Transparent laminates comprising inkjet printed conductive lines and methods of forming the same

• US 10,420,210 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Uprety, Krishna K., Lakdawala, Khushroo H., Bimanand, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Aychillhum, Andargie M
• Assistant Examiner(s): McAllister, Michael F
• Application Number:
  US15/900,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 174257
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/082 comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/095 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10192 patterned in the form of columns or grids
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1022 Metallic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10798 containing silicone
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2369/00 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2375/00 Polyureas; Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/006 Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/08 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft blades, propellers B32B2603/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/28 : comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups B32B27/30 - B32B27/42
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 : comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 : comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 : comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 : characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/14 : characterised by a face layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/16 : secured to a flexible backing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/002 : Heaters using a particular layout for the resistive material or resistive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 : Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 : Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 : Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0274 : Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 : Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0353 : consisting of two or more materials, e.g. two or more polymers, polymer + filler, + reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/092 : Dispersed materials, e.g. conductive pastes or inks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0707 : Shielding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A transparency including a conductive mesh is disclosed. The conductive mesh is formed by a plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines on a polymer film or a glass, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, or polyurethane substrate, wherein at least one inkjet printed electrically conductive line intersects at least one other inkjet printed electrically conductive line. A flying vehicle including a transparency including a conductive mesh is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of preparing a transparency by laminating a polymer film and a substrate together, wherein a conductive mesh is formed on the polymer film by a plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines, is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A transparency comprising:

a substrate;

a polymer film on the substrate; and

a conductive mesh formed by a plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines on the polymer film,

wherein the transparency has a transmittance in the near infrared range of wavelengths of 700 to 900 nm and a visible light transmittance greater than 70%,

wherein the polymer film comprises polycarbonate or polyurethane,

wherein at least one inkjet printed electrically conductive line intersects at least one other inkjet printed electrically conductive line,

wherein the conductive mesh has a sheet resistance in a range of about 0.15 to about 1,000 ohms/sq, and

wherein the transparency is configured to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.

2. The transparency of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines are configured to de-ice the transparency by heating the transparency when an electric current is passed through at least one inkjet printed electrically conductive line.

3. The transparency of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines comprise an inkjet printed metal.

4. The transparency of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ni, Ag, and combinations thereof.

5. The transparency of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises glass, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, or polyurethane.

6. The transparency of claim 1, further comprising:

an overlayer on the polymer film;

a first bonding film between the overlayer and the polymer film; and

a second bonding film between the polymer film and the substrate.

7. The transparency of claim 6, wherein the overlayer comprises glass, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, or polyurethane.

8. The transparency of claim 6, wherein the first bonding film comprises polyurethane, polyvinyl butyral, or silicone.

9. The transparency of claim 6, wherein the second bonding film comprises polyurethane or polyvinyl butyral.

10. A smart window comprising the transparency of claim 1, wherein the conductive mesh is a first transparent electrode and the smart window further comprises:

a transmittance controlling layer on the first transparent electrode, the transmittance controlling layer being configured to vary the light transmittance of the smart window; and

a second transparent electrode on the transmittance controlling layer.

11. The transparency of claim 1, wherein the conductive mesh has a sheet resistance in a range of about 0.25 to about 1,000 ohms/sq.

12. A transparency comprising:

a substrate, the substrate comprising polycarbonate or polyurethane; and

a conductive mesh formed by a plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines directly on the substrate,

wherein the transparency has a transmittance in the near infrared range of wavelengths of 700 to 900 nm and a visible light transmittance greater than 70%,

wherein at least one inkjet printed electrically conductive line intersects at least one other inkjet printed electrically conductive line,

wherein the conductive mesh has a sheet resistance in a range of about 0.15 to about 1,000 ohms/sq, and

wherein the transparency is configured to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.

13. The transparency of claim 12, wherein the conductive mesh has a sheet resistance in a range of about 0.25 to about 1,000 ohms/sq.

14. The transparency of claim 12, wherein the plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines are configured to de-ice the transparency by heating the transparency when an electric current is passed through at least one inkjet printed electrically conductive line.

15. A smart window comprising the transparency of claim 12, wherein the conductive mesh is a first transparent electrode and the smart window further comprises:

a transmittance controlling layer on the first transparent electrode, the transmittance controlling layer being configured to vary the light transmittance of the smart window; and

a second transparent electrode on the transmittance controlling layer.

16. The transparency of claim 12, wherein the conductive mesh has a sheet resistance in a range of about 0.25 to about 1,000 ohms/sq.

17. A method of preparing a transparency, the method comprising:

laminating a polymer film and a substrate together,

wherein a conductive mesh is formed by a plurality of inkjet printed electrically conductive lines on the polymer film, and

wherein the transparency has a transmittance in the near infrared range of wavelengths of 700 to 900 nm and a visible light transmittance greater than 70%.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein laminating the polymer film and the substrate together comprises:

laminating an overlayer, a first bonding film, the polymer film, a second bonding film, and the substrate together.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein laminating the overlayer, the first bonding film, the polymer film, the second bonding film and the substrate together comprises:

laminating the polymer film, the second bonding film, and the substrate together to form a laminated substrate;

laminating the overlayer and the first bonding film together to form a laminated overlayer; and

laminating the laminated substrate and the laminated overlayer together.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein laminating the polymer film and the substrate together comprises heating at a temperature in a range of about 125 to about 300°

F. and pressing at a pressure in a range of about 50 to about 220 psi, for a time period in a range of about 15 minutes to about 5 hours.