Vehicle Glazing

• US 20070210621A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
• Inventors: Day, Stephen, Barton, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle glazing comprising a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface and a light emitting diode device a) other than an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, or b) in the form of an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, the lamp comprising a substrate having a functional surface on which a plurality of light emitting diodes is provided, and which is provided with a layer of transparent encapsulant to cover the light emitting diodes is disclosed. A process for the production of such a vehicle glazing comprising applying adhesive to a surface of the vehicle glazing, positioning the light emitting diode device with respect to the pane of glazing material and activating the adhesive is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface, and

a light emitting diode device other than an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material.

2. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device comprises a substrate having a functional surface on which at least one light emitting diode is provided, and which is provided with a layer of transparent encapsulant which covers the at least one light emitting diode.

4. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the encapsulant functions as an adhesive.

5. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 2 wherein a layer of transparent adhesive is provided to cover the layer of encapsulant.

6. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the substrate has a non-functional surface on which adhesive is provided.

7. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive includes an emitted-light dispersant material.

8. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with at least two light emitting diodes, each emitting light of a different wavelength.

9. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with emitted-light reflection means.

10. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pane of glazing material is provided with means to obscure at least a portion of the light emitting diode device.

11. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with an array of light emitting diodes and the intensity of light emitted by the diodes is variable across the array.

12. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pane of glazing material has a complex curvature.

13. A process for the production of a vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

applying adhesive to a surface of the vehicle glazing,

positioning the light emitting diode device with respect to the pane of glazing material, and activating the adhesive.

14. A process for the production of a vehicle glazing according to claim 13 wherein the adhesive is applied as a fluid layer to the light emitting diode device.

15. A process for the production of a vehicle glazing according to claim 13 wherein the adhesive is applied as a fluid layer to an exposed surface of the pane of glazing material.

16. A process for the production of a vehicle glazing according to claim 13 wherein the adhesive is semi-cured prior to positioning of the light emitting diode device with respect to the pane of glazing material.

17. Use of a vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 as a rooflight.

18. Use of a vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 1 as a backlight.

19. Use of a vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 5 as a backlight.

3. A vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface, and

a light emitting diode device in the form of an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material,

said lamp comprising a substrate having a functional surface on which a plurality of light emitting diodes is provided,

wherein the functional surface is provided with a layer of transparent encapsulant which covers the light emitting diodes.