Vehicular glazing

Abstract

The vehicular glazing (100) comprises a first substrate (102), a first coating (104), and a second coating (106) The first substrate (102) comprises a first face (F1) and a second face (F2). Further, the first coating (104) is disposed on one of the faces of the first substrate (102). The second coating (106) is disposed either towards an inner side or outer side of the first substrate (102). The first coating (104) is de-coated at specific regions to form a first pattern having a periodic configuration. The second coating (104) is de-coated at specific regions to form a second pattern having a non-periodic configuration.

Description

VEHICULAR GLAZINGTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicular glazing, it particularly relates to vehicular glazing with coating for enabling electromagnetic communication.BACKGROUND

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed disclosure, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] It is well known electromagnetic-based communication is one of the most widely used communication techniques which is behind the technologies such as FM radio, mobile phone communication so on and so forth. It is also common knowledge that these technologies are employed in or work alongside automobiles. As an example, an automobile may have FM radio inside its cabin, further an occupant inside the vehicle may carry a mobile phone or the like.

[0004] Concurrently, modern vehicle glazing increasingly incorporate transparent electrically conductive coatings that cover the entire area of the glazing. These coatings are provided on the glazing to provide thermal comfort for an occupant within the vehicle. The downside of such coatings is their impermeability to electromagnetic radiation. Typically, the coatings reflect the electromagnetic waves that are incident on it. Therefore, when the glazing is entirely coated with these coatings, transmission, and reception of electromagnetic radiation within the vehicle become difficult.

[0005] One of the well-known methods of addressing the above-mentioned problem is making cut-outs in the coatings. Such cut-outs act as window for the electromagneticwaves to pass through. However, such cut-outs may not be desirable as it may compromise on the thermal comfort inside the vehicle cabin. Further, the existing solutions does not enable boosting the signals and altering the direction of the electromagnetic waves.

[0006] In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there is a need for an improved glazing with coating for enabling electromagnetic communication through the glazing.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007] In an embodiment, a vehicular glazing is disclosed. The glazing comprises a first substrate, a first coating, and a second coating. The first substrate comprises a first face and a second face. Further, the first coating is disposed on one of the faces of the first substrate. The second coating is disposed either towards an inner side or outer side of the first substrate. The first coating is de-coated at specific regions to form a first pattern having a periodic configuration. The second coating is de-coated at specific regions to form a second pattern having a non-periodic configuration.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The following briefly describes the accompanying drawings, illustrating the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention, for assisting the understanding of a person skilled in the art to comprehend the invention. It would be apparent that the accompanying drawings in the following description merely show some embodiments of the present invention, and persons skilled in the art can derive other drawings from the accompanying drawings without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle glazing, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle glazing with a composite pane arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates the first coating, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a detailed view A of the first coating, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the second coating with the second pattern, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates the second coating with the second pattern, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a vehicle with a glazing, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of the vehicle with glazing, in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a glazing with an antenna, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0018] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. However, it may be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural and logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0020] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a non-exclusive “or”, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B”, “B but not A”, and “A and B”, unless otherwise indicated.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle glazing 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The glazing 100 comprises a first substrate 102 comprising a first face Fl and a second face F2, a first coating 104, and a second coating 106. The first coating 104 may be disposed on either the first face Fl or the second face F2 of the first substrate 102. The second coating 106 may be disposed either on an inner side A or outer side B of the first substrate 102.

[0022] In one embodiment, the second coating 106 may be directly disposed on one of the faces of the first glazing 100 on the inner side or the outer side. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG.l, the second coating 106 is directly disposed on the second face F2 of the first substrate 102, wherein the first substrate 102 is sandwiched between the first coating 104 and the second coating 106.

[0023] However, in different embodiments, the second coating 106 may not be disposed directly over the faces of the first substrate 102. Rather, the second coating 106 may be disposed over a substrate that is placed over the first substrate 102 either on the inner side or the outer side of the first substrate 102.

[0024] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 is de-coated at specific regions to form a first pattern of coated and de-coated regions. The first pattern has a periodic configuration, wherein the periodic configuration may be defined as uniformly spaced coated and de-coated regions of the first pattern.

[0025] In one embodiment, the second coating 106 is de-coated at specific regions to form a second pattern of coated and de-coated regions. The second pattern has a nonperiodic configuration, wherein the non-periodic configuration may be defined as non- uniformly spaced coated and de-coated regions of the second pattern.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle glazing 200 with a composite pane arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment. The glazing 200 comprises the first substrate 102, a second substrate 108, the first coating 104, the second coating 106 and an interlayer 110. The first coating 104 is disposed directly over one of the faces of the first substrate 102. Here, in the disclosed FIG. 2, the first coating 104 is disposed on the first face Fl of the first substrate 102.

[0027] Further, the second substrate 108 comprises a third face F3 and a fourth face F4. The second coating 106 is disposed on one of the faces of the second substrate 108. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 2, the second coating 106 is disposed on the fourth face F4 of the second substrate 108.

[0028] The interlayer 110 is disposed between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 108 such that the interlayer 110 is sandwiched between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 108.

[0029] In one embodiment, the 200 may additionally comprise an active layer 112 disposed between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 108.

[0030] In an embodiment, the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 108 are made using glass or polymer.

[0031] The first substrate 102 and the second substrate 108 preferably is made using flat glass, float glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda lime glass, or clear plastics, preferably rigid clear plastics, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyamide, polyesters, polyvinyl chloride, and / or mixtures thereof.

[0032] In one embodiment, the active layer 112 may be one of the following including electrochromic layer, Polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC), Suspended Particle Devices (SPD) glass, display, Photovoltaic layer, sensor layer, or heating grid.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates the first coating 104, in accordance with an embodiment. As explained earlier, the first coating 104 is de-coated at specific regions to form a first pattern comprising coated regions 302 and de-coated regions 304.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a detailed view A of the first coating 104, in accordance with an embodiment. The de-coating of the first pattern in performed in a manner that the decoated region 304 allows the electromagnetic waves of desired frequency to pass through the de-coated regions 304 / 302 since the coated regions 302 / 304 reflects the electromagnetic waves.

[0035] In one embodiment, the first pattern is defined a grid-like structure with coated regions 302 and de-coated regions 304. The coated regions 302 are uniformly spaced between each other with de-coated regions 304 formed between the coated regions 302.

[0036] The width of the de-coated region 304 is sub- wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be allowed through the glazing 100. In one embodiment, the width of the decoated region 304 of the first pattern is in the range of 0.001mm to 100mm. The width is determined based on the wavelength of the desired electromagnetic wave required to pass through the glazing 100.

[0037] In an embodiment, the width of the de-coated region 304 is sub- wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be allowed.

[0038] In an embodiment, the width of the de-coated region 304 is dependent on the wavelength (X) of the electromagnetic waves desired to pass through. The width is dependent on X and effective relative permittivity Geff.

[0039] The width can range from:A / V(20 X eff) to 10 X A / V(G eff)

[0040] In one embodiment, the coated regions 302 of the first pattern have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a trapezoid, a hexagon, an octagon, a cross, an oval, or a circle.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates the second coating 106 with the second pattern, in accordance with an embodiment. The second coating 106 is de-coated at specific regions to form coated regions 502 / 504, 506 and de-coated regions 504, 506 / 502. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 5, the second pattern includes a circle like / grid-like de-coated regions 504 and grid - like / circle-like de-coated regions 506 distorting the uniformity of the coated regions 502 of the second pattern.

[0042] The shape and size of the de-coated regions 504, 506 may be determined based on the requirement. The second pattern on the second coating 106 is configured to alter the direction of travel of the electromagnetic waves.

[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates the second coating 106 with the second pattern, in accordance with an embodiment. The second coating 106 has a second pattern that may comprise three zones, viz., Zone I, Zone II, and Zone III. As can be seen in the FIG, the shape and size of coated regions 602 in zone II is different from the shape and size of coated regions 602 in zones I and III. This non-uniformity in the second pattern enables in achieving controlling the direction of electromagnetic waves.

[0044] In one embodiment, the second pattern on the second coating 106 is configured to alter the direction of travel of the electromagnetic waves.

[0045] In an embodiment, the first coating 104 and the second coating 106 is optically transparent.

[0046] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 and the second coating 106 contains at least one metal, preferably silver, nickel, chromium, niobium, tin, titanium, copper, palladium, zinc, gold, cadmium, aluminum, silicon, tungsten, or alloys thereof, and / or at least one metal oxide layer, preferably tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), aluminum- doped zinc oxide (AZO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO, SnO2:F), antimony-doped tinoxide (ATO, SnO2:Sb), and / or carbon nanotubes and / or optically transparent, electrically conductive polymers, preferably poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenes), polystyrene sulfonate, poly(4,4-dioctyl cylopentadithiophene), 2,3-dichloro-5,6- dicyano-l,4-benzoquinone, mixtures and / or copolymers thereof.

[0047] In an embodiment, the first coating 104 and the second coating 106 is made of plasmonic-like structure based on metallic materials, novel thin film structure based on metallic, ceramic, semiconductor materials or quantum dots.

[0048] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 is made using a different material as compared to the second coating 106.

[0049] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 is made using a same material as compared to the second coating 106.

[0050] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 and the second coating 106 are disposed one over the other in a manner that the first pattern and the second pattern are misaligned at at least one region. This misalignment causes the change in the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic waves.

[0051] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a vehicle 700 with a glazing 200, in accordance with an embodiment. The vehicle 700 comprises a glazing 200 installed on it. In the illustration, the glazing 200 is a sunroof, and it shall be noted that the glazing 200 may be windshield, sidelite, quarterlite, or backlite.

[0052] The glazing 200 comprises the first coating 104 with the first pattern and the second coating 106 with the second pattern. As explained earlier, the first pattern has a periodic configuration, and the second pattern has a non-periodic configuration. Further, a mobile device 704 is placed inside the cabin 702 of the vehicle 700.

[0053] The first coating 104 of the glazing 200 filters the electromagnetic waves that are incident on the glazing 200 to allow only the electromagnetic waves of desired frequency to pass through. A first radiation lobe 706 represents the electromagnetic waves that are allowed to pass through the first coating 104. Further, the second coating106 alters the direction of the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the first coating 104.

[0054] The second pattern may be configured in a manner that the electromagnetic signal is directed towards the mobile device 704 that is inside the cabin 702 of the vehicle 700. Thus, the glazing 100 improves the signal reception inside the cabin 702 of the vehicle.

[0055] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 is disposed towards the exterior side of the glazing 100 and the second coating 106 is disposed towards the interior side of the glazing 100.

[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of the vehicle 800 with glazing 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The vehicle comprises the glazing 200 that is installed on the vehicle as sunroof. Electromagnetic waves of multiple wavelengths 802 are incident on the vehicle. The glazing 200 has first coating 104 and second coating 106 to filter the electromagnetic waves and alter the direction of the waves. The glazing 100 is configured in a manner that it allows only electromagnetic waves of desired wavelength 804 to pass through.

[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates a glazing 900 with an antenna 902, in accordance with an embodiment. The glazing 900 comprises the first substrate 102, the second substrate 108, the first coating 104, the second coating 106, the interlayer 110, the active layer 112, and an antenna 902. The antenna may be disposed within the interlayer 110 and above the active layer 112. The antenna 904 may transmit radiation 904 towards the exterior of the vehicle. The first coating 104 with the first pattern enhances the signal transmission of the antenna 904.

[0058] In one embodiment, the first coating 104 with first pattern may be formed on the B-pillar of the vehicle. Further, an antenna may be embedded on the B-pillar inside the first coating 104. This configuration enhances the signal coverage of the electromagnetic signals radiated from the antenna.ADVANTAGES

[0059] The disclosed glazing enables in enhancing the signal reception within the cabin of the vehicle by providing directionality to the incident electromagnetic waves.

[0060] The disclosed glazing enables in filtering out undesirable electromagnetic waves from entering the vehicle cabin using the customized coating.

[0061] Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the system and method described herein. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

[0062] Many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is to be understood that the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the personally preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.List of reference numerals100, 200, 900 - Glazing102 - First substrate104 - First coating 106 - Second coating108 - Second substrate110 - Interlayer112 - Active layer302, 502, 602 - Coated regions 304, 504, 506, 604 - De-coated regions700 - Vehicle702 - Vehicle cabin704 - Mobile device706, 708 - Radiation lobes 800 - Vehicle802, 804 - Electromagnetic waves902 - Antenna

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicular glazing (100) comprising: a first substrate (102) comprising a first face (Fl) and a second face (F2); a first coating (104) disposed on one of the faces of the first substrate (102); a second coating (106) disposed either towards an inner side (A) or outer side (B) of the first substrate (102), wherein: the first coating (104) is de-coated at specific regions to form a first pattern having a periodic configuration; and the second coating (106) is de-coated at specific regions to form a second pattern having a non-periodic configuration.

2. The glazing (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glazing (100) comprises: a second substrate (108) comprising a third face (F3) and fourth face (F4); and an interlayer (110) disposed between the first substrate (102) and the second substrate (108), wherein: the second coating (106) is disposed on one of the faces of the first substrate (102) or the second substrate (108) where the first coating (104) is not disposed.

3. The glazing (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first substrate (102) and the second substrate (108) is made using glass or polymer.

4. The glazing (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the glazing (100) further comprises: an active layer (112) disposed between the first substrate (102) and the second substrate (108).

5. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) and the second coating (106) is optically transparent.

6. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) is made using a different material as compared to the second coating (106).

7. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) and the second coating (106) are disposed in a manner that the first pattern and the second pattern are misaligned with each other at at least one region.

8. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first pattern is defined as grid-like structure with coated regions (302) and de-coated regions (304); and the de-coating of the first coating (104) is performed in a manner that the coated regions (302) are uniformly spaced between each other.

9. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the second pattern includes coated regions (504) and de-coated regions (504, 506); and at least at a portion of the second pattern, the coated regions (504) are not uniformly spaced.

10. The glazing (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glazing (900) further comprises an antenna (902) embedded within the glazing (900) configured to generate radiofrequency (RF) signals.

11. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first coating (104) is disposed towards the exterior side of the glazing (100); andthe second coating (106) is disposed towards the interior side of the glazing (100).

12. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coated regions of the first pattern have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a trapezoid, a hexagon, an octagon, a cross, an oval, or a circle.

13. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first pattern on the first coating (104) is configured to allow the electromagnetic waves of desired frequency to pass through the de-coated regions.

14. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second pattern on the second coating (106) is configured to alter the direction of travel of the electromagnetic waves.

15. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) and the second coating (106) contains at least one metal, preferably silver, nickel, chromium, niobium, tin, titanium, copper, palladium, zinc, gold, cadmium, aluminum, silicon, tungsten, or alloys thereof, and / or at least one metal oxide layer, preferably tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO, SnO2:F), antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO, SnO2:Sb), and / or carbon nanotubes and / or optically transparent, electrically conductive polymers, preferably poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophenes), polystyrene sulfonate, poly(4,4-dioctyl cylopentadithiophene), 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-l,4-benzoquinone, mixtures and / or copolymers thereof.

16. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the active layer is one of electrochromic layer, Polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC), Suspended Particle Devices (SPD) glass, display, Photovoltaic layer, sensor layer, or heating grid.

17. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the width of the de-coated region (304) of the first pattern is in the range of 0.001mm to 100mm.

18. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the width of the de-coated region (304) is sub- wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be allowed.

19. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first coating (104) or the second coating (106) is coplanar to the active layer.

20. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) and the second coating (106) is made of plasmonic-like structure based on metallic materials, novel thin film structure based on metallic, ceramic, semiconductor materials or quantum dots.

21. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coating (104) or the second coating (106) is enclosed within an encapsulation.

22. The glazing (100) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the encapsulation further comprises de-coated regions similar to the first coating (104) and the second coating (106).

Images