Vehicle Transparency With Graded Infrared Reflective Metallic Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle transparencies, such as windows and windshields, allow excessive heat to enter vehicles on sunny days, leading to increased energy consumption and fuel waste, as existing solutions like colored glass or solar control coatings either reduce visibility or are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle transparency design featuring a first ply with high visible light transmission and a second ply with a solar control coating comprising a specific layered structure of infrared reflective metallic layers, where the first layer is thicker than the second, and the second thicker than the third, to reflect infrared radiation while maintaining visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If colored or tinted glass is used to reduce heat transfer, then heat transfer through the transparency is reduced, but visibility through the transparency is cut down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite coating structure combining multiple metallic layers (silver, aluminum, or other reflective metals) with dielectric layers (oxides or nitrides of titanium, zinc, indium, tin, or other suitable materials). This composite structure selectively reflects infrared radiation while maintaining high visible light transmission, resolving the contradiction between heat reduction and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating is designed with different layers having specific local properties: metallic layers provide infrared reflection, while dielectric layers provide optical clarity and protection. Each layer is positioned and sized to optimize its specific function, achieving overall heat rejection without compromising visibility.
2Loss of energy
If conventional solar control coatings are applied, then heat transfer is reduced, but the coatings are expensive to apply and can limit visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameters of each coating layer to achieve maximum infrared reflection at minimal cost. The metallic layers are positioned and sized to provide effective heat rejection, while the dielectric layers are configured to maintain optical clarity, reducing both material costs and application complexity compared to conventional coatings.
3Loss of energy
If solar control coatings are applied to reduce heat, then heat transfer is reduced, but visibility through the transparency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer composite coating structure with alternating metallic and dielectric layers provides selective infrared reflection while maintaining high visible light transmission. The dielectric layers act as spacers and protective barriers that preserve optical clarity, while the metallic layers provide the heat rejection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric layers serve as intermediary materials between the metallic reflective layers, providing optical clarity and structural stability. These intermediary layers enable the metallic layers to perform their heat-rejection function without directly compromising visibility.
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 effectively reduces heat entry into vehicles, minimizing energy consumption and maintaining high visibility by strategically layering infrared reflective metallic layers in the solar control coating.
Implementation Method 1
The solar control coating has in ascending order from the No. 2 surface a first infrared reflective metallic layer, a second infrared reflective metallic layer and a third infrared reflective metallic layer
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A transparency includes a first ply having a first visible light transmission and a second ply having a second visible light transmission, with the first visible light transmission being greater than the second visible light transmission. A solar control coating is located between the first ply and the second ply. The solar control coating has a first infrared reflective metallic layer, a second infrared reflective metallic layer and a third infrared reflective metallic layer. The first infrared reflective metallic layer is thicker than the second infrared reflective metallic layer and the second infrared reflective metallic layer is thicker than the third infrared reflective metallic layer.