Patent Application
20240151892
The invention relates to a glazing arrangement with a light source and a light extraction means, a method for production thereof, and use thereof.
Composite panes as glazings consisting of two or more glass or polymeric panes are used in vehicles as windshields, rear windows, side windows, and roof panels. In the case of illuminable or illuminated glazings, light from a light source is coupled into a flat light guide in the form of a pane of the glazing utilizing total reflection.
WO 2010/049638 A1, WO 2013/053629 A1, WO 2014060409 A1, or WO 2015/095288 A2 disclose the coupling of light into a glass pane via a side face. From WO2013/110885 A1, WO2018178591 A1, or WO2019/105855 A1, it is known to arrange the light source in a recess and to thus couple the light into the pane.
To date, panes with an illuminated switching surface that include a light deflection means for marking an area are known. The light coupled in a pane strikes the light deflection means and is deflected such that it leaves the pane. The light deflection means usually consists of structures that include particles, dot grids, stickers, or imprints. Here, it is disadvantageous that these structures are very clearly visible even when the light source is switched off.
WO2020/188078 A1 discloses a laminated glazing having a light source. The light emitted by the light source is guided through the laminated glazing via a glass substrate or a polymeric intermediate layer. The laminated glazing further has a light input surface for introducing the light emitted by the light source as well as a light extraction surface for extracting the light.
US2018/074251 A1 discloses a glazing unit with a light source and a light extraction system containing scattering dielectric particles.
The object of the present invention consists in providing an improved glazing arrangement in which light extraction means are hardly visible even when the light source is switched off.
The object of the present invention is accomplished according to the invention by a glazing arrangement in accordance with claim 1. Preferred embodiments are apparent from the subclaims.
The glazing arrangement according to the invention comprises at least a first pane, a light source for producing light that can be coupled into the first pane and a light extraction means for coupling light out of the first pane, wherein the pane is provided to at least partially transmit coupled light. The first pane has at least a first main surface and a second main surface The light extraction means are provided for extracting the light via one of the two main surfaces.
For this purpose, the light extraction means has a transparent coating with a refractive index different from that of the air and that of the first pane. The transparent coating is applied in a planar manner at least sectionally on one of the two main surfaces. The coating can preferably comprise titanium oxide (TiOx).
In an advantageous embodiment, the refractive index of the transparent coating nB is preferably approx. 2.5. Because of the fact that the refractive index of the transparent coating nB differs greatly from the refractive index nL of the surrounding air and from the refractive index of the first pane ns, the light is refracted and coupled out at the transition from the pane to the coating and at the transition from the coating to the air. Advantageously, the coating is transparent and thus virtually invisible to the human eye even when the at least one light source is switched off. Furthermore, the coating can have a layer thickness of 300 nm to 200 μm, preferably 300 nm to 400 nm.
A coating, in particular a pane or an object, is understood to be “transparent”, when the coating, the pane, or the object has transmittance in the visible spectral range of more than 20%, preferably 50%, particularly preferably of more than 70%, in particular of more than 85%.
In another advantageous embodiment, the coating is roughened. In other words, the coating acquires roughness through patterning. For this purpose, after being applied to one of the two main surfaces, the coating is at least partially removed. Clean removal of the coating does not occur, instead, residues of the coating remain on one of the two main surfaces. The at least partial removal of the coating can be done by laser. As a result of the laser treatment, the coating has an irregular rough pattern and thus has a light-scattering effect. For example, the coating can have patterning in the form of circular areas. The circular areas can have a diameter of 10 μm, 200 μm, or up to 1 mm.
For effective light extraction, it is an advantageous embodiment for the coating to include multiple, in particular spherical, body elements. In other words, the body elements are embedded in the coating. The body elements are preferably transparent. As a result of the fact that the light propagating in the first pane is scattered on the body elements, particularly effective light extraction is achieved.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the body elements, which are, in particular spherical, are elliptical, cylindrical, or spheres. Due to a suitable shape of the body element, for example, a spherical shape, the light can be extracted from the light guide by utilizing refraction, reflection, and scattering. In order to enhance the scattering of the light, the spherical body elements can be partially filled or hollow, in particular, filled with air.
In another embodiment of the invention, the body elements can additionally be coated with a coating of titanium oxide or a fluorescent substance such that the scattering of the light is further enhanced.
For example, the body elements can, as spheres, have a diameter of 1 μm to 200 μm, preferably 5 μm to 100 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 80 μm. In the case of a cylindrical body element, the cylindrical body would have a length of 1 μm to 200 μm, preferably 5 μm to 100 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 80 μm. The, in particular spherical, bodies can have different sizes. Preferably, the body elements can be made of glass and/or polymer material. The glass and/or the polymer material are preferably transparent. For example, the body elements can be arranged in a single layer of the coating.
In another preferred embodiment, the coating is arranged or applied directly on the first main surface (IV) and/or on the second main surface (Ill). This is, in particular, the viewing area of the first pane. The coating can cover an area of at least 1 mm2, preferably 1000 mm2 to 1 m2.
The light source of the glazing arrangement according to the invention comprises at least one or more light-emitting diodes (LED). Additionally, or alternatively, the light source can comprise an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or a laser, with the light source preferably arranged on an end face of the first pane. Alternatively, or additionally, the light source can emit infrared or ultraviolet light, which is preferably converted into visible light by florescent or luminescent particles, preferably as a component of the light extraction means.
In an embodiment of the invention, the glazing arrangement can additionally include a light coupling means that is connected to the first main surface. In this case, the light source is arranged adjacent the light coupling means such that the light of the light source can be at least partially coupled into the first pane via the light coupling means. The light coupling means is intended to deflect part of the light incident from the light source in transmittance by scattering, reflection, refraction, or diffraction.
In another preferred embodiment, the glazing arrangement according to the invention has a composite pane. The composite pane comprises the first pane, which is joined to a second pane via an intermediate layer to form the composite pane. Preferably, the two panes and the intermediate layer therebetween are joined in a planar manner by lamination.
In principle, all electrically insulating substrates that are thermally and chemically stable as well as dimensionally stable under the conditions of production and use of the composite pane are suitable as the first pane and the second pane.
The first pane and/or, if present, the second pane preferably contain glass, particularly preferably float glass made of clear glass, most particularly preferably diamond glass. Alternatively, the panes can also contain flat glass, such as soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, or quartz glass, or clear plastics, rigid clear plastics, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and/or mixtures thereof. The first pane and/or the second pane are preferably transparent, in particular for the use of the panes as a windshield or a rear window of a vehicle or other uses in which high light transmittance is desired. In particular, at least the first pane and preferably also the second pane are made of clear glass.
However, for panes that are not located in the driver's traffic-relevant field of vision, for example, for roof panels, the transmittance can also be much lower, for example, greater than 5%. For this purpose, the second pane and/or the intermediate layer can be tinted or colored, for example.
The thickness of the first pane and/or the second pane can vary widely and thus be ideally adapted to the requirements of the individual case. Preferably, standard thicknesses of 1.0 mm to 25 mm, preferably of 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm are used for vehicle glass; and preferably of 4 mm to 25 mm, for furniture, appliances, and buildings. The size of the panes can vary widely and is governed by the size of the use according to the invention. In the automotive and architectural sector, the first pane and the second pane have, for example, customary areas of 200 cm2 up to 20 m2.
The glazing can have any three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the three-dimensional shape has no shadow zones such that it can, for example, be coated with additional coatings by cathode sputtering. Preferably, the panes are planar or slightly or highly curved in one or more spatial directions. In particular, planar substrates are used. The panes can be colorless or colored.
In the case of a composite pane, the first pane and the second pane are joined to one another by at least the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is preferably transparent or tinted or colored. The intermediate layer preferably contains at least one plastic, preferably polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the intermediate layer can also contain, for example, polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylate, polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyacetate resin, casting resins, acrylates, fluorinated ethylene propylenes, polyvinyl fluoride, and/or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The intermediate layer can be formed by one or even by a plurality of superimposed films, the thickness of a film preferably being from 0.025 mm to 1 mm, typically 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm. The intermediate layers can preferably be thermoplastic and, after lamination, bond the first pane, the second pane, and any other intermediate layers to one another. Particularly advantageous are so-called “acoustic-damping” intermediate layers, which preferably consist of three plies of PVB, with the middle ply softer than the two outer plies.
The intermediate layer can also have a functional layer, in particular an infrared-radiation-reflecting layer, an infrared-radiation-absorbing layer, a UV-radiation-absorbing layer, an at least sectionally colored layer, and/or an at least sectionally tinted layer. The thermoplastic intermediate layer can, for example, also be a band filter.
The terms “first pane” and “second pane” are chosen to distinguish the two panes in a composite pane according to the invention. No statement regarding the geometric arrangement is associated with the terms. For example, if the composite pane according to the invention is intended, in an opening, for example, of a vehicle or a building to separate the interior from the external surroundings, the first pane can face the interior or the external surroundings.
Furthermore, the first pane and/or the second pane can have further suitable coatings, for example, an anti-reflection coating, a nonstick coating, an anti-scratch coating, a photocatalytic coating, a sun-shading coating, and/or a low-E coating.
The glazing arrangement can further include other optional functional elements, in particular electronically controllable optical elements, for example, PDLC elements, electrochromic elements, or the like, which are typically arranged between the first pane and the second pane.
The first pane and the second pane are laminated to one another via the intermediate layer, for example, by autoclave methods, vacuum bag methods, vacuum ring methods, calender methods, vacuum laminators, or combinations thereof. The pane is usually bonded under the action of heat, vacuum, and/or pressure.
In a further aspect, the present invention includes a method for producing the glazing arrangement according to the invention, at least comprising:
In a preferred embodiment of the method, the coating can be applied to the first pane by screen printing.
Furthermore, in another advantageous embodiment, the coating is roughened, i.e., the coating acquires patterning. For this purpose, after being applied to one of the two main surfaces, the coating is then at least partially removed. Clean removal of the coating does not occur, instead, residues of the coating remain on one of the two main surfaces. The at least partial removal of the coating can be done by laser. As a result of the laser treatment, the coating has an irregular rough pattern and thus has a light-scattering effect.
The present invention further includes the use of the glazing arrangement according to the invention in means of locomotion for travel on land, in the air, or on water, in particular in motor vehicles, for example, as a roof panel.
Within the scope of the present invention, all embodiments mentioned for individual features can also be freely combined with one another, provided they are not contradictory.
In the following, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to figures and exemplary embodiments. The figures are a schematic representation and are not to scale. The figures in no way restrict the invention.
They depict:
Data with numerical values are generally not to be understood as exact values, but also include a tolerance of +/−1% up to +/−10%.
The first pane 1 has a first main surface IV and another second main surface III opposite the first main surface IV. The first pane 1 is delimited by four circumferential end faces 3, also referred to as side faces. The end faces are arranged orthogonal to the main surfaces III, IV. The first pane 1 is made, for example, of soda lime glass and its dimensions are 1.4 m×1.5 m. The first pane 1 has a thickness of 3 mm. The thickness of the first pane can be adapted to the respective use. The first pane 1 can comprise toughened, partially toughened, or non-toughened glass. Alternatively, the first pane 1 can be made of a plastic, for example, polycarbonate.
In the glazing arrangement 10, the light source 2 is arranged such that light is coupled into the pane 1 on one of the four end faces 3 of the pane 1. The light source 2 is intended to emit light in the visible range. Alternatively, it can emit infrared or ultraviolet light.
The light emitted by the light source 2 is directed toward the pane 1 and strikes, for example, a first end face 3 of the first pane 1. The pane 1 is intended to transmit the light coupled in at the first end face 3 through the pane 1 in the longitudinal direction. In
The light source 2 of the glazing arrangement 10 can comprise one or more light-emitting diodes (LED). The light source can also comprise an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).
A light extraction means 4 is arranged on the first main surface IV of the first pane 1. At the point where the light extraction means 4 is arranged, the total reflection of the light beam L1 is prevented and the light can emerge from the first pane 1 via the main surface IV. Without the light extraction means 4, the coupled light strikes the surface of the pane 1 at an angle such that total reflection of the light beam occurs.
The light extraction means 4 can be arranged at any point of the main surface IV or the main surface III. In
In the exemplary embodiment of
In
In order to enhance the scattering of the light emerging from the pane 1, the coating 4.1 can have multiple body elements 4.2. The body elements 4.2 can be spherical. The shape of the body elements 4.2 can be elliptical, cylindrical, or in the form of spheres. When the light source 2 is in operation, the light propagating in the first pane 1 is scattered on the body elements.
By means of body elements 4.2 in the form of spheres, for example, the light can be extracted particularly effectively out of the first pane by utilizing refraction, reflection, and scattering. In order to enhance the scattering of the light, the body elements 4.2 can be partially filled or hollow. Alternatively, or additionally, the body elements 4.2 can be coated with a coating of titanium oxide or a fluorescent substance such that the scattering of the light is further enhanced. Advantageously, the body elements 4.2 are transparent and thus virtually invisible to the human eye even when the light source 2 is switched off.
The body elements 4.2, as spheres, can have a diameter of 1 μm to 200 μm, preferably 5 μm to 100 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 80 μm. In the case of a cylindrical body element 4.2, the cylindrical body would have a length of 1 μm to 200 μm, preferably 5 μm to 100 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 80 μm. The body elements can have different sizes. Preferably, the body elements 4.2 are made of glass and/or polymer material. The glass and/or the polymer material are preferably transparent. For example, the body elements 4.2 can be arranged in a single layer of the coating.
The first pane 1, the intermediate layer 5, and the second pane 6 were joined to one another by lamination, in particular autoclaving. The second pane 6 has a first main surface II and a further second main surface I opposite the first main surface II.
The first pane 1 of
The intermediate layer 5 is a thermoplastic intermediate layer. It contains at least one thermoplastic film and, in an advantageous embodiment, is formed by a single thermoplastic film. This is advantageous in terms of a simple structure and low overall thickness of the composite glass. The thermoplastic intermediate layer or the thermoplastic film preferably contains at least polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), mixtures or copolymers or derivatives thereof that have proved useful for composite glasses.
The thickness of the thermoplastic intermediate layer 5 is preferably from 0.2 mm to 1.00 mm. For example, thermoplastic films of the standard thickness of 0.76 mm can be used. The intermediate layer 5 can also be implemented as an acoustically damping 3-ply PVB film.
The first pane 1, the second pane 6, and the intermediate layer 5 are, for example, clear (neither tinted nor colored). Alternatively, the intermediate layer 5 can have a tinted or colored PVB film. Alternatively, or additionally, the second pane 6 can be darkly tinted.
The light extraction means 4 in
The first pane 1 is, for example, intended to face an interior of a vehicle in the installed position. The first main surface IV of the first pane 1 is accessible from the interior, whereas the second main surface I of the second pane 6 faces outward relative to the vehicle interior.
The glazing arrangement 10 depicted in
The glazing arrangement 10 has the light coupling means 8, which is arranged opposite the light source 2 with respect to the first pane 1. The light coupling means 8 is a microprism film, a patterned plastic film, or plastic plate with a planar arrangement of microprisms. In this case, the light coupling means 8 preferably utilizes mechanisms of reflection, light refraction, diffraction, and/or scattering.
In a preferred embodiment of the method, the coating can be applied to the first pane by screen printing.
The step of arranging the light extraction means 4 can comprise depositing the coating 4.1 on the first pane and, additionally, a step 103 of the partial decoating of the coating 4.1 such that the coating 4.1 is roughened. The coating 4.1 can be roughened by laser. In other words, the coating 4.1 is patterned. The patterning of the coating can comprise multiple circular areas of the coating 4.1. The circular areas can have a diameter from 10 μm to 200 μm, for example, 56 μm, 63 μm, 98 μm, or 112 μm. Improved transparency in the switched off state is achieved without affecting the luminosity in the switched on state.
The coating 4.1 can have multiple body elements 4.2 in the form of spheres. However, the shape of the body elements 4.2 can also be elliptical or cylindrical. The body elements 4.2 can be partially filled or hollow and filled with air. Alternatively, or additionally, the body elements 4.2 can be coated with a coating of titanium oxide or a fluorescent substance such that the scattering of the light is further enhanced. Preferably, the body elements 4.2 are made of glass and/or polymer material. The glass and/or the polymer material are preferably transparent. For example, the body elements 4.2 can be arranged in a single layer of the coating.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21168569.8 | Apr 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/058894 | 4/4/2022 | WO |
