Sunroof incorporating electro-optic element

• US 10,668,789 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Poll, David L., Tonar, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deherrera, Kristina M
• Application Number:
  US15/288,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20170100991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 359245, 359248, 359254, 359265-275, 359489, 359501, 359593, 345105-107
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/04 Polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2369/00 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2094 Protective means for window, e.g. additional panel or foil, against vandalism, dirt, wear, shattered glass, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/043 Sunroofs B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedencee.g. sliding above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell

Abstract

A vehicle sunroof comprising an electro-optic device is disclosed. The electro-optic device forms a variable transmission window comprising a first layer, a second layer, and an electro-optic medium disposed between the first layer and the second layer. At least one of the first layer and the second layer correspond to a polymeric film. The sunroof further comprises a frame configured to connect the electro-optic device to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle sunroof comprising:

an electro-optic device forming a variable transmission window comprising;

a first substrate;

a second substrate; and

an electro-optic medium disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a third substrate in connection with the first substrate and formed on an exterior surface of the sunroof;

a first polymer film disposed between the first substrate and the third substrate and laminated to each of the first substrate and the third substrate, wherein the polymer film forms an interlayer film bonded to the first substrate and the third substrate with a lamination material, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film laminated to each of the first substrate and the third substrate and the lamination material is of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA);

a fourth substrate in connection with the second substrate;

a second polymer film disposed between the second substrate and the fourth substrate and laminated to each of the second substrate and the fourth substrate, wherein the polymer film forms an interlayer film bonded to the first substrate and the third substrate with the lamination material, wherein the polymeric film comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film laminated to each of the second substrate and the fourth substrate; and

a frame configured to connect the electro-optic device to the vehicle, wherein each of the first substrate, the second substrate, the third substrate, and the fourth substrate are formed of a rigid, impact resistant glass.

2. The sunroof according to claim 1, wherein the third substrate forms an exterior protective layer of the sunroof.

3. The sunroof according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each have a thickness of less than or equal to 1.4 mm.

4. The sunroof according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric film is formed of a flexible material configured to conform to a contour of the first substrate.

5. A vehicle sunroof comprising:

an electro-optic device forming a variable transmission window comprising;

a first glass layer;

a second glass layer; and

an electrochromic medium disposed between the first glass layer and the second glass layer;

a first protective glass substrate bonded to the first glass layer;

a polymer film disposed between the first glass layer and the first protective glass substrate, wherein the polymer film is laminated to the first glass layer by a first lamination layer and the first protective substrate by a second lamination layer;

a second protective glass substrate bonded to the second glass layer via a third lamination layer; and

a frame configured to connect the electro-optic device to the vehicle.

6. The sunroof according to claim 5, wherein the electro-optic device, the first protective glass substrate, the second protective glass substrate, and the lamination layers combine to form a thickness of the sunroof, and wherein the thickness is less than 4 mm.

7. The vehicle sunroof according to claim 5, wherein each of the first glass layer, the second glass layer, the first protective glass substrate, and the second protective glass substrate each have a minimum thickness greater than or equal to 0.7 mm.