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

• US 9,960,482 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US14/772,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20160013539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 343704, 343711, 343712, 343713, 343725
• 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 substantially congruent to one another and are configured to operate as diversity antenna elements. A feeding arrangement is coupled to the first and second regions to energize the first and second regions. At least one of the first and second regions defines a performance enhancing slit that is devoid of the transparent layer. The slit is 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 and a perimeter;

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 having a first periphery and a second region having a second periphery, each of said first and second peripheries including an outer edge and opposing inner edge, and one side edge and an opposing side edge, said first and second regions being substantially congruent to one another;

an outer region being electrically non-conductive and formed on said substrate between said perimeter of said substrate and each of said first and second peripheries;

a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer and defined between said inner edge of each of said first and second peripheries and with said section cut being defined from a first end to an opposing second end and with said second cut opening into said outer region at each of said first and second ends such that said section cut separates said first and second regions from one another; and

a feeding arrangement coupled to said first and second regions and being configured 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 extending into said first region from said first periphery; and

wherein said second region defines a second performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer and extending into said second region from said second periphery.

2. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner edge of said first periphery and said inner edge of said second periphery each have a linear configuration and extend substantially parallel to one another.

3. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said perimeter of said substrate includes opposing upper and lower perimeter edges, and opposing side perimeter edges, wherein said inner edge of each of said first and second peripheries is disposed substantially orthogonal to said upper and lower perimeter edges.

4. The window assembly of claim 3 wherein an axis extends between said upper and lower perimeter edges of said substrate and divides said perimeter of said substrate into two substantially similar areas, and wherein said inner edge of said first periphery and said inner edge of said second periphery are equally spaced from said axis.

5. The window assembly of claim 4 wherein said first region defines a first slit and said second region defines a second slit, wherein said first and second slits are positioned symmetrically in relation to one another with respect to said axis.

6. The window assembly of claim 5 wherein said first region further defines a third slit, and said second region further defines a fourth slit, each of said first and third slits extend into said first region from no more than one location on said first periphery, each of said second and fourth slits extend into said second region from no more than one location on said second periphery, said first and third slits are positioned symmetrically in relation to said second and fourth slits with respect to said axis, and wherein each of said slits are oriented substantially parallel to said axis, wherein;

said first slit extends from one of said side edges of said first periphery;

said second slit extends from one of said side edges of said second periphery;

said third slit extends from said opposing side edge of said first periphery; and

said fourth slit extends from said opposing side edge of said second periphery.

7. The window assembly of claim 5 wherein said first region further defines a third slit, and said second region further defines a fourth slit, each of said first and third slits extend into said first region from no more than one location on said first periphery, each of said second and fourth slits extend into said second region from no more than one location on said second periphery, said first and third slits are positioned symmetrically in relation to said second and fourth slits with respect to said axis, and wherein each of said slits are oriented substantially orthogonal to said axis, wherein;

said first slit extends from said outer edge of said first periphery and is disposed closer to one of said side edges of said first periphery than said opposing side edge of said first periphery;

said second slit extends from said outer edge of said second periphery and is disposed closer to one of said side edges of said second periphery than said opposing side edge of said second periphery;

said third slit extends from said outer edge of said first periphery and is disposed closer to said opposing side edge of said first periphery than said side edge of said first periphery; and

said fourth slit extends from said outer edge of said second periphery and is disposed closer to said opposing side edge of said second periphery than said side edge of said second periphery.

8. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit extends into said first region from no more than one location on said first periphery, and wherein said second slit extends into said second region from no more than one location on said second periphery.

9. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit extends substantially parallel to at least one of said side edges of said first periphery, and wherein said second slit extends substantially parallel to at least one of said side edges of said second periphery.

10. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit extends substantially parallel to one of said outer and inner edges of first said periphery, and wherein said second slit extends substantially parallel to one of said outer and inner edges of said second periphery.

11. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said section cut has a linear configuration as defined by said first and second peripheries, wherein said first and second slits are positioned symmetrically in relation to one another with respect to said linear configuration of said section cut.

12. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said substrate 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 and wherein said transparent layer is disposed between said inner surface of said interior substrate and said inner surface of said exterior substrate.

13. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second regions are each configured to receive a radio frequency signal and to collectively operate in diversity such that an optimal one of said radio frequency signals received by said first and second regions can be selected.

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

15. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first slit has a linear configuration as defined by said transparent layer of said first region and wherein said second slit has a linear configuration as defined by said transparent layer of said second region and wherein said transparent layer defining said linear configuration of each of said first and second slits is uniformly spaced by less than 2 mm.

16. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second regions are electrically disconnected from one another on said substrate.

17. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said transparent layer occupies at least a majority of said surface of said substrate.

18. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second regions include a tab of transparent layer integrally extending from the respective first and second region and with the tab extending into said outer region to enable said feeding arrangement to couple to said first and second regions in said outer region and without disrupting a field of view through said substrate.

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

a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface and a perimeter;

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 having a first periphery and a second region having a second periphery, each of said first and second peripheries including an outer edge and opposing inner edge, and one side edge and an opposing side edge, said first and second regions being substantially congruent to one another;

an outer region being electrically non-conductive and formed on said substrate between said perimeter of said substrate and each of said first and second peripheries;

a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer and defined between said inner edge of each of said first and second peripheries and with said section cut being defined from a first end to an opposing second end and with said second cut opening into said outer region at each of said first and second ends such that said section cut separates said first and second regions from one another; and

a feeding arrangement coupled to said first and second regions and being configured 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 extending into said first region from no more than one location on said first periphery; and

wherein said second region defines a second performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer and extending into said second region from no more than one location on said second periphery.

20. The window assembly of claim 19 wherein said inner edge of said first periphery and said inner edge of said second periphery each have a linear configuration and extend substantially parallel to one another.

21. The window assembly of claim 19 wherein said first and second regions are electrically disconnected from one another on said substrate.

22. The window assembly of claim 19 wherein said transparent layer occupies at least a majority of said surface of said substrate.

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

a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface and a perimeter;

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 having a first periphery and a second region having a second periphery, said first and second regions being substantially congruent to one another;

an outer region being electrically non-conductive and formed on said substrate between said perimeter of said substrate and each of said first and second peripheries;

a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer and defined between first and second peripheries and with said section cut being defined from a first end to an opposing second end and with said second cut opening into said outer region at each of said first and second ends such that said section cut separates said first and second regions from one another; and

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

wherein at least one of said first and second regions defines a performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer; and

wherein said first and second regions are each configured to receive a radio frequency signal and to collectively operate in diversity such that an optimal one of said radio frequency signals received by said first and second regions can be selected.

24. The window assembly of claim 23 wherein each of said first and second peripheries include an outer edge and opposing inner edge, and one side edge and an opposing side edge, wherein said section cut is further defined by said inner edge of each of said first and second peripheries, and wherein said inner edge of said first periphery and said inner edge of said second periphery each have a linear configuration and extend substantially parallel to one another.

25. The window assembly of claim 23 wherein said first and second regions are electrically disconnected from one another on said substrate.

26. The window assembly of claim 23 wherein said transparent layer occupies at least a majority of said surface of said substrate.

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

a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface and a perimeter;

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 having a first periphery and a second region having a second periphery, said first and second regions being substantially congruent to one another;

an outer region being electrically non-conductive and formed on said substrate between said perimeter of said substrate and each of said first and second peripheries;

a section cut that is devoid of said transparent layer and defined between first and second peripheries and with said section cut being defined from a first end to an opposing second end and with said second cut opening into said outer region at each of said first and second ends such that said section cut separates said first and second regions from one another; and

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

wherein at least one of said first and second regions defines a performance enhancing slit that is devoid of said transparent layer; and

wherein said first and second regions each include a tab of transparent layer integrally extending from the respective first and second region and with the tab extending into said outer region to enable said feeding arrangement to couple to said first and second regions in said outer region and without disrupting a field of view through said substrate.

28. The window assembly of claim 27 wherein each of said first and second peripheries include an outer edge and opposing inner edge, and one side edge and an opposing side edge, wherein said section cut is further defined by said inner edge of each of said first and second peripheries, and wherein said inner edge of said first periphery and said inner edge of said second periphery each have a linear configuration and extend substantially parallel to one another.

29. The window assembly of claim 27 wherein said first and second regions are electrically disconnected from one another on said substrate.

30. The window assembly of claim 27 wherein said transparent layer occupies at least a majority of said surface of said substrate.