used as a mounting / retainer device for the window sliding / opening mechanism. In this embodiment, the window support (15) includes the necessary means for securing the window sliding / opening mechanism to the window support (15), such as mounting clips. With this embodiment, it is not necessary to remove the window support (15) from the glass (1). In different versions of this embodiment, holes may be provided in the glass sheet (11, 12) for attaching / fixing the mounting piece / retainer by snap-fit, a technique also widely used in the automotive industry.

[0061] In another embodiment of the invention, the window support (15) includes a filling device (not shown) for injecting a liquid adhesive between two glass sheets (11, 12) as an adhesive interlayer (17) in cases where the electrical device (13) is a pressure and temperature sensitive functional membrane unsuitable for conventional autoclave lamination processes. In this embodiment, the window support (15) can serve a variety of purposes, such as providing a robust electrical connection to the electrical device (13) and eliminating defects on the electrical device (13), such as the muraeffect caused by the known high pressure and temperature of such functional membranes.

Claims

1. An inlaid glass (1), the inlaid glass comprising: At least one glass sheet (11, 12); Electrical device (13), said electrical device being disposed on the embedded glass (1); A connector (14) electrically connected to the electrical device (13); a window support (15) having a body (151) fixed to the edge of the fitted glass (1), characterized in that the window support (15) includes a fixing device (152) for fixing the connector (14) to the window support.

2. The mounting glass (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing device (152) at least partially encapsulates the connector (14).

3. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fixing device (152) includes a clip for snap-fitting the connector (14).

4. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fixing device (152) includes a cavity for mounting the connector (14) onto the fixing device.

5. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fixing device (152) includes a socket for the connector (14) to be inserted into the fixing device.

6. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fixing device (152) and the connector (14) are sealed together.

7. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The connector (14) and its mating part (161) form a connection interface (16), and the connection interface (16) is disposed on the fixing device (152).

8. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The window support (15) is a holder device / mounting bracket for a sliding window, or a divider for a triangular window glass fastener or a rear door fastener, or a frame for the triangular window glass fastener or the rear door fastener.

9. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The inlaid glass (1) is a laminated inlaid glass, which includes at least two glass sheets (11, 12) and an adhesive interlayer (17).

10. The mounting glass (1) according to claim 9, wherein, The window support (15) includes a filling device for injecting liquid adhesive between the two glass sheets (11, 12) as the adhesive interlayer (17).

11. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The electrical device (13) is a functional switchable film, antenna, display, or heating element disposed on the embedded glass (1).

12. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The connector (14) is a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a strip connector, or a flat connector.

13. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The body (151) is configured to at least partially sandwich the mounting glass (1) in the middle.

14. The mounting glass (1) according to claim 13, wherein, The body (151) has a U-shaped cross section, thereby allowing the mounting glass (1) to be fitted into the body.

15. The mounting glass (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The fixing device (152) is removably attached to the window support (15).

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