Laminated Glazing Panel With Embedded LED Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminated glazing panels face challenges in incorporating sensitive electronic devices like light emitting diodes (LEDs) due to the high temperatures and pressures involved in the lamination process, which can damage delicate electrical connections and components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light emitting diodes mounted on a flexible circuit board between two glass plies, with the circuit board and LEDs being coated with a material compatible with the plastic interlayer, and using a cut-out in the plastic ply to facilitate lamination, ensuring the LEDs and circuitry survive the process and maintain integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LEDs are incorporated into laminated glazing panels to improve utility and visibility, then functional performance is enhanced, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the LED mounting process with the lamination process by integrating LEDs directly onto the interlayer during assembly. This combination eliminates separate mounting steps and allows the LEDs to be incorporated as part of the standard lamination procedure, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlayer serves multiple functions: it acts as the bonding material between glass plies, provides structural support, and serves as the mounting substrate for LEDs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process while enhancing functional performance.
2Reliability
If multiple electrical connections are made to each LED to ensure proper functionality, then device reliability is improved, but the number of electrical connections and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible printed circuit (FPC) as a thin film substrate to mount and electrically connect multiple LEDs. The FPC provides flexible routing capabilities that allow multiple LEDs to be connected with minimal connections, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through the flexible circuit's inherent design.
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
This method allows for the successful integration of LEDs into laminated glazing panels, providing improved utility with enhanced visibility, long lifespan, and reduced electrical connections, while maintaining the mechanical and optical properties of the panels.
Implementation Method 1
During the lamination process, the interlayer tends to creep or flow which ensures good contact with the glass plies
Implementation Method 2
a fluid interlayer material is introduced between glass plies and cured in situ (e.g. by heat or ultraviolet radiation) to produce a plastic interlayer
Implementation Method 3
LEDs may be used as indicating devices and may produce relatively intense light at a variety of wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated glazing panel includes two glass plies and a plastic ply having one or more light emitting diodes mounted on a circuit board laminated between the glass plies, forming an LED device. The circuit board is ordinarily a flexible circuit board that includes a substrate and a conductive layer. A plurality of light emitting diodes may be mounted on the flexible circuit board and laminated between the glass plies The resultant glazing panel may further include indicia on at least one ply. Processes for the production of a laminated glazing panel involve positioning an LED device in a cut-out in a plastic ply and interleaving the plastic ply between two glass plies, prior to laminating the plies. One or more plastic plies may be used, and the LED device may be coated in a plastic material.