The use of camera-based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in automobiles where they provide lane departure warning, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and other functions. For proper operation, the cameras require a clear undistorted field of view. Keeping the camera area free of snow and ice has been a problem. The lines widths of printed silver frit defroster circuits can interfere with the camera function. Transparent conductive solar control coatings and films can be used but they often result is a poor red ratio. Thin embedded wire defrosters are invisible for all practical purposes but are expensive and difficult to connect electrically. The invention provides an invisible defroster circuit that can be inexpensively produced by applying the circuit to the inside surface of glass rather than imbedding within the laminate.

A composite glass unit includes first and second glass sheets and a third glass sheet disposed between the first and second sheets. A first bonding layer is disposed between the first and the third glass sheets; a second bonding layer is disposed between the second and the third glass sheets; and a connecting element is fitted into a cutout of the third glass sheet, with the connecting element connected via the first bonding layer to the first glass sheet and/or via the second bonding layer to the second glass sheet. The object of making available a composite glass unit in which no impairments occur in the region around the connecting elements is realized by a separating layer, which differs from the bonding layers and which is disposed between the end surface of the connecting element, the end surface facing the third glass sheet, and by the third glass sheet.

An automotive glazing that provides a portal (32) for receiving infrared radiation and an automotive glazing (40, 50) that defines an open pathway for infrared radiation between an infrared camera on one side of the glazing and a camera field of view on the other side of the glazing.

Laminated glass-based articles are provided. The glass-based articles include at least a first glass-based layer, a second glass-based layer, and a polymer layer disposed between the first and second glass-based layers. The first glass-based layer includes a compressive stress. A difference between the coefficient of thermal of expansion of the first glass-based layer and the coefficient of thermal of expansion of the second glass-based layer is greater than or equal to 0.4 ppm/ C. Methods of producing the laminated glass-based articles are also provided.

A glass panel includes a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate, a spacer profile at the periphery of the glass panel between the first and the second glass substrate. There is an intermediate substrate in the intermediate space between the first and the second glass substrates, the substrate having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and means to maintain the intermediate substrate within the intermediate space. The panel also includes a second profile, having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, positioned facing the inner face of the spacer profile within the intermediate space between the first and second glass substrates of the glass panel. The second profile carries the means to maintain the intermediate substrate within the intermediate space. A difference between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion is less than or equal to 20%.

A laminated glazing includes a first and a second glass sheet that are bonded by a first interlayer adhesive layer, a peripheral zone of the laminated glazing being covered by a stepped metal element, a window press that is rigidly connected to the structure for mounting the laminated glazing making contact with the laminated glazing, so as to hold the laminated glazing secure to its mounting structure, an electrical conductor linking the stepped metal element and the structure for mounting the laminated glazing by way of the window press.

A laminated glazing with at least one step-shaped functional portion comprising two stack of components, the main stack of components in which the alteration of its properties is not desirable, and a second stack of components comprising a functional layer.

In one example, a crystal cell comprises: a first substrate, a second substrate, first spacers and second spacers sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate to define a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first spacers being fixedly bonded to each of the first substrate and the second substrate, the second spacers being movable between the first and second substrates, a sealant sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and enclosing the first spacers and the second spacers, and a liquid crystal enclosed by the sealant, the first substrate, and the second substrate. Examples of a dimmable glass incorporating liquid crystal cells and methods of manufacturing the liquid crystal cells are also provided.

Methods for preparing multi-layer optical laminates include placing an optical film that is free form an adhesive layer between first and second glass substrates that are free of an adhesive layer, placing this laminate under vacuum, and then heating the laminate under pressure to a temperature above the softening temperature of the optical film. The glass substrates are free of an adhesive layer but may include a silane surface treatment. The resulting multi-layer laminate is optically clear and does not show scattering of reflected light by the optical film.

The fire resistant interlayer for use in a fire resistant element is suitable for use in a fire resistant element. The fire resistant interlayer is arrangeable between two support elements. The fire resistant interlayer is a silicon based polymer, wherein the polymer is polymerised from starting component comprising silicon. In particular the polymer is polymerised from a dispersion of SiO2 nanoparticles, and/or silicic acid, a silane compound; in particular halogenated silane, in particular chlorinated silane and/or fluorinated silane; a silanol compound, a siloxane compound a derivate thereof and/or a mixture thereof dissolved, dispersed and/or emulsified a solvent.