Coated Pane Lattice Grid for RF Transmission and Optical Clarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Metallic coatings on glass panes, particularly those with silver, interfere with radio-frequency radiation, causing disruptions to communication devices and leading to optical distortions when partially decoated for communication windows, which can result in legal compliance issues due to strict optical quality standards.

Innovation Solution

A coated pane with a metal-containing coating featuring a locally delimited lattice surface created by laser decoating, where the grid lines are designed with specific angular and rounded shapes, and interruptions, reducing the permeability to radar, microwave, and radio waves while minimizing optical distortions by matching the grid lines' orientation with the glass production direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the metal-containing coating is stripped to create a communication window, then radio-frequency radiation transmission is improved, but optical distortions occur in the transition area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio-frequency radiation transmissionVSAvoidoptical distortions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is segmented into coated and uncoated areas through a grid pattern, where the uncoated areas form a lattice structure that allows radio-frequency transmission while the coated areas maintain infrared reflection. The grid lines serve as transition zones that minimize optical distortions by gradually transitioning between coated and uncoated regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different areas of the pane have different coating properties: the grid areas are uncoated for radio-frequency transmission, while the spaces between grid lines retain the metal-containing coating for infrared reflection. The grid lines themselves have intermediate properties that reduce optical distortions at the transition boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the metal-containing coating is stripped for communication windows, then radio-frequency radiation transmission is improved, but the infrared-ray-reflecting effect is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio-frequency radiation transmissionVSAvoidinfrared-ray-reflecting effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is segmented into coated and uncoated areas through a grid pattern, where the uncoated areas form a lattice structure that allows radio-frequency transmission while the coated areas maintain infrared reflection. The grid lines serve as transition zones that minimize optical distortions by gradually transitioning between coated and uncoated regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Only small portions of the metal-containing coating are removed to create the grid pattern, rather than stripping large areas. This partial decoating approach maintains the infrared-ray-reflecting effect in the majority of the coated areas while providing sufficient radio-frequency transmission through the uncoated grid sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the metal-containing coating is stripped to create communication windows, then radio-frequency radiation transmission is improved, but stress and optical distortions occur during bending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio-frequency radiation transmissionVSAvoidstress in transition area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is segmented into coated and uncoated areas through a grid pattern, where the uncoated areas form a lattice structure that allows radio-frequency transmission while the coated areas maintain infrared reflection. The grid lines serve as transition zones that minimize optical distortions by gradually transitioning between coated and uncoated regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grid line dimensions and spacing are optimized to balance radio-frequency transmission requirements with mechanical stability during bending. The specific angular and rounded shapes of the grid lines are designed to minimize stress concentration in the transition areas while maintaining adequate radio-frequency radiation transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 optical distortions and maintains the infrared-ray-reflecting properties, ensuring compliance with legal standards and providing an aesthetically pleasing, disturbance-free communication window.

Implementation Method 1

Coatings made of silver significantly reduce the transmission of infrared thermal radiation in the space behind the pane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the metal-containing coatings are removed in the form of lines with a suitable laser, for example

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP2964585B1Coated pane with partially uncoated sections
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA
  • EP2964585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2964585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2964585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a coated disk with a communication window (5'), at least comprising: a. a base disk (1), b. a metal-containing coating (2) on the base disk (1), and c. a grid surface (3a) made of intersecting uncoated inner grid lines (4a) in the metal-containing coating (2), wherein the grid surface (3a) has a grid surface edge (3b), and d. the grid surface edge (3b) has intersecting outer grid lines (4b), said outer grid lines (4b) having interruptions (4c) which increase in size from the outer edge of the grid surface (3a) to the end of the grid surface edge (3b).