Vehicle glazing

• US 8,833,989 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
• Inventors: Barton, Neil, Day, Stephen Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): MAY, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/547,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20070210621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,457 Days
• Field of Search: 362/503, 362/540, 362/545, 362/800, 362/494, 362/479, 362/488, 362/249.02, 362/504
• US Class Current: 362/503
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle glazing comprising a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface and a light emitting diode device

• a) other than an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, or
• b) in the form of an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, the lamp comprising a substrate having a functional surface on which a plurality of light emitting diodes is provided, and which is provided with a layer of transparent encapsulant to cover the light emitting diodes
  is disclosed. A process for the production of such a vehicle glazing comprising applying adhesive to a surface of the vehicle glazing, positioning the light emitting diode device with respect to the pane of glazing material and activating the adhesive is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle including an interior, an exterior, and a vehicle glazing, the vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface, and

a light emitting diode device comprising at least one light emitting diode provided on a functional surface of a substrate and electrically connected to conductive tracks provided on the functional surface of the substrate,

wherein the substrate has a non-functional surface on which an adhesive is provided, the non-functional surface being non-coplanar with the functional surface,

wherein the substrate is adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material via the adhesive, and

wherein the light emitting diode device is positioned to emit light in a direction away from the pane of glazing material into the interior of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive includes an emitted-light dispersant material.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with at least two light emitting diodes, each emitting light of a different wavelength.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with emitted-light reflection means.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pane of glazing material is provided with means to obscure at least a portion of the light emitting diode device.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with an array of light emitting diodes and the intensity of light emitted by the diodes is variable across the array.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pane of glazing material has a complex curvature.

8. A vehicle including an interior, an exterior, and a vehicle glazing, the vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface, and

a light emitting diode device comprising at least one light emitting diode provided on a functional surface of a substrate and electrically connected to conductive tracks provided on the functional surface of the substrate,

wherein a layer of transparent encapsulant in contact with both the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material and the functional surface of the substrate covers the at least one light emitting diode,

wherein the substrate is fixed to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material via their mutual contact with the layer of transparent encapsulant, and

wherein the light emitting diode device is positioned to emit light in a direction away from the pane of glazing material into the interior of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with at least two light emitting diodes, each emitting light of a different wavelength.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with emitted-light reflection means.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pane of glazing material is provided with means to obscure at least a portion of the light emitting diode device.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with an array of light emitting diodes and the intensity of light emitted by the diodes is variable across the array.

13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pane of glazing material has a complex curvature.

14. A vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed concave surface and an opposing convex surface, and

a light emitting diode device comprising at least one light emitting diode provided on a functional surface of a substrate and electrically connected to conductive tracks provided on the functional surface of the substrate,

wherein the substrate has a non-functional surface on which an adhesive is provided, the non-functional surface being non-coplanar with the functional surface,

wherein the substrate is adhesively attached to the exposed concave surface of the pane of glazing material via the adhesive, and

wherein the light emitting diode device is positioned to emit light in a direction away from the exposed concave surface of the pane of glazing material.

15. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the adhesive includes an emitted-light dispersant material.

16. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with at least two light emitting diodes, each emitting light of a different wavelength.

17. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with emitted-light reflection means.

18. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pane of glazing material is provided with means to obscure at least a portion of the light emitting diode device.

19. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with an array of light emitting diodes and the intensity of light emitted by the diodes is variable across the array.

20. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pane of glazing material has a complex curvature.

21. A vehicle glazing comprising:

a pane of glazing material having an exposed concave surface and an opposing convex surface, and

a light emitting diode device comprising at least one light emitting diode provided on a functional surface of a substrate and electrically connected to conductive tracks provided on the functional surface of the substrate,

wherein a layer of transparent encapsulant in contact with both the exposed concave surface of the pane of glazing material and the functional surface of the substrate covers the at least one light emitting diode,

wherein the substrate is fixed to the exposed concave surface of the pane of glazing material via their mutual contact with the layer of transparent encapsulant, and

wherein the light emitting diode device is positioned to emit light in a direction away from the exposed concave surface of the pane of glazing material.

22. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 21 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with at least two light emitting diodes, each emitting light of a different wavelength.

23. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 21 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with emitted-light reflection means.

24. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 21 wherein the pane of glazing material is provided with means to obscure at least a portion of the light emitting diode device.

25. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 21 wherein the light emitting diode device is provided with an array of light emitting diodes and the intensity of light emitted by the diodes is variable across the array.

26. A vehicle glazing as claimed in claim 21 wherein the pane of glazing material has a complex curvature.