Abstract
A vehicle composite pane includes a first pane and a second pane, which are joined to one another via at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer, and an inlay element, which is arranged between the first pane and the second pane. The inlay element includes an opaque layer that has at least one cutout, a transparent substrate layer, and a transparent electrically heatable layer.
Claims
1. Vehicle composite pane, comprising: a first pane and a second pane, which are joined to one another via at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer, and an inlay element, at least comprising an opaque layer that has at least one cutout, a transparent substrate layer, and a transparent electrically heatable layer, wherein the inlay element is arranged between the first pane and the second pane.
2. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein in the inlay element, the transparent substrate layer is arranged between the opaque layer and the transparent electrically heatable layer.
3. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein in the inlay element, the transparent electrically heatable layer is arranged between the transparent substrate layer and the opaque layer.
4. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein in the inlay element, the transparent substrate layer is arranged completely within the at least one cutout of the opaque layer, and the transparent electrically heatable layer is arranged, over an entire surface, directly adjacent the opaque layer) and the transparent substrate layer.
5. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein in the inlay element, the transparent substrate layer, and the transparent electrically heatable layer are implemented in one piece as an electrically heatable transparent substrate layer.
6. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein in the inlay element, the opaque layer, and the transparent electrically heatable layer are implemented in one piece as an electrically heatable opaque layer that has at least one cutout; and the transparent substrate layer is arranged, over an entire surface, directly adjacent the electrically heatable opaque layer and the at least one cutout or is arranged completely within the at least one cutout of the electrically heatable opaque layer.
7. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutout is a sensor window for an optical sensor.
8. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the opaque layer contains or is made of poly ethylene terephthalate or polyethylene, preferably PET.
9. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate layer includes a thermoplastic or a thermosetting plastic or is a glass layer that has a thickness less than or equal to 0.5 mm.
10. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the transparent electrically heatable layer is an electrically heatable coating, a carbon-containing layer, or a metallic layer, or contains or is made of an electrically conductive polymer.
11. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 5, wherein the electrically heatable transparent substrate layer or the electrically heatable opaque layer contains or is made of an electrically conductive polymer.
12. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the opaque layer or the electrically heatable opaque layer is, at least in sections, transparent to infrared radiation with a wavelength in the range between 800 nm and 1100 nm.
13. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle composite pane is a windshield that is mirror-symmetrical along a center line, and the inlay element is arranged on the center line in the vicinity of the upper edge of the windshield.
14. Method for producing a vehicle composite pane according to claim 1, the method comprising: (a) providing a first pane, a second pane, at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer, and an inlay element, at least comprising an opaque layer that has at least one cutout, a transparent substrate layer, and a transparent electrically heatable layer; (b) arranging the at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer and the inlay element between the first pane and the second pane; and (c) joining the first pane to the second pane via the at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer by lamination.
15. A method comprising forming a windshield of a vehicle with a vehicle composite pane according to claim 1.
16. The vehicle composite pane according to claim 8, wherein the opaque layer contains or is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Description
[0084] In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to drawings and exemplary embodiments. The drawings are schematic representations and not to scale. The drawings in no way restrict the invention.
[0085] They depict:
[0086] FIG. 1 a plan view of an embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention,
[0087] FIG. 2 a cross-section through the vehicle composite pane according to the invention of FIG. 1 along the line A-A,
[0088] FIG. 3 a cross-section through another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane according to the invention along the line A-A,
[0089] FIG. 4 a cross-section through an embodiment of an inlay element,
[0090] FIG. 5 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0091] FIG. 6 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0092] FIG. 7 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0093] FIG. 8 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0094] FIG. 9 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0095] FIG. 10 a cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element,
[0096] FIG. 11 a plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention.
[0097] FIG. 12 a plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention,
[0098] FIG. 13 a plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention,
[0099] FIG. 14 a plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention,
[0100] FIG. 15 a plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle composite pane according to the invention,
[0101] FIG. 16 a flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.
[0102] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention, and FIG. 2 depicts the cross-section through the vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 1 along the line A-A, which corresponds to the center line. The vehicle composite pane 1 depicted in FIG. 1 is mirror-symmetrical along the center line, and the inlay element 5 is arranged on the center line in the vicinity of the upper edge O. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle composite pane 1 comprises a first pane 2 and a second pane 3 that are joined to one another, surface-to-surface via a thermoplastic intermediate layer 4. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first pane 2 is the outer pane; and the second pane 3, the inner pane. The first pane 2 and the second pane 3 are made of soda lime glass and have, for example, a thickness of 2.1 mm. Arranged between the second pane 3 and the thermoplastic intermediate layer 4 is an inlay element 5 that has a cutout 8. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inlay element 5 is arranged between the second pane 3 and the thermoplastic intermediate layer 4. The inlay element 5 can, however, also be arranged between the first pane 2 and the thermoplastic intermediate layer 4. In addition, the vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention can also include more than one thermoplastic intermediate layer 4. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermoplastic intermediate layer 4 is made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and is 0.76 mm thick. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the inlay element is constructed as shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutout 8 is trapezoidal and has an area of 35 cm.sup.2. However, any other shape suitable fora sensor window is also possible. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inlay element 5 has a trapezoidal shape, wherein the corners pointing toward the lower edge are rounded. However, any other outer shape of the inlay element 5 suitable for masking a sensor is possible. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2; the opaque layer 6 is dark gray. It can, however, also be any other color, for example, black. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second pane 3 is the inner pane, which faces the interior of the vehicle in the installed position.
[0103] The vehicle composite pane 1 has an upper edge O and a lower edge U. In the installed position, the upper edge O points upward toward the vehicle roof; the lower edge points, in the installed position, downward toward the engine compartment. The interior-side surface of the outer pane (first pane 2) is joined to the exterior side surface of the inner pane (second pane 3) via the thermoplastic intermediate layer 4. Customarily, the exterior-side surface of the outer pane is referred to as “side I”; the interior-side surface of the outer pane, as “side II”; the exterior-side surface of the inner pane as “side III”; and the interior-side surface of the inner pane as “side IV”.
[0104] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 only in that it additionally includes an optical sensor 12 that is mounted, on the interior side, on the second pane 3 implemented as the inner pane via a mount 14 and is directed toward the cutout 8. The optical sensor 12 is, for example, a lane camera. The detection direction of the optical sensor 12 is directed roughly horizontally forward outside the vehicle composite pane 1. Radiation that enters horizontally through the vehicle composite pane 1 in a so-called “sensor window” that corresponds to the region of the cutout 8 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 is detected by the optical sensor 12.
[0105] FIG. 4 depicts the cross-section through an embodiment of an inlay element 5, i.e., the cross-section of an inlay element 5 in an embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the inlay element 5 comprises a transparent substrate layer 7; a transparent electrically heatable layer 9, and an opaque layer 6 that has a cutout 8. The transparent substrate layer 7 is arranged between the opaque layer 6 and the transparent electrically heatable layer 9. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the transparent substrate layer 7 is, for example, a PET film with a thickness of 100 μm; the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 is an electrically heatable ITO-coating with a thickness of 10 μm applied on the transparent substrate layer 7; and the opaque layer 6 is a PET film with a thickness of 125 μm. The transparent substrate layer 7, the transparent electrically heatable layer 9, and the opaque layer 6 with the cutout 8 have the same external dimensions.
[0106] FIG. 5 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the inlay element 5 comprises a transparent substrate layer 7, a transparent electrically heatable layer 9, and an opaque layer 6 having a cutout 8. The transparent electrically heatable layer 9 is arranged between the opaque layer 6 and the transparent substrate layer 7. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the transparent substrate layer 7 is, for example, a PET film with a thickness of 100 μm; the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 is an electrically heatable silver coating with a thickness of 10 μm applied on the transparent substrate layer 7; and the opaque layer 6 is a PET film with a thickness of 125 μm. The transparent substrate layer 7, the transparent electrically heatable layer 9, and the opaque layer 6 with the cutout 8 have the same external dimensions.
[0107] FIG. 6 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the inlay element 5 comprises a transparent substrate layer 7, a transparent electrically heatable layer 9, and an opaque layer 6 having a cutout 8. The transparent substrate layer 7 is arranged completely within the at least one cutout 8 of the opaque layer 6. The transparent substrate layer 7 has the same thickness as the opaque layer 6 and is, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, surrounded thereby in a frame-like manner. The transparent electrically heatable layer 9 is, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, arranged over the entire surface directly adjacent the opaque layer 6 and the transparent substrate layer 7. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the transparent substrate layer 7 is, for example, a PET film with a thickness of 150 μm; the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 is a graphene layer with a thickness of 20 μm; and the opaque layer 6 is a PET film with a thickness of 150 μm. Alternatively, it is also possible for the transparent substrate layer 7 and the opaque layer 6 to be implemented in one piece; and for the transparent substrate layer 7 to be opaquely colored in the regions marked with the reference character 6 in FIG. 6. A separate opaque layer 6 is unnecessary in these embodiments.
[0108] FIG. 7 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the inlay element 5 comprises an opaque layer 6 having a cutout 8, and an electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10 arranged directly adjacent thereto. Thus, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the transparent substrate layer 7 and the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 are present not as two separate layers but are implemented in one piece as the electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10 is made, for example, of an electrically conductive polymer, such as polyaniline, with a thickness of 100 μm; and the opaque layer 6 is a PET film with a thickness of 75 μm.
[0109] FIG. 8 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the inlay element 5 comprises an opaque layer 6 having a cutout 8, and an electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10 arranged completely within the cutout 8. The electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10 is thus surrounded in a frame-like manner by the opaque layer 6. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the transparent substrate layer 7 and the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 are present not as two separate layers but are implemented in one piece as the electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the electrically heatable transparent substrate layer 10 is made, for example, of an electrically conductive polymer, such as polyaniline, with a thickness of 150 μm; and the opaque layer 6 is a PET film with a thickness of 150 μm.
[0110] FIG. 9 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the inlay element 5 comprises a transparent substrate layer 7 and an electrically heatable opaque layer 11 arranged directly adjacent thereto. Thus, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the opaque layer 6 and the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 are present not as two separate layers but are implemented in one piece as the electrically heatable opaque layer 11. The electrically heatable opaque layer 11 has a cutout 8. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the electrically heatable opaque layer 11 is made, for example, of a colored electrically conductive polymer, such as polyaniline, with a thickness of 100 μm; and the transparent substrate layer 7 is a thin glass with a thickness of 0.1 mm. The transparent substrate layer 7 and the electrically heatable opaque layer 11 with the cutout 8 have the same external dimensions.
[0111] FIG. 10 depicts the cross-section through another embodiment of an inlay element 5. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the inlay element 5 comprises a transparent substrate layer 7 and an electrically heatable opaque layer 11. Thus, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the opaque layer 6 and the transparent electrically heatable layer 9 are present not as two separate layers but are implemented in one piece as an electrically heatable opaque layer 11. The electrically heatable opaque layer 11 has a cutout 8. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 differs from the embodiment of the inlay element 5 depicted in cross-section in FIG. 9 in particular in that the transparent substrate layer 7 is arranged completely within the cutout 8 of the electrically heatable opaque layer 11. The transparent substrate layer 7 has the same thickness as the electrically heatable opaque layer 11 and is surrounded thereby in a frame-like manner in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the electrically heatable opaque layer 11 is made, for example, of a colored electrically conductive polymer, such as, polyaniline, with a thickness of 125 μm; and the transparent substrate layer 7 is a PVB film with a thickness of 125 μm.
[0112] FIG. 11 depicts another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. The vehicle composite pane 1 shown in FIG. 11 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 only in that the inlay element 5 has two cutouts 8, wherein one cutout 8 is trapezoidal and one cutout 8 is circular.
[0113] FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. The vehicle composite pane 1 shown in FIG. 12 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 only in that the trapezoidal cutout 8 is larger and the cutouts 8 are not arranged side-by-side but, instead, are arranged one above the other. In addition, the outer shape of the inlay element 5 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12 differs from the outer shape of the inlay element 5 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11.
[0114] FIG. 13 depicts another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. The vehicle composite pane 1 depicted in FIG. 13 differs from the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 only in that the inlay element 5 has three cutouts 8, of which one is trapezoidal and two are circular.
[0115] FIG. 14 depicts another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. This differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 only in that the three cutouts 8 are trapezoidal and are arranged side-by-side and that, in the center, the inlay element 5 is extended in the direction of the lower edge U.
[0116] FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. The vehicle composite pane 1 shown in FIG. 15 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 only in that it additionally includes a peripheral masking print 13 made of enamel. The opaque layer 6 (not explicitly shown in FIG. 15) of the inlay element 5 and the peripheral masking print 13 have essentially the same optical density and are dark gray in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15. To clarify where the inlay element 5 is arranged in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, it is indicated in FIG. 15 with a black dashed border. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, the peripheral masking print 13 is applied only adjacent the outer edges of the vehicle composite pane 1. However, it is also possible fora masking print 13 to also be applied externally around the inlay element 5.
[0117] FIG. 16 shows the flow chart of a method according to the invention for producing a vehicle composite pane 1 according to the invention. In a first step a first pane 2, a second pane 3, at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer 4, and an inlay element 5, at least comprising an opaque layer 6 that has at least one cutout 8, a transparent substrate layer 7, and a transparent electrically heatable layer 9 are provided. In a second step 11, the at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer 4 and the inlay element 5 are arranged between the first pane 2 and the second pane 3. In a third step III, the first pane 2 is joined to the second pane 3 via the at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer 4 by lamination.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0118] 1 vehicle composite pane [0119] 2 first pane [0120] 3 second pane [0121] 4 thermoplastic intermediate layer [0122] 5 inlay element [0123] 6 opaque layer [0124] 7 transparent substrate layer [0125] 8 cutout [0126] 9 transparent electrically heatable layer [0127] 10 electrically heatable transparent substrate layer [0128] 11 electrically heatable opaque layer [0129] 12 optical sensor [0130] 13 masking print [0131] 14 mount [0132] O upper edge/roof edge of the vehicle composite pane [0133] U lower edge/engine edge of the vehicle composite pane
