Heatable combined side glass

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laminated vehicle side glass having a top edge, a bottom edge, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the laminated side glass comprising: an outer glass sheet and an inner glass sheet bonded together via a thermoplastic interlayer; and a transparent, heatable coating disposed between the outer and inner glass sheets, the transparent, heatable coating being electrically contacted by a first collecting busbar and a second collecting busbar, the transparent, heatable coating having at least one coated-off insulated wire extending between the collecting busbars for guiding heating current flowing between the collecting busbars, the first collecting busbar and the second collecting busbar being disposed along the leading edge or the trailing edge, the top and bottom being defined by different patterns of coated-off insulated wire at the top and bottom of the laminated side glass.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heatable laminated side plate glass, a method for manufacturing the same, and its use.

Background Art

[0002] Automobiles typically have side windows that can be opened or cannot be opened. Such side windows are provided with side plate glass that can move substantially vertically, thereby enabling the side window to be opened and closed.

[0003] The side plate glass may be designed as laminated safety glass, which has an outer plate glass and an inner plate glass bonded to each other via a thermoplastic intermediate layer, typically a PVB film. Also known are heatable laminated side glasses equipped with heating wires. The heating wires are embedded in the thermoplastic intermediate layer. Typically, collector busbars (also called collector conductors or busbars) are provided to make electrical contact with the heating wires. Suitable collector busbars are, for example, strips of copper foil, which are connected to an external voltage source.

[0004] Instead of a heating wire, side glass heated by a transparent coating is also known. The coating has a conductive layer based particularly on silver. The coating is also electrically contacted with at least two collecting busbars, and current flows between these collecting busbars through the heatable coating. However, based on the complex shape of the side glass, it is possible to arrange the collecting busbars parallel to each other so that a homogeneous heating field is formed in the viewing area of the plate glass. Nevertheless, in order to guide the current path between the collecting busbars as evenly as possible across the viewing area of the plate glass, generally, the coating is patterned by a linear region where the coating is removed. Such side glass is known, for example, from German Patent Application Publication No. 102004029164A1, International Publication No. 03 / 105533A1 pamphlet, and International Publication No. 200601069LA1 pamphlet.

[0005] What has been common until now is to arrange the collecting busbars of the heatable combined side plate glass along the lower edge of the side plate glass that is always covered by the vehicle body. That is, the electrical contact part of the heatable plate glass always remains hidden. It is clear that the mainstream interpretation is that the situation where the collecting busbars along the side edge different from the lower edge, especially the front edge, are visible to the observer when the side window is open is generally an unacceptable situation for aesthetic reasons.

[0006] The prior art heatable side plate glass with collecting busbars along the lower edge is not preferred. The physical proximity of the two collecting busbars having opposite polarities requires laborious insulation means to continuously avoid short circuits. Furthermore, in order to heat the entire surface of the plate glass, it is necessary to pass the patterned segments of the heating wire or coating in a meandering manner across the plate glass from the lower edge and back to the lower edge. Such a meandering path may not be desirable for aesthetic reasons. Furthermore, when the heating wire is sharply curved locally, there is a risk of forming a locally overheated area (so-called "hot spot").

[0007] However, in the heatable side glass of the prior art, the front region of the bonded side glass near the side mirror is not heated in a privileged manner to remove fog or ice in this zone in order to quickly obtain a view of the side mirror. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved heatable bonded side glass. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0009] The object of the present invention is achieved by a heatable bonded side glass according to claim 1 based on the present invention. Preferred embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims.

[0010] The heatable bonded side glass according to the present invention provides, for example, an openable side window of a vehicle, a triangular window, a fixed window as a rear window, etc. The openable side window means a side window in which the side glass can be opened and closed substantially vertically into the vehicle door.

[0011] The heatable bonded side plate glass has an upper edge, a lower edge, a front edge, and a rear edge. The term "upper edge" indicates the side edge of the side plate glass that points upward at the mounting position. The "lower edge" indicates the side edge that points towards the ground at the mounting position. The "front edge" indicates the side edge that faces forward in the traveling direction. The "rear edge" indicates the side edge that faces rearward in the traveling direction.

[0012] The heatable bonded side plate glass has at least an outer plate glass and an inner plate glass, and the outer plate glass and the inner plate glass are bonded to each other via a thermoplastic intermediate layer. The "inner plate glass" indicates the plate glass that faces the inside of the vehicle at the mounting position. The "outer plate glass" indicates the plate glass that faces the external environment of the vehicle at the mounting position.

[0013] According to the present invention, a transparent and heatable coating is disposed between an outer plate glass and an inner plate glass and is electrically contacted by a first collecting bus bar and a second collecting bus bar. Since the collecting bus bars are provided to be connected to an external voltage source, a heating current flows through the heatable coating between the collecting bus bars during operation. That is, the coating functions as a heating layer and heats the side plate glass as a result of its electrical resistance, for example, to remove frost or moisture on the side plate glass.

[0014] The heatable coating has at least one, usually a plurality of, insulation lines with the coating removed for guiding the heating current. In the context of the present invention, the term "insulation line" means a non-conductive linear region within a conductive coating. The insulation line preferably extends across the entire thickness of the conductive coating, but at least across the entire thickness of the conductive layer of the coating. The insulation line is preferably introduced into the conductive coating by a laser and is generated by a modification within the conductive coating induced by the laser. Such a modification induced by the laser is, for example, peeling of the conductive layer or a chemical change in the conductive layer. The conductivity of the layer is interrupted by the modification induced by the laser. However, the insulation line can in principle also be formed by another method, for example, mechanical peeling or masking.

[0015] The present invention is a heatable laminated side glass for a vehicle having a curved upper edge (U), a lower edge (L), a first lateral edge (S1), and a second lateral edge (S2) opposite to the first lateral edge (S1), comprising an outer plate glass (1) and an inner plate glass (2) bonded to each other via at least a thermoplastic intermediate layer (3), and a transparent and heatable coating (4) disposed between the outer plate glass (1) and the inner plate glass (2). - The transparent heatable coating (4) is electrically contacted by a first bus bar (bb1) having a height H1 arranged along a first lateral side edge (S1) and a second bus bar (bb2) having a height H2 arranged along a second lateral side edge (S2), and the transparent heatable coating (4) has a plurality of insulating lines (L) with the coating removed extending between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2) for guiding a heating current flowing between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2), and the height H1 of the first lateral side edge (S1) is smaller than the height H2 of the second lateral side edge (S2), The heatable laminated side glass is, - A frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge (U) near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass, and an upper part (UP) bounded by a line (LD) drawn from the lower corner (C) of the front edge S1 of the side glass so as to extend to the second lateral side edge (S2) and parallel to the frame edge line L1(0), - A lower part (LP) bounded by the line (LD) and a line L2(n) which is the last line of the last active strip and is parallel to the line (LD) and has, - The upper part (UP) has a height higher than the height H1 of the first bus bar (bb1) and has a curve L1(0) as an upper limit, and the lower part (LP) has a height higher than (height H2 - height H1) and has a curve L1(0) as an upper limit, In the upper part (UP), n continuous insulating lines with the coating removed and parallel to the upper edge (U) are provided at a distance having the same width of 5 mm to 100 mm, and n is from 1 to 100, In the lower part (LP), active and passive (Non-active) coated strips (i) exist alternately, the passive coating strips are bounded by a closed insulating line (L) with the coating removed, and the active coating strips (i) have a width defined by the following formula, W(i)=L2(i) 2 / L2(0) 2 ×W0 where, W(i): Width of the active coated strip L2(i): Length of the lower side of the (i)-th active coated strip L2(0): Length of the strip at the upper part (UP) W0: Width of the coating-removed line at the upper part And the passive coating has a width defined by the following formula D(i)=W0 - W(i) - D(0) D(0): Width of the coating-removed line wherein the length and width are expressed in mm Heatable laminated side glass relates to

[0016] According to the present invention, the specific design of the coated / coating-removed lines at the upper and lower parts of the laminated side glass enables a homogeneous heat distribution despite the complex shape of the laminated side glass and the curve L1(0). More specifically, the present invention enables control of the heating of the front side glass at the front edge of the side plate glass, i.e., in the region closed with respect to the side mirror.

[0017] The present invention is based on the creation of a passive region within a coating provided on a laminated side glass having an insulating line (coating-removed line).

[0018] At the upper part of the combined side glass, the insulating line extends between the collecting busbars without interruption from the first collecting busbar to the second collecting busbar. The conductive coating is divided by the insulating line into a plurality of different segments isolated from each other, and these segments are hereinafter also referred to as heating strips. Thereby, it is drawn from the lower corner (C) of the front edge S1 of the side glass so as to extend to the frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge (U) and the second lateral side edge (S2) near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass, and at the upper part bounded by a line (LD) parallel to the frame edge line L1(0), there are a series of coated lines and coating-removed lines each parallel to the line L1(0). According to the present invention, the line L1(0) is near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass, parallel to the upper edge (U), and divides the frame-shaped edge region of the coating provided on the glass. The upper part (UP) has a height higher than the height H1 of the first busbar (bb1) and has the curve L1(0) as an upper limit, and the lower part (LP) has a height higher than (height H2 - height H1) and has the curve L1(0) as an upper limit.

[0019] Based on the complex shape of the side plate glass, in order to disperse the heating action over the entire plate glass as much as possible, typically, at least a part of the insulating line does not extend completely linearly between the collecting busbars. Thus, the insulating line typically has a slight curve parallel to the upper edge near the curved upper edge.

[0020] According to the present invention, at the upper part (UP) of the combined side glass, n continuous coated and insulated lines parallel to the upper edge (U) and separated by a distance having the same width of 5 mm to 100 mm are provided, where n is from 1 to 100. This is also advantageous with respect to making the insulating line less visually prominent. Furthermore, the heating strip of this width ensures an effective heating output.

[0021] At the bottom of the combined side glass, active and passive coated strips (i) are alternately present, and the passive coating strip (i) is bounded by a closed coating-removed line, and the active coated strip (i) has a width defined by the following formula. W(i)=L2(i) 2 / L2(0) 2 ×W0 Here, W(i): Width of the active coated strip L2(i): Length of the lower side of the (i)-th coated strip L2(0): Length of the strip at the upper part (UP) W0: Width of the coating-removed line at the upper part Furthermore, the passive coating has a width defined by the following formula. D(i)=W0-W(i)-D(0) D(0): Width of the coating-removed line, However, the length and width are expressed in mm.

[0022] At the bottom of the combined side glass, the coating has a pattern defined by alternately arranged active and passive coated strips, the passive coating strip is bounded by a closed coating-removed line, and the active coated strip is the same as defined above.

[0023] According to the present invention, the width W0 of the coating-removed line at the upper part defines the width W(i) of the active coated strip.

[0024] While the current between the collecting busbars is configured to flow only within each heating strip, adjacent heating strips are electrically insulated from each other, so there is no possibility of current flowing between adjacent heating strips. These heating strips enable selectively shaping the path of the current flow between the first collecting busbar and the second collecting busbar, which is necessary to ensure a uniform current distribution and thus a heating effect based on the complex shape of the conventional side window.

[0025] According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first collecting busbar and the second collecting busbar are arranged along the front edge or the rear edge of the side plate glass. In the context of the present invention, a collecting busbar is arranged along the side edge if it is not too far from the side edge (the average distance to the side edge is smaller than the distances to all other side edges) and its longitudinal direction substantially follows the direction of the side edge.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collecting busbar can be arranged vertically along the front edge and the rear edge of the side plate glass so as not to be visible to an observer when the plate glass is in an open state.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, all the insulating lines extend between the collecting busbar along the front edge and the collecting busbar along the rear edge. By having all the insulating lines consistently extending between the front edge and the rear edge, a particularly advantageous dispersion of the heating effect is achieved. Furthermore, the pattern of the lines with the coating removed at the upper and lower parts of the laminated glass enables concentrating the heating in a specific region, for example, a region close to the side mirror in front of the side glass.

[0028] According to the present invention, a frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge of the assembled side glass, near the upper edge of the curved glass, is defined as the end of the coated surface of the glass. The frame-shaped edge region of the glass, here called the upper edge with respect to the upper edge of the glass frame edge line L1(0), preferably has no heatable coating applied. This edge region is often also called an edge deletion part (coating removal part) (in the case of a coating applied to a sheet glass) or a cut-off part (in the case of a coating on a carrier film). This ensures that the heatable coating does not come into contact with the surrounding atmosphere, and thus corrosion is also prevented, and the coating is so to speak sealed within the intermediate layer. The width of the uncoated edge region is typically 0.5 mm to 20 mm, particularly 1 mm to 10 mm. The glass can also have other non-coated regions, for example, a data transmission window or a communication window.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the maximum distance of the collecting busbar arranged along the side edge from the side edge is less than 3 cm, preferably less than 2.5 cm, particularly preferably less than 2 cm. In the context of the present invention, the maximum distance is measured between the side edge of the side plate glass and the edge of the collecting busbar on the side opposite to that side edge. Since this distance is sufficiently small, the collecting busbar is arranged, together with the electrical contact part, in a region covered by the vehicle body part and the seal lip of a typical automobile side window. Surprisingly, it has been found that due to these distances, the collecting busbar advantageously remains hidden behind the vehicle body part of a typical vehicle. Therefore, this distance can be understood as a teaching of a universal design that is so to speak independent of the specific vehicle type.

[0030] However, the collecting busbar must not be positioned extremely close to the side edge. This is because otherwise, the bonding of the sheet glass will be hindered and there is a risk of air entering the bonding part through the side edge. In an advantageous embodiment, the minimum distance of the collecting busbar arranged along the side edge from the side edge is greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 5 mm. Good results can be obtained in this way. In the context of the present invention, the minimum distance is measured between the side edge of the side plate glass and the edge of the collecting busbar facing the side edge.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, one collecting busbar is arranged vertically along the front edge and extends at least partially along the lower edge, and the other collecting busbar is arranged along the rear edge of the side plate glass. In this way, the provided invisible area of the side plate glass is optimally utilized. Furthermore, the insulating line can be guided from the front edge to the rear edge without sharp curves or loops, which has an aesthetic appeal and facilitates the uniform distribution of the heating output and reduces the risk of local overheating. According to the present invention, one collecting busbar is arranged vertically along the front edge and extends at least partially along the lower edge to the intersection with the lower edge and the last line L2(n) of the last active strip W(n).

[0032] The heatable coating can be applied to the surface of the inner plate glass or the outer plate glass. The coating is preferably applied to the surface of the outer plate glass or the inner plate glass facing the intermediate layer. This is because the coating is protected from corrosion and other damage there. The coating also provides electrical insulation when in contact with the glass.

[0033] Instead, the heatable coating can be arranged on a polymer carrier film within the intermediate layer. This carrier film preferably contains at least polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), or a mixture, copolymer, or derivative thereof. This is particularly advantageous with regard to the handling, stability, and optical properties of the carrier film. The carrier film preferably has a thickness of 5 μm to 500 μm, particularly preferably 10 μm to 200 μm, and extremely particularly preferably 12 μm to 75 μm. The carrier layer having these thicknesses can advantageously be supplied in the form of a flexible and stable film and can be easily handled.

[0034] According to the invention, the heatable coating is transparent. In the context of the present invention, a "transparent coating" means a coating having a transmittance of at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, within the visible spectral range.

[0035] The conductive coating has at least one conductive layer. This coating can additionally have a dielectric layer that serves, for example, to control sheet resistance, prevent corrosion, or reduce reflection. The conductive layer preferably contains silver or a conductive oxide (transparent conductive oxide, TCO) such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The conductive layer preferably has a thickness of 10 nm to 200 nm. This will achieve a good compromise between the transparency and conductivity of the layer. To improve the conductivity while simultaneously achieving high transparency, the coating can have a plurality of conductive layers separated from each other by at least one dielectric layer. The conductive coating can have, for example, two, three, or four conductive layers. Typical dielectric layers contain oxides or nitrides, for example, silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide.

[0036] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the conductive coating has at least one conductive layer containing silver, preferably at least 99% silver. The layer thickness of the conductive layer is preferably 5 nm to 50 nm, particularly preferably 10 nm to 30 nm. The coating preferably has two or three of these conductive layers, and these conductive layers are isolated from each other by at least one dielectric layer. Such a coating is particularly advantageous with respect to the transparency of the pane glass on the one hand and the conductivity of the pane glass on the other hand.

[0037] In the lower part of the laminated glass, the width of the insulating line is preferably 500 μm or less, particularly preferably 10 μm to 250 μm, and extremely particularly preferably 20 μm to 150 μm. An insulating line having such a width can be easily produced particularly by laser processing, and ensures the electrical insulation of adjacent heating strips and is also not visually conspicuous.

[0038] The heatable coating typically has a plurality of insulating lines, i.e., at least two insulating lines. The exact number and spacing of the insulating lines depend on the exact shape of the pane glass in the individual case and can be determined based on prior consideration and simulation by a person skilled in the art. The values described above are particularly suitable for the side pane glass of a passenger car. However, for example, for the larger side pane glass of a truck, a significantly larger spacing of, for example, 5 cm to 30 cm can be selected. The number of insulating lines is typically 2 to 10, particularly 3 to 7. In one embodiment of the present invention, all heating strips have the same width. In this case, the insulating lines are advantageously distributed evenly and inconspicuously over the pane glass.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the heating output (surface power density PS) increases at least partially from the trailing edge towards the leading edge. As a result, the current is divided in the front region of the pane glass into a smaller heating strip width than in the rear region, so that the heating output is increased. The higher heating output in the front region of the pane glass may be desired with respect to the front side pane glass. That is, frost or moisture can be removed more rapidly from the front region of the side pane glass, and as a result, the visibility for the side mirror is opened more rapidly. Preferably, the maximum width of the narrowing heating strip is 55 mm to 110 mm (preferably 60 mm to 100 mm), and the minimum width is 10 mm to 55 mm (preferably 10 mm to 50 mm). With these values, a good compromise is achieved between rapid defrosting in the front region for rapidly opening the visibility for the side mirror and defrosting of the entire pane glass, which is also important in terms of traffic safety.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the average heating output (surface power density PS) of the pane glass is at least 250 W / m 2 , preferably at least 300 W / m 2 , particularly preferably at least 350 W / m 2 . More generally, the heating output is 250 to 2000 W / m 2 . Thereby, an advantageous heating effect is obtained.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, the collecting busbar is implemented as a strip of conductive foil. The conductive foil preferably contains aluminum, copper, copper plated with tin, gold, silver, zinc, tungsten, and / or tin, or alloys thereof, particularly preferably copper. The thickness of the conductive foil is preferably from 10 μm to 500 μm, particularly preferably from 30 μm to 200 μm, for example 50 μm or 100 μm. A collecting busbar made of conductive foil having such a thickness is technically easily realized and has an advantageous current capacity. The conductive foil can be conductively connected directly to the heatable coating via a solder material or a conductive adhesive. A collecting busbar consisting of a strip of conductive foil is particularly suitable when the conductive coating is arranged on a carrier film of an intermediate layer, but can also be used when the coating is applied to the surface of a plate glass. In order to improve the conductive connection, for example, a silver-containing paste can be arranged between the conductive coating and the collecting busbar.

[0042] In an alternative advantageous embodiment, the collecting busbar is implemented as a printed and fired conductive structure. The printed collecting busbar contains at least one metal, preferably silver. The conductivity is preferably realized via metal particles contained in the collecting conductor, particularly preferably via silver particles. The metal particles can be present in an organic and / or inorganic matrix such as a paste or ink, and preferably can be present as a fired screen printing paste having glass frit. The layer thickness of the printed collecting busbar is preferably from 5 μm to 40 μm, particularly preferably from 8 μm to 20 μm, and extremely particularly preferably from 10 μm to 15 μm. A printed collecting busbar having such a thickness is technically easily realized and has an advantageous current capacity. The printed collecting busbar is particularly suitable when the conductive coating is applied to the surface of an outer plate glass or an inner plate glass.

[0043] The length of the collecting busbar depends on the design of the side plate glass, particularly the length of the edge where the collecting busbar is arranged, and can be more appropriately selected by those skilled in the art in individual cases. The "length" of a typical strip-shaped collecting busbar means the longer dimension where the collecting busbar is usually in contact with a plurality of different heating strip portions.

[0044] The heating output may be affected by the width of the collecting busbar when the applied voltage U (usually preset by the vehicle manufacturer), the layer resistance RS, and the length of the collecting busbar are given. Generally, good results can be obtained in the range of the width of the collecting busbar from 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably from 2 mm to 10 mm.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection of the connection cable for external voltage supply is made in the lower edge region. Thereby, the connection cable can be hidden inside the vehicle body.

[0046] The supply line can be preferably mounted as a strip of conductive film or as a baked printing paste, similar to that for the collecting busbar. In one embodiment, the collecting busbar and the supply line are formed of the same material, which simplifies the manufacture of the plate glass and is optimal for the electrical transfer between the collecting busbar and the supply line (based on the same electrical resistance). However, it is also possible to contact the collecting busbar formed by screen printing with a conductive foil as a connecting element.

[0047] The layer resistance of the conductive coating is preferably from 0.3 ohm / square to 500 ohm / square. More preferably, the layer resistance of the conductive coating is from 0.3 ohm / square to 100 ohm / square. Thereby, an advantageous heating output is achieved at voltages generally used in the vehicle field, and in this case, a lower layer resistance at the same applied voltage results in a higher heating output.

[0048] The outer plate glass and / or the inner plate glass preferably comprises glass, particularly soda-lime glass, or plastic, preferably rigid plastic, particularly polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

[0049] The thickness of the plate glass is highly variable and can thus be ideally adapted to the requirements in individual cases. Preferably, the thickness of the outer plate glass and the inner plate glass is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm, and extremely particularly preferably between 1.4 mm and 3 mm.

[0050] The outer plate glass, the inner plate glass, or the intermediate layer can be transparent and colorless, but can also be dyed, clouded, or colored. The outer plate glass and the inner plate glass can be made from glass without preload, glass with partial preload, or glass with preload.

[0051] The intermediate layer is formed by at least one thermoplastic bonding film. The thermoplastic bonding film contains at least one thermoplastic polymer, preferably ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), or polyurethane (PU), or a mixture or copolymer or derivative thereof, and particularly preferably PVB. The thickness of the thermoplastic bonding film is preferably between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, particularly preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, for example 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm.

[0052] If a heatable coating is arranged on a carrier film, this carrier film is preferably arranged between two thermoplastic bonding films. In this case, the intermediate layer has at least two thermoplastic bonding films and a carrier film arranged therebetween with an electrically heatable coating.

[0053] Typical heatable coatings also have infrared (IR) reflective properties. Thus, the coating according to the invention provides not only a heating function but also, simultaneously, IR reflective functionality. Based on the reduction of the incidence of heat rays into the vehicle interior, the thermal comfort is improved.

[0054] The invention further includes a method for manufacturing a heatable combined side window glass according to the invention, the manufacturing method comprising at least (a) providing an outer pane, an inner pane, and an intermediate layer; (b) applying a heatable coating on the surface of the outer pane or the inner pane, or on a carrier film; (c) introducing insulating lines into the heatable coating; (d) contacting the heatable coating using a collecting busbar; (e) arranging the intermediate layer between the outer pane and the inner pane; (f) bonding the outer pane to the inner pane by laminating it via the intermediate layer and including.

[0055] When a coating is applied to the surface of one of the pane glasses, the laminate is arranged in step (e) such that the coating faces the intermediate layer. When the coating is applied to the carrier film, in step (e) this carrier film is preferably arranged between a first thermoplastic film and a second thermoplastic film. These thermoplastic films, together with the carrier film, form the intermediate layer.

[0056] The heatable coating is applied by a method known per se. Preferably, the coating is carried out by cathode sputtering assisted by a magnetic field. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and uniform coating of the substrate. Since carrier films with heatable coatings are also commercially available, it is not necessary to manufacture the coated carrier film specifically.

[0057] The introduction of the insulating line is preferably carried out by laser processing, but in principle, it may also be carried out by other methods, such as mechanical peeling or masking. The structuring of the conductive layer itself is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0058] The mounting of the collecting busbar can be carried out in particular by placement, printing, brazing or adhesion.

[0059] The production of the laminated glass is carried out by bonding using customary methods known to those skilled in the art, such as the autoclave method, the vacuum bag method, the vacuum ring method, the calendar method, the vacuum laminator, or combinations thereof. The bonding between the outer plate glass and the inner plate glass is usually carried out based on the action of heat, vacuum and / or pressure.

[0060] The side glass according to the invention is preferably used in means of transport for land, air or waterborne traffic, in particular in motor vehicles.

[0061] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and exemplary embodiments. The drawings are schematic and not to scale.

[0062] The drawings in no way limit the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0063]

Figure 1

[0064]

Figure 2

[0065]

Figure 3-1

[0066]

Figure 3-2

[0067]

Figure 4-1

[0068]

Figure 4-2

[0069]

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0070] The side plate glass is a laminated glass composed of an outer plate glass 1, an inner plate glass 2, and an intermediate layer 3 that joins these two plate glasses to each other. The outer plate glass 1 and the inner plate glass 2 are made of soda-lime glass and have a thickness of, for example, 2.1 mm each. The intermediate layer 3 is formed of a 0.76-mm-thick film made of PVB.

[0071] The outer plate glass 1 has an outer surface I and an inner surface II. Similarly, the inner plate glass 2 has an outer surface III and an inner surface IV. The term "outer surface" refers to the surface intended to face the external environment at the mounting position. The term "inner surface" refers to the surface intended to face the inside of the vehicle at the mounting position. The inner surface II of the outer plate glass 1 and the outer surface III of the inner plate glass 2 face each other and face the intermediate layer 3.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 1, a transparent and heatable coating 4 is provided on the outer surface III of the inner plate glass 2. It is understood that the heatable coating 4 may be provided on the inner surface II of the outer plate glass 1. The heatable coating has, for example, two silver layers, and further has dielectric layers above, below, and in the middle of the silver layers in order to enhance transparency and reduce surface resistance. In order to generate a heating effect, the coating 4 is electrically contacted by a first collecting bus bar bb1 and a second collecting bus bar bb2. The collecting bus bars bb1, bb2 are formed, for example, by a screen printing paste containing silver particles and glass frit that is printed and baked, and have a width of 8 mm and a thickness of 100 μm. When a voltage is applied to the collecting bus bars bb1, bb2, a current flows through the coating 4, thereby generating a heating effect. The voltage can be a general automotive on-board power supply voltage of 14V, or it can be a voltage of 42V or 48V, for example. The heatable coating 4 is bounded by a frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge (U) near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass, and a line L2(n) parallel to the line (LD) according to the present invention, which is the last line of the last active strip.

[0073] FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2 respectively show details of an embodiment of a heatable laminated side glass according to the present invention. A side plate glass for a front side window of a passenger car that is opened by lowering the side plate glass. The side plate glass has a front edge S1, a rear edge S2, an upper edge UE, and a lower edge LE. Each edge is named according to the mounting position as viewed in the traveling direction.

[0074] The combined side glass, and more particularly the heatable coating, is divided into two parts, an upper part UP and a lower part LP. The upper part (UP) is bounded by a frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge (U) near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass and a line (LD) drawn from the lower corner (C) of the front edge S1 of the side glass so as to extend to the second lateral side edge (S2). The lower part (LP) is bounded by the line (LD) and a line L2(n) which is the last line of the last active strip and is parallel to the line (LD) according to the present invention.

[0075] The pattern of the insulating lines L within the heatable coating 4 of the upper part UP and the lower part LP is designed to have a homogeneous heating of the combined side glass, together with a concentration of heating in the zones necessary for the side mirror.

[0076] The heatable coating 4 is divided by the insulating lines L into different segments (heating strips (i)). This serves to guide the heating current, thereby enabling the most homogeneous heating of the pane glass. Conventionally, based on the complex shape of a typical side pane glass, most of the pane glass remained unheated because the current takes the shortest path between the collecting bus bars bb1, bb2.

[0077] The first collecting bus bar bb1 extends along the front edge S1 of the side plate glass. The second collecting bus bar bb2 extends along the rear edge S2, and the height H1 of the first collecting bus bar bb1 is smaller than the height H2 of the second collecting bus bar bb2. In the present embodiment, the collecting bus bars bb1 and bb2 are respectively provided vertically along the front edge S1 and the rear edge S2, and extend to the lower part of the laminated glass as shown in FIG. 3-1. It is understood that the collecting bus bars may be arranged in different ways in order to enable uniform heating corresponding to the complex shape of the laminated glass. The maximum distance from the edge where the collecting bus bar extends to the collecting bus bar is, for example, 2 cm. The collecting bus bars bb1 and bb2 are not visible to the observer even when the side window is open. The collecting bus bars bb1 and bb2 are covered by the vehicle body part and the seal lip of a typical side window. The minimum distance is, for example, 6 mm. This distance is sufficient to prevent the stability of the bonding part from being impaired and the intrusion of air respectively.

[0078] At the upper part of the laminated glass, as shown in FIG. 3-2, the insulating line L extends from the first collecting bus bar bb1 to the second collecting bus bar bb2. The insulating line L is parallel to the frame edge line L1(0). In FIG. 3-2, the features are as follows. - The line L1(i) represents the length of the upper curve of the (i) strip - L2(i) represents the length of the lower curve of the (i) strip - W(i) represents the width of the (i) strip - D(i) represents the distance between the (i-1) active strip, which means the previous active strip, and the (i) active strip - (i) represents a strip having a number from 2 to 99.

[0079] In FIGS. 4-1 and 4-2, the feature "*" represents a coating removal line, and the first width D0 of the coating removal line is 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm according to one embodiment of the present invention, - D(i)=W0-W(i)+D0 - Passive strip (i) = D(i) - 2×D0

[0080] This can avoid local overheating. Furthermore, this design is visually appealing. The insulating line L only has a small curvature that increases as the distance from the upper edge UE decreases. Thereby, despite the complex plate glass shape having a curved upper edge UE, a uniform distribution of heating output is achieved.

[0081] Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the pattern of the insulating lines at the upper and lower parts of the side plate glass according to the present invention. Different patterns at the upper and lower parts of the glass according to the present invention make it possible to improve the heating of the glass and further the uniformity of heating.

[0082] According to the present invention, in order to quickly access through the field of view from the side mirror and remove ice and fog in this zone faster than other parts of the glass, more heating may be arranged in the "side mirror zone".

[0083] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between adjacent insulating lines (L) at the upper part (UP) is constant or variable at an interval of 1 mm to 110 mm, preferably 1 mm to 100 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 50 mm, and even more preferably 1 mm to 30 mm from the second side (S2) to the first side (S1). That is, the heating may be concentrated in a specific zone such as the side mirror zone.

[0084] The distance between adjacent insulating lines L (in other words, the width of the heating strip) is constant along the path from the rear edge S2 to the front edge S1. Thereby, a higher heating output is achieved in the region of the front edge S1. That is, in this region, frost or moisture is removed first during operation, whereby the driver can quickly obtain a field of view of the side mirror.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0085] Explanation of reference numerals

[0086] 1 Outer plate glass

[0087] 2 Inner panel glass

[0088] 3 Thermoplastic intermediate layer

[0089] 4 Heatable coating

[0090] bb1 First collection bus bar

[0091] bb2 Second collection bus bar

[0092] 7 Supply line

[0093] L Insulated wire, wire with coating removed

[0094] L1(0) First wire of the edge frame coating

[0095] S2 Rear edge of the side panel glass

[0096] UE Upper edge of the side panel glass

[0097] S1 Front edge of the side panel glass

[0098] LE Lower edge of the side panel glass

[0099] UP Upper part

[0100] LP Lower part

[0101] BL Intersection of LE and L2(n).

[0102] LD Line defining the boundary between the upper and lower parts

[0103] L2(n) Last wire of the last active strip

[0104] C Lower corner of the front edge S1 of the side glass

[0105] I Outer surface of the outer panel glass 1

[0106] II Inner surface of the outer plate glass 1

[0107] III Outer surface of the inner plate glass 2

[0108] IV Inner surface of the inner plate glass 2

[0109] (i) Active strip

Claims

1. A heatable laminated side glass for a vehicle, having a curved upper edge (U), a lower edge (L), a first lateral edge (S1), and a second lateral edge (S2) opposite to the first lateral edge (S1), wherein the heatable laminated glass comprises at least an outer plate glass (1) and an inner plate glass (2) bonded to each other via a thermoplastic interlayer (3), and a transparent heatable coating (4) disposed between the outer plate glass (1) and the inner plate glass (2). The heatable laminated glass further comprises: - The transparent heatable coating (4) is electrically contacted by a first bus bar (bb1) having a height H1 disposed along the first lateral edge (S1) and a second bus bar (bb2) having a height H2 disposed along the second lateral edge (S2). The transparent heatable coating (4) has a plurality of insulated lines (L) with the coating removed extending between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2) for guiding a heating current flowing between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2). The height of the first lateral edge (S1) is smaller than the height of the second lateral edge (S2), and the height H1 of the first bus bar (bb1) is smaller than the height H2 of the second bus bar (bb2). The heatable laminated glass is divided into two regions, an upper part (UP) and a lower part (LP). In the upper part (UP), n continuous insulated lines (L, L1(n), L2(n)) with the coating removed are provided, which are parallel to the upper edge (U), have the same width (D0) of 5 mm to 100 mm, and extend between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2) at a distance (W0) separating them. Here, n ranges from 1 to 100, and heating strips are provided. Each heating strip is bounded from above by an insulated line L1(n) with the coating removed, from below by an insulated line L2(n) with the coating removed, and from the side edges by the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2). - The upper part (UP) is bounded by a frame edge line L1(0) parallel to the upper edge (U) near the curved upper edge (U) of the glass and a virtual line (LD) drawn from the lower corner (C) of the front edge S1 of the side glass so as to extend to the second lateral side edge (S2), In the lower part (LP), non-active coating strips and active coating strips are present continuously and alternately, and the sum of the width of one non-active coating strip and the width of one active coating strip is equal to the distance W0, The non-active coating strips are (i) bounded by a closed coating-removed line (L), providing a non-conductive region, and (ii) each occupies a major part between the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2), Each active coating strip is bounded from the upper edge by a coating-removed insulated line L1(n), from the lower edge by a coating-removed insulated line L2(n), and from the side edges by the first bus bar (bb1) and the second bus bar (bb2), - The lower part (LP) is bounded by the virtual line (LD) and a line L2(n) which is the line of the last active strip and is parallel to the virtual line (LD) - The upper part (UP) has a height higher than the height H1 of the first bus bar (bb1) and has the curve L1(0) as an upper limit, and the lower part (LP) has a height higher than (height H2 - height H1) when measured by the second lateral side edge (S2) and has the virtual line (LD) as an upper limit, The active coating strip (i) has a width defined by the following formula, W(i) = L2(i) ２ / L2(0) ２ × W0 where, W(i): the width of the active coated strip L2(i): the lower length of the (i)-th active coated strip L2(0): the length of the strip in the upper part (UP) W0: the distance between the coating-removed lines in the upper part The non-active coating has a width defined by the following formula, D(i) = W0 - W(i) - D(0) D(0): the width of the coating-removed line, provided that the length and the width are expressed in mm. Heatable laminated side glass.

2. The heatable laminated side glass according to claim 1, wherein the first lateral side edge (S1) has a height of 100 mm to 1000 mm.

3. The heatable laminated side glass according to claim 2, wherein the second lateral side edge (S2) has a height of 100 mm to 1000 mm.

4. The heatable laminated side glass according to claim 2, wherein D(0) has a width of 0.05 mm to 2 mm.

5. The heatable laminated side glass according to claim 2, wherein the heating output increases at least partially from the second lateral side edge (S2) towards the first side edge (S1).

6. The heatable laminated side glass according to claim 3, wherein the distance between adjacent insulating lines (L) in the upper part (UP) is constant or variable at an interval of 1 mm to 110 mm, preferably 1 mm to 100 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 50 mm, even more preferably 1 mm to 30 mm, from the second side surface (S2) to the first side surface (S1).

7. The heatable laminated side glass according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the minimum distance of the busbars (bb1, bb2) arranged along the edge to the edge is greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 5 mm.

8. The heatable laminated side glass according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heatable coating (4) is applied to the surface of the outer plate glass (1) or the inner plate glass (2) facing the intermediate layer (3), or on a polymer carrier film in the intermediate layer (3).

9. The heatable laminated side glass according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heatable coating (4) comprises at least one conductive layer containing at least silver and having a thickness of 10 nm to 50 nm, preferably two or three conductive layers.

10. The heatable laminated side glass according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the busbars (bb1, bb2) are preferably mounted as strips of a conductive film containing copper, or as a fired screen printing paste preferably containing silver particles.

11. The heatable laminated side glass according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the width of the collecting busbars (bb1, bb2) is 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably 2 mm to 10 mm.

12. A method for manufacturing a heatable laminated side glass according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, the method comprising at least: (a) preparing the outer glass sheet (1), the inner glass sheet (2), and the intermediate layer (3); (b) applying the heatable coating (4) on the surface of the outer glass sheet (1) or the inner glass sheet (2), or on a carrier film; (c) introducing the insulating wire (L) into the heatable coating (4); (d) bringing the heatable coating (4) into contact with the collecting bus bars (bb1, bb2); (e) disposing the intermediate layer (3) between the outer glass sheet (1) and the inner glass sheet (2); (f) bonding the outer glass sheet (1) to the inner glass sheet (2) through the intermediate layer (3) by laminating. A method as described above.

13. Use of a heatable laminated side glass according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 in a land, air, or water vehicle, particularly in an automobile.

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