Laminated Glass with Optical Property Differences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminated glass manufacturing processes struggle to produce glass articles with pristine main surfaces and differing optical properties in varying layers without the use of bonding materials, which limits their application in display technologies and other optical devices.
Innovation Solution
A down-draw process using an overflow distributor with asymmetrical geometries and dual glass delivery systems to fuse two streams of glass with differing refractive indices or optical properties directly, eliminating the need for bonding materials and enabling the creation of laminated glass articles with specific optical functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional lamination processes are used to create laminated glass articles, then bonding materials are required to join layers, but this limits application in display technologies and optical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes bonding materials from the lamination process entirely. Multiple glass layers with differing optical properties are fused directly together through controlled heating and pressing, extracting the intermediate bonding layer that traditionally limited optical performance and application versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple glass layers with different optical properties (refractive indices, transmission profiles, polarizing characteristics) into a single integrated laminated article. The direct fusion process merges the layers at the molecular level, creating a unified structure with superior optical properties compared to bonded assemblies.
2Manufacturing precision
If bonding materials are used to join glass layers, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the main surfaces cannot achieve pristine quality and optical properties are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing process into distinct zones: a fusion zone where layers are joined through direct glass-to-glass bonding, and surface zones where pristine main surfaces are maintained. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions - the fusion zone provides structural integrity while the surface zones maintain optical quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in temperature and pressure during the lamination process. By controlling these parameters, the glass transitions between solid and viscous states, enabling direct fusion at the interface while maintaining surface integrity. The process parameters are optimized to achieve bonding without compromising surface quality or optical properties.
3Manufacturing precision
If asymmetrical overflow distributor geometry is used to achieve uniform flow distribution, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetrical geometry in the overflow distributor design. The distributor features varying channel widths, heights, or cross-sectional areas along its length, creating asymmetric flow paths that compensate for pressure drops and viscosity changes. This asymmetry ensures uniform glass flow distribution across the width of the article, achieving high manufacturing precision despite the increased geometric complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated glass article includes at least a first layer, a second layer in direct contact with the first layer, and an optical property difference between the first layer and the second layer. The optical property difference includes at least one of: (a) a transmission profile difference between a transmission profile of the first and second layers in a wavelength range from 200 nm to 2500 nm; or (b) a light-polarizing difference, whereby the second layer is light-polarizing with respect to electromagnetic irradiation in the wavelength range from 200 nm to 2500 nm; or (c) a refractive index difference between refractive indices of the first and second layers of at least 0.005, wherein one layer includes a base glass composition and the other layer includes the base glass composition and a dopant in an amount sufficient to cause the refractive index difference.