Vehicle windscreen with liquid crystal arrangement and contact zone
The vehicle windshield design optimizes the conductor track placement on the carrier film to minimize cleaning and material removal, addressing cost and assembly challenges in PDLC windshields, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WEBASTO AG
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
AI Technical Summary
The existing methods for creating a vehicle windshield with a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal arrangement (PDLC) are costly due to the need for extensive cleaning and material removal to create a contact zone for electrode connections, which increases the risk of warping and folding during lamination.
A vehicle windshield design with a conductive track applied on the side of the carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer, eliminating the need for additional electrical insulation and reducing the area that needs to be cleaned, thus minimizing material waste and manufacturing costs.
This design reduces the risk of warping, lowers manufacturing costs, and allows for a thinner, easier-to-assemble windshield with reduced material usage, while maintaining electrical connectivity.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle window having the features of the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Such a vehicle windshield is known, for example, from publication WO 2024 / 133296 A1 and comprises a windshield body assembly consisting of an inner windshield body facing the vehicle interior and an outer windshield body facing the vehicle environment. A liquid crystal arrangement, designed as a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal arrangement (PDLC arrangement), is located between the inner and outer windshield bodies. This arrangement is electrically switchable and allows the light transmission behavior of the vehicle windshield to be controlled. In particular, the PDLC arrangement can be switched between a blocking state, in which it acts like a diffuser, and a transmission state, in which light can pass through the vehicle windshield essentially unstratified.
[0003] The liquid crystal assembly, designed as a PDLC arrangement, has a functional layer consisting of a liquid crystal layer within a polymer layer in which liquid crystals are embedded in droplet form. Furthermore, the PDLC arrangement includes a carrier film on both sides of the liquid crystal layer. On the side facing the liquid crystal layer, this carrier film has an electrode layer formed from a conductive coating. By applying an electrical voltage to the two electrode layers, the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer can be aligned, thus changing the transmission behavior of the PDLC arrangement and, consequently, the vehicle windshield. To control the electrode layers with a control device, aTo enable connection to a voltage source, at least one of the carrier films has a surface area that is free of both the liquid crystal layer and the second carrier film, thus forming a contact zone for the electrode layer arranged on the carrier film. The electrode layer is connected in the contact zone to a conductor track, which extends across the contact zone to a connection area of the liquid crystal arrangement. This connection area serves to connect the control device or the voltage source.
[0004] If the electrode layer has several electrode segments that are electrically isolated from each other and each is to be connected to a conductor forming a control line leading to the connection area of the liquid crystal assembly, the area of the relevant carrier film forming the contact zone, which is free of the liquid crystal layer and free of the second carrier film, must be sufficiently large so that all conductors can be routed side by side and electrically isolated from each other to the electrical connection area of the liquid crystal assembly. Furthermore, the electrode layer over which the conductors are routed must also be segmented to match the segmentation, so that electrical insulation between the conductors is ensured.To provide the required surface area for the respective application, the other carrier film and the liquid crystal layer are removed from the supplied composite film (consisting of carrier films and a liquid crystal layer) in the relevant area using a special cleaning process. This cleaning process is associated with high costs, which depend on the affected area. Furthermore, the amount of composite film required increases with the size of the area to be cleaned to create the contact zone.
[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a vehicle windscreen designed according to the type mentioned in the introduction, in which an optimized arrangement of the conductor track is present on the film composite forming the liquid crystal arrangement.
[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by the vehicle window with the features of claim 1.
[0007] According to the invention, a vehicle windscreen is proposed comprising a windscreen body assembly with at least one liquid crystal arrangement. The liquid crystal arrangement in turn comprises a liquid crystal layer, a first carrier film, and a second carrier film. The liquid crystal layer is arranged between the first and second carrier films, the first carrier film having a first electrode layer on its side facing the liquid crystal layer, and the second carrier film having a second electrode layer on its side facing the liquid crystal layer. In a specific area, the first carrier film is free of the liquid crystal layer and the second carrier film, with the first electrode layer forming a contact zone in this area. In the region of the contact zone, a connecting element is arranged on the first carrier film, which is electrically connected to the first electrode layer.On the side of the first carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer, a conductive track is printed, which is electrically connected to the electrical connecting element and leads to an electrical connection area of the liquid crystal arrangement.
[0008] The vehicle windscreen according to the invention is characterized in that the conductive track, via which a voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal layer and which leads from the first carrier film to the electrical connection area of the liquid crystal arrangement, is applied to the side of the first carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer and the first electrode layer in the form of an electrically conductive, strip-like coating. Since the base material of the carrier film is made of an electrically insulating material, for example PET, no further electrical insulation of the conductive track, for example in the form of segmentation lines or the like, which would be formed on the first electrode layer, is required. Rather, the conductive track can run from the connecting element to the electrical connection area in virtually any desired path.In particular, the conductive trace can run, at least for the most part, within the contact zone of the first carrier film on the side facing away from the first electrode layer. However, to keep the contact zone as narrow as possible, the conductive trace can also run outside the contact zone on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer, i.e., in areas where the complete layer package of the liquid crystal assembly, consisting of the two carrier films and the liquid crystal layer, is formed. When preparing the liquid crystal assembly for contacting, less material then needs to be removed in the form of areas of the second carrier film and areas of the liquid crystal layer to expose the contact zone. The narrower the contact zone, the lower the risk of the liquid crystal assembly warping or folding during the lamination process for manufacturing the vehicle windshield.The connection area can also be located in a region of the liquid crystal arrangement where only the first support film is formed, or where the entire layer package of the liquid crystal arrangement consists of the two support films and the liquid crystal layer. In particular, the connection area is located in an edge region of the liquid crystal arrangement. It should preferably be ensured that there is no direct connection between the connection area and the first electrode layer, which can be achieved by partially and locally omitting the electrode layer.
[0009] The liquid crystal arrangement of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention is in particular a PDLC arrangement (arrangement of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals) which comprises a polymer matrix as a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystals are embedded in droplet form, as well as two carrier films bounding the liquid crystal layer, on each of which an electrode layer is arranged. However, the liquid crystal layer can also be a conventional LC layer (LC: Liquid Crystal) in liquid form, a so-called SPD layer (SPD: Suspended Particle Device), or an EC layer (EC: Electrochrome).
[0010] The electrode layers, by means of which a voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal layer, are preferably each formed from a transparent ITO coating (ITO: indium tin oxide) of the respective substrate film. It is of course also conceivable to manufacture the electrode layers from another suitable material.
[0011] The carrier films are preferably each made of a plastic material, which can be PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
[0012] In the vehicle windshield according to the invention, the liquid crystal arrangement is preferably bonded to the windshield body by means of a suitable lamination material. The lamination material comprises, for example, PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or another suitable material.
[0013] Furthermore, in a special embodiment of the invention, the disc body arrangement of the vehicle disc is designed as a composite disc arrangement comprising at least one outer disc body and one inner disc body, wherein the liquid crystal arrangement is accommodated between the outer disc body and the inner disc body.
[0014] In a further specific embodiment of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, the surface section of the first carrier film forming the contact zone is a strip-like edge section of the liquid crystal arrangement. The first carrier film thus forms an edge strip that is not covered by the liquid crystal layer and the second carrier film, and in which the first electrode layer is accessible for contacting purposes. The conductor track is preferably printed on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the first electrode layer, i.e., on the plastic of the carrier film, at the edge strip.
[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, which comprises a segmented liquid crystal arrangement, the first electrode layer has at least two electrically isolated electrode segments. At least one of the electrode segments is electrically connected to the conductor track arranged on the opposite side of the first carrier film via the electrical connecting means, for example, through a hole in the first carrier film.
[0016] Segmentation makes it possible to provide a shading arrangement on the vehicle window using the liquid crystal arrangement, which can be operated in a roller blind-like manner, i.e., in which individual sections of the vehicle window can be successively shaded, which is particularly achievable by dividing the first electrode layer into several, for example 4 to 15 strip-like electrode segments arranged one behind the other, whereby each of these electrode segments can be connected to a conductor track in the contact zone of the first carrier film.
[0017] In a specific embodiment of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, the first carrier film has a hole in the contact zone in the area of each of the two electrode segments. This hole is penetrated by a respective electrical connector, which connects the respective electrode segment to a respective electrical conductor printed on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer. In this case, at least two conductors are printed on the first carrier film on the side facing away from the liquid crystal layer. These two conductors can be routed parallel to each other, at a small distance from each other, from the respective electrical connector to the electrical connection area of the liquid crystal assembly.It is also conceivable that at least one of the conductor tracks on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer runs in a section of the first carrier film that lies outside the area section forming the contact zone.
[0018] In a further specific embodiment of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, one of the electrode segments is electrically connected to an electrical conductor located on the first carrier film in the contact zone on the side of the first electrode layer. It is understood that this conductor must be electrically insulated from the at least one other electrode segment of the first carrier film, which can be achieved by appropriate segmentation, by insulating lines in the first electrode layer, or by an insulating layer. In this embodiment, at least one electrical conductor is arranged on each side of the first carrier film, each leading to a corresponding electrode segment. The two conductors are electrically insulated from each other by the material of the carrier film, which is why they can also be arranged one above the other at right angles to the plane of the carrier film.This allows the contact zone section of the first carrier film to be kept narrow, as the area required for contacting the individual segments of the electrode layer can be small. Compared to known solutions, this leads to reduced dimensions of the liquid crystal arrangement, resulting in cost advantages due to material savings. Furthermore, only a smaller area of the first carrier film needs to be cleaned of the liquid crystal layer and the second carrier film when creating the contact zone. The area of the first carrier film that needs to be cleaned is therefore smaller, which also leads to lower manufacturing costs. In addition, the at least one conductor track located on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the electrode layer can be positioned close to the viewing area of the vehicle windshield.
[0019] Regardless of the specific design, in addition to the material and cost advantages when cleaning the first carrier film, a further advantage of a small or narrow contact zone is that, compared to known solutions, a smaller area of the liquid crystal arrangement has a reduced thickness, resulting in easier deairing during lamination. The risk of wrinkling or creasing is also reduced, as the contact zone susceptible to these issues is smaller. As mentioned above, the at least one conductive track can be positioned close to the viewing area of the vehicle windshield, within a region where the entire liquid crystal arrangement is formed. A narrow contact zone allows the relevant edge of the liquid crystal arrangement to be located relatively close to the viewing area of the vehicle windshield.The total area of the liquid crystal arrangement can therefore be reduced compared to existing solutions, which also results in a cost advantage.
[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, a contact element is applied to at least one of the electrode segments, which is electrically connected via the electrical connecting element to the conductor track located on the side of the carrier film facing away from the liquid crystal layer. The contact element, which is applied to the electrode segment, forms a pad-like or busbar-like, for example at least approximately rectangular, coating, by means of which advantageous contacting of the respective electrode segment is possible.
[0021] The contact element is preferably made of the same material as the printed conductive track. For example, the material is a conductive paste or lacquer, which may contain silver.
[0022] If the vehicle windscreen according to the invention comprises several electrode segments on the first carrier film, the associated conductive traces are arranged either only on the side of the first carrier film facing away from the electrode layer, or on both the side of the electrode layer and the side of the carrier film facing away from the electrode layer. For the conductive traces arranged on the side of the carrier film facing away from the electrode layer, only the associated contact elements are printed onto the electrode segments on the side of the electrode layer. These contact elements are electrically connected to the conductive traces on the underside, or on the side of the carrier film facing away from the electrode layer, via the electrical connecting means that extend through the associated holes in the carrier film.
[0023] The electrical connector, which can penetrate a hole in the first carrier film, can comprise a metal pin and / or a metal plate that is pressed onto the electrical conductor track, thus forming a crimp connection. The hole can be created during the crimping process, i.e., by inserting the crimp connection. Additionally or alternatively, the electrical connector can comprise an electrically conductive solder or paint that fills the corresponding hole in the first carrier film. It is also conceivable that the electrical connector encompasses the edge of the first carrier film associated with the contact zone.
[0024] For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that in the vehicle windscreen according to the invention, the second carrier film of the liquid crystal arrangement can also be designed analogously to the first carrier film described above, i.e., it can be provided in a contact zone with a conductive track that is printed onto the second electrode layer of the second carrier film and is electrically connected to the second electrode layer via a connecting element that extends through a hole in the second carrier film or surrounds an edge of the second carrier film. Furthermore, the second electrode layer can also comprise several electrode segments that are electrically insulated from one another and that, analogous to the description above, can each have an electrical contact element and be connected by a corresponding conductive track.However, particularly in the case of a non-segmented second electrode layer, a conductor track for contacting the second electrode layer can also be printed directly onto it.
[0025] The vehicle window according to the invention is, in particular, a window of a vehicle roof. In this case, the vehicle window can be part of a fixed roof element that is immovable relative to a vehicle body, or part of an adjustable cover element of a roof opening system.
[0026] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawing, and the claims. The scope of the invention encompasses all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures; that is, each feature mentioned in the description can, independently of any further features and specifications mentioned in the respective context, be part of the claimed subject matter.
[0027] Exemplary embodiments of a vehicle windscreen according to the invention are shown schematically in the simplified drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a top view of a vehicle roof with a vehicle window according to the invention; Fig. 2. a cut through the vehicle window after Fig. 1 along line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section through a PDLC arrangement of the vehicle window; Fig. 4 a top view of a side region of the PDLC arrangement extending in the longitudinal direction of the disk; Fig. 5 a section through the PDLC arrangement along line VV in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a Fig. 4 corresponding top view of an alternative embodiment of a PDLC arrangement; Fig. 7 a section through the PDLC arrangement according to Fig. 6 along line VII-VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a Fig. 4. corresponding top view of another alternative embodiment of a PDLC arrangement; and Fig. 9 a section through the PDLC arrangement according to Fig. 6 along line XI-XI in Fig. 8.
[0028] Based on the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows the roof 10 of a passenger car, which has a fixed roof element 12 that is rigidly or immovably connected to a body-mounted roof frame 14. The fixed roof element 12 includes a vehicle window 16, which is provided with a shading function that makes it possible to control the incidence of light through the fixed roof element 12 into the interior of the passenger car.
[0029] How in particular Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the vehicle windshield 16 has a composite structure. It comprises an outer windshield body 18, which is formed from a glass pane, particularly a curved one, but can also be formed from a flat, particularly curved, plastic body made of a polycarbonate material or the like. The outer windshield body 18 forms the viewing surface of the vehicle windshield 16 facing the vehicle's surroundings. On the side facing the vehicle's interior, the vehicle windshield 16, or its windshield body assembly, comprises an inner windshield body 20, which is also formed from a glass pane, particularly a curved one, but can also be made from a plastic body, particularly a curved one, which, for example, consists of a polycarbonate material.A PDLC arrangement (polymer-dispersed liquid crystal arrangement) 22 is arranged as a shading arrangement between the outer disc body 18 and the inner disc body 20. This PDLC arrangement is bonded to the outer disc body 18 via a first lamination layer 24, which is made, for example, of PVB (polyvinyl butyral), and to the inner disc body 20 via a second lamination layer 26, which is also made, for example, of PVB. The PDLC arrangement 22 is further bounded by a frame-like third lamination layer 27.
[0030] How the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As can be seen from Figure 5, the PDLC assembly 22 comprises a first support film 28 and a second support film 30, each made of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material and each provided with an electrode layer 32 or 34, respectively, made of transparent ITO (indium tin oxide). A liquid crystal layer 36, which forms the functional element of the PDLC assembly 22 and comprises a polymer matrix in which liquid crystal droplets are embedded, is arranged between the support films 28 and 30 and their electrode layers 32 and 34. The liquid crystal layer 36 has, for example, a thickness of 0.01 mm to approximately 0.02 mm, whereas the support films 28 and 30 can each have a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm.
[0031] To control the incidence of light through the vehicle windshield 16, a voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal layer 36 via the electrode layers 32 and 34. This causes the liquid crystals of the liquid crystal droplets to align, allowing the light to pass through the vehicle windshield 16 essentially undisturbed. When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 36, the liquid crystals of the liquid crystal droplets are non-directional, causing the light striking the vehicle windshield 16 to be strongly scattered within the liquid crystal layer 36, resulting in a shading effect.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable to use a conventional liquid crystal or LC arrangement instead of the PDLC arrangement, in which a liquid liquid crystal layer is arranged between the two carrier films, each of which is provided with an electrode layer.
[0033] How especially the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, in the embodiment shown in the drawing, the carrier film 28 comprises an edge section 38 representing a surface section, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle window 16 corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and which projects in a transverse direction towards the second carrier film 30 and the liquid crystal layer 36, so that a contact zone is formed in which the electrode layer 32 of the first carrier film 28 is exposed relative to the rest of the structure of the PDLC arrangement 22.
[0034] The electrode layer 32 of the carrier film 28 is, in this case, divided into four electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3, and 40-4, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or disc, each extending to the longitudinal edges of the first carrier film 28 and electrically separated from one another by insulation lines 42. The insulation lines 42 are realized by linear ITO material recesses that run in the transverse direction of the disc.
[0035] In order to connect the individual electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4 to an electrical connection area 44 which is connected to a control unit of the vehicle concerned, an electrical contact element 46-1, 46-2, 40-3 and 40-4 is printed in the edge section 38 in the area of the individual electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, which is designed in the manner of a busbar or an electrically conductive pad. In the area covered by the respective contact element 46-1, 46-2, 46-3 or 46-4, the PET of the carrier film 28 is provided with a hole 48, which opens on the side facing away from the respective contact element onto a corresponding electrical conductor 50-1, 50-2, 50-3 or 50-4, which is printed on the carrier film 28 on the side facing away from the liquid crystal layer 36 and leads to the connection area 44 of the PDLC arrangement 22.The conductor tracks 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, and 50-4 are each formed from a conductive and pressure-resistant paste, which may contain silver. The material corresponds to that of the contact elements 46-1, 46-2, 46-3, and 46-4. To electrically connect the contact elements 46-1, 46-2, 46-3, and 46-4, which are arranged on the upper or side of the electrode layer 32, to their respective conductor tracks 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, and 50-4, the holes 48 of the carrier film 28 are each penetrated by an electrical connector 52, which is formed from a crimp connector, i.e., a pressed metal plate with serrations at its end, or from another electrically conductive element. For example, the connecting agent 52 can also be formed from electrically conductive paint that fills the respective hole 48 of the carrier film 28.
[0036] As the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, all conductive traces 50-1, 50-2, 50-3 and 50-4 are arranged on the side of the carrier film 28 facing away from the liquid crystal layer 36. No additional electrical insulation is required between them.
[0037] In the present embodiment, the non-segmented electrode layer 34 of the second carrier film 30 has an edge area 54 exposed to the liquid crystal layer 36 and to the first carrier film 28, in which an electrical contact element 56 in the form of a busbar is printed, which can be connected to the electrical control unit of the vehicle in question.
[0038] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows a PDLC arrangement 22' which is an alternative to the PDLC arrangement described above and which differs from it in that it has a lateral edge section 38 on the first carrier film 28 provided with the electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, which forms a contact zone and in which a conductor track 50-1 or 50-2 leading to the electrical connection area 44 is provided for the electrode segments 40-1 and 40-2 respectively on the side facing away from the liquid crystal layer 36, but for the electrode segments 40-3 and 40-4 each has a conductor track 58-3 or 58-4 which leads to the connection area 44 on the top side, i.e. on the side of the carrier film 28 provided with the electrode layer 32 and is also printed on each.To electrically isolate the conductor track 58-3, which is routed over the electrode segment 40-4, from the latter, an additional insulating strip 60 made of an electrically insulating material is printed between the conductor track 58-3 and the electrode segment 40-4.
[0039] As from the Fig. 6 and Fig. As can be deduced from E. 7, the conductive traces 50-1 and 50-2 on the underside of the carrier film 28 and the conductive traces 58-3 and 58-4 on the top side of the carrier film 28 can at least partially overlap, since they are electrically separated from each other by the PET material of the carrier film. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the contact elements 46-1, 46-2, 46-3, and 46-4 at least partially in alignment in the longitudinal direction. This allows the edge section 38 of the first carrier film 28, which forms a contact zone, to be kept narrow in the transverse direction.
[0040] Furthermore, the PDLC arrangement 22' corresponds to that according to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant description.
[0041] In the Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows a PDLC arrangement 22'' which is an alternative to the PDLC arrangements described above and which differs from them in that it has a very narrow lateral edge section 38 on the first carrier film 28 which is provided with the electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, which represents a contact zone and in which contact elements 46-1, 46-2, 46-3 and 46-4 are printed for the electrode segments 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, which are arranged one behind the other and substantially aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle window. On the side facing away from the liquid crystal layer 36, a conductor track 50-1, 50-2, 50-3 and 50-4 is printed onto the first carrier film 28 for each electrode segment 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, which leads to an electrical connection area 44.The contact elements 46-1, 46-2, 46-3, and 46-4 are each electrically connected to their respective conductor tracks 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, and 50-4, respectively, via an electrical connector 52 designed as a crimp connector, which extends through an associated hole 48 in the carrier film 28. The conductor tracks 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, and 50-4 extend from the contact zone or edge section 38, where the electrode layer 32 is exposed, into the area of the PDLC arrangement 22'', in which the layer package consisting of the two carrier films 28 and 30 and the liquid crystal layer 36 is located, and there to the connection area 44, which is also located in this area of the PDLC arrangement 22''.
[0042] Furthermore, the PDLC arrangement 22'' corresponds to that according to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant description.
[0043] In the embodiments described above, the number of electrode segments is four in each case, but this can be adjusted depending on the application and requirements and may, for example, be seven, eight, nine, or even twelve. To make the edge region forming the contact zone as narrow as possible, it is advantageous for some of the conductor tracks for the electrode elements to run along the side facing away from the liquid crystal layer, and some of the conductor tracks to run along the side of the carrier film that is adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and provided with the electrode layer. Reference symbol list 10 Vehicle roof 12 fixed roof elements 14 roof frames 16 Vehicle window 18 disc outer bodies 20 disc inner bodies 22, 22' PDLC arrangement 24 lamination layers 26 Lamination layer 27 Lamination layer 28 carrier film 30 carrier film 32 Electrode layer 34 Electrode layer 36 Liquid crystal layer 38 marginal section 40-1 Electrode segment 40-2 Electrode segment 40-3 Electrode segment 40-4 electrode segment 42 Isolation line 44 Connection area 46-1 Contact element 46-2 Contact element 46-3 Contact element 46-4 Contact element 48 holes 50-1 conductor track 50-2 conductor track 50-3 conductor track 50-4 conductor track 52 electrical connector 54 Edge area 56 Contact element 58-3 conductor track 58-4 conductor track 60 insulating strips
Claims
Vehicle windscreen comprising a windscreen body arrangement with at least one windscreen body and a liquid crystal arrangement comprising a liquid crystal layer (36), a first carrier film (28) and a second carrier film (30), wherein the liquid crystal layer (36) is arranged between the first carrier film (28) and the second carrier film (30) and the first carrier film (28) has a first electrode layer (32) on its side facing the liquid crystal layer (36) and the second carrier film (30) has a second electrode layer (34) on its side facing the liquid crystal layer (36), wherein the first carrier film (28) is free of the liquid crystal layer and the second carrier film in a surface section and the first electrode layer (32) forms a contact zone in the surface section, characterized in thatthat an electrical connecting element (52) is electrically connected in the area of the contact zone with the first electrode layer (32) and that a conductive track (50-1, 50-2, 50-2, 50-4) is printed on the side of the first carrier film (28) facing away from the liquid crystal layer (36), which is electrically connected to the electrical connecting element (52) and which leads to an electrical connection area (44) of the liquid crystal arrangement. Vehicle windscreen according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface section forming the contact zone is a strip-like edge section (38) of the liquid crystal arrangement. Vehicle windscreen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first electrode layer (32) comprises at least two electrically insulated electrode segments (40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4) and that at least one of the electrode segments (40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4) is electrically connected via the electrical connecting means (52) to the conductor track (50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4) which is printed on the side of the first carrier film (28) facing away from the liquid crystal layer (36). Vehicle windscreen according to claim 3, characterized in that the first carrier film (28) has a hole (48) in the area of both electrode segments (40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4) which is penetrated by an electrical connecting means (52) which connects the respective electrode segment (40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4) to a respective electrical conductor (50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4) which is printed on the side of the first carrier film (28) facing away from the liquid crystal layer (36). Vehicle windscreen according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the electrode segments (40-3, 40-4) is electrically connected to an electrical conductor (58-3, 58-4) which is arranged on the first carrier film (28) on the side of the first electrode layer (32). Vehicle windscreen according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the conductor tracks (50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4, 58-3, 58-4) run parallel to each other at least in certain areas. Vehicle windscreen according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that a contact element (46-1, 46-2, 46-3, 46-4) is applied to at least one of the electrode segments (40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4), which is electrically connected via the electrical connecting means (52) to the conductor track (50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4) which is arranged on the side of the carrier film (28) facing away from the liquid crystal layer (36). Vehicle windscreen according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electrical connecting means (52) comprises a metal pin and / or a metal plate which is pressed onto the electrical conductor track, and / or comprises an electrically conductive solder and / or an electrically conductive paint. Vehicle window according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first carrier film (28) has a hole (48) through which the electrical connecting means (52) is penetrated.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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