Coated disc having a communication window

Abstract

The invention relates to a coated disc (100) having a communication window, comprising: - a disc (1), - a coating (2) on a surface (II) of the disc (1), wherein the coating (2) has at least one communication region (K) and a base region (B), wherein the coating (2) has, in the communication region (K), at least one dielectric layer (3) and, in the base region (B), at least the dielectric layer (3) and above the dielectric layer (3) an electrically conductive layer (4), and wherein the communication region (K) has fewer layers than the base region (B) and is free from electrically conductive layers (4), wherein the individual layers of the coating (2) are thin layers.

Description

[0001] Coated pane with a communication window

[0002] The invention relates to a coated pane with a communication window and to a method for producing such a coated pane and its use.

[0003] Panes with metallic or metal-containing coatings are widely used in both architectural and automotive glazing. These metal-based coatings influence the transmission, reflection, and absorption behavior of electromagnetic radiation. Electrically conductive coatings can be used to heat the pane.

[0004] The use of metal-containing coatings as sun protection coatings and as heat-reflecting layers (low-E layers) is known. A sun protection coating reflects a significant portion of the incoming solar radiation, especially in the infrared range, which leads to reduced heating of the interior in summer. The low-E layer reduces the emission of long-wave heat radiation from a heated window into the interior if the low-E layer is applied to the surface of a window facing the interior. In winter, at low outside temperatures, the radiation of heat from the interior to the outside environment is prevented. Such layers are known, for example, from WO2022248260A1, DE202021102267U1, and WO2022161770A1.

[0005] However, panes with metal-containing coatings also have disadvantages. For example, radiofrequency radiation is absorbed by many metal-containing coatings. This significantly impairs the functionality of many sensors, navigation, telecommunications, and radio devices. To solve these problems, at least partial decoating of the metal-containing coating is necessary. For example, in the case of electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency range such as FM, AM, UHF, VHF, DAB, mobile telephony in the GSM 900, GSM 1800, and UMTS bands, satellite-based navigation (GPS), or microwave radiation, at least a net or grid-like decoating is necessary. The grid meshes must have a line spacing that is significantly smaller than the wavelength of the desired electromagnetic radiation.For this purpose, the metal-containing coatings are removed in lines using a suitable laser, for example. Since only small portions of the metal-containing coating need to be removed, the infrared-absorbing effect is largely retained. Coatings that are at least partially transparent to radiofrequency radiation are known, for example, from WO2004051869A2 and US6730389B2.

[0006] EP3034295A1, W02014033007A1, and WO2012066324A1 disclose panes with a communication window in which the metal-containing coating is removed using laser beams. In this process, the coating is completely removed in the areas designated for decoating to create a communication window. The decoating process is energy- and time-intensive.

[0007] DE202021100791 U1 discloses a glass pane that, as is typical for vehicle windows, has a black print in an edge area, with a functional coating of the glass pane applied to the pane outside said edge area. Typical black prints are, for example, made of enamel with glass frits, which, when applied to glass, usually have thicknesses well over 10 μm. Such black print thicknesses are usually necessary to achieve sufficient opacity of the pane in the desired area.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of providing a coated pane with a communication window that can be manufactured cost-effectively, sustainably, and efficiently. Furthermore, the object is to provide an improved method for producing a coated pane with a communication window. The method should be feasible in various ways and allow the production of the communication window in any shape and size.

[0009] The object is achieved by a coated pane according to independent claim 1 and by a method according to independent claim 10. Preferred embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0010] The pane with a communication window coated according to the invention comprises a pane and a coating on a surface of the pane. The coating has at least one communication region and at least one base region. The coating has at least one dielectric layer in the communication region, at least the dielectric layer in the base region, and an electrically conductive layer above the dielectric layer. The communication region has fewer layers, preferably at least one layer fewer, than the base region and is free of electrically conductive layers. This means that no electrically conductive layers are arranged in the communication region of the coating.

[0011] The dielectric layer in the communication region and in the base region is the same layer. The dielectric layer is preferably in direct contact with the wafer; it is therefore the first layer on the wafer. In the communication region and in the base region, further layers can be arranged above the dielectric layer, whereby the additional layers arranged in the communication region and in the base region are preferably all arranged below the electrically conductive layer in the base region. In the base region, layers can also be arranged above the electrically conductive layer. In the base region, more than one electrically conductive layer, preferably two, particularly preferably three electrically conductive layers, can also be arranged.If additional layers are arranged in the communication region in addition to the dielectric layer, the additional layers are preferably arranged in the base region in exactly the same order without additional intermediate layers. In other words, the layers arranged in the communication region are preferably arranged in the same form and order in the base region, except that the base region also has at least the electrically conductive layer above these layers. This has the advantage that the communication region can be created simply by removing the upper layers, including the electrically conductive layer, of the base region.

[0012] For the purposes of the invention, the communication region of the pane refers to the region that can function as a type of communication window. In the communication region, the pane is therefore more permeable to high-frequency radiation with a frequency of, for example, 1 to 3 GHz than in the base region. The communication region thus allows the reception of radiation required, for example, for the proper use of sensors, navigation, telecommunications, or radio devices. The at least one dielectric layer in the communication region largely does not reduce the permeability of high-frequency radiation. Therefore, the coating does not have to be completely stripped in any area to create the communication window. This is a major advantage of the invention.

[0013] Preferably, the coated pane is more permeable in the communication region for radiation having a wavelength of greater than 1 pm, particularly preferably greater than 1.2 pm, in particular greater than 1.5 pm, than in the base region.

[0014] For the purposes of the invention, a dielectric layer is understood to mean, in particular, a layer made of a material which has an electrical conductivity (inverse of the specific resistance) of less than 10' 4 S / m. Electrically conductive layers, on the other hand, are in particular layers made of a material with an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 4 S / m.

[0015] Further dielectric layers can be arranged in the base region. For example, dielectric layers can be used to create aesthetic coatings in a specific color or coatings with anti-reflective properties in the visible spectral range or with reflective properties in the ultraviolet spectral range (UV range) or in the infrared spectral range (IR range). Further dielectric layers can also be arranged in the base region and in the communication region, whereby these layers preferably have no or largely no reflective properties in the ultraviolet spectral range (UV range) or in the infrared spectral range (IR range). Particularly preferably, one, preferably two, particularly preferably three, further dielectric layers are arranged in the base region above the electrically conductive layer.The additional dielectric layers can influence the reflection properties, color, and transmittance of the pane. The desired properties can thus be adjusted using additional dielectric layers.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, only the dielectric layer according to the invention is arranged in the communication region of the coating, and otherwise no further dielectric layer, in particular no further layers. The communication region is preferably formed by removing all layers using laser beams, with all layers except the dielectric layer according to the invention being removed. The communication region of the pane coated according to the invention is essentially just as well suited for use as a communication window as a completely stripped region of a generic pane.

[0017] The additional dielectric layers can, for example, comprise layers with a high refractive index and layers with a low refractive index, which are arranged alternately, wherein the reflective or antireflective properties are caused by interference effects. The optically high-index layers have, for example, a refractive index of at least 1.8, preferably at least 2.0. The optically low-index dielectric layers have, for example, a refractive index of less than 1.8, preferably less than 1.6.

[0018] Common dielectric layers from which the dielectric layer and any additional dielectric layers present are constructed are based, for example, on silicon nitride, silicon-metal mixed nitrides such as silicon zirconium nitride, titanium oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, tin-zinc mixed oxide, zirconium nitride, zirconium oxide, or silicon oxide. If a layer of the coating is based on a material, this means, within the meaning of the invention, that the layer consists predominantly of the material, i.e., in a proportion of at least 50 wt.%, preferably at least 70 wt.%, particularly preferably at least 90 wt.%. The layer can also contain, in particular, dopants and / or impurities, preferably in a proportion of at most 10 wt.%.The oxides and nitrides mentioned can be stoichiometric, substoichiometric or superstoichiometric with regard to the oxygen or nitrogen content.

[0019] Further electrically conductive layers can also be arranged in the base region. The electrically conductive layer and any further electrically conductive layers present are preferably based on a metal, for example silver, or on the basis of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), for example indium tin oxide (ITO). If multiple electrically conductive layers are present, adjacent conductive layers are preferably separated from one another by at least one dielectric layer. The electrically conductive layers are in particular functional layers that provide the coating with a function. For example, the electrically conductive layers can be IR-reflective in order to provide the coating with an IR-reflecting function. The electrically conductive layers can also have emissivity-reducing properties.Likewise, the electrically conductive layers can provide the coating with a heating function when the coating is electrically contacted to pass a heating current through it.

[0020] Preferably, the communication region is formed by removing the topmost layer or layer sequences of the coating, so that the layer or layer sequences missing in the communication region compared to the base region of the coating is the topmost layer or layer sequence of the coating in the base region. If only a single layer is removed, this layer is the electrically conductive layer and therefore also the topmost layer. If multiple layers are removed (layer sequence), all layers to be removed are adjacent to one another and contain the topmost layer (and therefore form the topmost layer sequence). All layers to be removed later are therefore located above all remaining layers.The terms “topmost layer(s)” and “above” refer to the order of the layers starting from the disk: the topmost layer is the layer with the greatest distance to the disk surface, and a layer is arranged above another layer if it is at a greater distance from the disk surface. Correspondingly, a second layer arranged below a first layer is a layer that is at a closer distance to the disk surface than the first layer. “Below” or “above” a layer does not in any way mean that there must be direct spatial contact between the layers. For example, it is possible for a second layer to be arranged above a first layer, but for further layers to be arranged between the second and first layer.

[0021] The coating is preferably transparent to visible radiation (380 nm to 780 nm) in both the base range and the communication range, allowing vision through it. This applies particularly if the pane is also transparent and the object is intended as a window pane or a component of one.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication region extends across the pane in the form of a grid when viewed from above. The "grid shape" therefore means that the communication region extends across the pane in a grid-like manner. The communication region is preferably the region that represents the grid lines. The regions arranged between the grid lines of the communication region are preferably base regions. In particular, the communication region and the base regions extend over the entire coated surface of the pane. The grid-like shape of the communication region is preferably produced by ablation using laser beams.The grid-shaped communication area forms, for example, a pane structured with meshes and appears slightly brighter on the real pane than the surrounding coating (the base areas), especially in grazing light or in reflection.

[0023] The communication region or regions taken together preferably extend over less than 20%, particularly preferably over less than 15%, in particular over less than 10% of the surface of the pane. The base region or regions preferably extend over at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 80%, in particular at least 90% of the surface of the pane. Particularly preferably, the communication region and the base region (alternatively also several communication regions and / or several base regions) taken together extend over the entire surface of the pane, particularly preferably with the exception of a circumferential linear edge region of the pane that runs along and adjacent to the edges of the pane. This edge deletion is particularly useful when the pane is part of a composite pane and the coating is to be protected from external influences.

[0024] According to the invention, the individual layers, i.e., dielectric layers and / or electrically conductive layers, of the coating are thin films, which are understood to mean layers with a thickness of less than one micrometer. They are deposited one above the other in a layer stack. The layer thickness of the individual layers is preferably from 10 nm to 200 nm; the total thickness of the coating, for example, is from 50 nm to 1000 nm. Methods for measuring the thickness of thin films are known to those skilled in the art. The thickness of the individual layers can be determined using common methods for determining the layer thickness of thin films, for example, spectroscopic reflectometry, confocal microscopy, white light interferometry, or ellipsometry. These methods enable non-destructive measurement, and corresponding measuring devices are commercially available. Ellipsometers are commercially available, for example, from Sentech.White light interferometry, profilometry, for example confocal profilometry, or ellipsometry are preferred.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one electrically conductive layer of the base region has a layer thickness of greater than 10 nm, preferably greater than 15 nm, and particularly preferably greater than 20 nm. Such layer thicknesses provide a good emissivity-reducing effect. The solar radiation-reflecting effect is also improved at layer thicknesses above 10 nm. In particular, the electrically conductive layer with such a layer thickness is formed from a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), for example, indium tin oxide (ITO).

[0026] The shape of the communication area(s) can be chosen arbitrarily, as can the shape of the base area(s). This allows for any type of configuration.

[0027] There can be a single, contiguous base area in which a single communication area or multiple communication areas are formed like islands. Each communication area is completely surrounded by the base area. The at least one communication area can, for example, have the shape of a two-dimensional geometric figure. If more than one communication area is present, the communication areas can have the same shape or different shapes. The communication areas can be distributed in the form of a regular pattern or irregularly. However, other arrangements of communication area(s) and base area(s) can also be chosen. For example, a striped pattern or a checkerboard pattern can be displayed. Irregular patterns are also possible.

[0028] The pane is preferably made of transparent glass, in particular soda-lime glass. However, it can also be made of other glass (e.g., borosilicate glass, quartz glass, aluminosilicate glass) or transparent plastics (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate). The pane also has a circumferential edge. The thickness of the pane can vary widely. Preferably, panes with a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 5 mm, more preferably 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm, are used, for example, those with the standard thicknesses of 1.6 mm or 2.1 mm. The pane can be untempered, partially tempered, or tempered. The tempering can be thermal or chemical.

[0029] The pane can have any desired three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the pane has no shadow zone, allowing it to be efficiently coated by cathode sputtering. The pane is preferably flat or slightly or strongly curved in one or more directions of space. The pane is preferably flat, but can also be cylindrically or spherically curved. It is also possible for the coating according to the invention to be applied to a flat pane and then bent.

[0030] According to the invention, one of the surfaces (main surfaces) of the pane is coated. In principle, it is also possible to coat both surfaces of the pane.

[0031] The coated pane according to the invention can also be a component of a composite pane. The coated pane is, for example, the outer pane or the inner pane of a composite pane, but preferably the inner pane. The "inner pane" refers to the pane of the composite pane that is intended to be arranged closer to an interior space than the other pane(s) of the composite pane. Accordingly, the "outer pane" refers to the pane of the composite pane that is intended to be arranged closer to the external environment than the other pane(s) of the composite pane. The inner pane and the outer pane are preferably bonded to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer.

[0032] The coating is preferably applied over the entire surface of the pane, so that the entire surface is covered with the coating. The differences in the base region and the communication region can be achieved, for example, by the region-by-region removal of individual layers of the surface, for example by laser ablation. In principle, however, it is also conceivable for the differences in the communication region and the base region to be achieved by masked and unmasked regions. In other words, for example, the dielectric layer is applied over the entire surface of the pane, then the regions intended as the communication region are masked, and then the other layers are applied, with the regions intended as the communication region then being unmasked again.However, the removal of individual layers is clearly preferable to this option, as it is much more efficient and cost-effective.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the coating is deposited on the wafer surface by vapor deposition, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), or atomic layer deposition (ALD). Physical vapor deposition (PVD), for example, vapor deposition, is particularly preferred, and cathode sputtering and, in particular, magnetic field-assisted cathode sputtering (magnetron sputtering) are particularly preferred.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment, the communication region is formed by removing at least the electrically conductive layer using laser beams after the coating has been applied to the pane. During laser processing, at least the electrically conductive layer and all overlying layers are preferably removed from the communication region, while at least one dielectric layer remains in the communication region. The communication region is thus obtainable by removing at least the electrically conductive layer and all layers possibly arranged above the electrically conductive layer using laser beams. Preferably, all layers except one dielectric layer in the communication region are removed using laser beams. Forming the communication region by removing layers using laser beams is an efficient and cost-effective process.Since not all layers need to be removed, a shorter processing time is required compared to conventional laser-deposited panes. A pane partially de-coated using laser beams is optically distinguishable from other manufacturing processes. Partial de-coating using mechanical processes cannot be carried out with the same precision and is therefore clearly distinguishable from laser-deposited production. The formation of the communication region and base region using masking and demasking processes results in very homogeneous layers that, due to the manufacturing process, only contain the applied layers. With partial de-coating using laser radiation, however, insignificant residues of removed layers may remain, which measurably influences the optical properties of the pane.Decoating therefore results in less homogeneous layers than in masking and unmasking processes, which means that the panes can be clearly distinguished from one another.

[0035] The invention also extends to a method for producing a coated pane. The method preferably proceeds in the specified order.

[0036] (A) In a first step, a disc is provided.

[0037] (B) In a second step, at least one dielectric layer and one electrically conductive layer are arranged as a coating on a surface of the disc in the following order.

[0038] (C) In a third step, at least the electrically conductive layer is removed in a communication region of the coating, wherein at least the dielectric layer remains in the communication region, and the electrically conductive layer is not removed in at least one base region of the coating. Preferably, no layer is removed in the base region.

[0039] In the second step (B), further layers, in addition to electrically conductive layers, preferably further dielectric layers, can be arranged after or before the arrangement of the dielectric layer and before the arrangement of the electrically conductive layer. Further layers, both further electrically conductive layers and dielectric layers, can also be arranged after the electrically conductive layer, with at least all electrically conductive layers being removed in the communication area in the third step (C).

[0040] Preferably, all applied layers except the dielectric layer are removed in the communication area. Thus, only a dielectric layer remains in the communication area of ​​the disc, while all other layers are removed. In this case, the disc is particularly permeable to high-frequency radiation in the communication area.

[0041] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the dielectric layer is the layer closest to the wafer. This means that the dielectric layer is preferably applied directly to the surface of the wafer, without any additional layers being arranged between the dielectric layer and the wafer.

[0042] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the electrically conductive layer, preferably all layers except the dielectric layer, in the communication region of the pane is removed by laser radiation. The laser radiation is preferably moved across the at least one communication region (once or multiple times), with at least the electrically conductive layer being removed by ablation (laser ablation). The movement speed of the laser radiation is preferably from 10 mm / s to 100 m / s, particularly preferably from 100 mm / s to 50 m / s, most preferably from 1 m / s to 25 m / s, in particular from 3 m / s to 10 m / s.

[0043] With a stationary laser and a stationary disk, the laser beam can be moved across at least one communication area by a laser scanner, with the laser beam being suitably moved by a system of movable mirrors. Alternatively, it is also possible to move the laser itself with a stationary disk, or to move the disk with a stationary laser.

[0044] The coated surface of the pane after the second process step can face the laser. If the pane is (largely) transparent to the laser radiation (particularly in the case of a glass pane), the coated surface can alternatively face away from the laser, and the laser radiation can be directed through the pane onto the coating. In both cases, the laser radiation is preferably focused onto the surface of the pane with the coating. The extent of the laser spot on the coating (diameter) is preferably from 25 pm to 250 pm, particularly preferably from 40 pm to 180 pm.

[0045] Laser radiation in the UV, visible, or IR range of the electromagnetic spectrum is preferably used. The wavelength of the laser radiation is preferably from 200 nm to 2000 nm, particularly preferably from 250 nm to 1100 nm, for example from 355 nm to 1064 nm. This achieves particularly good results. Solid-state lasers (e.g., Nd:YAG lasers or Yb:YAG lasers) can be used, which can be frequency-doubled, frequency-tripled, or frequency-doubled if necessary. Such lasers are widely used industrially, relatively inexpensive, and efficient. Alternatively, diode lasers, excimer lasers, gas lasers, or dye lasers can also be used.

[0046] The laser is preferably operated in pulsed mode. The pulse length of the laser is preferably in the femtosecond or nanosecond range. The pulse length is preferably at most 1 ns, more preferably at most 10 ps. The pulse length is very particularly preferably from 200 fs to 10 ps, ​​in particular from 500 fs to 1 ps. This achieves particularly good results. Such short pulses, in particular, minimize the thermal stress in the laser processing environment, so that the processing of thin films and even heat-sensitive materials is possible. The repetition frequency of the laser pulses is preferably from 10 kHz to 1000 kHz, more preferably from 50 kHz to 400 kHz. The pulse energy is preferably from 200 nJ to 500 pJ, more preferably from 250 nJ to 250 pJ, most preferably from 150 pJ to 250 pJ.

[0047] The output power of the laser is preferably from 10 W to 200 W, preferably from 40 W to 150 W.

[0048] The laser radiation used can be adapted to the coating being treated in order to achieve effective ablation of at least the electrically conductive layer, and possibly also other layers, in the communication area. This is achieved in particular by selecting the wavelength, laser power, pulse energy, and pulse length. All of these parameters have an impact and can be selected accordingly. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the ablation can also be adjusted by appropriately selecting the speed and frequency of the laser beam.

[0049] As an alternative to process steps (B) and (C), the wafer can also first be coated with at least one dielectric layer in the communication region and in the base region on one surface, and then the communication region can be masked, for example, using cover films. Subsequently, the surface of the wafer is coated with at least one electrically conductive layer, whereby the masking prevents the wafer from being coated with the at least electrically conductive layer in the communication region. The wafer is coated with the at least electrically conductive layer in the base region. In the subsequent process step, the masking is removed from the coated wafer.

[0050] The invention also encompasses the use of the coated pane in the vehicle or architectural sector (in particular as a window pane of a vehicle, a building or an interior or as a component of such a window pane, or as a facade panel of a building), in furniture or other furnishings.

[0051] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawing does not limit the invention in any way. It shows:

[0052] Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the coated pane according to the invention,

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a cross section along A-A' through the disc of Figure 1,

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the disc from Figures 1 and 2 during its

[0055] Production with an embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 4 a plan view of a further embodiment of the disc according to the invention and

[0056] Fig. 5-7 The attenuation as a function of the radiation frequency shown in diagrams of the inventive examples 1 to 3 each with a comparative example.

[0057] Figure 1 and Figure 2 each show a detail of an exemplary coated pane 100 according to the invention. It is a pane 1, for example made of soda-lime glass, which is coated with a coating 2 on a surface II.

[0058] The pane 1, for example, has a thickness of 2.1 mm. The pane 1 is intended for use as the inner pane of a composite pane and, for this purpose, is bonded to an outer pane via a thermoplastic intermediate layer. The composite pane is intended, for example, as the roof pane of a motor vehicle. The pane 1 has two main surfaces intended for viewing through the glass pane, namely a first surface I and a second surface II, as well as a circumferential side edge surface extending between them.

[0059] The coating 2 has a plurality of base regions B, which are arranged within a grid-like structure of a communication region K. In a plan view of the pane 100, the communication region K is in the form of strips from one upper edge of the pane 1 to the lower edge of the pane 1 and from one side edge to the other side edge of the pane 1. The side edges connect the upper edge and lower edge, so that the side edges, the upper edge, and the lower edge make up the entire circumferential edge of the pane 1. The strips of the communication region K result in a grid shape in the overall view. In principle, the communication region or regions K and the base region(s) B can be designed as desired. The communication region K does not have to be arranged in the form of a regular pattern, as is shown by way of example in the figure.

[0060] The coating 2 is formed as a stack of thin films and is formed differently in the base regions B than in the communication region K. In the base regions B, the coating 2 has a total of five layers: a first dielectric layer 3, a second dielectric layer 3.2, an electrically conductive layer 4, a third dielectric layer 5 and a fourth dielectric layer 6, which are arranged in the specified order starting from the second surface II of the wafer 1. In the communication region K, however, the electrically conductive layer 4, the second dielectric layer 3.2, the third dielectric layer 5 and the fourth dielectric layer 6 are missing, so that the coating 2 in the communication region K is formed only from the first dielectric layer 3. An exemplary layer sequence of the coating 2 with materials and layer thicknesses is shown in Table 1.

[0061] Table 1

[0062] Due to the alternating sequence of optically high-refractive-index layers 2.1, 2.3 based on silicon nitride (SiS1^ ) and optically low-refractive-index layers 2.2, 2.4 based on silicon oxide (SiO2), coating 2 exhibits reflection-reducing properties due to interference effects. In addition, coating 2 has a solar radiation-reflecting effect in the base regions B due to the electrically conductive layer 4 based on indium tin oxide (ITO).

[0063] Since the coating 2 has a significant influence on the appearance of the glass pane, the base regions B and the communication region K differ optically from one another, in particular by a different degree of reflection and a different color (reflection color). The observer can therefore easily distinguish the communication region K from the base regions B, at least using suitable optical measuring devices. The embodiment shown here is to be understood merely as an example. The coated pane 100 according to the invention can, in principle, have any desired type of coating 2, as long as it influences the optical properties of the object.The coating 2 can, for example, also be a sun protection coating with at least one silver layer with reflective properties in the near IR range or an emissivity-reducing coating (LowE coating) with an ITO layer with reflective properties in the mid-IR range (in particular in the range of thermal radiation of the pane 1).

[0064] The number of layers in the base regions B and the communication region K is also merely exemplary. Alternatively, it would be possible, for example, for the communication region K to be missing only the electrically conductive layer 4, the third dielectric layer 5, and the fourth dielectric layer 6, compared to the base region B.

[0065] Figure 3 shows cross-sections through the coated pane 100 from Figures 1 and 2 in three process steps of the method according to the invention for its production. First, the pane 1 is provided (Figure 3A). The coating 2 is then applied to the second surface II of the pane 1 (Figure 3B). For this purpose, the layers 3, 3.2, 4, 5, 6 are deposited one after the other on the second surface II, for example by means of magnetic field-assisted cathode sputtering. Subsequently, in the communication region K, the top four layers 3.2, 4, 5, 6 are removed using radiation L from a laser 7. For this purpose, the radiation L is focused onto the coating 2 by means of a focusing element 8, for example a lens or an objective.The radiation L is then moved along a direction of movement x across the entire communication area K by means of a laser scanning system comprising at least one (typically at least two) movable, in particular tiltable, mirror 9. Layers 3.2, 4, 5, 6 are removed by laser ablation (Figure 3C).

[0066] The radiation L has, for example, a wavelength in the visible spectral range. The laser 7 is, for example, a pulsed Yb:YAG laser with an emission wavelength of 1030 nm. Figure 4 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of an article according to the invention. The communication region K is arranged here in a single, continuous section of the pane 1. The communication region K extends in a strip shape from one side edge to the other side edge of the pane 1 and is arranged closer to the upper edge of the pane 1 than to the lower edge of the pane 1. In this embodiment, there is only one base region B. The base region B extends from one side edge to the other side edge of the pane 1 and is arranged closer to the lower edge of the pane 1 than to the upper edge of the pane 1.The base region B extends, for example, over 80% of the second surface II of the pane 1, wherein the communication region K extends over the remaining second surface II of the pane 1 minus a non-coated peripheral edge region of the pane 1.

[0067] Figures 5 to 7 show the radiation attenuation in decibels as a function of the radiation frequency for panes 100 coated according to the invention, each with a comparative example without a communication region K. The pane of the comparative example has a coating over the entire surface of the pane, similar to coating 2 present in the base regions B in Figures 1 and 2. The panes according to the invention are stripped in the same way as the pane 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0068] A special transmission measurement setup was used to measure the attenuation. Two antennas, each suitable for transmitting and receiving radiation with a frequency of more than 1 GHz, were provided. A first antenna was mounted inside an anechoic chamber and served to receive radiation. The second antenna was mounted outside the anechoic chamber. The first and second antennas were mounted opposite each other and separated by a metal wall with an opening, i.e., a hole. The metal wall is a component of the anechoic chamber. The anechoic chamber thus has an opening exactly between the two antennas. For the measurement, disks according to Examples 1 to 3 were applied to the opening, with the coated surface of the disks always facing the metal wall.The second antenna emitted radiation over the area shown in Figures 5 to 7, and the first antenna received the emitted radiation, allowing the radiation attenuation by the panes of Examples 1 to 3 to be determined. The determined attenuation is relative to a reference value (zero axis in Figures 5 to 7) where the opening in the metal wall is unobstructed, meaning there is only air between the antennas. The attenuation was determined according to ASTM F3057-16. The attenuation with a pane according to the comparative example was simulated. The simulation was performed using CST Studio Suite 2023.

[0069] The disks of Examples 1 to 3 were manufactured by coating and subsequent partial decoating in the communication area. The decoating was performed using laser radiation as shown in Figure 4. Examples 1 to 3 differ from each other only in the laser's speed. The differences are shown in Table 2:

[0070] Table 2

[0071] The attenuation is clearly significantly lower for all examples 1 to 3 than for the comparative example, in which no partial stripping occurred in the communication area. The remaining dielectric layer in the communication area of ​​examples 1 to 3 does not have a significant impact on the attenuation of the radiation. Stripping can therefore occur at high laser speeds, since complete stripping is not necessary. This is a major advantage.

[0072] 1 slice

[0073] 2 Coating

[0074] 3 Layer of coating 2 / first dielectric layer

[0075] 3.2 Layer of coating 2 / second dielectric layer

[0076] 4 Layer of coating 2 / electrically conductive layer

[0077] 5 Layer of coating 2 / third dielectric layer

[0078] 6 Layer of coating 2 / fourth dielectric layer

[0079] 7 lasers

[0080] 8 focusing element

[0081] 9 tilting mirrors

[0082] 100 coated discs

[0083] K Communication area of ​​coating 2

[0084] B Base area of ​​coating 2

[0085] L Laser radiation 7

[0086] I first surface of the disc 1

[0087] II second surface of the disc 1 x direction of movement of the radiation L

[0088] A - A' intersection line

Claims

Patent claims 1. Coated pane (100) with communication window, comprising: - a disc (1), - a coating (2) on a surface (II) of the pane (1), wherein the coating (2) has at least one communication region (K) and a base region (B), wherein the coating (2) has at least one dielectric layer (3) in the communication region (K) and at least the dielectric layer (3) in the base region (B) and an electrically conductive layer (4) above the dielectric layer (3), and wherein the communication region (K) has fewer layers than the base region (B) and is free of electrically conductive layers (4), wherein the individual layers of the coating (2) are thin films.

2. Coated pane (100) according to claim 1, wherein the communication region (K) extends over the pane (1) in the form of a grid in plan view of the pane (1).

3. Coated pane (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication region (K) extends over less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, particularly preferably less than 10%, of the surface (II) of the pane (1).

4. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrically conductive layer (4) in the base region (B) has a layer thickness of greater than 10 nm, preferably greater than 15 nm, particularly preferably greater than 20 nm.

5. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication region (K) is obtainable by removing at least the electrically conductive layer (4) by means of laser beams (L).

6. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electrically conductive layer (4) is formed on the basis of a metal, a metal alloy or a transparent, electrically conductive oxide (TCO).

7. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication region (K) is more permeable to radiation having a wavelength greater than 1 pm than the base region (B).

8. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base region (B) above the electrically conductive layer (4) has one, preferably two, further dielectric layers (5, 6).

9. Coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication region (K) is free of further dielectric layers (3.2, 5, 6).

10. A method for producing a coated disc (100), wherein (A) a disc (1) is provided, (B) at least one dielectric layer (3) and one electrically conductive layer (4) are arranged as a coating (2) on a surface (II) of the pane (1) in the following order and (C) in a communication region (K) of the coating (2) at least the electrically conductive layer (4) is removed, wherein at least the dielectric layer (3) remains in the communication region (K) and in at least one base region (B) of the coating (2) the electrically conductive layer (4) is not removed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric layer (3) is applied directly to the disc (1) so that it is the layer closest to the disc (1).

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein at least the electrically conductive layer (4), preferably all layers except the dielectric layer (3), in the communication area (K) is removed by means of laser radiation (L).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the laser radiation (L) has a wavelength in the UV range, in the visible range or in the IR range, preferably from 200 nm to 2000 nm.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the laser radiation (L) is pulsed with pulse lengths in the femtosecond or nanosecond range, preferably less than 1 ns.

15. Use of a coated pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7 in the vehicle or architectural sector, in particular as a window pane of a vehicle, a building or an interior or as a component thereof, or as glazing of a building, in furniture or other furnishings or as a furnishing.

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