Windshield antenna and/or vehicle incorporating the same
First Claim
1. A vehicle windshield comprising:
- first and second substrates laminated to one another via at least a polymer based interlayer;
at least one conductive bus bar provided between the first and second substrates; and
at least one antenna wire provided at least partially between the first and second substrates, the antenna wire including a fixed end and a free end disposed at opposing ends of the antenna wire, wherein the antenna wire is electrically connected to the bus bar at the fixed end thereof, andwherein the antenna wire is mechanically attached to the polymer based interlayer at the free end thereof via an adhesive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to an antenna wire embedded in a windshield, and/or vehicle incorporating the same. In certain example embodiments, an antenna wire may be embedded in an interlayer (e.g., a PVB interlayer) that is surrounded by two substrates (e.g., glass substrates). The antenna wire includes a fixed end electrically connected to a component (e.g., a bus bar) and a free end mechanically held in the interlayer via an adhesive (e.g., an adhesive tape). Thus, it may be possible to reduce distortion of the antenna wire and/or cause the antenna wire to be disposed in a manner that more closely conforms to a predetermined pattern. In certain example embodiments, the adhesive may be located at a non-visible portion of the windshield. In certain other example embodiments, the adhesive may be located at a visible portion of the windshield, and it optionally may be substantially transparent and/or provided in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle windshield comprising:
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first and second substrates laminated to one another via at least a polymer based interlayer; at least one conductive bus bar provided between the first and second substrates; and at least one antenna wire provided at least partially between the first and second substrates, the antenna wire including a fixed end and a free end disposed at opposing ends of the antenna wire, wherein the antenna wire is electrically connected to the bus bar at the fixed end thereof, and wherein the antenna wire is mechanically attached to the polymer based interlayer at the free end thereof via an adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle windshield, comprising:
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first and second glass substrates laminated to one another via at least a polymer inclusive interlayer; two conductive bus bars provided between the first and second substrates; two parallel spaced apart antenna wires substantially perpendicular to at least portions of the two bus bars, respectively, each said antenna wire including a fixed end and a free end, the fixed ends and the free ends being disposed at opposing ends of the respective antenna wires; and an enamel layer disposed around at least a part of a periphery of the windshield, wherein each said antenna wire is electrically connected at the fixed end thereof to one said bus bar, and wherein each said antenna wire is mechanically connected at the free end thereof to the interlayer via an adhesive tape, the adhesive tape being located behind the enamel so as to be hidden from view.
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14. A method of making a vehicle windshield, the method comprising:
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laminating first and second glass substrates to one another via at least a polymer inclusive interlayer; providing at least one conductive bus bar between the first and second substrates; providing at least one antenna wire in the interlayer in a predetermined pattern and/or at a predetermined location with respect to the windshield; electrically connecting the at least one antenna wire at a fixed end thereof to the at least one bus bar; and mechanically connecting the at least one antenna wire at a free end thereof to the interlayer via an adhesive so as to reduce distortion of the at least one antenna wire during heat treatment and/or application of pressure to the windshield and/or a windshield component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification