Multi-pane Glazing Unit with Varying Gap Width for RF Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-pane glazing units exhibit significant radio frequency signal attenuation, particularly at higher frequencies, due to the air gap between glass panes, which interferes with cellular phone and radio device functionality, while maintaining the advantages of multi-pane glazing such as thermal insulation is compromised by using single-pane solutions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-pane glazing unit with a varying gap width between glass panes, ranging from 6 mm to 24 mm, designed to minimize signal attenuation across specific frequency bands by allowing continuous or step-wise variation of the gap width, enabling tailored radio frequency transmission characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed gap width is used between glass panes, then thermal insulation is improved, but radio frequency signal transmission deteriorates at higher frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The gap width between glass panes is made non-uniform, with different regions having different gap widths (e.g., 6mm in some areas, 24mm in others). This local variation allows different parts of the glazing unit to serve different functions: maintaining thermal insulation while reducing radio frequency signal attenuation at higher frequencies by avoiding uniform phase shifts across the entire gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap width parameter is changed from a fixed value to a variable value across different regions of the glazing unit. By varying the gap width between 6mm and 24mm, the optical path difference and phase shift for radio waves are modified, reducing destructive interference and signal attenuation while maintaining the insulating properties of the multi-pane structure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If single pane glazing is used, then radio frequency signal transmission is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The glazing unit is segmented into multiple glass panes with varying gap widths between them. This segmentation maintains the thermal insulation benefits of multi-pane construction while the varied gap widths prevent uniform phase shifts that cause signal attenuation, thus improving radio frequency transmission compared to traditional fixed-gap multi-pane units.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap width is made dynamic in its effect on radio wave propagation by varying it across different regions. This creates a non-uniform optical path that dynamically interacts with different wavelengths of radio waves, reducing the frequency-dependent attenuation that occurs with fixed uniform gaps.
3Loss of energy
If the air gap between glass panes is increased, then thermal insulation is improved, but radio frequency signal phase-shift increases causing higher attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the air gap across the entire glazing unit, the invention applies local variation where different regions have different gap widths. This allows thermal insulation to be maintained through adequate average gap width while preventing uniform phase shifts that would cause high frequency signal attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gap parameter is changed from a uniformly increased value to a varied value across regions. By implementing gap widths of 6mm, 12mm, and 24mm in different areas, the optical path difference is modulated to reduce destructive interference for higher frequency radio waves while maintaining overall thermal insulation 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
The varying gap width significantly reduces signal attenuation in certain frequency bands, allowing for improved radio frequency transmission, especially at higher frequencies, while maintaining the thermal insulation benefits of multi-pane glazing units.
Implementation Method 1
For higher frequencies, the wavelength gets smaller and the air gap between the two or more glass panes becomes relevant to cause a phase-shift that can destructively add and cause the high signal attenuations.
Implementation Method 2
the air gap between the two or more glass panes becomes relevant to cause a phase-shift that can destructively add and cause the high signal attenuations.
Data Source
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Figure 9~11
AI summary
Glazing unit (10) comprising at least two glass panes (1, 2), wherein the at least two glass panes (1, 2) comprise a first glass pane (1) and a second glass pane (2), wherein the first glass pane (1) and the second glass pane (2) is configured such that the gap width between the first glass pane (1) and the second glass pane (2) varies between a minimum gap width (4) and a maximum gap width (5).