Bird Safe Glazing UV Reflective Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird-safe glazing technologies, such as UV-reflective coatings, often compromise on human visual perception due to sharp edges or excessive reflection, and may not effectively deter bird collisions, especially when reflecting environmental features like vegetation or sky.
Innovation Solution
A glazing with a UV reflectance coating deposited in a patterned arrangement of stripes, where each stripe's thickness changes by 10 nm or less over every 1 mm, creating 'soft' edges that are less perceptible to humans while maintaining effectiveness in bird collision prevention, achieved through a method involving a mask with apertures and a coating process that ensures the stripes are either interconnected or not, with an antireflection coating optionally provided adjacent to the UV coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UV-reflective coating with sharp edges is used to prevent bird collisions, then bird safety is improved, but human visual perception is compromised due to visible patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the coating stripes from sharp edges to soft edges with gradual thickness transitions (10 nm or less over 1 mm width). This parameter modification maintains UV reflectance for bird safety while reducing visible patterns to acceptable levels for human aesthetics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different edge characteristics to different parts of the coating pattern. The stripes have controlled thickness variations that create soft edges locally, while maintaining overall patterned arrangement for bird deterrence. This local quality differentiation resolves the conflict between bird safety and human perception
2Reliability
If TiO2 stripes are used to reflect UV light, then bird collision prevention is improved, but broadband reflection increases affecting human perception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the thickness parameter of the TiO2 coating to optimize UV reflectance while minimizing visible light reflection. By limiting thickness changes to 10 nm or less over 1 mm width, the coating achieves selective reflectance properties that favor UV wavelengths over visible wavelengths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines TiO2 coating with soft-edge geometry to create a composite structure that exhibits both UV reflectance and reduced visible reflection. The combination of material properties and geometric configuration achieves selective optical performance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces bird collisions by providing high visibility to birds while minimizing impact on human perception, achieving a significant contrast in the UV range and reducing broadband reflection, thus enhancing bird safety without compromising aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a UV reflectance coating deposited over the substrate in a patterned arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a coating process that ensures the stripes are either interconnected or not, with an antireflection coating optionally provided adjacent to the UV coating
Data Source
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AI summary
Bird collisions with windows or other glazings are minimized or prevented with a glazing comprising as least one substrate with a UV reflectance coating deposited over the substrate in a patterned arrangement comprised of a plurality of stripes, and each of the plurality of stripes has a thickness that changes by 10 nm or less over every 1 mm in width. Such an arrangement of stripes having soft edges are less apparent,and thus more aesthetically pleasing,when compared with a similar arrangement of stripes formed with hard edges, while providing an effective deterrent to bird collisions. The glazing may also be utilized as part of a laminated glazing or insulated glazing unit. A method of manufacturing the glazing is also provided.