Glazing having a data transmission window, method for manufacturing the same, and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention is a glazing 10 comprising a first glass sheet 1, a resistive coating 2 extending across a portion of the first glass sheet 1, a first busbar 3 and a second busbar 4 connected to the resistive coating 2, a data transmission window 5 in the resistive coating 2 comprising a plurality of removal lines 6 in the resistive coating 2 and a plurality of channels 7 formed by the plurality of removal lines 6, and at least one conductive element 8 disposed in at least one of the channels 7, wherein the conductive element 8 is separated from the first busbar 3 and the second busbar 4 by the resistive coating 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to glazing having a data transmission window, a method for manufacturing the glazing, and use of the glazing.

[0002] The data transmission window of the glazing is an area with at least one interruption in the conductive coating, which is produced, for example, by laser ablation, and enables data communication of an electronic device via electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough. When the conductive coating is used for resistive heating, the interruption affects the thermal distribution of the entire glazing.

Background Art

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 7,880,120 (Schmidt) discloses window glass provided with a resistive heating coating connected to two conductor rails. A conductive strand contacting at least one conductor rail spans an interruption in the coating, called a communication window. The risk of forming hot spots around the lateral edges of the communication window is reduced.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 071673 (Paulus) discloses a conductive coating and glazing having a data transmission window (DTW) therein with a plurality of ablations within the conductive coating arranged to form a plurality of grids. The distance between adjacent grids is adjusted to maximize the transmission of electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 10,062,952 (Dai) discloses a heatable window having a heatable coating and a region of a coating with a frequency selective surface (FSS), also called a communication window. The FSS comprises at least a region where a set of vertical slots intersects a set of horizontal slots and forms a patch array. The patch array is spaced apart from each other by strips of the coating that have not been removed so that current can heat the communication window.

[0006] There is still a need for an alternative glazing having a DTW with a plurality of channels of unremoved coating for heating the DTW and providing a predetermined heat distribution across the glazing during use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a glazing comprising: a first glass sheet; a resistive coating extending over a portion of the first glass sheet; a first bus bar and a second bus bar connected to the resistive coating; a data transmission window of the resistive coating, comprising: a plurality of removal lines in the resistive coating; a plurality of channels formed by the plurality of removal lines; at least one conductive element disposed in at least one of the channels; wherein the at least one conductive element is separated from the first and second bus bars by the resistive coating. The glazing is provided. Here, the at least one conductive element 8 is separated from the first and second bus bars by the resistive coating 2. The inventors have found that placing a conductive element within a channel for current and separating the conductive element from the bus bar by a resistive coating is advantageous for providing a useful heat distribution across the glazing. The present invention reduces the temperature of unwanted hot spots, raises the temperature of unwanted cold spots, and provides faster fog removal or defrosting of the glazing in a predetermined area.

[0008] Surprisingly, the temperature within a channel having such a conductive element rises compared to the same channel without the conductive element and, unlike the prior art, has a minimal effect on RF transmission through the data transmission window.

[0009] ​

[0010] The present invention overcomes the technical disadvantages found in the prior art (for example, U.S. Patent No. 78801207800120) where a conductive element must be in direct contact with at least one bus bar.

[0011] The resistive coating can be deposited on the first glass sheet.

[0012] The resistive coating can comprise at least one silver layer.

[0013] The resistive coating can have a sheet resistance in the range of 0.3 to 20.0 Ω / sq.

[0014] The data transmission window can comprise at least three channels.

[0015] The data transmission window can be configured to enable data transmission in a predetermined frequency band.

[0016] The conductive element can be linear.

[0017] The conductive element can have a tip in the shape of a cross, T-shape, circle, triangle or polygon.

[0018] The conductive element can comprise silver, copper or tungsten.

[0019] The conductive element can be printed using a screen printing paste comprising frit and at least 80% silver.

[0020] Preferably, the conductive element has a width in the range of 5 μm to 5 mm.

[0021] Preferably, the conductive elements are arranged in each of at least three channels, more preferably at least six channels, and most preferably at least nine channels. At least one conductive element may be arranged within a predetermined selection of the channels, preferably within the channels on the left and right sides of the data transmission window, and more preferably within the central channel of the data transmission window.

[0022] The glazing according to the invention may further comprise an obscuring band arranged around the perimeter of the glazing.

[0023] Preferably, the obscuring band at least partially covers the data transmission window. Advantageously, the obscuring band at least partially covers the conductive elements, such that the portions of the conductive elements not covered by the obscuring band have little effect on the visibility through the glazing.

[0024] In a second aspect, the invention is a method of manufacturing a glazing, comprising: providing a first glass sheet; depositing a resistive coating extending over a portion of the first glass sheet; providing first and second busbars connected to the resistive coating; configuring a data transmission window within the resistive coating, comprising: providing a plurality of laser ablation lines within the resistive coating; forming a plurality of channels by the plurality of ablation lines; arranging at least one conductive element within at least one of the channels; configuring at least one conductive element to be separated from the first and second busbars by the resistive coating; configuring a data transmission window within the resistive coating, including: providing a method of manufacturing a glazing, including.

[0025] The inventor has found that configuring the conductive element to be separated from the bus bar by a resistive coating is an easy way to produce glazing with a useful heat distribution.

[0026] The conductive element can be a wire comprising copper or tungsten embedded in a ply of intermediate layer material.

[0027] The conductive element can be digitally printed using an inkjet printer.

[0028] The conductive element can be printed by screen printing. Preferably, the first and second bus bars are printed by screen printing. Advantageously, the conductive element and the bus bar are printed simultaneously by screen printing, thus combining two process steps into one.

[0029] In a third aspect, the present invention provides the use of the glazing according to claim 1 as a window for a building or a window for a vehicle, including a vehicle windshield, a vehicle rear window, a vehicle side window or a vehicle roof window.

[0030] The inventor has found that it is highly advantageous to use the glazing according to the present invention as a window for a building or a window for a vehicle, since arranging a conductive element separated from the bus bar by a resistive coating provides a technical effect of faster fog removal or defrosting and minimizes the impact on RF transmission via the data transmission window.

[0031] Here, the present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, like reference numerals identify like parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, the glazing 10 comprises a glass sheet 1. The glass sheet 1 can be soda-lime-silica glass formed by the float process and can have a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 25 mm or 0.5 to 3 mm, more preferably 1.0 to 2.1 mm. The glass sheet 1 can be annealed, heat-strengthened or toughened.

[0034] The glazing 10 can further comprise a second glass sheet and a ply of an interlayer material between the first glass sheet 1 and the second glass sheet to form laminated glass. The first and second glass sheets can be of the same composition. The ply of interlayer material can be polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and can have a thickness of 0.76 mm. The thickness of the laminated glass can be in the range of 4.3 to 5.1 mm.

[0035] The resistive coating 2 preferably extends across a part of the first glass sheet 1 rather than around the first glass sheet 1. The resistive coating 2 can be deposited on the first glass sheet 1, the second glass sheet or the ply of interlayer material.

[0036] The resistive coating 2 may comprise one, two or three layers of silver. Preferably, the silver layers are separated by layers of dielectric material. The resistive coating 2 may comprise a layer of a transparent conductive oxide such as fluorine-doped tin oxide.

[0037] The resistive coating 2 has a sheet resistance in the range of 0.3 to 20.0 Ω / sq, preferably 0.5 to 12.0 Ω / sq, more preferably 1.0 to 4.0 Ω / sq.

[0038] The first bus bar 3 and the second bus bar 4 are connected to the resistive coating 2 and may be printed using a screen printing paste containing glass frit and at least 80%, 85% or 100% silver.

[0039] The data transmission window 5 is composed of the resistive coating 2 and includes a plurality of removal lines 6 within the resistive coating 2 and a plurality of channels 7 formed by the plurality of removal lines 6.

[0040] The data transmission window 5 preferably has at least 3 channels 7, more preferably at least 6 channels 7, and most preferably at least 9 channels 7. The channel width can be 1 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 5 mm.

[0041] The width of the removal line 6 is typically 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. At least two channels 7 for current are formed by the removal lines 6.

[0042] The data transmission window 5 is configured to be capable of transmitting data in a predetermined frequency band. Preferably, the frequency band is 1 MHz to 20 GHz, more preferably 1 GHz to 18 GHz, more preferably 2 GHz to 12 GHz, more preferably 3.5 GHz to 11.5 GHz, more preferably 4 GHz to 8.5 GHz, and most preferably 2.5 GHz to 5.8 GHz. Advantageously, the frequency band is selected for electronic toll collection (ETC).

[0043] The conductive element 8 is arranged in at least one of the channels 7 and has a finger shape with a long and thin shape such as linear or rectangular, and may have a tip C shaped as a cross, T shape, circular, triangular or polygonal as required. Advantageously, the tip C has a different shape from the finger, enables different current paths, and thus avoids hot spots.

[0044] The conductive element 8 can be printed using a frit and a screen printing paste containing at least 80%, 85% or 100% silver, or can comprise copper, tungsten or any other suitable conductor, and can be applied as a wire or metal strip or by screen printing.

[0045] The width of the conductive element 8 can range from 5 μm to 5 mm, preferably from 20 μm to 3 mm, more preferably from 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

[0046] The obscuring band 9 is arranged around the glazing 10 and at least partially covers the data transmission window 5. Advantageously, the obscuring band at least partially covers the conductive element 8, making it less visible as a result.

[0047] In Figure 2, a plurality of conductive elements 8 are arranged in six channels 7, three on each of the left and right sides of the data transmission window 5.

[0048] In Figure 3, since the conductive element 8 is within nine channels 7, more current flows through the data transmission window 5 than in Figure 2.

[0049] In Figure 4, since the conductive element 8 is completely covered by the obscuring band 9, the visibility through the glazing is better than in Figure 3.

[0050] In FIG. 5, the three conductive elements 8 are disposed in the three channels 7. Each channel 7 has two interruption lines 11. As disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 071673 in which the removal line 6 is configured as a grid, one or more interruption lines 11 between adjacent grids can maintain the RF performance of horizontal polarization. The current in the horizontal direction is blocked by the interruption lines 11 aligned in the vertical direction. The channel 7 having the interruption line 11 can be wider, and more vertical current can flow into the data transmission window 5. Preferably, the interruption line is formed by laser ablation, similar to the removal line 6.

[0051] The vertical interruption lines 11 limit the current of the horizontal flow for heating as well as RF. Hot spots can result from the introduction of the interruption lines 11 having the conductive elements 8 therebetween. To solve this problem, the tip C can extend across the elongated T-shaped interruption line 11. Advantageously, since the current flows through the elongated tip C, more of the channel 7 is available for the flow of current from the conductive element 8, thus reducing the temperature of the hot spot.

[0052] The conductive element 8 can have a length shorter than that of the adjacent interruption lines 11 and is hidden, for example, by the obscuring band 9. At least one gap 12 of the interruption line 11 can be provided above or below the tip C. Advantageously, since the current flows through the gap 12, more of the channel 7 is available for the flow of current from the conductive element 8, thus reducing the temperature of the hot spot.

Embodiment

[0053] The following is an explanation of an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0054] Table 1 shows the temperature measurement values related to four embodiments and one comparative example of the present invention generally as shown in FIG. 4. In all five cases, The data transmission window 5 has nine channels 7 each with a width of 6 mm, The resistive coating 2 has a sheet resistance of 10 Ω / sq. In the four examples, the conductive elements 8 each have a length of 49 mm.

[0055] Example 1 has six conductive elements 8, three on each side as shown in Figure 2, but is configured to be covered with a blurring band as shown in Figure 4. The conductive elements 8 are not in direct contact with the bus bars 3, 4, are linear, and are composed of 100% silver with a width of 1 mm.

[0056] Example 2 is similar to Example 1 but has nine conductive elements 8, each arranged in one of the nine channels 7 as shown in Figure 4.

[0057] Example 3 is similar to Example 2 but uses a copper wire with a diameter of 100 μm.

[0058] Example 4 is similar to Example 3 but has a tungsten wire with a diameter of 25 μm.

[0059] In the comparative example, there is no conductive element 8 in the channel 7.

[0060] Heating was simulated at 42 volts for 12 minutes, and temperature measurements were taken at three locations on the data transmission window 5. A: Side (left side of Figure 4), typical hot spot B: Top (center of Figure 4), typical cold spot C: Tip of the conductive element 8, second from the side (right side of Figure 4)

[0061] [Table 1]

[0062] The temperature of the tip C of the conductive element 8 was the highest in Example 1. The temperature of the center of the data transmission window 5 and the upper part B was the highest in Example 2. Surprisingly, the present invention provides a predetermined temperature distribution by concentrating a current in a predetermined amount in the channel 7 as needed.

[0063] The temperatures of the side A in Example 2 (silver) and Example 3 (copper) were the same. Advantageously, copper can be used instead of silver to achieve the same low temperature of the hot spot on the side A at a lower material cost.

[0064] The temperature of the side A in Example 4 (tungsten) was lower than that in Example 1 (silver). Advantageously, a tungsten wire with a diameter of 25 μm can be used instead of a silver wire with a width of 1 mm to lower the hot spot temperature and make it less visible.

[0065] In the comparative example, since there is no conductive element 8 separated from the bus bars 3 and 4 by the resistive coating 2, it has the coldest cold spots at the upper part B and the tip C and the hottest hot spot A. When used as the front glass of a vehicle, Examples 1 to 4 have improved anti-fogging or defrosting performance compared to the comparative example.

[0066] The reference numbers in the drawings are as follows.

Description of the reference signs

[0067] 1 Glass sheet 2 Resistive coating 3 First bus bar 4 Second bus bar 5 Data transmission window 6 Removal line in the resistive coating 7 Current channel 8 Conductive element 9 Obscuring band 10 Glazing 11 Interrupt line in the channel 12 Gap in the interrupt line Hot spot on the side of data transmission window A Cold spot on the side of data transmission window B Tip of conductive element C

Claims

1. A glazing 10, comprising: a first glass sheet 1; a resistive coating 2 extending over a part of the first glass sheet 1; a first bus bar 3 and a second bus bar 4 connected to the resistive coating 2; a data transmission window 5 of the resistive coating 2, comprising: a plurality of removal lines 6 in the resistive coating 2; a plurality of channels 7 formed by the plurality of removal lines 6; at least one conductive element 8 disposed in at least one of the channels 7; the data transmission window 5 of the resistive coating 2; wherein the conductive element 8 is separated from the first bus bar 3 and the second bus bar 4 by the resistive coating 2. Glazing 10.

2. The glazing 10 according to claim 1, wherein the resistive coating 2 is deposited on the first glass sheet 1.

3. The glazing 10 according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resistive coating 2 comprises at least one silver layer.

4. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resistive coating 2 has a sheet resistance in the range of 0.3 to 20.0 Ω / sq.

5. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data transmission window 5 comprises at least three channels 7.

6. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the data transmission window 5 is configured to transmit data in a predetermined frequency band.

7. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conductive element 8 is linear.

8. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conductive element 8 comprises a tip C having a cross-shaped, T-shaped, circular, triangular or polygonal shape.

9. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conductive element 8 comprises silver, copper or tungsten.

10. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the conductive element 8 is printed using a screen printing paste comprising frit and at least 80% silver.

11. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the width of the conductive element 8 is in the range of 5 μm to 5 mm.

12. The conductive element 8 is arranged in each of at least three channels 7, and the glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one channel 7 comprises at least two interruption lines 11.

14. The glazing 10 according to claim 13, wherein at least one interruption line 11 comprises at least one gap 12 above or below the tip C.

15. The glazing 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising an obscuring band 9 arranged around the glazing.

16. A method of manufacturing a glazing 10, comprising: preparing a first glass sheet 1; depositing a resistive coating 2 extending over a part of the first glass sheet 1; preparing a first bus bar 3 and a second bus bar 4 connected to the resistive coating 2; forming a data transmission window 5 in the resistive coating 2, comprising: providing a plurality of laser removal lines 6 in the resistive coating 2; forming a plurality of channels 7 by the plurality of removal lines 6; arranging at least one conductive element 8 in at least one of the channels 7; configuring at least one of the conductive elements 8 to be separated from the first bus bar 3 and the second bus bar 4 by the resistive coating 2; forming a data transmission window 5 in the resistive coating 2, including; A method of manufacturing a glazing 10, including.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conductive element 8 is a wire comprising copper or tungsten embedded in a ply of an intermediate layer material.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conductive element 8 is digitally printed using an inkjet printer.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conductive element 8 is printed by screen printing.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first bus bar 3 and the second bus bar 4 are printed by screen printing simultaneously with the conductive element 8.

21. Use of the glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 15 as a window of a building or a window of a vehicle.

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