Patent Application
20240140073
The invention relates to a laminated glazing, in particular a windscreen, in a vehicle particularly a road vehicle or train, associated with a near infrared vision system. The invention likewise discloses a device combining said glazing and the vision system.
Autonomous vehicle glazings and the associated technology are constantly evolving, particularly for improving safety.
Laser remote sensing or LIDAR (an acronym for “light detection and ranging” or “laser detection and ranging”) can be used in the headlights of autonomous vehicles.
More recently, patent application WO20180153012 suggests placing a LIDAR operating in the near infrared between 750 nm and 1050 nm behind the laminated windscreen comprising two sheets of extra clear glass and an infrared filter.
The performance of this vision device (glazing associated with the LIDAR) can be improved.
To this end, the present invention relates to a laminated (and/or curved) glazing of a vehicle, particularly of a road vehicle (car, truck, public transport: bus, coach, etc.) or railway vehicle (particularly with a maximum speed of at most 90 km/h or at most 70 km/h, in particular subway trains, trams), particularly curved, in particular a windscreen, or a rear window, indeed even a side glazing, of a given thickness E1, for example sub-centimetric, particularly of at most 5 mm for a road vehicle windscreen, the glazing comprising:
The second glass sheet, particularly silica-based, soda lime-based, preferably soda-lime-silica-based, even aluminosilicate-based, or borosilicate-based, 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%.
The first glass sheet, particularly silica-based, soda-lime-based, soda-lime-silica-based, or aluminosilicate-based, or borosilicate-based, 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) and particularly greater than or equal to 0.005%. The redox of the first glass sheet is preferably greater than or equal to 0.15.
In otherwords, preferably, the first glass sheet, particularly silica-based, soda-lime-based, soda-lime-silica-based, or aluminosilicate-based, or borosilicate-based, has a
The glazing according to the invention further comprises:
The piece according to the invention has:
The piece according to the invention is particularly of a thickness of at least 0.1 mm and preferably of at least 0.3 mm and even of at least 0.7 mm and preferably of at most 3 mm, particularly the piece has a size (width and/or surface area) which is less than the through-hole, which piece has an edge face in contact with or spaced apart from the wall delimiting the through-hole by at most 5 mm, preferably spaced apart and by a distance of at most 2 mm and even ranging from 0.3 to 2 mm.
The glazing comprises a polymer bonding means, adhesive or a thermoplastic film (sheet), transparent at least at said “working” wavelength in the infrared, which bonding means is separate from said polymer material and optionally separate from said interlayer material, of a thickness of at most 1.5 mm, and better still of at most 1 mm or 500 μm.
The bonding means, preferably a thermoplastic film, in adhesive contact with face Fb or, when the lamination interlayer has an interlayer through-hole in line with said through-hole of the second sheet, the bonding means, adhesive or film, in adhesive contact with face F2 or with a functional element (preferably a functional coating), of sub-millimetric thickness and even of at most 200 nm, on face F2.
Said functional coating in particular has a first zone facing the through-hole, the functional coating is transparent at said “working” wavelength in the first zone, particularly is camouflaging coating.
In particular, the through-hole opens out onto said upper longitudinal edge or edge face or is closed off (surrounded by the glass wall of the second sheet), particularly in the vicinity of the upper longitudinal edge face.
Thus according to the invention, the following is selected in order to reach a high level of transmission for the laminated glazing:
This solution is more efficient than the one that is based on two solid extra clear glass sheets.
Additionally, by avoiding the use of a second extra clear glass sheet, it improves the comfort (heat inside the vehicle), aesthetics and is less expensive.
Iron oxide, present as an impurity in most of the natural raw materials used in glassmaking (sand, feldspar, limestone, dolomite, etc.), absorbs both in the visible and near-ultraviolet region (absorption due to the ferric ion Fe3+) and especially in the visible and near-infrared region (absorption due to the ferrous ion Fe2+). This is why the iron oxide is reduced in the first glass sheet.
In the second glass sheet, the choice can be made to have a higher level of iron oxide.
Moreover, in order to improve safety, this piece according to the invention is added in the through-hole which, so as not to adversely affect the efficiency of the LIDAR, is made of polymer material which is transparent at the working wavelength and by virtue of the anti-reflective element with a particularly high transmission. The anti-reflective element may be an anti-reflective coating or the interior surface which is textured (surface treatment etc), particularly nanotextured.
Preferably, facing said through-hole, the glazing comprising the first glass sheet, the lamination interlayer, the piece with said anti-reflective element (anti-reflective coating or textured surface) has a total transmission of at least 90.0%, 91.0%, or even 92% or 93.0% at the working wavelength, particularly 905±30 nm and/or 1550±30 nm, particularly measured at the normal (90°) or even preferably also at 60° or even up to 60° with respect to the (local) plane of the piece, for example on the anti-reflective element side.
The total infrared transmission is measured for example with a spectrophotometer such as the lambda 900 from Perkin Elmer.
Naturally, in one embodiment, if use is made of a multi-spectral vision system (in the near infrared range and the visible range) it may also be desired that, facing said through-hole, the glazing comprising the first glass sheet, the lamination interlayer, the piece with said anti-reflective element (anti-reflective coating or textured surface) has a total transmission of at least 90%, 91%, or even 92% at another working wavelength in the visible range, particularly between 400 nm and 700 nm, particularly measured at the normal or even preferably from 90° to 60°, with respect to the local plane of the piece, for example on the anti-reflective element side.
Preferably, before assembly, the piece with said anti-reflective element (anti-reflective coating or textured surface) has a total transmission of at least 91.0%, 92.0%, or even 93.0% or 95% at the working wavelength, particularly 905±30 nm and/or 1550±30 nm, particularly measured at the normal (90°) or even preferably also at 60° or even up to 60° with respect to the (local) plane of the piece, for example on the anti-reflective element side, and even if use is made of a multi-spectral vision system, the piece with said anti-reflective element (anti-reflective coating or textured surface) has a total transmission of at least 91%, 92%, or even 93% at another working wavelength in the visible range, particularly between 400 nm and 700 nm, particularly measured at the normal or even preferably from 90° to 60°, with respect to the plane of the piece, for example on the anti-reflective element side.
In order to quantify the transmission of the glass in the visible range, a light transmission factor, referred to as light transmission, is often defined, often abbreviated to “TL”, calculated between 380 and 780 nm and applied to a glass thickness of 3.2 mm or 4 mm, according to standard ISO 9050:2003, thus taking into account the illuminant D65 as defined by standard ISO/CIE 10526 and the C.I.E 1931 standard colorimetric observer as defined by standard ISO/CIE 10527.
Naturally, the light transmission TL of the laminated glazing in a zone without a hole (central zone of the windscreen) is preferably of at least 70% or 75%, 80% or 85%, 88%.
The invention is particularly suitable for glazings (windscreen, window, etc.) for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles: levels L2+, L3, L4 and L5 (“fully” autonomous) as well as vehicles such as Robot Taxis and shuttles, etc.
The angle of the glazing, particularly a windscreen of a road vehicle, can typically be between 21° and 36° with respect to the ground and on average 30°.
Preferably, the anti-reflective element comprises, or even consists of, an anti-reflective coating on the interior surface.
In particular,
The anti-reflective coating can also comprise an overlayer if it does not alter the anti-reflective properties.
The anti-reflective coating particularly of porous silica according to the invention can have a thickness advantageously of between 10 nm and 10 μm (including these limit values), in particular 50 nm and 1 μm and even more preferentially between 70 and 500 nm.
In a first porous silica embodiment, the pores are the gaps of a non-compact stack of nanometric beads, particularly of silica, this layer being described for example in document US20040258929.
In a second porous silica embodiment, the porous layer is obtained by depositing a condensed silica sol (silica oligomers) densified by NH3-type vapors, this layer being described for example in document WO2005049757.
In a third porous silica embodiment, the porous layer can also be of the sol-gel type as described in document EP1329433. The porous layer can also be obtained with other known pore-forming agents: micelles of cationic surfactant molecules in solution and, optionally, in hydrolyzed form, or of anionic, non-ionic surfactants, or amphiphilic molecules, for example block copolymers.
In a fourth porous silica embodiment, the porous layer can also be of the sol-gel type.
The layer of porous (or nanoporous) silica can have closed pores of at least 20 nm, 50 nm or 80 nm optionally with pores having a concentration increasing in the direction of the free surface.
The pores can have an elongated shape, particularly like a grain of rice. Even more preferentially, the pores can be substantially spherical or oval-shaped. It is preferred for the majority of the closed pores, or at least 80% of them, to have a substantially identical shape, particularly elongated, substantially spherical or oval-shaped.
The porous silica can be doped for example to further improve its hydrolytic content in the case of applications which require great strength (fagades, exteriors, etc.). The doping elements can preferably be selected from Al, Zr, B, Sn, Zn. The dopant is introduced to replace the Si atoms in a molar percentage that can preferably reach 10%, even more preferentially up to 5%.
The anti-reflective coating, particularly the layer of porous silica (sol-gel) can comprise a chemical protection underlayer particularly with a thickness of at most 200 nm for example, particularly a dense silica layer, by sol-gel with a sol-gel functional layer of porous silica on top.
The underlayer can be based on silica or at least partially oxidized derivatives of silicon selected from silicon dioxide, sub-stoichiometric silicon oxides, oxycarbide, oxynitride or oxycarbonitride of silicon.
The underlayer is useful when the underlying surface is made of soda-lime-silica glass because it acts as a barrier to the alkalis.
This underlayer therefore advantageously comprises Si, O, optionally carbon and nitrogen. But it can also include minority materials with respect to the silicon, for example metals like Al, Zn or Zr. The underlayer can be deposited by sol-gel or by pyrolysis, particularly by gas-phase pyrolysis (CVD). The latter technique makes it possible to obtain layers of SiOxCy or SiO2 quite easily, particularly by deposit directly on the float glass ribbon in the case of glass substrates. But the deposition can also be carried out by a vacuum technique, for example by cathode sputtering from a Si target (optionally doped) or a silicon suboxide target (in a reactive oxidizing and/or nitriding atmosphere for example). This underlayer preferably has a thickness of at least 5 nm, particularly a thickness of between 10 nm and 200 nm, for example between 80 nm and 120 nm.
It is also possible to place an anti-reflective element (anti-reflective coating or textured surface) on face F1.
Face F1 may further comprise a functional layer: hydrophobic, etc.
The piece may be spaced apart from the wall by a distance of at least 0.3 mm and of at most 3 mm.
It is preferred for the piece to be spaced apart (empty or filled space), but not too much, to retain its safety function.
The piece can be curved (convex), following the curvature of the first glass sheet.
This piece can be curved by molding.
In one embodiment, this piece is flexible and is curved following the curvature of the first glass sheet for example during the assembly before lamination (and after the bending of the first and second glass sheets).
Before lamination (before assembly), the piece may have undergone a heat treatment (at a lower temperature than during the bending of the glass sheets) to form an anti-reflective coating. For example, this is a coating (sol-gel silica precursor with pore-forming agent) which is heat treated (to eliminate the pore-forming agent) to have the anti-reflective function, for example to form nanopores.
The bonding surface may be naked and in (direct) adhesive contact with face Fb (solid or partially holed interlayer, single or multi-laminations, preferably PVB) or the bonding means
The bonding surface may be naked and the coating is in (direct) adhesive contact with face Fb (solid or partially holed interlayer, single or multi-laminations, preferably PVB) or the bonding means.
At least a fraction of the thickness of the piece (for example at least 0.3 mm) is in the through-hole, and even the thickness of the piece is in the through-hole.
The bonding surface is preferably flush under face F3 (particularly lamination interlayer with partial hole or locally reduced thickness) or flush with face F3 or flush over face F3 (in the hole), by an interlayer overthickness via the bonding film, here integral with the interlayer added before lamination, etc., and/or the interior surface being flush under (in the through-hole), flush with, or flush over face F4.
The piece is polymeric. It preferably comprises at least 90% or 95 or 99% or 100% by weight of polymer material. The piece may be an extruded part, injection molded. The piece may be produced by RIM (Reaction Injection Molding).
The piece according to the invention may be adapted to the curvature of the first sheet, in particular be flexible (or semi-flexible) or may be rigid, may be planar or preformed curved.
The piece may be based on polyester, in particular a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), poly(acrylic acid), polycarbonate (PC) polyacrylate, a polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene), polyurethane (PU), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyamide, polyimide, or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) a polystyrene (PS) or even a fluorinated polymer such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), ethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) copolymers.
The piece, particularly of at least 1 mm and/or of at least 50% or 80% of the thickness of the second glass sheet, may in particular be polycarbonate PC, polymethyl methacrylate PMMA or even polyester, in particularly polyethylene terephthalate PET.
The piece, particularly PMMA, may comprise an adhesion primer on the face F2 side. And/or face F2 (without functional coating, or on the functional coating) may comprise a single-component, two-component or three-component adhesion primer, for example based on polyurethane, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, isocyanate . . . , of a thickness of 5 to 30 μm
The adhesive may particularly be a (organic resin, polymer) adhesive, particularly pressure-sensitive PSA or hot-melt (for example liquid deposition or double-sided tape, of a thickness of 1 to 50 μm) or a thermosetting adhesive. The adhesive may be a thermoplastic adhesive.
There are several types of adhesive. Hot-melt adhesives, which have to be melted and which adhere when they cure, thermosetting adhesives which cure when their components react (under ultraviolet, particularly crosslinking, etc.), or when a solvent evaporates, pressure-sensitive adhesives, PSA, which adhere immediately just by contact.
Hot-melt adhesive or HMA may be based on thermoplastic polymers (polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides and above all copolymers like EVA or else polyolefin elastomers, POE).
The thermosetting adhesive may be based on silicone or acrylic. The adhesive may be of the optical adhesive type (OCA, optical clear adhesive).
According to the invention, the PSA adhesive may for example have a thickness of at most 50 μm (adhesive tape type, in particular of at most 20 μm if it is deposited by the liquid route.
The adhesive (non-adhesive) can, for example, be a gel, in particular a hydrogel, based on polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, polysaccharide, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, silicone.
The adhesive can even be a pressure-sensitive adhesive. A pressure-sensitive adhesive, abbreviated to PSA and commonly called self-adhesive, is an adhesive which forms a bond when a pressure is applied to it, so as to render the adhesive integral with the surface to be adhesively bonded. No solvent or water or heat is necessary to activate the adhesive. It is used in automobile trims and in a great variety of other products.
As its name shows it to be “pressure-sensitive”, the degree of bonding between a given surface and the self-adhesive binder is influenced by the amount of pressure used to apply the adhesive to the target surface. Other factors are also involved and are important for good adhesion, such as softness, surface energy and removal of contaminants.
The adhesive can be a sheet of pressure-sensitive adhesive PSA.
PSAs are generally designed to form a bond and to maintain the latter at ambient temperature. A person skilled in the art will choose a self-adhesive formulation suited to the conditions of its use. This is because PSAs generally experience a reduction in or disappearance of their adhesion at low temperature and experience a reduction in their ability to withstand shearing at elevated temperatures.
PSAs are generally based on elastomer coupled with an appropriate additional adhesive agent or “tackifying” agent (for example an ester resin).
The elastomers can be based:
Advantageously, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is chosen from PSAs based on acrylates and PSAs based on silicone.
PSA adhesives are sold in the form of double-sided adhesive rolls. Mention may be made, as PSAs based on silicone, of the Dow Corning® adhesives, such as 2013 Adhesive, 7657 Adhesive, Q2-7735 Adhesive, Q2-7406 Adhesive, Q2-7566 Adhesive, 7355 Adhesive, 7358 Adhesive, 280A Adhesive, 282 Adhesive, 7651 Adhesive, 7652 Adhesive or 7356 Adhesive.
The thermoplastic bonding film may be a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a plasticizer-free thermoplastic or a thermoplastic containing less than 15% or 5% by weight of plasticizers, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, a PVB containing less than 15% by weight of plasticizers, preferably less than 10% by weight of plasticizers and even better still less than 5% by weight, or a plasticizer-free PVB.
The lamination interlayer may comprise a PVB, optionally having a partial interlayer hole, in line with the through-hole, or the lamination interlayer comprises a PVB, having an interlayer through-hole, in line with the through-hole, the bonding means is a thermoplastic bonding film, particularly a PVB, containing less than 15% by weight of plasticizers, preferably less than 10% by weight and even better still less than 5% by weight, in particular having a thickness different from (less than) the lamination interlayer.
In particular, as plasticizer-free PVB, it is possible to choose the product “MOWITAL LP BF” from KURARAY with the desired thickness which is particularly different from (less than) the interlayer thickness.
The piece and the bonding film are for example pre-assembled before lamination.
The glazing according to the invention has, under and/or in the through-hole, preferably on the face F2 side (rather than face F1), a selective filter that absorbs in the visible range and is transparent at said working wavelength, spaced apart from (and on the F2 side) or associated with the bonding surface, or the piece forms said selective filter or the bonding film is a sheet which is a camouflaging film.
The selective filter (forming the camouflaging element) serves to conceal the infrared vision system at said working wavelength such as a LIDAR from the outside of the vehicle without adversely affecting the excellent transmission at the working wavelength.
Said selective filter (camouflaging coating on face F2, polymer camouflaging film particularly adhesively bonded to face F2) is for example local with a given surface area S0 and the orthogonal projection of the surface S0 on the second sheet encompasses at least the section Sc of the through-hole or at least 0.9 Sc. For example, S0 ranges from 0.9 Sc to 1.2 Sc. S0 may be smaller than Sc, particularly if an opaque masking layer overhangs under the through-hole (at the periphery).
The selective filter (camouflaging coating on face F2, camouflaging polymer film particularly adhesively bonded on face F2) under the through-hole can extend further than the through-hole, for example to conceal one or other sensors, as detailed below.
The piece and the camouflaging bonding film are for example pre-assembled before lamination.
Preferably, facing said through-hole, the laminated glazing (at least the assembly comprising the first glass sheet, the lamination interlayer, the piece, the selective filter) has:
The piece may form said selective filter, the piece is thus bulk colored.
In one advantageous embodiment, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating which is on face F2 (particularly naked, without underlying coating), facing the through-hole and even protruding under face F3.
The camouflaging coating is for example a solid layer, or even a layer with discontinuities, for example forming a (micro or nano) mesh.
This camouflaging coating may be of any nature: organic or mineral, ink, varnish (particularly a coloring layer, detailed below), it may be located at said through-hole or be more extensive, for example to conceal one or other sensors, as detailed below.
The camouflaging coating can protrude beyond the through-hole for example by at most 50 mm or better still by at most 20 mm between face F2 and face F3 in a (glazed) zone, referred to as edge zone, of said hole and have a different shape for the filter and the through-hole, for example.
The selective filter may be a colored (bulk opaque) polymer film or with a camouflaging coating adhesively bonded to, or in adhesive contact with, face F2.
For a selective filter involving a polymer film, it is preferred for it to be in adhesive contact with face F2 or with the lamination interlayer.
Preferably, the selective filter (for example the piece or the coating on face F2 or on a polymer film) has substantially the same color (black, etc.) and/or optical density as the peripheral opaque masking layer (black, etc.). For example, the optical density difference between the selective filter and the opaque masking layer is at most 5%, 3%, 2% and they are even the same color.
The selective filter can be local, in the region of the through-hole (taking up a fraction of the glazing surface) and take up less than 30, 10%, 5% of the glazing.
The selective filter can have any general rectangular or square shape, identical and even homothetic to the shape of the through-hole.
The distance between the upper longitudinal edge and the selective filter can be at most 30 mm, 20 mm 15 mm and even 10 mm.
Preferably, under in said through-hole, the laminated glazing comprises:
In one embodiment, under said through-hole, the laminated glazing is
The through-hole is for example closed (as opposed to opening, such as a cavity made in the edge face of the second sheet), particularly spaced apart from the edge face of the second sheet by at least 2 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm or even more.
The film selective filter under the through-hole can protrude beyond the through-hole for example by at most 50 mm or better still by at most 20 mm between face F2 and face F3 in a (glazed) zone, referred to as edge zone, of said hole and have a different shape for the selective filter and the through-hole, for example.
The selective filter on face F2 and/or comprising a film (under the through-hole) will conceal the hole and the LIDAR. The selective filter may extend beyond the zone of the through-hole under face F3. Indeed, it may also be desired to cover a zone devoid of opaque masking layer (which absorbs at the working wavelength), for example a gap of this opaque masking layer or else a contiguous zone or a zone in the vicinity.
The selective filter on face F2 and/or comprising a film can thus mask, in particular, a zone referred to as camera zone, devoid of sensor(s), in particular a camera in the visible range or in the far infrared range (thermal camera). Nevertheless, to this end, the selective filter has a (closed or opening) gap in the zone provided for allowing the passage of light rays originating from the scene to be captured by the visible camera and/or a (closed or opening) gap in the zone provided for allowing the passage of rays originating from the scene to be captured by the thermal camera.
The selective filter on face F2 and/or comprising a film can surround the chosen closed hole (present over the whole periphery of the closed hole), for example of a similar or homothetic shape to the hole. The selective filter can also be a simple geometric shape (rectangle, etc.) in which the closed hole is inscribed.
So as not to identify the LIDAR zone, the selective filter preferably does not form an isolated (substantially) opaque zone (which is visible and identifiable from face F1) adjacent to a transparent zone of the laminated glazing over all or part of the periphery thereof. The selective filter can therefore:
In one embodiment, the selective filter comprises a coloring layer comprising a matrix (organic, polymeric, mineral or hybrid) and a coloring agent dispersed in said matrix, said coloring agent absorbing (substantially all) the light located in said visible range and being (substantially) transparent at said working wavelength, which coloring layer forms, in the zone of said hole, the camouflaging coating already described:
The coloring layer may be of submillimetric thickness and even of at most 20 μm.
The compound of the coloring layer may be polymeric or an organic-mineral hybrid. The compound/polymer matrix of the coloring layer is selected from monomers, oligomers, or polymers comprising at least one methacrylate function, epoxides, varnishes consisting of dispersed particles of PVB, latex, polyurethane or acrylate.
The coloring layer can contain any pigment or dye having a higher transmittance in the infrared than its transmittance in the visible range, such as a near-infrared black ink which substantially absorbs visible wavelengths and transmits those in the near infrared. For example, the coloring layer may contain dyes or inks such as Spectre™ inks, for example Spectre™ 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, or 160 (Epolin, Newark, NJ); Mimaki inks, for example Mimaki ES3, SS21, BS3, SS2, or HS (Mimaki Global, Tomi-city, Nagano, Japan); or Seiko inks, for example Seiko 1000, 1300, SG700, SG740, or VIC (Seiko Advance Ltd., Japan) or else IR9508 black ink from MingBo anti Forgery Technology Co Itd
The coloring layer may contain one or more components of black, cyan, magenta or yellow dye.
The coloring layer can include dyes or pigments or both. The coloring layer can include Lumogen® Black FK 4280 or Lumogen® Black FK 4281 (BASF, Southfield, MI).
Preferably, in the coloring layer:
The coloring layer can be a varnish of less than 30 μm.
For the coloring layer, it is possible to adjust the layer thickness or the percentage by weight of dye, in particular to less than 1%, 5% to 20%, 30%.
The selective filter can comprise a colored (bulk opaque) polymer film such as PET, loaded in the bulk thereof with dyes by a “deep dyeing” process by “roll to roll”, particularly by submerging in a hot bath with the dyes. The final concentration of dye must be sufficient to provide opaqueness in the visible range. Reference may be made to patent WO9307329 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,046.
It is possible, on a (transparent or colored) polymer film such as PET, to place a coloring layer as main face.
It is possible to combine a polymer film such as PET, bulk dyed, and a coloring layer on this remaining film facing said hole or on face F2.
It is possible to provide different extents for the selective filter under face F3 and particularly spaced apart from the piece:
The selective filter can be defined by a L*1, a*1 b*1, defined in the L*a*b* CIE 1976 color space. The masking layer of color C1 is also defined by a L*2, a*2 b*2 with a color difference ΔE* given by the following formula
ΔE*=√(ΔL*2+Aa*2+Ab*2).
Preferably, ΔE*<4, better still ΔE*<2 (discerned with difficulty by the human eye), even better still ΔE*<1 (not discerned by the human eye).
In a first configuration, the selective filter under face F3 extends (mainly) beyond into an edge zone of the through-hole (therefore under the second glass sheet) in order to form, alone, a masking element, in particular a peripheral masking strip and preferably along a longitudinal edge of the glazing, particularly the longitudinal edge of a windscreen or even a masking frame.
In this case, the selective filter has dual functionality and can replace all or part of the opaque enamel (at face F2 and/or F3 and/or F4) or the ink printed on the lamination interlayer conventionally used.
In one embodiment, the masking layer and the selective filter are optionally in separate planes and are outside the through-hole:
In particular, the edge face of the selective filter is spaced apart (laterally) by at most 100 μm from the gap in order not to see the interruption in opaqueness with the naked eye, and the edge face of the masking layer forming the edge of the gap is spaced apart (laterally) by at most 500 μm from the wall of the through-hole, if it is desired to limit the extent of the selective filter.
In the specific case in which the masking layer is an ink deposited (printed) on the lamination interlayer (PVB), it may be preferred for the ink to be spaced apart from the edge of said through-hole by at least 1 cm in order to prevent delamination.
In the specific case in which the masking layer is an ink deposited (printed) on the lamination interlayer (PVB), it may be preferred for the ink to be spaced apart from the edge of said through-hole by at least 1 cm in order to prevent delamination.
In particular, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating on face F2 and is covered by the masking layer, particularly coverage over at most 50 mm.
In particular, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating on face F2 and the masking layer is on one of faces FA or FB, particularly coverage over at most 50 mm.
In particular, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating on face FA or FB and is covered by the masking layer, for example an ink, particularly coverage over at most 50 mm.
In particular, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating on one of faces FA or FB and the masking layer is on the other of faces FA or FB, particularly coverage over at most 50 mm.
In particular, the selective filter is a camouflaging coating on one of faces F2, FA or FB and the masking layer is on face F3 or F4, particularly coverage (in projection) over at most 50 mm.
The opaque masking layer is preferably a continuous layer (flattened with a solid edge or alternatively a gradient edge (set of patterns).
The masking layer can be at 2 mm or 3 mm (less than 5 mm) from the edge face of the glazing.
The masking layer can be a band framing the glazing (windscreen etc.) particularly in black enamel. A gap is thus created in this masking layer.
Another masking layer can be on face F3 or F4.
The lamination interlayer can comprise a PVB, optionally comprising PVB/functional film such as polymer film with athermal coating/PVB, optionally acoustic PVB, PVB optionally having an interlayer through-hole or a partial interlayer through-hole in line with the through-hole.
The interlayer through-hole or partial through-hole can be wider than the second through-hole (at least before lamination) in particular by at most 5 mm or 10 mm.
The lamination interlayer can comprise another functional plastic film (transparent, clear or tinted), for example preferably a polyethylene terephthalate PET film supporting a layer that is athermal, electrically conductive, etc., for example a PVB/functional film/PVB between faces F2 and F3.
The other plastic film can have a thickness of between 10 and 100 μm. The other plastic film can more broadly be made of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin (PE: polyethylene, PP: polypropylene), polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC). A clear film is preferred, in particular PET.
Use may be made, for example, of a coated clear PET film, for example XIR from Eastman, a coextruded film made of PET-PMMA, for example of the SRF 3M® type, but also numerous other films (for example made of PC, PE, PEN, PMMA, PVC).
Without departing from the scope of the invention, the lamination interlayer clearly can comprise several different types of laminations made of thermoplastic material, for example, with different hardnesses in order to provide an acoustic function, as disclosed, for example, in publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,882, particularly a set of PVB laminations with different hardnesses. Similarly, one of the glass sheets can be thin compared to the thicknesses conventionally used.
According to the invention, the interlayer can have a wedge-shape, particularly in view of an HUD (Head Up Display) application.
As a common lamination interlayer (of stretchable sheet(s)), other than PVB, mention can be made of the flexible polyurethane PU used, a thermoplastic such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, an ionomer resin. These plastics have a thickness, for example, of between 0.2 mm and 1.1 mm, particularly 0.3 and 0.7 mm.
The space between the piece and the wall can be filled fully or in part (or not) with a filling material (organic and/or inorganic), optionally adhesive (particularly resin, particularly thermosetting, hot melt, for example two-component polyurethane, epoxy, etc.). The thickness of this material is for example less than the thickness of the second sheet and/or of the piece.
The glazing may comprise an insert between the wall of the through-hole and the piece, particularly a closed insert if the through-hole is closed. An insert (annular, of ring type, etc.), for example made of flexible polymer material (polycarbonate etc.) may be housed in, mounted on (particularly adhesively bonded or force-fitted) to the wall of the second glass sheet:
The insert according to the invention is preferably spaced apart from the infrared vision system (LIDAR) and does not serve for the attachment of same.
The glazing thus comprises a communication window encompassing a (first) zone of the first glass sheet facing said through-hole.
The glazing may of course comprise another communication window. The glazing may therefore comprise another zone of the first glass sheet facing another through-hole (closed or opening) of the second glass sheet delimited by another wall provided with another piece (identical or similar to said piece), made of polymer, transparent at least at the working wavelength in the infrared, which other piece is of a thickness of at least 0.3 mm, which other piece with an edge face in contact with or spaced apart from the wall of the other hole by a distance of at most 5 mm and even of at most 3 mm. For example:
The holes may be of similar size. The opening or closed through-hole (and even the other hole) may have a constant or variable (cross) section Sc, particularly trapezoidal or rectangular or disk-shaped or oval, is for example smaller (in diameter or vertically) by at least 2 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm and preferably larger (particularly horizontally) by at most 30 cm or 25 cm or 20 cm.
For example, the through-hole faces the receiver of the LIDAR, and the other through-hole faces the transmitter of the LIDAR.
The through-hole (and even the other hole) is preferably in a peripheral region, preferably the upper part of the glazing (in installed position), and even in a peripheral central region. The through-hole (and even the other hole) is in particular located in one region and take up less than 10% or even less than 1% of the glazing. For example the lower edge of the through-hole is at most separated by 50 cm from the upper longitudinal edge face of the glazing.
The through-hole can be:
The shape and dimensions of the through-hole (and even of the other hole) are configured according to the techniques of the art in order to effectively and selectively collect all the radiation passing through the glazing (windscreen, window, etc.), particularly in the case of LIDAR the radiation reflected from a solid angle range outside the vehicle and coming from the area in front of the vehicle that is to be captured via the LIDAR.
The through-hole (and even the other hole) may have rounded corners.
If the through-hole is a notch a part of this notch will be masked by the frame of the glazing and thus non-functional for the infrared vision system. If the hole is closed it is too close to the edge and the same applies.
If the through-hole is closed, the edge of the through-hole closest to the edge face of the glazing (preferably upper longitudinal edge and particularly in a central zone) is spaced apart from this edge face of the glazing (of the second sheet) preferably by at least 2 cm or 3 cm and better still 5 cm.
The through-hole can be in the central zone of the upper longitudinal edge of the windscreen, the usual zone of the interior rearview mirror (rearview mirror adjacent to the through-hole or rearview mirror eliminated depending on the vehicle), zone where a masking layer on face F2 and/or bonded to the interlayer is generally wider than on the adjacent lateral zones along the upper longitudinal edge (passenger, driver, etc.).
The through-hole (and even the other hole) is preferably longer than it is high.
Preferably, the through-hole (and even the other hole) has a horizontal dimension, referred to as length L1 (parallel to the upper longitudinal edge) and a vertical dimension of the hole, referred to as height H1 (perpendicular to the upper longitudinal edge), the length L1 is greater than the height H1.
In particular, the section of the hole (and even of the other hole) is a quadrilateral, particularly a rectangle or trapezoid, with:
If the hole is closed, the first (large) “upper” longitudinal side is preferably parallel to the edge face of the upper longitudinal edge of the glazing and particularly spaced apart by at least 5 cm or 6 cm from the edge face (of the upper longitudinal edge of the glazing).
If the hole is open (notch), the first (large) “upper” longitudinal side is preferably defined as the upper edge of the emptied zone.
A central line M is defined passing through the middle of the upper edge which can be an axis of symmetry of the glazing. The through-hole can be central, then the line M passes through the through-hole and divides it into two, particularly identical, parts.
In one embodiment, the glazing comprises a heating zone (by wire(s), by layer) which takes up all or part of the surface of the glazing, conventionally made of a material that is transparent in the visible range but not necessarily transparent enough at the infrared working wavelength of the infrared vision system (LIDAR) in a range extending from 800 nm to 1800 nm, in particular between 850 nm and 1600 nm. In particular there can be a first “main” heating zone, extending over all or part of the glazing optionally outside the zone in front facing the through-hole and facing said optional other through-hole.
It may also be desirable for the communication window (and the other optional communication window) to be protected against frost and mist particularly by heating.
This can be done by one or more heating metal wires located facing the through-hole or even in the vicinity thereof or even by one or more heating wires extending over all or part of the glazing. The arrangement of the one or more wires can make it possible to maintain overall transparency at the infrared working wavelength.
This can also be done by a local heating layer facing the through-hole made of a material that is transparent at the infrared working wavelength.
In one embodiment, the glazing according to the invention can comprise at least one metal wire (a coiled wire, for example) particularly heating, connected to the lamination interlayer, within the lamination or particularly on the side of face Fb particularly anchored on face Fb (or even on the side of Fa, anchored on Fa) and optionally absent facing said through-hole and said optional other through-hole.
It may be sought to avoid the heating wire or wires facing the through-hole and/or said optional other through-hole for reasons of optical distortions.
More specifically, it is possible to have a local heating zone under and/or in said through-hole, in particular spaced apart or on the bonding surface, particularly by an arrangement of tracks or wire(s) (wire(s), etc.) of a material, particularly absorbent, which arrangement is for keeping the overall transparency at the working wavelength in the infrared or by a heating layer made of material which is transparent at the working wavelength in the infrared, particularly organic (ink, conductive polymer) or inorganic.
The local heating zone can be connected to at least two electrical leads which are in particular one or more flat connectors or (in the case of a heating layer) electrically conductive busbars intended for connecting to a voltage source so that a current path for a heating current is formed therebetween. It is not always necessary to have busbars in the case of heating wire(s) for which a flat connector (useful for point contacts such as wires) can be used.
The two electrical leads are preferably masked off from the outside by a masking layer which is opaque (in the visible range and in the near infrared at the working wavelength) and/or by a selective filter (opaque in the visible range and transparent in the near infrared) further toward the outside than the busbars, particularly a camouflaging coating on face F2.
The thickness of the heating layer can have a sheet resistance of at most 100 or 50 or even 30 ohms per square.
The supply may be 12 V, 24 V, 15 V, 48 V.
The heating layer is for example mineral.
More generally, the local busbars are preferably masked from the outside by a masking element:
The local heating zone, in particular the local heating layer, can extend beyond the through-hole for example over at most 30 mm. It can have the same shape as the through-hole, particularly homothetic (trapezoidal etc.) or even any other shape, for example rectangular (and trapezoidal hole). The two local busbars or flat connector(s) are thus preferably all or in part offset from the through-hole under face F3 and even masked from the outside, as already described.
The local heating layer can be spaced apart from the bonding surface, particularly under the through-hole and extending under face F3, with the two local busbars all or in part offset from the through-hole, under face F3 and even masked from the outside, as already described. The first and second busbars are preferably at a distance of at most 1 cm from the through-hole.
The local heating layer can be spaced apart or on the bonding surface and the two local busbars are at a distance of at most 30 cm or even 20 cm, or even are lateral, particularly vertical or oblique, along the short sides of the trapezoidal through-hole.
The local heating layer can be on the bonding surface with the two local busbars, preferably at the periphery, masked from the outside as already described by the opaque masking layer and/or by a selective filter, particularly a camouflaging coating on face F2.
To this end, the opaque masking layer can then overhang under, and at the periphery of, the through-hole.
In the case of two through-holes, it is possible to have another separate local heating zone or a common local heating zone.
It is possible in particular to have:
Preferably, the busbars are on either side of the through-hole.
In one configuration, the first and second busbars, particularly in the vicinity of the through-hole, are on two opposite sides of the through-hole.
One or the busbars (local) can be continuous or discontinuous by sections.
The busbars (local) are in the form of particularly rectangular strips which are (at least in part) outside the zone of the through-hole.
The width of the busbars (local) is preferably from 2 mm to 30 mm, in a particularly preferred way from 4 mm to 20 mm and in particular from 10 mm to 20 mm.
A busbar (local) particularly in a layer (printed) preferably contains at least one metal, a metal alloy, a metal and/or carbon compound, in particular preferably a noble metal and, in particular, silver. For example, the printing paste preferably contains metal particles, metal and/or carbon particles and, in particular, noble metal particles such as silver particles. The thickness of a layer busbar (printed) can preferably be from 5 μm to 40 μm, in a particularly preferred way from 8 μm to 20 μm and more particularly preferably from 8 μm to 12 μm.
Alternatively, however, it is possible to use for one or each busbar (local) an electrically conductive sheet, particularly a strip, for example rectangular. The busbar then contains, for example, at least aluminum, copper, tinned copper, gold, silver, zinc, tungsten and/or tin or alloys thereof. This sheet busbar (strip) preferably has a thickness of 10 μm to 500 μm, in a particularly preferred way of 30 μm to 300 μm.
The sheet busbar is in particular used for the heating wires bonded to the lamination interlayer.
The first busbar is preferably (substantially) horizontal and closest to the upper longitudinal edge of the glazing and the second busbar is then preferably (substantially) horizontal, first and second busbar on either side of the through-hole.
The supply of power is for example of 15 V or 48 V.
The length of the busbars are adapted to measure, for example equal to or longer than the sides of the through-hole facing them.
It is sought to bring the busbars as close together as possible to increase the power density in the transparent heating layer. Preferably, the distance between busbars is at most 20 cm or 10 cm or 6 cm.
The supply of power of the (first, second) busbars can be provided wirelessly and/or with a connector (wires, flat connectors, etc.).
The busbars can be lateral, that is to say to the left and right of the through-hole along the lateral edges of the glazing.
The first busbar can be preferably lateral (vertical or oblique) and the second busbar is then preferably (substantially) lateral (vertical or oblique), first and second busbar on either side of the first through-hole.
In a first configuration (with horizontal dedicated busbars):
In a second configuration (with lateral dedicated busbars (vertical or oblique)):
In the case of a round or oval through hole, the busbars (substantially horizontal or lateral, common or dedicated busbars) can be curved to match the shape of the through-hole.
For busbars under and/or offset from the through-hole, vertical or oblique lateral busbars (parallel with respect to the small sides of the through-hole) may be preferred since the horizontal busbars can generate local overthicknesses that promote distortions.
The first local heating zone and/or overall heating zone comprises for example one or a plurality of individual metal wires, referred to as “heating metal wires” which connect the “busbars” to one another. The heating current passes through these individual metal wires.
In particular, the glazing can comprise at least one first metal wire (a coiled wire for example), particularly heating, bonded to the lamination interlayer facing the through-hole particularly:
The heating wire or wires particularly have a thickness less than or equal to 0.1 mm preferably made of copper, tungsten, gold, silver or aluminum or alloys of at least two of these metals.
The wire or wires are advantageously very thin so as not to impair, or only very slightly impair, the transparency of the glazing. Preferably, the metal wires have a thickness less than or equal to 0.1 mm, in particular between 0.02 and 0.04 mm and ideally between 0.024 mm and 0.029 mm. The metal wire or wires preferably contain copper, tungsten, gold, silver or aluminum or an alloy of at least two of these metals. The alloy can also contain molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, iridium, palladium or platinum.
The metal wire or wires are preferably electrically insulated.
Moreover, the glazing may comprise, on face F2, a functional film adhesively bonded to face F2 (for example by pressure-sensitive adhesive or preferably a functional coating of sub-millimetric thickness, particularly of at most 200 μm or 100 μm, functional element (functional coating) with a first zone facing the through-hole, functional element (functional coating) transparent at least at the “working” wavelength in the infrared at least in the first zone, particularly a heating coating or preferably a camouflaging coating forming a selective filter (such as that mentioned above).
The functional element (functional coating) on face F2 can be local, in the region of the through-hole and take up less than 30, 10%, 5% of the glazing.
The functional element (functional coating) on face F2 can have any rectangular or square general shape, identical and even homothetic to the shape of the through-hole.
The functional element on face F2 can be a coating which:
As already mentioned, the glazing can comprise, between face F2 and Fa, an opaque masking layer particularly an enamel (black etc.) on face F2 and/or on face Fa (in particular on Fa an ink, particularly black, etc.), at the edge of the through-hole between face F2 and Fa, in particular on the peripheral zone and even central and preferably along the longitudinal edge of the glazing.
The masking layer is for example on face F2 and the camouflaging coating is on the masking layer or under the masking layer and/or the masking layer is on face Fa and the camouflaging coating on face F2 is in contact with the masking layer.
The masking layer can then have a gap in line with said through-hole (at least in the central zone) and preferably which protrudes by at most 50 mm, 30 mm or 20 mm or 10 mm, 7 mm or 5 mm in said through-hole.
This masking layer masks the infrared vision system and/or for example its casing.
A masking layer can be a printed layer on the lamination interlayer for example on the PVB.
The opaque masking layer is preferably a continuous layer (flattened with a solid edge or alternatively a gradient edge (set of patterns).
The masking layer can be at 2 mm or 3 mm (less than 5 mm) from the edge face of the glazing (closest).
The masking layer can be a band framing the glazing (windscreen etc.) particularly in black enamel. A gap is thus created in this masking layer.
Another masking layer (particularly black enamel etc.) can be on face F3 or F4 particularly facing toward the masking layer (and even of identical nature, for example a particularly black enamel).
More broadly speaking, the glazing can thus comprise, on face F2 (or on face F3 or else on a polymer film between face F2 and F3) a functional (athermal) layer, extending over all or part of the glazing, particularly a transparent (in the visible range) electrically conductive, optionally heating layer, in particular a silver stack, or else an opaque masking layer, particularly an enamel, functional layer which absorbs at the working wavelength in the infrared, and which is absent from said through-hole at least in the central zone and at the edge of the through-hole between face F2 and Fa, particularly by means of a resist
Said functional coating is on face F2, transparent at the working wavelength, is facing the through-hole, particularly local heating layer (as mentioned above) or camouflaging coating forming selective filter (as mentioned above), optionally being in contact with said functional layer, particularly on or under the functional layer
The functional layer can then have a gap in line with said through-hole (at least in the central zone) and preferably which protrudes by at most 50 mm, 30 mm or 20 mm or 10 mm, 7 mm or 5 mm in said through-hole.
The transparent electrically conductive functional layer (solar control and/or heating) can comprise a stack of thin layers comprising at least one metal functional layer such as silver (on F2 or preferably F3 or on a polymer film). The or each functional (silver) layer is arranged between dielectric layers.
The functional layers preferably contain at least one metal, for example, silver, gold, copper, nickel and chromium or, or a metal alloy. The functional layers in particular preferably contain at least 90% by weight of metal, in particular at least 99.9% by weight of metal. The functional layers can be made of metal for the metal alloy. The functional layers contain in a particularly preferred manner silver or an alloy containing silver. The thickness of a functional layer (silver, etc.) is preferably from 5 nm to 50 nm, more preferentially from 8 nm to 25 nm. A dielectric layer contains at least one individual layer made of a dielectric material, for example, containing a nitride such as silicon nitride or an oxide such as aluminum oxide. The dielectric layer can however also contain a plurality of individual layers, for example, individual layers of a dielectric material, layers, smoothing layers, which corresponds to blocking layers and/or “anti-reflective” layers. The thickness of a dielectric layer is, for example, from 10 nm to 200 nm. This layer structure is generally obtained by a series of deposition operations that are carried out by a vacuum process such as field-supported magnetic cathode sputtering.
The transparent electrically conductive layer is a layer (single-layer or multi-layer, thus a stack) preferably with a total thickness less than or equal to 2 μm, in a particularly preferred way less than or equal to 1 μm.
Naturally, the most desirable application is that the glazing be a windscreen for a road vehicle (automobile) or even for a rail vehicle (moderate speed).
For the glass of the first glass sheet and/or of the second glass sheet, preferably a soda-lime-silica type glass is used.
The interior and/or exterior glass may have undergone a chemical or heat treatment of the hardening or annealing type or may have undergone tempering (particularly in order to obtain better mechanical strength) or can be semi-tempered.
The glass of the first glass sheet and/or of the second glass sheet is preferably of the float glass type, that is to say obtainable by a method consisting in pouring molten glass onto a bath of molten tin (called a “float” bath). The terms “atmosphere” and “tin” faces are understood to mean those faces that have been in contact with the atmosphere in the float bath and in contact with the molten tin respectively. The tin face contains a small surface amount of tin that has diffused into the structure of the glass.
Furthermore, in order to quantify the transmission of the glass in the visible range, a light transmission factor, referred to as light transmission, is often defined, often abbreviated to “TL”, calculated between 380 and 780 nm and applied to a glass thickness of 3.2 mm or 4 mm, according to standard ISO 9050:2003, thus taking into account the illuminant D65 as defined by standard ISO/CIE 10526 and the C.I.E 1931 standard colorimetric observer as defined by standard ISO/CIE 10527.
Naturally, the light transmission TL of the laminated glazing in a zone without a hole (central zone of the windscreen) is preferably of at least 70% or 75%, 80% or 85%, 88%.
The second glass sheet is particularly green, blue, gray. The second glass sheet can be green by the Fe2O3 or blue with CoO and Se or gray with Se and CoO.
The glasses of the applicant called TSAnx (0.5 to 0.6% iron) TSA2+, TSA3+(0.8 to 0.9% iron), TSA4+(1% iron), TSA5+, for example green, can be particularly mentioned.
TSA3+(2.1 mm) for example has a total transmission at 905 mm of about 40% and at 1550 mm of about 50%.
The second glass sheet can have a redox, defined as being the ratio between the content by weight of FeO (ferrous iron) and the total iron oxide content by weight (expressed in the form Fe2O3) between 0.22 and 0.35 or 0.30.
Said second glass sheet can have a chemical composition that comprises the following constituents in a content varying within the limits by weight defined hereinafter:
The first glass sheet can for example be a soda-lime-silica glass such as Saint-Gobain Glass's Diamant®, or Pilkington's Optiwhite®, or Schott's B270@, or AGC's Sunmax® or of other composition described in document WO04/025334. The Planiclear® glass from the Saint-Gobain Glass company can also be chosen.
The laminated glazing according to the invention, in particular for a private car (windscreen etc.) or truck, can be curved (bent) in one or more directions particularly with, for the first sheet, the second sheet, a radius of curvature of 10 cm to 40 cm. It can be flat for buses, trains, tractors.
With ordinary natural raw materials, the total content by weight of iron oxide is of the order of 0.1% (1000 ppm). To reduce the iron oxide content, particularly pure raw materials can be selected.
In the present invention, the Fe2O3 content (total iron) of the first glass sheet is preferably less than 0.015%, even less than or equal to 0.012%, particularly 0.010%, in order to increase the near-infrared transmission of the glass. The Fe2O3 content is preferably greater than or equal to 0.005%, particularly 0.008% so that the cost of the glass is not a disadvantage.
In order to further increase the infrared transmission of the first glass sheet, the ferrous iron content can be reduced in favor of the ferric iron, thus oxidizing the iron present in the glass. Thus, the desire is for glasses having the lowest possible redox, ideally zero or nearly 0. This number can vary between 0 and 0.9 of zero redoxes corresponding to a totally oxidized glass.
Glasses comprising low quantities of iron oxide, particularly less than 200 ppm, even less than 150 ppm, have a natural tendency to have high redoxes, greater than 0.4, even 0.5. This tendency is probably due to the displacement of the oxidation-reduction equilibrium of the iron based on the content of iron oxide. The redox of the first glass sheet is preferably greater than or equal to 0.15, and particularly between 0.2 and 0.30, particularly between 0.25 and 0.30. In fact, excessively low redoxes contribute to reducing the working life of the furnaces.
In the glasses according to the invention (first and second sheet), the silica SiO2 is generally maintained within narrow limits for the following reasons. Above 75%, the viscosity of the glass and its aptitude for devitrification increase greatly, which makes its melting and pouring onto the molten tin bath more difficult. Below 60%, particularly 64%, the hydrolytic resistance of the glass decreases rapidly. The preferred content is between 65 and 75%, particularly between 71 and 73%.
Said first glass sheet can have a chemical composition that comprises the following constituents in a content varying within the limits by weight defined hereinafter:
Throughout the text, the percentages are percentages by weight.
The glass sheets are preferably formed by floating on a tin bath. Other types of forming methods can be used, such as drawing methods, down-draw method, lamination method, Fourcault method, etc.
The glass composition of the first glass sheet can comprise, other than the inevitable impurities contained particularly in the raw materials, a small proportion (up to 1%) of other constituents, for example agents aiding in the melting or refining of the glass (CI . . . ), or still elements resulting from the dissolving of the refractories used in the construction of the furnaces (for example ZrO2). For the reasons already mentioned, the composition according to the invention preferably does not comprise oxides such as Sb2O3, As2O3 or CeO2.
The composition of the first glass sheet preferably does not comprise any infrared absorbing agent (particularly for a wavelength comprised between 800 and 1800 nm). In particular, the composition according to the invention preferably does not contain any of the following agents: oxides of transition elements such as CoO, CuO, Cr2O3, NiO, MnO2, WO5, rare earth oxides such as CeO2, La2O3, Nd2O3, Er2O3, or coloring agents in elemental state such as Se, Ag, Cu. Among the other agents also preferably excluded are oxides of the following elements: Sc, Y, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Lu. These agents often have a very powerful undesirable coloring effect, appearing at very small quantities, sometimes on the order of a few ppm or less (1 ppm=0.0001%). Their presence thus very greatly reduces the transmission of the glass.
Preferably, the first glass sheet has a chemical composition that comprises the following constituents in an amount varying within the limits by weight as defined hereinafter:
The first glass sheet can have a chemical composition that includes the following constituents in a content varying within the limits by weight as defined hereinafter:
In the present invention, the Fe2O3 content (total iron) is preferably less than 0.015%, even less than or equal to 0.012%, particularly 0.010%, in order to increase the near infrared transmission of the glass. The Fe2O3 content is preferably greater than or equal to 0.005%, particularly 0.008%, so as not to adversely impact the cost of the glass (of the second glass sheet).
The redox is preferably greater than or equal to 0.15, and particularly between 0.2 and 0.30, particularly between 0.25 and 0.30. In fact, excessively low redoxes contribute to reducing the working life of the furnaces.
In the glasses according to the invention (first sheet, second sheet), the silica SiO2 is generally maintained within narrow limits for the following reasons. Above 75%, the viscosity of the glass and its aptitude for devitrification increase greatly, which makes its melting and pouring onto the molten tin bath more difficult. Below 60%, particularly 64%, the hydrolytic resistance of the glass decreases rapidly. The preferred content is between 65 and 75%, particularly between 71 and 73%.
Other preferred compositions according to the invention for the first glass sheet are reproduced hereinafter:
Other preferred compositions according to the invention for the first glass sheet are reproduced hereinafter:
The invention also relates to a device, which comprises:
The infrared vision system (LIDAR) can be of different technologies. It makes it possible to measure the vehicle's environment by determining the distance of the object closest to the vehicle in a wide range of angular directions. Thus, the vehicle's environment can be reconstituted in 3D. The technology employed is based on sending a light beam and receiving it after it has diffusely reflected off an obstacle. This can be done by a rotating source, scanned by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) or by a fully solid system. A single flash of light can thus illuminate the whole environment.
For all these technologies, the light must pass through the glazing twice, when outgoing and when incoming, which explains the necessity to have a glazing with excellent transparency at the working wavelength of the LIDAR.
The speed can also be measured with DOPPLER technology.
The infrared vision system (LIDAR) is preferably spaced apart from the anti-reflective element.
The piece according to the invention is preferably spaced apart from the infrared vision system (LIDAR) and/or does not serve for the attachment of same. The infrared vision system (LIDAR) can be facing or offset from said through-hole (and from the piece), for example an optical system is between the piece and the infrared vision system (LIDAR).
The infrared vision system (LIDAR) is for example attached via face F4 and/or the bodywork, the roof trim. The infrared vision system (LIDAR) can be offset.
The infrared vision system (LIDAR) is for example integrated in a plate or a multifunction base able to (designed to) optimize the positioning thereof relative to the windscreen and the piece by being adhesively bonded to face F4.
Some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter, which of course can be combined as appropriate. The views are not to scale.
This vision system 7 is placed behind the windscreen facing a zone that is preferably located in the central and upper part of the windscreen. In this zone, the infrared vision system is oriented at a certain angle with respect to the surface of the windscreen (face F414). In particular, the transmitter/receiver 7 can be oriented directly toward the image capture zone, in a direction that is nearly parallel to the ground, that is to say slightly inclined toward the road. In other words, the transmitter/receiver 7 of the LIDAR can be oriented toward the road at a slight angle with a field of vision suitable for fulfilling their functions.
As a variant, the receiver 7 is separate from the transmitter, particularly adjacent.
The windscreen 100a is a curved laminated glazing comprising:
The windscreen of a road vehicle in particular is curved.
In a conventional and well-known way, the windscreen is obtained by hot lamination of the first, second curved glass sheets 1, 2 and the interlayer 3. For example a clear PVB of 0.76 mm is selected.
The first glass sheet 1, particularly silica-based, soda-lime-based, soda-lime-silica-based (preferably), aluminosilicate-based, or borosilicate-based, 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 at most 0.015% (150 ppm) and particularly greater than or equal to 0.005%. The first glass sheet can preferably have a redox greater than or equal to 0.15, and particularly between 0.2 and 0.30, particularly between 0.25 and 0.30. Particularly an OPTWHITE glass of 1.95 mm is selected.
The second glass sheet 2 particularly silica-based, soda lime-based, preferably soda-lime-silica-based (like the first glass sheet), even aluminosilicate-based or borosilicate-based, has a total iron oxide content by weight of at least 0.4% and preferably of at most 1.5%.
The glasses of the applicant called TSAnx (0.5 to 0.6% iron) TSA2+, TSA3+(0.8 to 0.9% iron), TSA4+(1% iron), TSA5+, for example green, can be particularly mentioned. For example a TSA3+ glass of 1.6 mm is selected.
According to the invention, in a central peripheral region along the upper longitudinal edge 10, the windscreen 100a comprises:
A central line M is defined passing through the middle of the upper edge which can be an axis of symmetry of the glazing.
The through-hole 4 can be central; then the line M passes through and divides it into two identical parts.
As shown in
The height (between the large sides 401, 402) is at least 5 cm, here 6 cm.
The other hole may be of the same size and the same shape. For example, they are two horizontal holes.
As shown in
The through-hole can have rounded corners (
The closed or opening through-hole 4 can be in another region of the windscreen 100 or even in another glazing of the vehicle, in particular the rear window.
The windscreen 100a comprises on face F212 an opaque masking layer for example black 5, such as a layer of enamel or a lacquer, forming a peripheral frame of the windscreen (or of the window) particularly along the upper longitudinal edge 10 of the glazing and particularly along the left lateral edge 10′ of the glazing.
The external edge 50 of the masking layer 5 closest to the edge face 10 of the glazing can be spaced apart by 1 or 2 mm to several cm from the edge face 10 (longitudinal edge).
The opaque masking layer 5 here has a greater width in the central zone than in the other peripheral zones, on either side of the central zone. The masking layer 5 has an internal (longitudinal) edge 51 in the central zone of the windscreen and an internal (longitudinal) edge 52 on either side of the central zone.
This central zone being provided with the closed hole 4 (
The first gap here has the same trapezoidal shape as the hole 4 with two large sides 501, 502 and two small sides 503, 504. The first gap can be preferably of identical size or smaller than the hole 4 for example the walls 501 to 504 delimiting the first gap protruding by at most 50 mm or 10 mm or even 5 mm from the walls of the glass 401 to 404. As a variant, this is a rectangle or any other shape particularly inscribed in the surface of the through-hole (trapezoidal or another).
The masking layer 4 is capable of masking the casing 8 (plastic, metal, etc.) of the LIDAR 7. The casing 8 can be adhered to face F414 by an adhesive 6 and to the roof 80. The casing may be attached to a plate 8′ mounted on face F4, with holes to allow said IR rays to pass.
The windscreen 100 can comprise a set of metal wires that are almost invisible, for example with a thickness of 50 μm, which are placed in or on a face of the lamination interlayer 3 (over the entire surface), for example face Fb 32 on the side of F3, in the form of lines that are optionally straight. Here, these almost-invisible metal wires are absent in line with the through-hole 4.
In the through-hole and optionally under the through-hole (under face F3) and/or flush over face F4, a piece 9 is present, made of polymer material (particularly PC or PMMA) which is transparent at least at the “working” wavelength in the infrared of the LIDAR in a range extending from 800 nm to 1800 nm, in particular from 850 nm to 1600 nm, particularly 905±30 nm and/or 1550±30 nm.
The piece 9 has a main “bonding” surface 91, in particular naked or coated with a functional layer and a main “interior” surface 92 opposite the bonding surface.
A thermoplastic bonding film 9′, particularly with a low plasticizer content or plasticizer-free, has a face 91′ on the F2 side in adhesive contact with the main face Fb here and a face 92′ in adhesive contact with the main bonding surface 91. A bonding film is preferred to an adhesive if all or part of PVB 3 remains.
The interior surface 92 comprising an element which is anti-reflective at said working wavelength, for example an anti-reflective porous silica coating
The piece 9 has a thickness of at least 0.3 mm and better still of at least 0.7 mm and preferably of at most 3 mm, particularly a piece with a size (width and/or surface area) smaller than the through-hole,
The piece 9 has an edge face in contact with or spaced apart from the wall 401, 402 delimiting the through-hole by at most 5 mm, preferably spaced apart and by a distance of at most 2 mm and even ranging from 0.3 to 2 mm.
Here, the piece is curved. The piece may be flexible or pre-formed.
The first glass sheet comprises, on face F2, a camouflaging coating 102 which is transparent at the working wavelength in the infrared and absorbs in the visible range.
The camouflaging coating 102 is rectangular in shape in this peripheral region (dashed line in
The edges of the camouflaging coating optionally protrude between face F212 and face Fa 31 for example at most by 10 mm or 5 mm from the walls 401 to 404 delimiting the through-hole 4. Here, the camouflaging coating 102 is on face F2 and partially covers the optional masking layer 5 on face F2.
The camouflaging coating 102 alternatively has another shape, for example a shape homothetic to that of the section of the through-hole, thus for example a trapezoidal shape.
Possible variants are as follows (without being exhaustive), optionally cumulative:
Only the differences with the first embodiment are explained hereunder.
The lamination interlayer is made of two PVB sheets 33, 34. The sheet on the face F3 side has an interlayer through-hole in line with the closed through-hole delimited by walls 301, 302, 303, 304.
The interlayer hole can preferably be of identical size or wider than the hole
The interlayer hole here has the same trapezoidal shape as the hole 4 with two large sides 301, 302 and two small sides 303, 304.
The interlayer hole can preferably be identical in size to, or wider than, the hole 4 for example the walls 301 to 304 delimiting the interlayer hole being set back by at most 10 mm or 5 mm from the walls of the glass 401 to 404. As a variant, this is a rectangle or any other shape encompassing the surface of the through-hole (trapezoidal or other).
Only the differences with the second embodiment are explained below.
The lamination interlayer, optionally made of two PVB sheets 33, 34, has an interlayer through-hole in line with the closed through-hole delimited by walls 301, 302, 303, 304.
The interlayer through-hole can preferably be of identical size or wider than the hole 4
The interlayer through-hole here has the same trapezoidal shape as the hole 4 with two large sides 301, 302 and two small sides 303, 304.
The interlayer hole can preferably be identical in size to, or wider than, the hole 4 for example the walls 301 to 304 delimiting the interlayer hole being set back by at most 10 mm or 5 mm from the walls of the glass 401 to 404. As a variant, this is a rectangle or any other shape encompassing the surface of the through-hole (trapezoidal or other).
As a variant, not shown in the examples, the bonding film is replaced with an adhesive.
Only the differences with the third embodiment are explained below.
The piece 9 is for example a camouflaging piece which is opaque in the visible range while remaining transparent at the working wavelength. The coating 102 is removed or replaced by a functional coating, for example a local heating layer which is transparent at the working wavelength.
As a variant, not shown in the examples, the bonding film is a sheet which is a camouflaging film. The piece and the bonding film are for example pre-assembled before lamination.
As a variant, not shown in the examples, the bonding film is replaced with an adhesive.
Only the differences with the third embodiment are explained below.
The piece 9 carries a heating coating 64 which is trapezoidal in shape (like the piece), forming a local heating zone. The heating coating is made of material which is transparent at least at the “working” wavelength in the infrared.
The horizontal longitudinal edges or large sides 641, 643 of the layer 64 are parallel to the large sides of the piece 9. The small sides 642, 644 can be parallel to the small sides of the piece 9.
The rectangular heating zone 64 is provided with two electrical leads or first and second horizontal (dedicated) local busbars 65, 66 supplied with power 67 for example at 15 V or 48 V, or even 12 V or 24 V.
In the case of a round or oval through-hole, the substantially horizontal busbars can be curved to match the shape of the piece.
It is sought to place the busbars as close together as possible in order to increase the power density. Preferably, the distance between busbars is at most 20 cm or 10 cm or 6 cm.
In
As a variant, not shown in the examples, face Fb comprises a first metal heating wire, anchored to the lamination interlayer, facing the through-hole of the second glass sheet, first coiling wire. The wire can also be on the side of face Fa or inside the lamination interlayer.
The supply of power can be adapted as a consequence. It is possible to use a flat connector in the upper zone for example between the hole and the upper longitudinal edge. The local heating zone comprises a plurality of heating wires, connected to the supply of power by two adjacent horizontal busbars in the upper zone above the through-hole or by a flat connector. As a variant, the local heating zone comprises a plurality of first heating wires, connected to the supply of power by first and second horizontal busbars on either side of the through-hole.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2101635 | Feb 2021 | FR | national |
| 2102963 | Mar 2021 | FR | national |
| 2103349 | Mar 2021 | FR | national |
| 2103845 | Apr 2021 | FR | national |
| 2114260 | Dec 2021 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2022/050295 | 2/18/2022 | WO |
