Switchable Vehicle Roof Window With Tinted Adhesive Lamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle windows with electrically switchable shading devices have complex layer structures that lead to manufacturing challenges and high costs due to the inclusion of colored films, resulting in clouding and difficulty in adapting to vehicle design.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle window with a composite structure featuring an electrically switchable shading device comprising two plastics films with electrically conductive coatings and a liquid crystal layer, sandwiched between optically clear adhesive layers with coloring, which reduces the number of layers and enhances optical neutrality and adaptability to vehicle design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If colored films or colored adhesive layers are included in the composite structure to adapt the vehicle window appearance to the vehicle design, then the appearance adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and number of layers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the appearance-adapting function with the existing optically clear adhesive layer that is already required for bonding. By incorporating coloring into the adhesive layer, the patent merges two functions (bonding and appearance adaptation) into a single layer, thereby reducing the total number of layers while maintaining appearance versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The optically clear adhesive layer is given multiple functions: it serves as both the bonding agent between glass layers and as the appearance-adapting colored layer. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate colored films, reducing structural complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple layers including colored intermediate layers are used to achieve desired appearance and light transmission, then the appearance adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the function of colored intermediate layers with the optically clear adhesive layer. The adhesive layer already exists in the composite structure for bonding purposes, so adding coloring to it eliminates the need for separate colored intermediate layers, simplifying manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the coloring function from separate colored films or intermediate layers and integrates it into the existing adhesive layer, thereby removing unnecessary layers and reducing manufacturing complexity
3Illumination intensity
If colored films are used to achieve low light transmission, then the light transmission control is improved, but the layer structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the light transmission control function with the adhesive layer by incorporating coloring into it. This single layer simultaneously provides bonding, appearance adaptation, and light transmission control, eliminating the need for separate colored films
4Reliability
If a large number of layers are used in the composite structure, then the functionality is improved, but the handling complexity during lamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the adhesive layer, reducing the total number of layers that need to be handled during lamination. The adhesive layer simultaneously provides bonding, appearance adaptation, and light transmission control, making the lamination process easier
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
The solution provides an optically appealing appearance compatible with various vehicle designs while achieving low light transmission levels, adjustable through tinted adhesive layers, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The vehicle window is in the form of a composite component which comprises a window outer body that faces the vehicle surroundings, and a window inner body that faces the vehicle interior and forms an inner visible face of the vehicle window. Arranged between the window inner body and the window outer body is a shading device which comprises an electrically switchable liquid crystal layer, in particular an electrically switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer, i.e. a so-called PDLC layer.
Implementation Method 2
The two plastics films are each provided with an electrically conductive coating. The liquid crystal layer is arranged between the two plastics films.
Implementation Method 3
The layer made of optically clear adhesive provided with the coloring may be characterized in particular by strong absorption of electromagnetic radiation and a wavelength range between 350 nm and 2500 nm. For visible light, the transmittance may preferably be under 30%.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle window, in particular, for a vehicle roof, having a composite structure with a window outer body and a window inner body and an electrically switchable shading device, which is inserted between the outer body of the window and the inner body of the window and two plastic films, each with a electrically conductive coating, and a liquid crystal layer, which is placed between the two plastic films. Between the shading device and the outer body of the window and between the shading device and the inner body of the window at least one additional plastic film and one layer each of optically clear adhesive and at least one of the Layers of optically clear adhesive are colored.