Vehicle glass modules

Abstract

To provide a vehicular glass module in which concentration of heat stress in a side portion of a glass panel can be suppressed.SOLUTION: A vehicular glass module comprises: a glass panel 10 having an information acquisition region 15 which is opposite to an information acquisition device and through which light passes; and a heating portion 30 which heats a part of at least information acquisition region 15 of the glass panel 10, the information acquisition region 15 is arranged at a position near a side portion 10a of the glass panel 10, the heating portion 30 has: a power supply portion 31 which is arranged between the side portion 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition region 15; a heater 33 which is arranged along a plate surface of the glass panel 10 in the information acquisition region 15, and generates heat by receiving power supply from the power supply portion 31; and a conductive wire 32 which connects the power supply portion 31 and the heater 33. The conductive wire 32 includes an intermediate heating portion 40 which heats between the side portion 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition region 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle glass module.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a place where the temperature is low, due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the vehicle, the windshield (a vehicle glass module as a front glass) of an automobile may become cloudy or may even freeze in some cases, which may hinder driving. To address this, various methods for removing cloudiness and / or ice on the windshield have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes arranging a bus bar and heating wires inside the glass panel of the windshield and removing cloudiness by the heat generated therefrom. In the windshield of a vehicle to which an information acquisition device is attached, it is known to provide a heater in an information acquisition area where the information acquisition device acquires information for anti-clouding and anti-freezing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the windshield, when the information acquisition area provided on the glass panel is heated by a heater, a temperature difference occurs between the information acquisition area and the side portion adjacent to the information acquisition area on the glass panel. At this time, thermal expansion occurs in the information acquisition area, while the side portion adjacent to the information acquisition area is in an unheated state and does not thermally expand, so thermal stress concentrates. Therefore, there is a risk that the glass panel may be damaged at the side portion where the thermal stress is concentrated.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle glass module that can suppress the concentration of thermal stress at the edges of the glass panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006]

[0007] The characteristic configuration of the vehicle glass module according to the present invention is a vehicle glass module that supports an information acquisition device capable of receiving light from outside the vehicle on the inside of the vehicle, comprising: a glass panel facing the information acquisition device and having an information acquisition region through which the light passes; and a heating unit that heats at least a part of the information acquisition region of the glass panel, wherein the information acquisition region is positioned close to the edge of the glass panel, and the heating unit comprises a power supply unit positioned between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition region, a heater positioned along the surface of the glass panel in the information acquisition region and generating heat by receiving power from the power supply unit, and a conductor connecting the power supply unit and the heater, wherein the conductor has an intermediate heating unit that heats the space between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition region, and the intermediate heating unit has a plurality of conductors along the edge, wherein the width of the plurality of conductors in the direction along the edge gradually decreases as it approaches the edge. In a glass panel, if the distance between the edge and the information acquisition area is relatively large, there is a risk of thermal stress concentrating in a narrow area of ​​the edge when the information acquisition area is heated. In this case, it is preferable to gradually reduce the width of the intermediate heating section to heat the edge over a wide area in order to eliminate the concentration of thermal stress at the edge. On the other hand, if the distance between the edge and the information acquisition area is relatively small, uniform thermal stress will be generated over a wide area of ​​the edge when the information acquisition area is heated. In this case, it is preferable to increase the width of the intermediate heating section to heat the edge over a wide area. Therefore, as in this configuration, by gradually reducing the width heated in the intermediate heating section toward the edge, the edge can be heated appropriately according to the distance between the information acquisition area and the edge, and the temperature gradient between the information acquisition area and the edge can be made gentler. This prevents the concentration of thermal stress that occurs at the edge of the glass panel. The characteristic configuration of the vehicle glass module according to the present invention is a vehicle glass module that supports an information acquisition device capable of receiving light from outside the vehicle on the inside of the vehicle, comprising: a glass panel facing the information acquisition device and having an information acquisition region through which the light passes; and a heating unit that heats at least a part of the information acquisition region of the glass panel, wherein the information acquisition region is positioned close to the edge of the glass panel, and the heating unit comprises a power supply unit positioned between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition region, a heater positioned along the surface of the glass panel in the information acquisition region and generating heat by receiving power from the power supply unit, and a conductor connecting the power supply unit and the heater, wherein the conductor has an intermediate heating unit that heats the space between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition region, and the heater comprises a transparent conductive film covering the information acquisition region and a pair of busbars positioned outside the information acquisition region and facing each other to supply power to the transparent conductive film. As shown in this configuration, the heater that heats the information acquisition area is composed of a transparent conductive film and a busbar, which allows the information acquisition area to be heated evenly and improves the visibility of the information acquisition area.

[0008] Another notable feature is that the information acquisition area is positioned close to the upper edge of the glass panel.

[0009] As in this configuration, when the information acquisition area is positioned close to the upper edge of the glass panel, the information acquisition area is less likely to obstruct the driver's view when the vehicle glass module is used, for example, in the windshield of a vehicle. This ensures a good view for the driver in the windshield. Furthermore, when an information acquisition device, such as a camera, is positioned opposite the information acquisition area, the area in front of the vehicle is less likely to be a blind spot due to the hood, etc., making it easier to ensure a clear field of view for the information acquisition device.

[0010] Another characteristic feature is that the amount of heat generated per unit area of ​​the intermediate heating section is smaller than the amount of heat generated per unit area of ​​the heater.

[0011] With this configuration, the heat generated by the intermediate heating section that heats the area between the information acquisition region and the edge can be made smaller than the heat generated by the heater that heats the information acquisition region. As a result, the intermediate heating section can be kept at a lower temperature than the information acquisition region, and the temperature of the glass panel decreases gradually from the information acquisition region to the edge, thereby reducing the thermal stress generated at the edge of the glass panel.

[0012] Another characteristic feature is that the intermediate heating section extends in the same direction as the edge portion of the glass panel.

[0013] In this configuration, the intermediate heating section extends in the same direction as the edge of the glass panel, thereby extending the intermediate heating section in the width direction of the information acquisition area. This makes it possible to gently reduce the temperature gradient of the glass panel over a wide area from the information acquisition area toward the edge. As a result, the thermal stress generated at the edge of the glass panel can be reduced over a wide area.

[0014] Another characteristic feature is that the intermediate heating section is formed by folding back the end of the glass panel in the direction along the edge, and the multiple conductors along the edge are arranged spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the edge.

[0015] This configuration allows the intermediate heating section to be extended in the direction of the glass panel surface, perpendicular to the edges. This makes it possible to gently reduce the temperature gradient of the glass panel over a wide area from the information acquisition area toward the edges. As a result, the thermal stress generated at the edges of the glass panel can be reduced over a wide area.

[0016] Another characteristic feature is that, in the direction along the edge of the glass panel, the maximum width of the intermediate heating section is smaller than the maximum width of the heater.

[0017] The heater that heats the information acquisition area has a heating range that spreads concentrically around it. Here, since the edges and the information acquisition area are in close proximity, the thermal stress on the edges can be made uniform by the intermediate heating section even if the maximum width of the intermediate heating section is smaller than the maximum width of the heater. Moreover, reducing the maximum width of the intermediate heating section also leads to power savings.

[0018]

[0019]

[0020] Other characteristic features include the fact that the glass panel is composed of a first glass plate on the outside of the vehicle and a second glass plate on the inside of the vehicle arranged opposite to each other, and the entire panel is curved in a convex shape toward the outside of the vehicle; the first glass plate includes a first surface on the outside of the vehicle and a second surface provided on the back side of the first surface; the second glass plate includes a third surface opposite to the second surface and a fourth surface provided on the back side of the third surface; the heater for heating the information acquisition area is arranged on the second surface or the fourth surface; and when the heater is energized, the maximum thermal stress generated at the edge of the first surface is smaller than the thermal stress generated within the information acquisition area of ​​the first surface.

[0021] As in this configuration, for example, the glass panel of a vehicle glass module can be composed of laminated glass. In this case, when heating the information acquisition area with a heater for anti-fogging and anti-freezing, the heater is arranged and heated on the second surface or the fourth surface of the glass panel. At that time, thermal expansion occurs on the second surface or the fourth surface, and the first surface is curved convexly and thus is pushed outward toward the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, thermal stress also occurs on the first surface in the information acquisition area and the side portion adjacent to the information acquisition area. Here, since the side portion of the glass panel is a portion formed when cutting a large-sized glass plate, there are scratches and the like generated when the large-sized glass plate is cut. For this reason, the fracture strength of the side portion of the glass panel is lower than that of the surface portion. Therefore, in this configuration, on the first surface of the glass panel, the maximum thermal stress generated in the side portion is made smaller than the thermal stress generated in the information acquisition area. Thereby, breakage of the glass panel due to thermal stress can be prevented.

[0022] Another characteristic configuration is that the heater is arranged at a position where the distance from the side portion of the information acquisition area in the direction perpendicular to the side portion is 1 / 5 or more and away from the side portion of the information acquisition area.

[0023] As in this configuration, by arranging the heater at a position separated from the side portion of the information acquisition area by a predetermined length or more, the glass panel heated by the intermediate heating portion and the heater can increase the temperature stepwise from the side portion toward the information acquisition area. As a result, the thermal stress generated in the side portion of the glass panel can be reduced, and breakage of the glass panel at the side portion can be prevented.

[0024] Another characteristic configuration is that the intermediate heating portion is arranged at a position where the distance from the side portion and the information acquisition area in the direction perpendicular to the side portion is 1 / 5 or more and away from the side portion.

[0025] With the present configuration, the intermediate heating section is arranged at a position more than a predetermined length away from the position closest to the side portion. As a result, the temperature of the glass panel heated by the intermediate heating section can be gradually increased from the side portion toward the information acquisition region. Consequently, the thermal stress generated in the side portion of the glass panel can be reduced, and breakage of the glass panel at the side portion can be prevented.

[0026] Another characteristic configuration lies in that the heater is constituted by heating wires.

[0027] With the present configuration, since the heater is constituted by heating wires, the heating wires can be freely arranged according to the shape of the information acquisition region. Thereby, the degree of freedom in arranging the heater is increased in efficiently heating the information acquisition region.

[0028] Another characteristic configuration lies in that the heating wires include a plurality of first heating wires extending in parallel within the information acquisition region and second heating wires connecting the plurality of first heating wires outside the information acquisition region, and the line width of the second heating wires is larger than the line width of the first heating wires.

[0029] With the present configuration, in the heating wires constituting the heater, since the plurality of first heating wires arranged within the information acquisition region extend in parallel, the first heating wires can be appropriately dispersed in the information acquisition region. Also, since the line width of the second heating wires connecting the plurality of first heating wires is larger than the line width of the first heating wires, when the entire heating wires are constituted by the same conductive material, the resistance of the second heating wires themselves is smaller than the resistance of the first heating wires themselves. Thereby, the amount of heat generated in the second heating wires can be suppressed more than the amount of heat generated in the first heating wires, the temperature gradient of the glass panel becomes gentle from the information acquisition region toward its periphery, and inconveniences such as thermal stress concentrating on the side portion can be prevented.

[0030] Another characteristic configuration lies in that the overall shape of the heater is a trapezoidal shape in which the width along the side portion decreases as it approaches the side portion.

[0031] As in this configuration, by gradually reducing the width heated by the heater towards the edges, the temperature gradient from the information acquisition area towards the edges can be made gentler. This reduces the thermal stress generated at the edges of the glass panel.

[0032]

[0033]

[0034] Other characteristic features include the fact that the transparent conductive film has an overall trapezoidal shape in which the width along the edge decreases as it approaches the edge, and that the pair of busbars comprises a first busbar positioned on the side of the edge and a second busbar positioned on the side opposite to the first busbar relative to the transparent conductive film, with the second busbar being divided along the direction of the edge.

[0035] In this configuration, the first busbar and the second busbar are positioned opposite each other with a transparent conductive film in between, and the second busbar is divided in the direction of its edge. As a result, the current flowing between the second busbar and the first busbar travels the shortest distance, allowing for efficient heating of the information acquisition area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0036] [Figure 1] This is a plan view of a vehicle glass module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a partial side cross-sectional view of a vehicle glass module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle glass module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a comparative example vehicle glass module. [Figure 5] This is a partial side cross-sectional view of a modified example 1 of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle glass module according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a modified example 1 of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a modified example 2 of the second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle glass module according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle glass module according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle glass module according to the fifth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0037] Embodiments of the vehicle glass module according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0038] [First Embodiment] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle glass module 1 according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "glass module 1") comprises a glass panel 10 and a heating unit 30. As shown in Figure 2, the glass panel 10 is configured with a first glass plate 11 on the outside of the vehicle and a second glass plate 12 on the inside of the vehicle facing each other. The glass panel 10 is laminated glass in which the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12 are joined by an intermediate layer 13. The intermediate layer 13 is composed of an adhesive layer including the heat-generating areas of the conductor 32 and heater 33, which will be described later. The heating unit 30 is for heating the information acquisition area 15, which will be described later, provided on the glass panel 10.

[0039] The glass panel 10 comprises a first glass plate 11 which includes a first surface 21 on the outside of the vehicle and a second surface 22 provided on the back side of the first surface 21, and a second glass plate 12 which includes a third surface 23 facing the second surface 22 and a fourth surface 24 provided on the back side of the third surface 23. The first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12 are substantially the same shape and are formed in a trapezoidal shape in plan view. When viewed from the inside of the vehicle, the glass panel 10 has an upper side 10a, a lower side 10b, a left side 10c, and a right side 10d, with the upper side 10a being shorter than the lower side 10b (see Figure 1). The glass panel 10 may also have rectangular first glass plates 11 and second glass plates 12.

[0040] Known glass plates can be used for the glass plates 11 and 12. For example, the glass plates 11 and 12 may be heat-absorbing glass, clear glass, green glass, UV green glass, etc. However, the glass plates 11 and 12 are configured to achieve a visible light transmittance that conforms to the safety standards of the country in which the automobile is used.

[0041] A shielding layer 3 is provided along the periphery of the glass panel 10 to block the view from outside the vehicle. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the shielding layer 3 is formed in an annular shape. Inside the vehicle to which the glass panel 10 is installed, a photographic device 8 (an example of an information acquisition device) capable of receiving light from outside the vehicle is installed via a bracket (not shown), etc. The photographic device 8 is positioned so that the area approximately in the center near the top edge 10a (an example of an edge) of the glass panel 10 is within its field of view. The glass panel 10 has an information acquisition area 15 that faces the photographic device 8 and through which light passes, and the information acquisition area 15 is positioned close to the top edge 10a of the glass panel 10. Specifically, the information acquisition area 15 is positioned below the area approximately in the center of the top edge 10a. In this way, the photographic device 8, which is positioned inside the vehicle to the glass panel 10, photographs the situation outside the vehicle via the information acquisition area 15.

[0042] As in this embodiment, when the information acquisition area 15 is positioned close to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10, the information acquisition area 15 is less likely to obstruct the driver's view when the glass module 1 is used as the windshield of a vehicle. This ensures a good view for the driver in the glass panel 10. Furthermore, when an information acquisition device, such as a camera (shooting device 8), is positioned opposite the information acquisition area 15, the front of the vehicle is less likely to be obscured by the hood or the like, making it easier to ensure a clear field of view for the information acquisition device.

[0043] The planar dimensions of the information acquisition area 15 are set appropriately according to the imaging device 8 installed inside the vehicle. However, since the information acquisition area 15 is merely the area through which the light irradiated and / or received by the imaging device 8 passes, the planar dimensions of the information acquisition area 15 are set relatively small, regardless of the type of imaging device 8. However, if the planar dimensions of the information acquisition area 15 are too small, high mounting precision of the imaging device 8 will be required. Also, the effects of distortion of the glass panel 10 will be greatly apparent in the image acquired by the imaging device 8. On the other hand, if the planar dimensions of the information acquisition area 15 are too large, the driver's field of view will be narrowed. Also, the area heated by the heater 33 will be wider, increasing the energy consumption of the vehicle. From this perspective, the planar dimensions of the information acquisition area 15 are preferably set within the range of 20 mm (vertical) x 20 mm (horizontal) to 250 mm (vertical) x 500 mm (horizontal), and more preferably within the range of 50 mm (vertical) x 50 mm (horizontal) to 150 mm (vertical) x 400 mm (horizontal).

[0044] The heating unit 30 heats at least a portion of the information acquisition area 15 of the glass panel 10 to remove condensation and / or ice from the information acquisition area 15. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the heating unit 30 is provided adjacent to the fourth surface 24 of the second glass plate 12 (glass panel 10). The intermediate layer 13 is sandwiched between the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12, joining the two glass plates 11 and 12. This intermediate layer 13 can be composed of a three-layer structure in which a soft core layer is sandwiched between a pair of harder outer layers. By composing the intermediate layer 13 with multiple layers of soft and hard layers in this way, the break resistance and sound insulation performance of the glass substrate can be improved. When the intermediate layer 13 is composed of multiple layers of different hardness as described above, polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB) can be used for the hard outer layer. This polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB) is preferable as an outer layer material because of its excellent adhesive properties and puncture resistance. Furthermore, for the flexible core layer, ethylene vinyl acetate resin (EVA) or a polyvinyl acetal resin that is softer than the polyvinyl butyral resin used for the outer layer can be used.

[0045] The heating unit 30 will be described in detail based on Figure 3. The heating unit 30 includes a power supply unit 31, a heater 33, and a conductor 32 connecting the power supply unit 31 and the heater 33. The power supply unit 31 is composed of a pair of power supply units 31a and 31b. The power supply units 31a and 31b are arranged side by side in the direction of extension of the upper edge 10a, that is, in the left-right direction. Note that the shielding layer 3 is omitted in Figure 3. When the power supply units 31a and 31b are positioned close to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10, wiring to the power supply units 31a and 31b is easy, and the wiring to the power supply units 31a and 31b in the glass module 1 does not obstruct the view of the vehicle occupants.

[0046] The heating unit 30 has a heater 33 connected in series to a pair of power supply units 31a and 31b. The conductor 32 includes a first conductor 32a between the power supply unit 31a and the heater 33, a second conductor 32b between the heater 33 and the intermediate heating unit 40 (described later), the intermediate heating unit 40, and a third conductor 32c between the intermediate heating unit 40 and the power supply unit 31b. The heater 33 is positioned along the surface of the glass panel 10 in the information acquisition area 15 and generates heat by receiving power from the power supply unit 31. As a result, the information acquisition area 15 can remove ice and the like by receiving heat from the heater 33.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, the heater 33 is composed of a heating wire 34. The heating wire 34 (heater 33) is folded back at multiple points with intervals in between, and is formed to pass through the information acquisition area 15 and its surroundings. As an example of its shape, the heating wire 34 in this embodiment includes a plurality of first heating wires 35 that extend parallel within the information acquisition area 15, and a second heating wire 36 that connects the plurality of first heating wires 35 outside the information acquisition area 15. In this embodiment, the plurality of first heating wires 35 are arranged parallel to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10. Also, the line width of the second heating wire 36 is greater than the line width of the first heating wires 35. The first heating wire 35 consists of three horizontal line portions 35a, 35b, and 35c that extend linearly in the left-right direction within the information acquisition area 15. The first horizontal wire section 35a is connected to the first conductor 32a that is led out from the power supply section 31a, and the second horizontal wire section 35b and the third horizontal wire section 35c are arranged in order toward the upper edge 10a. The second heating wire 36 is a first vertical wire section 36a arranged between the first horizontal wire section 35a and the second horizontal wire section 35b, and a second vertical wire section 36b arranged between the second horizontal wire section 35b and the third horizontal wire section 35c. The heating wire 34 of the heater 33 also includes a part of the first conductor 32a that extends along the first horizontal wire section 35a, and a part of the second conductor 32b that extends along the third horizontal wire section 35c.

[0048] The conductor 32 has an intermediate heating section 40 that heats the space between the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition area 15. The intermediate heating section 40 is formed by a portion of the conductor 32. In this embodiment, the second conductor 32b led out from the heater 33 extends toward the upper edge 10a, and the intermediate heating section 40, which is continuous with the second conductor 32b, extends in the same direction as the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10. In this embodiment, the first conductor 32a, the second conductor 32b, the intermediate heating section 40, and the third conductor 32c are all configured to have the same line width. The line width of the conductor 32 and the second heating section 36 are also the same. In the conductor 32, the line width of the intermediate heating section 40 may be different from the line widths of the conductors 32a, 32b, and 32c, and the line width of the intermediate heating section 40 may be different from the line width of the second heating section 36.

[0049] Figure 4 shows a comparative example glass module 100. The comparative example glass module 100 in Figure 4 has a heater 33 that heats the information acquisition area 15 of the glass panel 10, but does not have an intermediate heating section 40. Specifically, a pair of power supply sections 31a and 31b are spaced apart along the upper edge 10a. A conductor 32a led out from the power supply section 31a is arranged vertically and connected to the first horizontal section 35a at the bottom of the heater 33. The heater 33 has a first horizontal section 35a, a second horizontal section 35b, a first vertical section 36a, and a second vertical section 36b arranged within the information acquisition area 15. In addition, a second conductor 32b led out from the horizontal section 35c at the top of the information acquisition area 15 is arranged linearly vertically and connected to the power supply section 31b.

[0050] In the comparative example glass module 100 shown in Figure 4, when the information acquisition region 15 is heated by the heater 33, a temperature difference is generated between the information acquisition region 15 and the upper edge 10a adjacent to the information acquisition region 15 in the glass panel 10. For example, when the glass panel 10 freezes in winter, the information acquisition region 15 is heated by the heater 33. This allows the glass panel 10 to resolve the freezing in the information acquisition region 15, enabling the information acquisition region 15 to be used properly. However, the upper edge 10a adjacent to the information acquisition region 15 is not heated by the heater 33, so the temperature does not rise and the low temperature state continues. At this time, thermal expansion occurs in the information acquisition region 15 in the direction of arrow A, and for example, in the area adjacent to the information acquisition region 15, tensile stress as thermal stress mainly acts in region R1. Region R1 is located approximately equal to the left and right directions from the reference line Y that bisects the information acquisition region 15 at the top of the glass panel 10. On the other hand, at the upper edge 10a adjacent to the information acquisition area 15, both compressive stress, which restrains thermal expansion in the opposite direction to arrow A (direction of arrow B), and tensile stress as thermal stress (force of arrow C) act on it. As a result, tensile stress concentrates in a narrow region R2 near the reference line Y at the upper edge 10a. Since this tensile stress is proportional to the temperature difference between the information acquisition area 15, which is heated by the heater 33, and the upper edge 10a, which is not heated by the heater 33, if tensile stress exceeding the edge strength of the glass panel 10 occurs, the glass panel 10 will crack due to thermal stress.

[0051] On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, in addition to the heater 33 that heats the information acquisition area 15, the conductor 32 is configured to have an intermediate heating section 40 that heats the area between the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition area 15. As a result, the intermediate heating section 40 of the conductor 32 can heat the intermediate area 16 between the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition area 15. By heating the intermediate area 16, the temperature gradient from the information acquisition area 15 to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 can be made gentler, thus preventing a large localized concentration of thermal stress on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10. Furthermore, by deliberately providing the intermediate heating section 40 in close proximity to the upper edge 10a, the temperature gradient in the direction along the upper edge 10a is also made gentler, and the thermal stress applied to the upper edge 10a can be dispersed. In other words, as shown in Figure 3, at the upper edge 10a, tensile stress as thermal stress mainly acts in a region R4 that is wider in the left-right direction from the reference line Y than region R2 in Figure 4. As a result, it becomes possible to resolve the problem of the glass panel 10 breaking due to thermal cracking at the upper edge 10a located near the information acquisition region 15. In this embodiment, since the area around the information acquisition region 15 is heated by the intermediate heating section 40, tensile stress as thermal stress mainly acts in a region R3 that is narrower in the left-right direction from the reference line Y than region R1 shown in Figure 4 in the area adjacent to the information acquisition region 15.

[0052] Furthermore, since the intermediate heating section 40 extends in the same direction as the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10, the intermediate heating section 40 extends in the width direction of the information acquisition area 15. This makes it possible to gently reduce the temperature gradient of the glass panel 10 over a wide area from the information acquisition area 15 toward the upper edge 10a. As a result, the thermal stress generated on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 can be reduced over a wide area.

[0053] Furthermore, in the heating wire 34 that constitutes the heater 33, multiple first heating wires 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) arranged within the information acquisition area 15 extend parallel to each other along the upper edge 10a, so that the first heating wires 35 can be properly distributed within the information acquisition area 15. In addition, the wire width of the second heating wire 36 is configured to be larger than that of the first heating wire 35. In this way, if the entire heating wire 34 is made of the same conductive material, the resistance of the second heating wire 36 itself will be smaller than the resistance of the first heating wire 35 itself. As a result, the amount of heat generated by the second heating wire 36 can be suppressed compared to the amount of heat generated by the first heating wire 35, and the temperature gradient of the glass panel 10 from the information acquisition area 15 toward its surroundings becomes gentler. As a result, the inconvenience of thermal stress concentrating on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 can be prevented.

[0054] In this embodiment, the heat generated per unit area of ​​the intermediate heating section 40 is set to be less than the heat generated per unit area of ​​the heater 33. As a result, the intermediate heating section 40 can be made to a lower temperature than the information acquisition area 15, and the temperature of the glass panel 10 decreases gradually from the information acquisition area 15 toward the upper edge 10a, thereby reducing the thermal stress generated on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10.

[0055] The heating element 34 of the heater 33 is configured such that, in the direction along the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10, the width W1 mainly of the first horizontal line 35a, the width W2 mainly of the second horizontal line 35b, and the width W3 mainly of the third horizontal line 35c become progressively shorter. The intermediate heating section 40 is configured such that the maximum width W4 in the direction along the upper edge 10a is smaller than the maximum width W1 of the heater 33.

[0056] Furthermore, when the heater 33 is energized, the maximum thermal stress generated on the upper edge 10a of the first surface 21 is configured to be smaller than the thermal stress generated within the information acquisition area 15 of the first surface 21.

[0057] The heater 33 is positioned at a distance of at least one-fifth of the distance L1 of the information acquisition area 15 in the direction perpendicular to the upper edge 10a, away from the upper edge 10a of the information acquisition area 15. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the distance L2 is at least one-fifth of the distance L1. By positioning the heater 33 at a distance of a predetermined length or more from the upper edge 10a of the information acquisition area 15, the glass panel 10 heated by the intermediate heating unit 40 and the heater 33 can have its temperature gradually increased from the upper edge 10a toward the information acquisition area 15.

[0058] The intermediate heating unit 40 is positioned at a distance of at least one-fifth of the separation distance L3 between the upper edge 10a and the information acquisition area 15 in a direction perpendicular to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the separation distance L4 is at least one-fifth of the separation distance L3. With this configuration, by positioning the intermediate heating unit 40 at a distance of a predetermined length or more from the upper edge 10a toward the information acquisition area 15, the glass panel 10 heated by the intermediate heating unit 40 can have its temperature gradually increased from the upper edge 10a toward the information acquisition area 15.

[0059] The heater 33 has a trapezoidal shape in which the width along the top edge 10a decreases as it approaches the top edge 10a. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the width W1 of the first horizontal line section 35a, the width W2 of the second horizontal line section 35b, and the width W3 of the third horizontal line section 35c are successively shorter. By gradually reducing the width heated by the heater 33 toward the top edge 10a, the temperature gradient from the information acquisition area 15 toward the top edge 10a can be made gentler.

[0060] [Modification 1 of the First Embodiment] As shown in Modification 1 in Figure 5, the heating unit 30 may be provided at a position adjacent to the second surface 22 of the first glass plate 11 (glass panel 10). In this case, the power supply units 31a and 31b of the heating unit 30 are positioned inward in the surface direction from a notch (not shown) formed on the upper edge 10a of the second glass plate 12, for example, so as not to be exposed from the notch, and are positioned so as to be included in the shielding layer 3 (see Figure 1) in the viewing direction from inside the vehicle. Instead of the power supply units 31a and 31b, the heater 33 of the heating unit 30 may be connected to a harness. One end of the harness is connected to the heater 33, and the other end is led out to the outside of the glass panel 10 via the space between the intermediate layer 13 and the second glass plate 12. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0061] [Modification 2 of the first embodiment] The glass panel 10 may be curved convexly outwards from the vehicle. In this modified example 2, the first surface 21 of the glass panel 10 is further configured such that the maximum thermal stress generated at the upper edge 10a is smaller than the thermal stress generated in the information acquisition area 15. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0062] The glass panel 10 of the glass module 1 is made of laminated glass including a first glass plate 11 and a second glass plate 12. In this case, when the information acquisition area 15 is heated with a heater 33 to prevent fogging and freezing, the heater 33 is placed on the second surface 22 or the fourth surface 24 of the glass panel 10. At that time, thermal expansion occurs on the second surface 22 or the fourth surface 24, and the first surface 21 curves convexly and is pushed outwards from the vehicle, so thermal stress is generated on the information acquisition area 15 and the upper edge 10a adjacent to the information acquisition area 15 on the first surface 21. Here, the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 is the part formed when a large sheet of glass is cut, so there are scratches etc. that occur when the large sheet of glass is cut. For this reason, the fracture strength of the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 is lower than the fracture strength of the surface. Therefore, in this modified example, the maximum thermal stress generated on the upper edge 10a of the first surface 21 of the glass panel 10 is made smaller than the thermal stress generated in the information acquisition area 15. This prevents the glass plates 11 and 12 from being damaged due to thermal stress.

[0063] [Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the distance L5 between the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 and the information acquisition area 15 is set to be longer than the distance L3 in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the intermediate heating section 40 is formed by folding back the end portion in the direction along the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10, and a plurality of horizontal line portions 41 along the upper edge 10a are arranged spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the upper edge 10a. Specifically, the intermediate heating section 40 has a first horizontal line portion 41a and a second horizontal line portion 41b along the upper edge 10a that are continuous with the second conductor 32b, arranged sequentially toward the upper edge 10a, and has a vertical line portion 42 between the first horizontal line portion 41a and the second horizontal line portion 41b. The first horizontal line portion 41a is continuous with the second conductor 32b, and the second horizontal line portion 41b is continuous with the third conductor 32c.

[0064] The heater 33 consists of a first heating wire 35 which comprises four horizontal wire sections 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d extending linearly in the left-right direction within the information acquisition area 15. The first horizontal wire section 35a is connected to the first conductor 32a led out from the power supply section 31a, and the second horizontal wire section 35b, the third horizontal wire section 35c, and the fourth horizontal wire section 35d are arranged in order toward the upper edge 10a. The second heating wire 36 consists of a first vertical wire section 36a arranged between the first horizontal wire section 35a and the second horizontal wire section 35b, a second vertical wire section 36b arranged between the second horizontal wire section 35b and the third horizontal wire section 35c, and a third vertical wire section 36c arranged between the third horizontal wire section 35c and the fourth horizontal wire section 35d. The heating element 34 of the heater 33 includes a portion of the first conductor 32a extending along the first transverse section 35a, and a portion of the second conductor 32b extending along the fourth transverse section 35d.

[0065] According to the second embodiment, the intermediate heating section 40 can be extended in the direction of the glass panel 10 perpendicular to the upper edge 10a. This makes it possible to gently reduce the temperature gradient of the glass panel 10 over a wide area from the information acquisition area 15 toward the upper edge 10a. As a result, the thermal stress generated on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 can be reduced over a wide area.

[0066] [Modification 1 of the second embodiment] In the modified example 1 shown in Figure 7, the intermediate heating section 40 has a plurality of horizontal lines 41 along the upper edge 10a, and furthermore, the width of the plurality of horizontal lines 41 in the direction along the upper edge 10a gradually decreases as it approaches the upper edge 10a. Specifically, the intermediate heating section 40 has a first horizontal line 41a, a second horizontal line 41b, a third horizontal line 41c, and a fourth horizontal line 41d arranged in order toward the upper edge 10a as horizontal lines 41. The intermediate heating section 40 includes, as vertical line sections 42, a first vertical line section 42a disposed between the first horizontal line section 41a and the second horizontal line section 41b, a second vertical line section 42b disposed between the second horizontal line section 41b and the third horizontal line section 41c, and a third vertical line section 42c disposed between the third horizontal line section 41c and the fourth horizontal line section 41d. Furthermore, the multiple horizontal line sections 41 are configured such that the width W5 of the first horizontal line section 41a, the width W6 of the second horizontal line section 41b, the width W7 of the third horizontal line section 41c, and the width W8 of the fourth horizontal line section 41d gradually decrease.

[0067] In the glass panel 10, if the distance L5 between the upper edge 10a and the information acquisition area 15 is relatively large, there is a risk that thermal stress will concentrate in a narrow area of ​​the upper edge 10a when the information acquisition area 15 is heated. In this case, in order to eliminate the concentration of thermal stress on the upper edge 10a, it is preferable to gradually reduce the width of the intermediate heating section 40 in order to heat a narrow area of ​​the upper edge 10a. On the other hand, if the distance between the upper edge 10a and the information acquisition area 15 is relatively small, when the information acquisition area 15 is heated, uniform thermal stress will be generated over a wide area of ​​the upper edge 10a. In this case, it is preferable to increase the width of the intermediate heating section 40 in order to heat a wide area of ​​the upper edge 10a. Therefore, as in this modified example 1, by gradually reducing the width heated in the intermediate heating section 40 toward the upper edge 10a, the upper edge 10a can be heated appropriately according to the distance between the information acquisition area 15 and the upper edge 10a, and the temperature gradient between the information acquisition area 15 and the upper edge 10a can be made gentler. This prevents the concentration of thermal stress that occurs on the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10.

[0068] [Modification 2 of the second embodiment] In the modified example 2 shown in Figure 8, as in the modified example 1, the intermediate heating section 40 has a plurality of horizontal lines 41 along the upper edge 10a, and furthermore, the width of the plurality of horizontal lines 41 in the direction along the upper edge 10a gradually decreases as it approaches the upper edge 10a. However, the horizontal lines 41 extend even further to the left and right than in the modified example 1, and the line width of the horizontal lines 41 is greater than the line width of the first heating line 35 and smaller than the line width of the vertical lines 42.

[0069] As a result, the intermediate heating section 40 has heating wires that generate less heat at both ends in the left-right direction than the central section, making it possible to create a gentler temperature gradient in the direction extending along the upper edge 10a (edge) of the glass panel 10. Consequently, the concentration of thermal stress that occurs along the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10 can be reduced.

[0070] [Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the heater 33 of the heating unit 30 is configured to include a transparent conductive film 37 covering the information acquisition area 15 and a pair of busbars 38 and 39. The pair of busbars 38 and 39 are located outside the information acquisition area 15 and are positioned opposite each other to supply power to the transparent conductive film 37. The pair of busbars 38 and 39 consist of a first busbar 38 located on the side of the upper edge 10a and a second busbar 39 located on the side opposite to the first busbar 38 relative to the transparent conductive film 37. The transparent conductive film 37 has an overall trapezoidal shape, with its width decreasing along the upper edge 10a as it approaches the upper edge 10a. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0071] The transparent conductive film 37 is laminated over the entire surface of the substrate film and generates heat when a voltage is applied to both busbars 38 and 39. Examples of materials for the transparent conductive film 37 include, but are not limited to, TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) such as ITO, Sb or F-doped SnO2, Al or Ga-doped zinc oxide, Nb-doped TiO2, and tungsten oxide.

[0072] As in this embodiment, the heater 33 that heats the information acquisition area 15 is composed of a transparent conductive film 37 and a pair of busbars 38 and 39, which allows the information acquisition area 15 to be heated evenly and improves the visibility of the information acquisition area 15.

[0073] [Fourth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the heater 33 comprises a transparent conductive film 37 and a pair of busbars 38 and 39, and the transparent conductive film 37 has a trapezoidal shape in which the width along the upper edge 10a decreases as the overall shape approaches the upper edge 10a.

[0074] When the transparent conductive film 37 is trapezoidal in shape, the current concentrates at the point of shortest distance between the second busbar 39 and the first busbar 38. In this case, the temperature of the upper part of the trapezoidal transparent conductive film 37 that is close to the first busbar 38 becomes higher, and the temperature difference between this part and other parts becomes larger. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, of the pair of busbars 38 and 39, the second busbar 39 is divided along the direction of the upper edge 10a. In the example shown in Figure 10, the second busbar 39 is composed of seven busbars 39a to 39g. According to this embodiment, the first busbar 38 and the second busbar 39 are positioned opposite each other with the transparent conductive film 37 in between, and the second busbar 39 is divided and arranged in the direction of the edge. Here, the divided second busbar 39 (divided busbars 39a to 39g) is configured such that the shorter the shortest distance from the first busbar 38, the smaller the left-right width. In other words, among the divided busbars 39a to 39g, the divided busbar 39d, located in the center in the left-right direction, has the smallest width, and as you move from the divided busbar 39d towards both ends of the second busbar 39, the widths of the divided busbars 39a to 39c and divided busbars 39e to 39g gradually increase. This allows the voltage applied to each of the divided busbars 39a to 39g in the second busbar 39 to be adjusted to be equal, thereby suppressing uneven heating in the transparent conductive film 37.

[0075] [Fifth Embodiment] In the third and fourth embodiments, examples were shown in which the transparent conductive film 37 is formed in a trapezoidal shape, the same as the information acquisition region 15. In the fifth embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the transparent conductive film 37 is formed in a rectangular shape including the information acquisition region 15, and the pair of busbars 38 and 39 are configured to be the same length. As in this embodiment, by making the transparent conductive film 37 rectangular and the pair of busbars 38 and 39 the same length, the distance between the pair of busbars 38 and 39 becomes equal, and the heater 33 can make the potential gradient of the information acquisition region 15 uniform, so that the heater 33 can heat up uniformly in the information acquisition region 15. In Figure 11, an example is shown in which the pair of busbars 38 and 39 are arranged above and below the transparent conductive film 37, but the pair of busbars 38 and 39 may also be arranged to the left and right of the transparent conductive film 37.

[0076] [Other embodiments] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the glass module 1 is used as the windshield of a vehicle, but the glass module 1 may also be used as the rear window or side window of a vehicle.

[0077] (2) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the information acquisition area 15 of the glass module 1 is positioned close to the upper edge 10a of the glass panel 10. However, the information acquisition area 15 of the glass module 1 may be positioned close to other edges of the glass panel 10 (for example, the lower edge 10b, the left edge 10c, or the right edge 10d).

[0078] (3) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the shape of the information acquisition area 15 and the shape of the heater 33 are trapezoidal. However, the shape of the information acquisition area 15 and the heater 33 are not limited to a trapezoid, and may be other shapes such as rectangle, circle, or ellipse.

[0079] (4) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the intermediate heating section 40 is configured to be at a lower temperature than the heater 33, but the intermediate heating section 40 may also be configured to be at a higher temperature than the heater 33.

[0080] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the intermediate heating section 40 is made of a wire, but the intermediate heating section 40 may also be made of a transparent conductive film.

[0081] (6) In the second to fifth embodiments, an example was shown in which the heater 33 and intermediate heating unit 40 for heating the information acquisition area 15 are arranged on the fourth surface 24 of the glass panel 10. However, as in the first modification of the first embodiment, the heater 33 and intermediate heating unit 40 may be arranged on the second surface 22 of the glass panel 10. [Industrial applicability]

[0082] This invention is widely applicable to vehicle glass modules having a heating section for heating an information acquisition area. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1: Vehicle glass module (glass module) 3: Shielding layer 8: Imaging device (information acquisition device) 10: Glass panel 10a: Top edge 11: First glass plate 12: Second glass plate 13: Middle Class 15: Information acquisition area 16: Middle area 21: 1st page 22:Second side 23: 3rd page 24:Side 4 30: Heating part 31: Power supply unit 32: Conductor 33: Heater 34:Heating wire 35:First heating wire 36:Second heating wire 37: Transparent conductive film 38: First bus bar 39: Second bus bar 40: Intermediate heating section 41: Horizontal line section 42: Vertical line section L1: distance L2: distance L3: Separation distance L4: Separation distance L5: Separation distance W1: Maximum width of the information acquisition area W4: Maximum width of the intermediate heating section Y: Reference line

Claims

1. A vehicle glass module that supports an information acquisition device capable of receiving light from outside the vehicle on the inside of the vehicle, A glass panel facing the information acquisition device and having an information acquisition region through which the light passes, The glass panel includes a heating unit that heats at least a portion of the information acquisition area, The information acquisition area is positioned close to the edge of the glass panel. The heating unit comprises a power supply unit positioned between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition area, a heater positioned along the surface of the glass panel in the information acquisition area and generating heat by receiving power from the power supply unit, and a conductor connecting the power supply unit and the heater. The conductor has an intermediate heating section that heats the space between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition area. The intermediate heating section has a plurality of conductors along the edge, and the plurality of conductors are configured such that the width in the direction along the edge gradually decreases as it approaches the edge.

2. A vehicle glass module that supports an information acquisition device capable of receiving light from outside the vehicle on the inside of the vehicle, A glass panel facing the information acquisition device and having an information acquisition region through which the light passes, The glass panel includes a heating unit that heats at least a portion of the information acquisition area, The information acquisition area is positioned close to the edge of the glass panel. The heating unit comprises a power supply unit positioned between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition area, a heater positioned along the surface of the glass panel in the information acquisition area and generating heat by receiving power from the power supply unit, and a conductor connecting the power supply unit and the heater. The conductor has an intermediate heating section that heats the space between the edge of the glass panel and the information acquisition area. The aforementioned heater is A transparent conductive film covering the information acquisition region, A vehicle glass module comprising a pair of busbars positioned outside the information acquisition area and facing each other to supply power to the transparent conductive film.

3. The vehicle glass module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information acquisition area is positioned close to the upper edge of the glass panel.

4. The vehicle glass module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount of heat generated per unit area of ​​the intermediate heating section is smaller than the amount of heat generated per unit area of ​​the heater.

5. The vehicle glass module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate heating portion extends in the same direction as the edge portion of the glass panel.

6. The vehicle glass module according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate heating section is formed by folding back the end portion of the glass panel in the direction along the edge portion, and the plurality of conductors along the edge portion are arranged spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the edge portion.

7. The vehicle glass module according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the maximum width of the intermediate heating portion is smaller than the maximum width of the heater in the direction along the edge portion of the glass panel.

8. The vehicle glass module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heater is positioned at a distance of one-fifth or more of the distance to the information acquisition area in a direction perpendicular to the edge, away from the side of the edge of the information acquisition area.

9. The vehicle glass module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the intermediate heating section is positioned at a distance from the edge that is at least one-fifth of the distance between the edge and the information acquisition area in a direction perpendicular to the edge.

10. The vehicle glass module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the heater is composed of a heating element.

11. The aforementioned heating element is A plurality of first heating lines extending in parallel within the information acquisition area, It includes a second heating element that connects a plurality of the first heating elements outside the information acquisition area, The vehicle glass module according to claim 10, wherein the wire width of the second heating wire is greater than the wire width of the first heating wire.

12. The vehicle glass module according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the heater has a trapezoidal shape in which the width along the side decreases as it approaches the side.

13. The transparent conductive film has an overall trapezoidal shape, in which the width along the edges decreases as it approaches the edges. The pair of busbars are, A first busbar is positioned on the side of the aforementioned edge, The transparent conductive film has a second busbar positioned on the side opposite to the first busbar, The vehicle glass module according to claim 2, wherein the second busbar is divided along the direction along the edge portion.

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