Glazing Marking Element for Permanent Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glazing units lack a permanent means of identifying their technical characteristics, making it difficult for users to access essential information such as dimensions, gas composition, and manufacturing details, especially after the initial label is removed or the product is resold, leading to potential misidentification and inability to ensure replacement with identical specifications.
Innovation Solution
A visible marking element, comprising a string of characters that can be recognized and communicated remotely, provides permanent identification of the glazing unit's characteristics, allowing public access through a database-linked identifier, ensuring that the information remains accessible throughout the unit's life and even after replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple marking elements are inscribed on the glazing unit to provide all technical characteristics, then complete information is provided, but the lack of space on the interlayer prevents inscribing a multitude of marking elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface marking problem to a three-dimensional solution by placing the marking element on the interlayer (which has depth/thickness) and potentially utilizing the space between glass panes. The marking element can be positioned on the interlayer facing the gas-filled cavity, effectively using the depth dimension of the glazing unit to accommodate identification information without consuming valuable exterior surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the marking element combined with a remote identification means (database, online platform, or manufacturing unit system). Instead of directly inscribing all information on the limited interlayer surface, the marking element serves as a key or reference that links to comprehensive technical characteristics stored externally, thereby resolving the space constraint while preserving complete information accessibility.
2Loss of information
If a self-adhesive label is affixed to provide complete information, then all characteristics are accessible, but the label is removed for esthetic reasons and to ensure an optimum field of vision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the comprehensive information storage function from the physical label and relocates it to a remote database or identification system. The marking element remaining on the glazing unit serves only as a permanent, minimal identifier that does not compromise aesthetics or field of vision, while the detailed technical characteristics are accessed remotely when needed, eliminating the need for permanent visible labels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a permanent copy or reference (the marking element) that remains on the glazing unit, which can be used to retrieve the full set of technical characteristics from the manufacturing unit or database. This copying mechanism allows the original comprehensive information to be accessed on-demand without requiring physical labels to remain attached to the visible surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If the label is removed after mounting, then esthetics and field of vision are improved, but the information may be mislaid and new purchasers cannot trace back to the manufacturer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by permanently affixing the marking element to the interlayer during manufacturing, before the glazing unit is installed or labeled. This ensures that the identification reference is already in place and cannot be lost when labels are removed later. The marking element serves as a permanent anchor that maintains the link to technical characteristics throughout the product lifecycle, including after resale.
4Loss of information
If all technical characteristics are written on the label, then complete information is provided, but once the label is removed, the information is mislaid and inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary remote storage system (database or manufacturing unit information system) that preserves technical characteristics indefinitely. The marking element on the glazing unit acts as a permanent key that maintains the link to this external storage, ensuring that information remains accessible for the entire duration of the product's life and even after resale, without being constrained by the physical presence of labels.
Data Source
AI summary
A glazing unit including at least one marking element visible from the outside thereof and including a string of characters. The marking element can be visually identified by whomsoever and can be communicated remotely to an identification device. The identification device incorporates, for a given marking element, characteristics relating to the glazing unit that are intended to be at least partly accessible to the public in exchange for the identity of the marking element.