Glazing comprising electronics elements

• US 7,745,838 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lefevre, Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilczewski; Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green; Telly D
• Application Number:
  US10/541,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20060275599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 257/118, 257/513, 257/684, 257/40, 257/88, 257/99, 257/737, 257/741, 257/778, 257/779, 257/783, 257/E25.02, 257/E33.057, 438/108, 438/455, 438/458
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• 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 17/10376 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires
• 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 2329/06 PVB, i.e. polyinylbutyral
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2369/00 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/00 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/003 Interior finishings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/006 with materials of composite character
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/23 Oxides C03C17/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/231 In2O3/SnO2
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2109/00 Light sources with light-generating elements disposed on transparent or translucent supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0306 : Inorganic insulating substrates, e.g. ceramic, glass
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0108 : Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 : Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

The invention consists of inserting electronic components into a glazing, in particular a laminated glazing, in order to create new features, in particular for automotive applications, windscreen, rear window or side windows. The inserted electronic components can be optoelectronic components such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) providing a lighting function for the glazing, e.g. interior lighting of an automobile. The electrical connections are provided by means of a conductive layer so that they are virtually invisible.

Claims

1. Laminated glazing comprising:

two glass sheets;

one or more thermoplastic interlayers;

light-emitting diodes (LEDs) inserted between the two glass sheets; and

a connecting circuit formed from at least one conductive layer deposited on one face of the glass sheets or of the thermoplastic interlayers, the conductive layer being divided in at least 2 distinct areas, each area being bound to an electrode.

2. Laminated glazing according to claim 1,

wherein the conductive layer has a thickness in the range of between 0.02 and 0.5 μ

m.

3. Laminated glazing according to claim 2,

wherein the conductive layer has a resistance in the range of between 2 and 80 Ω

/sq.

4. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is applied on the transparent substrate and zones have been insulated from the rest of the layer by narrow insulating bands.

5. Laminated glazing according to claim 4,

wherein the insulating bands have a width in the range of between 0.01 and 3 mm.

6. Laminated glazing according to claim 1,

wherein the LEDs and any associated casing have a thickness less than or equal to 3 mm.

7. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs comprise several semiconductor chips in a casing.

8. Laminated glazing according to claim 7,

wherein the casing is dimensioned such that its length and/or a width are at least 10-times larger than its thickness.

9. Laminated glazing according to claim 7,

wherein the casing has a length and/or a width in the range between 5 and 100 mm.

10. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein a switch actuating the power supply of the LEDs is formed by a zone of the conductive layer insulated from the rest of the conductor layer by narrow bands.

11. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are inserted in at least one of said one or more thermoplastic interlayers during the production of the laminated glazing.

12. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer has a thickness in the range of between 0.2 and 0.4 μ

m.

13. Laminated glazing according to claim 2, wherein the conductive layer has a resistance in the range of between 10 and 80 Ω

/sq.

14. Laminated glazing according to claim 12, wherein the conductive layer has a resistance in the range of between 12 and 20 Ω

/sq.

15. Laminated glazing according to claim 4, wherein the insulating bands have a width in the range of between 0.05 and 1.5 mm.

16. Laminated glazing according to claim 4, wherein the insulating bands have a width in the range of between 0.1 and 0.8 mm.

17. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs and any associated casing have a thickness in the range of between 0.1 and 1.2 mm.

18. Laminated glazing according to claim 7, wherein the casing is dimensioned such that its length and/or a width are at least 20-times larger than its thickness.

19. Laminated glazing according to claim 7, wherein the casing is dimensioned such that its length and/or a width are at least 40-times larger than its thickness.

20. Laminated glazing according to claim 7, wherein the casing has a length and/or a width in the range between 15 and 75 mm.

21. Laminated glazing according to claim 7, wherein the casing has a length and/or a width in the range between 25 and 50 mm.

22. Laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are substantially surrounded by said one or more thermoplastic interlayers.

23. Laminated glazing according to claim 7, wherein the casing is substantially surrounded by said one or more thermoplastic interlayers.