Window assembly with transparent regions having a performance enhancing slit formed therein

• US 9,293,813 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc (AGC, Inc.), AGC Flat Glass North America Incorporated (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shkembi, Ledion, Lee, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierre, Peguy Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/171,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 343/172, 343/713, 343/906
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10192 patterned in the form of columns or grids
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10211 Doped dielectric layer, electrically conductive, e.g. SnO2:F
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/20 Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 ; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/364 Creating multiple current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

A window assembly for a vehicle includes a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface. A transparent layer is disposed on the surface and comprises a metal compound such that the transparent layer is electrically conductive. The transparent layer defines a first region and a second region that are spaced from one another by a section cut that is devoid of the transparent layer. The first and second regions are non-congruent to one another. A feeding arrangement is coupled to the first and second regions to energize the first and second regions such that the first and second regions operate as antenna elements. The first and second regions each define at least one performance enhancing slit that is devoid of the transparent layer. The slits are configured to operate as at least one of an impedance matching element and a radiation pattern altering element.

Claims

1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:

a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface;

a transparent layer that is disposed on said surface and comprises a metal compound such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive;

said transparent layer defining a first region and a second region that are spaced from one another by a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer, said first and second regions being non-congruent to one another; and

a feeding arrangement coupled to said first and second regions to energize said first and second regions;

wherein said first region defines a first performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer; and

wherein said second region defines a second performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer.

2. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first region is a first antenna element and said second region is a second antenna element, said first and second antenna elements configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals.

3. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second regions are geometrically non-congruent to one another such that said first region and said second region transmit and/or receive radio signals of different frequency.

4. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second slits are each at least one of an impedance matching element and a radiation pattern altering element.

5. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first region defines a different number of said slits than said second region.

6. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit has a linear configuration as defined by said transparent layer of said first region, wherein said transparent layer defining said linear configuration of said first slit is uniformly spaced by 2 mm or less.

7. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit extends according to a first length and said second slit extends according to a second length, wherein said first length is not equal to said second length.

8. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit extends according to a first length and said second slit extends according to a second length, wherein said first length is substantially equal to said second length.

9. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second slits opens into said section cut.

10. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said section cut has a width of less than 10 mm.

11. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second slits extends substantially parallel to said section cut.

12. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second slits extends substantially perpendicular to said section cut.

13. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first region defines a first periphery and said second region defines a second periphery, wherein said section cut is further defined between said first and second peripheries.

14. The window assembly of claim 13 wherein said first slit extends into said first region from said first periphery.

15. The window assembly of claim 13 wherein said first slit extends into said first region from no more than one location on said first periphery.

16. The window assembly of claim 13 wherein said first slit is defined within said first periphery such that said first slit is surrounded by said transparent layer of said first region.

17. The window assembly of claim 13 wherein said first periphery at least partially surrounds said second periphery.

18. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said substrate defines a perimeter, and wherein an outer region is formed on said substrate between said transparent layer and said perimeter of said substrate, said outer region being electrically non-conductive.

19. The window assembly of claim 18 wherein at least one of said first and second slits opens into said outer region.

20. The window assembly of claim 18 wherein said section cut opens into said outer region.

21. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said substrate includes an exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface and an interior substrate disposed adjacent said exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface.

22. The window assembly of claim 21 wherein said transparent layer is disposed between said inner surface of said interior substrate and said inner surface of said exterior substrate.

23. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said transparent layer is configured to reduce transmission of infrared radiation through said substrate.

24. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:

a substrate that is substantially transparent and comprises an exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface and an interior substrate disposed adjacent said exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a transparent layer that comprises a metal oxide such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive, wherein said transparent layer is disposed between said exterior substrate and said interior substrate;

said transparent layer defining a first region and a second region spaced from one another by a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer; and

a feeding arrangement coupled to said first and second regions to energize said first and second regions such that said first and second regions operate as antenna elements to transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals;

said first and second regions being geometrically non-congruent to one another such that said first region and said second region transmit and/or receive different radio frequency signals;

said first region defining a first performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer; and

said second region defining a second performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer;

wherein said first slit is configured to operate as at least one of an impedance matching element and a radiation pattern altering element with respect to said first region, and wherein said second slit is configured to operate as at least one of an impedance matching element and a radiation pattern altering element with respect to said second region.