Process for producing a cover with a glass pane and electrical function elements

• US 7,360,306 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Webasto AG (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Webasto AG (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Inventors: Erbeck, Gerit, Boehm, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Donghai D.
• Application Number:
  US10/880,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 295/272, 296/11, 29830-832, 29846-849, 298/972, 295/921, 136/251, 156/106, 296/215, 296/216.07, 296/216.09, 349/92, 428/216, 428/332, 359/265, 359/275
• US Class Current: 29/832
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10495 optoelectronic, i.e. optical valve
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1088 by superposing a plurality of layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/1215 Hot-melt adhesive
• 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 2605/00 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/04 with rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels B60J7/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A process for producing a cover (11) with a glass pane (14) for a motor vehicle roof, in which, first, a combination film (10) with a shatter prevention film and electrical function elements (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) integrated into the combination film is produced, and then, the combination film is securely attached to a side of the pane, e.g., the side facing the vehicle interior. Furthermore the invention relates to a cover for a motor vehicle roof produced in this manner.

Claims

1. Process for producing a cover with a single glass pane for a motor vehicle roof, comprising,

first producing a combination film having a shatter prevention film with perforations in an edge area thereof and electrical function elements integrated therein, and

then securely attaching the combination film to a side of the single glass pane which, in use, faces a vehicle interior space;

fixing the shatter prevention film to the cover by an edge foam of the cover being foamed into said perforations;

wherein the combination film is provided at various points with different types of electrical function elements having different functions; and

wherein the different types of electrical function elements comprise an electroluminescent element and at least one of solar cells, an liquid crystal display (LCD), an suspended particle device (SPD) and an electrochrome (EC) area.

2. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical function elements are applied to a first film by coating.

3. Process as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coating is performed by a vacuum coating or silk-screen printing process.

4. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical function elements are cemented to a first film.

5. Process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the combination film is transparent at least in portions.

6. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical function elements are provided with contact electrodes formed of a conductive polymer material.

7. Process as claimed in claim 6, wherein an insulation coating is applied to the electrical function elements after the contact electrodes are formed.

8. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function elements are applied to a first film, then the electrical function elements are provided with electrical contacts, and then a second film is applied to the function elements.

9. Process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first film is the shatter prevention film.

10. Process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shatter prevention film is a polycarbonate or polyethyleneterephthalate film.

11. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combination film with the electrical function elements is laminated onto the bottom of the pane using a hot-melt adhesive film or a cement.

12. Process as claimed in claim 11, wherein a laminator or autoclave is used for lamination.

13. Process as claimed in claim 11, wherein a polyurethane (PU) or acrylic resin cement is used.

14. Process as claimed in claim 11, wherein a polyvinylbutyral (PVB) or a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) hot-melt adhesive film is used.

15. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical function elements additionally comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting of touch pads, light diffusing elements, and organic light emitting diodes.

16. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is transparent.

17. Process as claimed in claim in claim 1, wherein the cover is mounted securely in a roof opening.

18. Process as claimed in claim in claim 1, wherein the cover is adjustable in order to alternately close the roof opening and at least partially clear it.

19. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of an infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) reflecting layer is incorporating into the combination film.

20. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein touch-sensitive switches are integrated into the combination film in order to switch the electrical function elements.