Glazing

Abstract

The glazing (100) includes a window pane (104) and an electrical element (1405) engaged with the window pane (104). The glazing (100) also includes a connector (150) connected to the electrical element (140). A solder joint (156) is defined between the electrical element (140) and the connector (150). The connector (150) is adapted to electrically connect the electrical element (140) to a power source. The glazing (100) also includes at least one metallic strip (180) positioned to engage with and cover the solder joint (156). The at least one metallic strip (180) is positioned such that at least one end of the electrical element (140) is sandwiched between the connector (150) and the at least one metallic strip (180).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to glazing. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to glazing having a window pane and an electrical element attached to the window pane. [Background technology]

[0002] The automotive glass industry offers several products that require soldering of electrical conductors. For example, windshields include several electrical components that are soldered together to ensure sufficient current carrying. For example, electrical elements, such as heating elements or antennas, mounted on layers of the windshield are typically soldered to connectors to receive current from a power source. Typically, soldering of electrical elements and connectors is performed manually through a high-heat soldering process during the windshield manufacturing process. However, the durability of such soldered joints can be weakened because operators may not solder the joints properly. Thus, soldered joints are prone to fracture, which is undesirable, especially in cases where the ends of the electrical elements are wire-like structures. Summary of the Invention

[0003] It is therefore a first aspect of the present disclosure to provide a glazing having a strong solder joint between a connector and an electrical element provided on the glazing.

[0004] A second aspect is to provide a glazing having an electrical element disposed thereon, more particularly to provide a glazing having an electrical element laminated between the glass sheets.

[0005] A third aspect is to provide a windshield with a strong solder joint between an electrical element, such as a heating element or antenna, and a connector mounted on the windshield.

[0006] At least some of the above-mentioned aspects are solved by a glazing as set forth in claim 1.

[0007] In some embodiments, the glazing includes a window pane and an electrical element engaged with the window pane. The glazing also includes a connector coupled to the electrical element, defining a solder joint therebetween. The connector is adapted to electrically connect the electrical element to a power source. The glazing also includes at least one metallic strip engaged with and positioned to cover the solder joint. The at least one metallic strip is positioned such that at least one end of the electrical element is sandwiched between the connector and the at least one metallic strip.

[0008] In some embodiments, the connector defines at least one solder area, and at least one end of the electrical element is soldered to the at least one solder area, preferably via a lead-free solder material. In a preferred embodiment, the connector is in a solder-ready state with the solder material at the end of the connector, and soldering is performed solely by heating the solder area.

[0009] The ends of the electrical components are placed on the solder areas and then clamped by providing a metal strip over the electrical components, and the solder material is then heated by a solder gun. Thus, by clamping the ends of the electrical components between the ends of the connector and the metal strip, the soldered joint is relatively strong and its tendency to break is avoided or at least limited.

[0010] In some embodiments, at least one metallic strip is lead-free.

[0011] In some embodiments, at least one metallic strip is soldered to the solder joint. The metallic strip may have a pre-conditioned solder material to improve the strength of the joint. Therefore, the solder joint with the electrical element is relatively well protected, the efficiency of the electrical element is maintained, and there is no interruption in current carrying.

[0012] In some embodiments, the glazing is a vehicle windshield.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment, the connector is a commercially available Kapton® type flat connector, and the metallic strip is made from a material selected from copper, brass, or aluminum.

[0014] In one preferred embodiment, the connector is a flat connector, the metallic strip is a busbar solder strip, and the electrical element is a tungsten wire.

[0015] Electrical elements, such as wires, are sandwiched between the flat connector and the metallic strip, and the assembly is preferably soldered together to ensure a strong electrical connection.

[0016] In some embodiments, the connector has a busbar solder strip at one end and the electrical element is tungsten wire.

[0017] In some embodiments, the window pane is laminated glass having a first glass layer (pane), a second glass layer (pane), and an interlayer disposed between the first and second glass layers.

[0018] The windshield is preferably made from two window panes made of glass. The glass can therefore be soda-lime-silica glass, aluminosilicate or borosilicate type, and the like. Preferably, due to relatively low production costs, the glass window pane according to the invention is a sheet of soda-lime-silica glass. Additionally, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the composition of the glass sheet can contain one or more components / colorants in an appropriate amount as a function of the desired effect. For example, this / these components / colorants can be used to "neutralize" the color produced, for example, by the presence of chromium, thus rendering the coloring of the glass of the invention relatively neutral or colorless. Alternatively, this / these colorants can be used to obtain a desired color other than that which can be produced, for example, by the presence of chromium.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, which may be combined with the preceding embodiments, the glass window pane may be coated with a layer or film (e.g., a tinted PVB film) that makes it possible to modify or neutralize the color that may be produced, for example, by the presence of chromium, or to impart functionality to the glazing.

[0020] In some embodiments, tungsten wire as an electrical element is disposed on the interlayer, and the tungsten wire can be embedded into the polyvinyl butyral interlayer, commonly referred to as PVB, by equipment known to those skilled in the art, such as a drum or a wire application robot.

[0021] In another embodiment, the wires of the electrical elements can be made from copper.

[0022] A method of manufacturing glazing is disclosed according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The method includes soldering an electrical element to a connector to define a solder joint between the electrical element (140) and the connector (150). The electrical element is engaged with a layer of the window pane. The method further includes engaging at least one metallic strip with the solder joint. The at least one metallic strip is positioned to cover the solder joint such that at least one end of the electrical element is sandwiched between the connector and the at least one metallic strip.

[0023] In some embodiments, at least one metallic strip is soldered to the solder joint.

[0024] In some embodiments, the at least one metallic strip and the solder joint are pressed together during soldering of the at least one metallic strip to the solder joint.

[0025] In some embodiments, at least one metallic strip is lead-free.

[0026] In some embodiments, the solder material used to secure the connector and / or metallic strip is a lead-free solder material. Known solder materials include compositions having tin, copper, silver, nickel, and zinc. The most common lead-free mixture is tin-copper, or mixtures thereof can be used.

[0027] In some embodiments, the glazing is a vehicle windshield. The windshield is preferably made of two glass panes. The glass can therefore be soda-lime-silica glass, aluminosilicate or borosilicate type, and the like. Preferably, due to relatively low production costs, the glass pane according to the invention is a sheet of soda-lime-silica glass. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the composition of the glass sheet can additionally contain one or more components / colorants in an appropriate amount as a function of the desired effect. For example, this / these components / colorants can be used to "neutralize" the color produced, for example, by the presence of chromium, thus rendering the coloring of the glass of the invention relatively neutral or colorless. Alternatively, this / these colorants can be used to obtain a desired color other than that which can be produced, for example, by the presence of chromium. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, which may be combined with the preceding embodiments, the glass window pane may be coated with a layer or film (e.g., a tinted PVB film) that makes it possible to modify or neutralize the color that may be produced, for example, by the presence of chromium, or to impart functionality to the glazing.

[0028] In some embodiments, the window pane is laminated glass having a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and an interlayer disposed between the first and second glass layers, and the electrical element is disposed on the interlayer.

[0029] It is emphasized that when used in this specification, the terms "comprises / comprising / comprised of" are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, and it should be emphasized that the illustrated embodiments are used for illustrative purposes only and are not used to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 shows the glazing as a windshield and depicts an enlarged view of the electrical element as a heating element and the connector connected to the electrical element. [Figure 2] 1 shows a cross-section of the lower portion of the glazing, depicting the various layers of the glazing. [Figure 3] 1 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the windshield, depicting an antenna as an electrical element and a connector connected to the electrical element. [Figure 4] 2 shows an enlarged view of the lower portion of the windshield of FIG. 1 with the metal strip removed from the solder joint defined between the electrical element and the connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] 1, glazing 100 is shown as a windshield 102 adapted to be attached to the body of a vehicle. While glazing 100 is shown and envisioned as a windshield 102, it should be understood that glazing 100 may be used as a vehicle window, a building window, and the like. Glazing 100 may also include backlights, sidelights, and panoramic roofs for vehicles, construction equipment, earthmoving equipment, and the like.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1 , the glazing 100 includes a window pane 104 (i.e., pane 104) having an inner surface 112 (shown in FIG. 2 ) positioned facing the interior of the vehicle and an outer surface 114 disposed opposite the inner surface and facing the exterior of the vehicle. Furthermore, the pane 104 includes an upper edge 116, a lower edge 118 disposed opposite the upper edge 116, and a pair of spaced-apart, opposing side edges 120, 122 extending from the upper edge 116 to the lower edge 118. In one embodiment, the upper edge 116 is attached to the roof of the vehicle, while the lower edge 118 is engaged with the vehicle's underbody. Additionally, the side edges 120, 122 may be coupled to front or rear pillars of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the pane 104 is adhesively attached to the vehicle body.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the pane 104 may include laminated glass having a first glass layer 130 (i.e., outer glass layer 130) defining the outer surface 114 of the pane 104, a second glass layer 132 (i.e., inner glass layer 132) defining the inner surface 112 of the pane 104, and an interlayer 134 (i.e., interlayer 134) disposed between the first glass layer 130 and the second glass layer 132, and may be made from plastic. In one embodiment, the interlayer 134 is a polyvinyl butyral interlayer. However, while a pane 104 made from laminated glass is shown and assumed, it is understood that the window pane 104 may be made from tempered glass, tempered glass, or any other suitable glass known in the art. The pane 104 is made from a transparent material, and it should be understood that the type of transparent material, such as glass, may depend on the application or field in which the glazing 100 is utilized.

[0035] Additionally, the windshield 102 (i.e., the glazing 100) includes an electrical element 140 disposed on the pane or embedded inside the pane 104. In an embodiment, the pane 104 is laminated glass, and the electrical element 140 is disposed on or embedded inside the interlayer 134. However, it is contemplated that the electrical element 140 could equally be disposed on the outer glass layer 130 or the inner glass layer 132. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical element 140 is disposed on or embedded inside the interlayer 134.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1 , the electrical element 140 is a heating element 142 in the form of an electrical wire or strip disposed near the lower edge 118 of the pane 104 and extending in multiple rows. However, while the heating element 142 is shown as being disposed near the lower edge 118, it should be understood that the rows of electrical wire of the heating element 142 may extend along all edges 116, 118, 120, and 122 of the pane 104. In some embodiments, the electrical wire of the heating element 142 is disposed on the pane 104 in multiple horizontal rows aligned from the upper edge 116 to the lower edge 118 or multiple vertical rows positioned between the two side edges 120 and 122. In one embodiment, the heating element 142 is made of a material having a high coefficient of resistivity to enable heating upon passage of electrical current therethrough, i.e., of the pane 104. In one embodiment, the electrical element 140 is a tungsten wire. In some embodiments, the electrical element 140 is a copper wire.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the electrical element 140 may be an antenna 144 having electrical wires adapted to transmit and receive signals or data.

[0038] To facilitate the passage of electrical current through the electrical element 140, the glazing 100 includes a connector 150 mounted on the pane 104. The connector 150 facilitates electrical connection of the electrical element 140 to a power source (not shown). In one embodiment, the power source may be a battery. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connector 150 is a bus bar 152 that is coupled to the electrical element 140 and defines a solder joint 156 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 150 includes a first electrical terminal 158 that defines a first solder area 160 of the connector 150 and a second electrical terminal 162 that defines a second solder area 166 of the connector 150 to which an end of the electrical element 140 is connected / coupled / engaged. In some embodiments, the terminals 158, 162 of the connector 150 comprise strips of bus bar ribbon to facilitate a strong and secure connection. 4, a first end 170 of the electrical element 140 is connected to a first electrical terminal 158 (i.e., a first solder area 160), and a second end 172 of the electrical element is connected to a second electrical terminal 162 (i.e., a second solder area 166) of the connector 150. Thus, the first end 170 of the electrical element 140 and the first electrical terminal 158 together define a first joint portion 174 of the solder joint 156, and the second end 172 of the electrical element 140 and the second electrical terminal 162 of the connector 150 together define a second joint portion 176 of the solder joint 156.

[0039] Additionally, the glazing 100 also includes at least one metallic strip, such as a first metallic strip 180 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 ) engaged with the first joint portion 174 such that the first end 170 of the electrical element 140 is sandwiched between the first electrical terminal 158 and the first metallic strip 180. Similarly, the glazing 100 may include a second metallic strip 182 engaged with the second joint portion 176 such that the second end 172 of the electrical element 140 is sandwiched between the second electrical terminal 162 and the second metallic strip 182. In embodiments, the first metallic strip 180 and the second metallic strip 182 are engaged with the first solder area 160 and the second solder area 166, respectively, by soldering the metallic strips 180, 182 to the respective solder areas 160, 166. In a preferred embodiment, the metallic strips 180, 182 are strips of busbar ribbon, and thus, in cases where both the metallic strips 180, 182 and the terminals 158, 162 of the connector 150 are strips of busbar ribbon, the electrical element 140 is sandwiched between the strips of busbar ribbon. In one embodiment, each of the metallic strips 180, 182 is lead-free. By sandwiching the ends 170, 172 of the electrical element 140 between the solder areas 160, 166 and the metallic strips 180, 182, the connection between the connector 150 and the electrical element 140 is reinforced, thereby reducing or eliminating the occurrence of disengagement of the electrical element 140 from the connector 150. In a preferred embodiment, the area of ​​the metallic strip 180 or the solder joint 156 or the terminals 158, 162 of the connector 150 is much larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the electrical element 140, i.e., the cross-sectional area of ​​the wire, thus providing a secure and strong connection of the electrical element 140.

[0040] A method for manufacturing a glazing 100, such as a windshield 102, is described below. To manufacture the glazing 100, an electrical element 140 is bonded to the pane 104 or a layer of the pane 104. For example, the electrical element 140 is engaged with the interlayer 134 when the glazing 100 is a windshield 102 made from laminated glass. The electrical element 140 can be considered to be disposed or embedded inside the interlayer 134 by techniques or methods known in the art. Thus, the electrical element 140 embedded on the interlayer 134 is connected / attached to a connector 150 prior to the lamination step in the method of the present invention. It should be understood that the electrical element 140 can similarly be disposed on the outer layer 130 or the inner layer 132, depending on the application.

[0041] When engaging the electrical element 140 with the pane 104, the connector 150 is not only attached / engaged to the electrical element 140, but also attached to the pane 104 or a layer of the pane 104. Engaging the electrical element 140 with the pane 104 should be understood as placing the electrical element 140 on the pane 104, i.e., the interlayer 134 having the electrical element 140 is placed on the pane 104. Thereafter, the terminals of the connector 150 are moved adjacent to the ends of the electrical element 140. To accomplish this, in one embodiment, the first end 170 of the electrical element 140 is soldered to the first electrical terminal 158, which defines the first joint portion 174, and the second end 172 of the electrical element 140 is soldered to the second electrical terminal 162, which defines the second joint portion 176. The soldering can be performed by a high-heat soldering process. The first joint portion 174 and the second joint portion 176 together define the solder joint 156. Thereafter, at least one metallic strip is engaged with the solder joint 156. For example, a first metallic strip 180 is engaged with the first joint portion 174 such that the first end 170 of the electrical element 140 is sandwiched between the first solder area 160 (i.e., the first electrical terminal 158) of the connector 150 and the first metallic strip 180. Similarly, a second metallic strip 182 is engaged with the second joint portion 176 such that the second end 172 of the electrical element 140 is sandwiched between the second solder area 166 (i.e., the second electrical terminal 162) and the second metallic strip 182. In one embodiment, the first metallic strip 180 is soldered to the first joint portion 174, while the second metallic strip 182 is soldered to the second solder joint 176. Soldering of the metallic strips 180, 182 to the solder joints 156 can be performed via a high heat soldering process. In cases where strips of busbar ribbon are used for the metallic strips 180, 182, the busbar ribbon is cut into strips for soldering the electrical elements 140.After performing the soldering of the first metallic strip 180, the first metallic strip 180 and the first joint portion 174 are pressed together by using a press tool to ensure a strong bond of the first metallic strip 180 with the first joint portion 174. Similarly, the second metallic strip 182 and the second joint portion 176 are also pressed together by using a press tool to ensure a strong bond of the second metallic strip 182 with the second joint portion 176.

[0042] When soldering the metallic strips 180, 182 to the solder joints 156, in embodiments in which the electrical element 140 is attached to the intermediate layer 134, the outer layer 130 and the inner layer 132 are attached to the intermediate layer 134 such that the intermediate layer 134, along with the electrical element 140, is disposed between the outer layer 130 and the inner layer 132. Because the electrical element 140 is rigidly secured together with the connector 150 using the metallic strips 180, 182, the occurrence of decoupling of the electrical element 140 and the connector 150 during shipping or during attachment of the outer layer 130 and / or the inner layer 132 to the intermediate layer 134 is reduced.

[0043] It should be noted that the figures and the above description illustrate exemplary embodiments in a simple, schematic manner. Many of the specific mechanical details have not been shown, as those skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and would only unnecessarily complicate the description. For example, the specific materials used have not been detailed, as it is believed that those skilled in the art will be able to find suitable materials for manufacturing glazing (i.e., windshields) in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0044] Moreover, the figures also show additional features that will be understood by those skilled in the art and therefore are not described in detail herein.

Claims

1. Window pane (104); an electrical element (140) engaged with said window pane; a connector (150) connected to the electrical element (140), wherein a solder joint (156) is defined between the electrical element (140) and the connector (150), the connector (150) being adapted to electrically connect the electrical element (140) to a power source; and at least one metallic strip (180) engaged with said solder joint (156) and positioned to cover said solder joint; A glazing (100) comprising: The at least one metallic strip (180) is arranged such that at least one end of the electrical element (140) is sandwiched between the connector (150) and the at least one metallic strip (180).

2. 2. The glazing (100) of claim 1, wherein the connector (150) defines at least one solder area, and the at least one end of the electrical element (140) is soldered to the at least one solder area.

3. 3. The glazing (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one metallic strip (180) is made from copper, brass, or aluminum.

4. The glazing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one metallic strip is soldered to the solder joint (156).

5. The glazing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metallic strip (180) is a strip of busbar ribbon.

6. The glazing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector (150) is a flat connector and the electrical element (140) is a tungsten wire.

7. The glazing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrical element (140) is a heating element (142).

8. The glazing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electrical element (140) is an antenna (144).

9. 9. The glazing (100) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the window pane (104) is laminated glass having a first glass layer (130), a second glass layer (132), and an interlayer disposed between the first glass layer (130) and the second glass layer (132).

10. 10. The glazing (100) of claim 9, wherein the tungsten wire (140) is disposed on the intermediate layer (134).

11. A method for manufacturing a glazing (100), comprising the steps of: soldering an electrical element (140) to a connector (150) to define a solder joint (156) between the electrical element (140) and the connector (150), wherein the electrical element (140) is engaged with a layer of the window pane (104); and engaging at least one metallic strip (180) with the solder joint (156), wherein the at least one metallic strip (180) is positioned to cover the solder joint (156) such that at least one end of the electrical element (140) is sandwiched between the connector (150) and the at least one metallic strip (180); A method comprising:

12. 12. The method of manufacturing a glazing (100) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one metallic strip (180) is soldered to the solder joint (156).

13. 13. A method for manufacturing a glazing (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one metallic strip (180) and the solder joint (156) are pressed together when soldering the at least one metallic strip (180) to the solder joint (156).

14. A method for manufacturing a glazing (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said at least one metallic strip (180) is made from copper, brass or aluminium.

15. 15. A method for manufacturing glazing (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the window pane (104) is laminated glass having a first glass layer (130), a second glass layer (132), and an interlayer (134) disposed between the first glass layer and the second glass layer (132), and the electrical element (140) is disposed on the interlayer (134).

Images