Laminated Vehicle Glazing with Camouflaged Near-Infrared Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laminated glazing solutions for autonomous vehicles, particularly windshields, face challenges in optimizing near-infrared transmission for LIDAR systems while maintaining visibility and safety, as existing designs often use two solid extra clear glass sheets which compromise comfort, aesthetics, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A laminated glazing design featuring a first glass sheet with low iron oxide content and a second glass sheet with higher iron oxide content, incorporating a through-hole with a transparent piece and a camouflaging coating that absorbs visible light but is transparent in the near-infrared range, enhancing transmission efficiency and concealing the infrared detection system from external view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If two solid extra clear glass sheets are used for the laminated glazing, then near-infrared transmission for LIDAR systems is improved, but vehicle comfort, aesthetics, and cost are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the iron oxide content in different glass sheets (first sheet: low iron oxide ≤0.05% for high NIR transmission; second sheet: higher iron oxide 0.4-1.5% for visible tinting and heat absorption) and by creating a localized through-hole with a transparent piece in the second glass sheet. This allows the glazing to have different optical properties in different regions, optimizing both NIR transmission for LIDAR and visible aesthetics/comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining glass sheets with different iron oxide compositions, a polymer lamination interlayer, and a transparent piece material (glass or polymer) with specific NIR transmission properties. The camouflaging coating (transparent in NIR, absorbing in visible) further adds to the composite structure, creating a multi-material system that simultaneously achieves NIR transparency and visible camouflaging.
2Illumination intensity
If a second extra clear glass sheet is used, then near-infrared transmission is maintained, but cost and aesthetic quality increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive second extra clear glass sheet with a more economical alternative: a second glass sheet with higher iron oxide content (which is cheaper to manufacture) combined with a transparent piece and camouflaging coating. This substitution maintains NIR transmission functionality while reducing material costs and improving aesthetic quality through the tinted appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the iron oxide content parameter from uniform (both sheets extra clear) to differentiated (first sheet: ≤0.05%, second sheet: 0.4-1.5%). This parameter change allows the second sheet to be less expensive while compensating for reduced NIR transmission through the transparent piece design, thereby optimizing cost-effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If the infrared detection system is visible from outside, then structural simplicity is maintained, but aesthetic quality and privacy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes through the camouflaging coating that is transparent in the near-infrared range (allowing LIDAR operation) but absorbs visible light (providing camouflaging). This selective optical property allows the detection system to remain functional while being aesthetically camouflaged from external visible view, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and aesthetic quality.
4Illumination intensity
If glass sheets with low iron oxide content are used throughout, then near-infrared transmission is maximized, but visible visibility and heat protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating spatial differentiation in optical properties: the first glass sheet has low iron oxide for NIR transmission, while the second glass sheet has higher iron oxide (0.4-1.5%) that provides both visible tinting for privacy/aesthetics and heat absorption capability. This localized variation in composition optimizes both NIR transmission and thermal protection without compromising overall system performance.
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 design improves the near-infrared transmission efficiency for LIDAR systems, enhances vehicle comfort and aesthetics, and reduces costs by eliminating the need for a second extra clear glass sheet, while maintaining excellent visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a camouflaging coating forming a selective filter which absorbs in the visible range and is transparent at the working wavelength
Implementation Method 2
The first glass sheet... has a total iron oxide content by weight (expressed in the form Fe2O3) of at most 0.05% (500 ppm), preferably of at most 0.03% (300 ppm) and of at most 0.015% (150 ppm)... which piece particularly has a thickness of at least 0.3 mm
Implementation Method 3
The second glass sheet... has a total iron oxide content by weight (expressed in the form Fe2O3) of at least 0.4% and preferably of at most 1.5%
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle laminated glazing includes a first extra clear glass sheet forming an exterior glazing, a lamination interlayer and a second glass sheet forming an interior glazing with a through-hole in this second sheet including a piece with a camouflaging coating.