ILLUMINATED GLASS PANEL FOR A VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF

• US 20140204601A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Kleo, Christophe, Lefevre, Pascal, Buerle, Pascal, Verrat-Debailleul, Adle, Lamoureux, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 9,397,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10155 Edge treatment or chamfering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/00 Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels , e.g. rotary sunroofsB60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00; fixed roofs B62D25/06; mechanisms for operating wings E05F11/00, E05F15/00
• 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 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/167 comprising optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED, photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle includes a first sheet made of mineral or organic glass, a peripheral light source with a support profiled member referred to as source support, the emitting region or face of the source facing the edge face, referred to as injection face, of the first sheet for a propagation of the injected light within the thickness of the first sheet, the first sheet then playing the role of guide for the injected light, a device of extraction of the guided light so as to form at least one illuminating region, the source support being within an accommodation surrounded by material and covered by a cover, the cover and the source support being removable from the glazing unit.

Claims

1. An illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle comprising:

a first sheet made of mineral or organic glass having a first main face and a second main face and an edge face,

a peripheral light source with a source support, the peripheral light source being a self-supporting optical fiber with a lateral part forming an emitting region or light-emitting diodes each comprising a semiconductor chip with an emitting face, the emitting region or emitting face facing the edge face of the first sheet for a propagation of injected visible and/or ultraviolet light within the thickness of the first sheet, the first sheet acting as a guide for the injected light,

a light extraction device constructed to extract of the guided light in order to form at least one illuminating region,

the source support being within an accommodation surrounded by material and covered by a cover,

the cover and the source support being removable from the glazing unit, a distance between the emitting face or region and the injection edge face being controlled by a positional locating device and a positional blocking device for the source support in the three directions of an orthogonal reference frame, said positional locating and blocking devices comprising a system for assembling the source support, associated with the first sheet, including an assembly element positioned with respect to the injection edge face.

2. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system for assembling the source support includes the cover, notably when the cover carries the source support, it comprises the positional locating device for the source support on the assembly element and the device for holding the cover in position on the assembly element comprises the device for holding the source in position on the assembly element, or the source support is located in the assembly element independently of the cover and the cover comprises a device for holding the source in position notably by the cover pushing up against the source support.

3. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein holding of the source support in position is, in part at least, handled by the assembly element.

4. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for locating the cover in position, notably on the assembly element, are via contact(s) without deformation of the assembly element, chosen from amongst mechanical end stops in the assembly element for the cover carrying the source support.

5. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for blocking the support in position, notably on the assembly element, are via contact(s) without overall deformation of the assembly element.

6. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for holding the cover in position, notably on the assembly element, is reversible and/or the device for blocking the support in position, notably on the assembly element, which could be carried by the cover, is reversible.

7. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for holding the cover in position, notably on the assembly element, is distinct from the positional locating device for the cover notably on the assembly element.

8. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly element:

is a monolithic annular element, made of sufficiently rigid plastic and/or of metal, notably associated with a polymer encapsulation peripheral to the first sheet,

or is a component in several separate parts, made of sufficiently rigid plastic and/or of metal, notably associated with a polymer encapsulation, peripheral to the first sheet

or is made of a sufficiently rigid plastic material with a local recess for accommodating the source, notably made of polycarbonate for example black or opaque.

9. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the source support is positioned in the assembly element by the positional locating device means, and the cover comprises or cooperates with elements, which in the installed position of the cover, are the device for blocking the source in position in the assembly element.

10. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the installation of the cover, potentially carrying the source support or carrying positional holding device for the pre-positioned source support, is by rotation and reversible attachment.

11. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the cover carries the source support which is positioned by means of elements for positioning and for holding in position according to the 3 axes of the orthogonal reference frame,

the positioning in two directions of the orthogonal reference frame of the cover with respect to the assembly element is carried out by a sliding connection,

holding the cover in position blocks the third direction of the orthogonal reference frame and hence ensures the positioning between the emitting face or region and the injection edge face.

12. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly element comprises, in a non-emitting region, a component facing or in contact with the injection edge face used for referencing to the injection edge face and/or forming a stiffener.

13. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is essentially facial and notably the source or diode support parallel to the injection edge face is carried by the cover or the source or diode support is parallel to the first sheet and positioned on the assembly element.

14. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is essentially lateral and is positioned and held in the assembly element.

15. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly element is fixed to the glazing unit, notably by adhesive bonding, and/or is surrounded by a polymer encapsulation on at least one region on the periphery of the glazing unit and then comprises a device of mechanical anchorage in the encapsulation, of the fins type with orifices.

16. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glazing unit comprises a metal sheet arranged along the first main face beyond the emitting face or region and potentially protruding from the injection edge face notably forming a stray light shield or a part of the assembly element, at the bottom of the accommodation, forms a stray light shield.

17. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when the glazing unit is laminated, the metal sheet is in a set back region of the lamination spacer.

18. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly element is a functional element chosen from amongst:

an insert for fixing the glazing unit onto the vehicle or an additional element onto the glazing unit,

the metal central section of a pre-assembled seal being locally hollowed out, potentially covered with a polymer material.

19. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glazing unit is a single-layer unit, the first sheet being made of mineral or organic glass, or wherein a second sheet made of mineral or organic glass is laminated by a lamination spacer to the first sheet.

20. A method of fabrication of the illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 for a glazing unit, comprising:

supplying the first sheet and of the optional second sheet followed by the placement and by the fixing using adhesive bonding of the assembly element onto the first sheet and/or the second sheet,

assembling the cover with the source support then assembling the cover onto the assembly element, or assembling the light source support on the assembly element then assembling the cover on the assembly element and on the support.

21. The method of fabrication of the illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 for a glazing unit, comprising:

supplying the first sheet and the optional second sheet, followed by the placement into a mold,

placing into the mold of the assembly element on the first sheet, and/or the second sheet, with a cover containing a seal,

closing the mold on the cover, compressing the seal, overmolding by injection of a polymer encapsulation material notably polyurethane or thermoplastic,

removing the glazing unit from the mold and removing the seal from the region facing the injection edge face leaving the accommodation for the source,

assembling the cover with the source support then assembling the cover on the assembly element or assembling the source support on the assembly element then assembling the cover on the assembly element and on the support.

22. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the positional locating device includes end stops in the assembly element.

23. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the covers carries the source support.

24. The method of fabrication of the illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the assembling of the cover and the source support is by rotation and reversible attachment.

25. The method of fabrication of the illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the assembling of the cover and the source support is by rotation and reversible attachment.

26. An illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle comprising:

a first sheet made of mineral or organic glass having a first main face, a second main face and an edge face;

a peripheral light source provided with a source support, the peripheral light source comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes each comprising an emitting face, the emitting face facing the edge face of the first sheet so that, in use, radiation emitted by the light source enters the edge face and propagates within the thickness of the first sheet, the first sheet acting as a guide for the injected radiation;

a light extraction device constructed to extract the guided light in order to form an illuminating region;

wherein the source support is provided within a space surrounded by material and covered by a cover, the cover and the source support being removable from the glazing unit,

wherein a distance between the emitting face and the edge face is controlled by a system constructed to position and block the source support in three directions of an orthogonal reference frame, said system associated with the first sheet and including an assembly element positioned with respect to the edge face.

27. The illuminating glazing unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 26, wherein the light extraction device includes scattering elements and/or a diffusing layer arranged on the first main face of the first sheet.