Vehicle Glazing Antenna Plate With Flush Seal Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle glazing configurations with antenna plates and profiled seal portions suffer from dirt accumulation and acoustic noise due to clearance and sharp angles, compromising maintenance and aerodynamic performance.

Innovation Solution

Achieving a double flush surface continuity between the glazed element and antenna plate, with rounded corners and a hollow in the profiled seal portion to facilitate water and dirt evacuation, while integrating the antenna plate seamlessly into the profiled joint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the antenna plate enters the profiled seal portion at an acute angle with clearance, then the manufacturing is simpler, but dirt accumulates and acoustic noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddirt accumulation and acoustic noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by rounding the angles where the antenna plate meets the profiled seal portion. Instead of sharp acute angles, the design incorporates rounded corners that facilitate smooth airflow and prevent dirt accumulation. This curved geometry eliminates the harmful sharp edges while maintaining the functional relationship between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a double flush surface continuity is achieved between glazed element and antenna plate, then dirt evacuation and noise reduction are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt retention and aerodynamic noiseVSAvoidsurface continuity precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a hollow depression in the profiled seal portion at the specific location where it meets the antenna plate. This localized geometric feature facilitates dirt and water evacuation without requiring high precision across the entire assembly. The hollow acts as a dedicated zone for managing contaminants while the rest of the assembly can tolerate normal manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the antenna plate is integrated into the profiled seal portion with external part extending outside, then the structural integration is improved, but the complexity of achieving surface continuity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidsurface continuity complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the antenna plate into two distinct parts: a fixing part that is integrated into the profiled seal portion, and an external part that extends outside. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the fixing part for structural integration and the external part for functional purposes - while simplifying the achievement of surface continuity at the interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4363274B1Glazing with an antenna plate and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 SAINT GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
  • EP4363274B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4363274B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4363274B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle glazing unit and to a method for manufacturing a glazing unit (1), this glazing unit having a glazed element (2), a profiled seal portion (3) fixed to at least one edge of the glazed element (2) with the outer face (30) of the profiled seal portion (3) being in surface continuity (F1) with the outer face (20) of the glazed element (2), and an antenna plate (4) having a fixing part (45) which is integrated into the profiled seal portion (3) and an external part (46) extending outside the profiled seal portion (3), the outer face (40) of the antenna plate (4) being in surface continuity (F2) with the outer face (30) of the profiled seal portion (3).