DISK HAVING AN ILLUMINATED SWITCH SURFACE

• US 20140233240A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Reul, Bernhard, Schmalbuch, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/295
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A disk having an illuminated switch surface is described. The disk has a transparent substrate, an electrically conductive structure, which forms a switch surface, a flat conductor, which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive structure by means of an electrical connecting element, a light-irradiation means, which has at least one light source and is arranged on the flat conductor and on a lateral edge of the substrate. Light is coupled into the disk from the lateral edge of the substrate and from a light-refracting means, which is arranged in the region of the disk irradiated by the light of the light-irradiation means.

Claims

1. A pane having an illuminated switch surface, comprising:

a transparent substrate,

an electrically conductive structure, which forms a switch surface,

a flat conductor, which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive structure via an electrical connecting element,

a light irradiation means, which comprises at least one light source and is arranged on the flat conductor and on a lateral edge of the substrate, wherein light is coupled into the pane from the lateral edge of the substrate, and

a light deflection means, which is arranged in the region of the pane irradiated by the light of the light irradiation means,

wherein;

an area that results from a projection of the light deflection means onto the plane of the switch surface is arranged within the switch surface and/or borders the switch surface continuously or interruptedly, and

the light deflection means comprises structures for light scattering.

2. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the light deflection means comprises particles, point grids, stickers, deposits, indentations, scratches, line grids, imprints, and/or silkscreen prints.

3. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is connected to a cover pane by at least one intermediate layer and the intermediate layer preferably contains at least polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and/or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

4. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive structure and the light deflection means are arranged on the same surface or on surfaces of the substrate opposite one another.

5. The pane according to claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive structure and the light deflection means are arranged on the same surface or on surfaces of the cover pane opposite one another.

6. The pane according to claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive structure is arranged on a surface of the substrate and the light deflection means is arranged on a surface of the cover pane.

7. The pane according to claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive structure is arranged on a surface of the cover pane and the light deflection means is arranged on a surface of the substrate.

8. The pane according to claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive structure and/or the light deflection means is arranged on a carrier film between a first intermediate layer and a second intermediate layer.

9. The pane according to claim 8, wherein the carrier film contains at least one polyester and/or one polyimide and preferably has a thickness from 10 μ

m to 1 mm.

10. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the surface area of the surface that results from a projection of the light deflection means onto the plane of the switch surface is from 5% to 300% of the surface area of the switch surface.

11. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation means comprises a reflector and/or an optical waveguide.

16. A method comprising:

using the pane having an illuminated switch surface according to claim 1 as a functional and/or decorative individual piece and/or as a built-in component in furniture and devices, in particular electronic devices with a cooling or heating function, for glazing of buildings, in particular in the access or window area, or for glazing in a motor vehicle for travel on land, in the air, or on water, in particular in automobiles, buses, streetcars, subways, and trains for passenger service and for public short and long distance travel, for example, as a motor vehicle door.

17. The pane according to claim 9, wherein the carrier film contains a thermoplastic polyester.

18. The pane according to claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic polyester is polyethylene naphthalate, or polyethylene terephthalate.

19. The pane according to claim 9, wherein the thickness is from 30 μ

m to 200 μ

m.

20. The pane according to claim 10, wherein the surface area of the surface that results from a projection of the light deflection means onto the plane of the switch surface is from 10% to 200% of the surface area of the switch surface.

12. A method for producing a pane having an illuminated switch surface, comprising:

applying an electrically conductive structure, which forms a switch surface an electrical connecting element connected to the electrically conductive structure, and a light deflection means on a transparent substrate, and

arranging a light irradiation means on a flat conductor and electrically connecting the flat conductor to the electrical connecting element, wherein the light irradiation means is arranged on a lateral edge of the substrate.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the flat conductor is electrically connected to the electrical connecting element by soldering, clamping, or by means of an electrically conductive adhesive.

13. A method for producing a pane having an illuminated switch surface, comprising:

applying an electrically conductive structure, which forms a switch surface, and an electrical connecting element connected to the electrically conductive structure on a transparent substrate or on a cover pane and applying a light deflection means on the transparent substrate or on the cover pane,

arranging a light irradiation means on a flat conductor and electrically connecting the flat conductor to the electrical connecting element, and

bonding the substrate to the cover pane by at least one intermediate layer under the action of heat, vacuum, and/or pressure, wherein the light irradiation means is arranged on a lateral edge of the substrate.

14. A method for producing a pane having an illuminated switch surface, comprising:

applying an electrically conductive structure, which forms a switch surface, an electrical connecting element connected to the electrically conductive structure, and a light deflection means on a carrier film,

arranging a light irradiation means on a flat conductor and electrically connecting the flat conductor to the electrical connecting element, and

bonding the carrier film to a substrate by a first intermediate layer and to a cover pane by a second intermediate layer under the action of heat, vacuum, and/or pressure, wherein the light irradiation means is arranged on a lateral edge of the substrate.