Rigid elements embedded in a motor vehicle windshield

• US 20110169705A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Origin Gps, Origin GPS Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Origin Gps
• Inventors: GOLDBERGER, Haim
• Granted Patent: US 8,810,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10165 Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10871 in combination with particular heat treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component

Abstract

A method of embedding rigid elements in a windshield, including, cutting two sheets of glass in a desired shape to serve as an upper layer and lower layer of the windshield, inserting a layer of interlayer material for each of the two layers of glass, facing each other, between the two layers of glass, placing the rigid elements between the two layers of interlayer material, pushing the two layers of glass together to form a glass sandwich with the rigid elements and two layers of interlayer material between the upper and lower glass layers, heating the glass sandwich while applying pressure to form a unified sheet of glass; and wherein the combined thickness of the layers of interlayer material is at least as thick as the rigid elements.

Claims

1. A method of embedding rigid elements in a windshield, comprising:

cutting two sheets of glass in a desired shape to serve as an upper layer and lower layer of the windshield;

inserting a layer of interlayer material for each of the two layers of glass, facing each other, between the two layers of glass;

placing the rigid elements between the two layers of interlayer material;

pushing the two layers of glass together to form a glass sandwich with the rigid elements and two layers of interlayer material between the upper and lower glass layers;

heating the glass sandwich while applying pressure to form a unified sheet of glass; and

wherein the combined thickness of the layers of interlayer material is at least as thick as the rigid elements.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of both layers of the interlayer material are identical.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of one of the layers of the interlayer material is greater than the thickness of the other.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements are connected together electrically.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a flexible flat wire extends out from between the glass sandwich to provide an electrical connection to the rigid elements.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements communicate wirelessly to an external device.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements include a patch antenna.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements include a rechargeable battery.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the rigid elements include a photoelectric cell to recharge the battery.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the rigid elements accept power wirelessly to recharge the battery.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements are powered by an external electromagnetic field.

12. A windshield with rigid elements embedded therein, comprising:

an upper layer of glass;

a lower layer of glass;

one or more rigid elements positioned between the two layers of glass;

a layer of interlayer material surrounding the rigid elements cured between the two layers of glass;

wherein the width of the interlayer material is equal or greater than the width of the rigid elements.

13. A windshield according to claim 12, wherein the rigid elements include a patch antenna.

14. A windshield according to claim 12, wherein the rigid elements include an integrated circuit.

15. A windshield according to claim 14, wherein the integrated circuit serves as a front end receiver providing amplification for the patch antenna.

16. A windshield according to claim 14, wherein the integrated circuit serves as a global positioning receiver coupled to said patch antenna.