INSULATING GLAZING UNIT AND GLAZING

Abstract

An insulating glazing unit includes at least one spacer, which is shaped around the periphery to produce a spacer frame and delimits an inner region, a first glass pane, which is arranged on a first pane contact surface of the spacer frame, and a second glass pane, which is arranged on a second pane contact surface of the spacer frame, and the glass panes project beyond the spacer frame and an outer region is formed, which is filled at least in some sections, with a sealing element, wherein at least one RFID transponder is arranged in the outer region or in the outer edge region of the glass panes, and the RFID transponder contains a slot antenna.

Claims

1. An insulating glazing unit, suitable for installation in a frame, which contains or consists of a metallic first frame element, a metallic second frame element, and a polymeric third frame element connecting the metallic first and second frame elements and surrounding them at least in some sections, comprising: at least one spacer, which is shaped around the a periphery to produce a spacer frame and delimits an inner region, a first glass pane, which is arranged on a first pane contact surface of the spacer frame, and a second glass pane, which is arranged on a second pane contact surface of the spacer frame, and the first and second glass panes project beyond the spacer frame and an outer region is formed, which is filled at least in some sections, with a sealing element, wherein at least one RFID transponder is arranged in the outer region or in an outer edge region of the first and second glass panes, the at least one RFID transponder contains a slot antenna.

2. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 1, wherein the slot antenna has a base body in the form of a plate or a foil.

3. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 1, wherein the base body has a width of 10 mm to 80 mm, and/or a length of 25 mm to 200 mm, and/or a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm.

4. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 2, wherein the base body contains or consists of a metallized polymer film or a self-supporting metal foil.

5. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 4, wherein a metallization of the metallized polymer film has a thickness of 10 μm to 200 μm and the self-supporting metal foil has a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm.

6. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 2, wherein the base body has at least one slot.

7. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 6, wherein the at least one slot has a width of 0.2 mm to 20 mm, and/or a length of 20 mm to 180 mm.

8. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 7, wherein RFID electronics are galvanically connected and/or electromagnetically coupled to the slot antenna.

9. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 8, wherein the RFID electronics are galvanically connected and/or electromagnetically coupled to the slot antenna centrally or in the end region or therebetween, relative to a direction of extension of the at least one slot.

10. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID transponder is arranged in the outer region and/or on one of inner surfaces of the first and second glass panes and/or centrally in the outer region and/or on an outer surface of the sealing element.

11. A glazing, comprising a frame, and an insulating glazing unit according to claim 1 arranged in the frame.

12. The glazing according to claim 11, wherein the frame engages the end faces of the insulating glazing unit and, at the same time, covers the at least one RFID transponder in a through-vision direction through the first and second glass panes.

13. The glazing according to claim 11, wherein the frame contains or consists of a metallic first frame element, a metallic second frame element, and a polymeric third frame element connecting the metallic first and second frame elements and surrounding them at least in some sections.

14. A method comprising providing a RFID transponder as an identification element in an insulating glazing unit according to claim 1.

15. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric third frame element entirely surrounds the metallic first and second frame elements.

16. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer region is filled entirely with the sealing element.

17. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 2, wherein the base body has a rectangular base surface.

18. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 3, wherein the width is from 12 mm to 40 mm, and/or the length is from 40 mm to 170 mm, and/or the thickness is from 0.09 mm to 0.3 mm.

19. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 4, wherein the self-supporting metal foil is made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, silver, or stainless steel.

20. The insulating glazing unit according to claim 5, wherein the self-supporting metal foil has a thickness of 0.09 mm to 0.3 mm.

Description

[0075] Advantages and functionalities of the invention are also evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention with reference to the figures. The drawings are purely schematic representations and not to scale. They in no way restrict the invention. They depict:

[0076] FIG. 1A a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of an insulating glazing unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

[0077] FIG. 1B a plan view of an insulating glazing unit in accordance with the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1A,

[0078] FIG. 1C a plan view of a detail of the edge region of an insulating glazing unit in accordance with the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1A,

[0079] FIG. 1D a detailed view (perspective representation) of a slot antenna according to the invention,

[0080] FIG. 2A a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of a glazing with an insulating glazing unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention,

[0081] FIG. 2B a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of a glazing with an insulating glazing unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention,

[0082] FIG. 3 a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of a glazing with an insulating glazing unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention,

[0083] FIG. 4A a detailed view (perspective representation) of an alternative slot antenna according to the invention, and

[0084] FIG. 4B a detailed view (perspective representation) of another alternative slot antenna according to the invention.

[0085] In the figures as well as the following description, the insulating glazing units as well as the glazings and the individual components are in each case identified with the same or similar reference numbers, regardless of the fact that the specific embodiments differ.

[0086] FIG. 1A depicts an edge region of an insulating glazing unit 1 in cross-section. The insulating glazing unit 1 comprises, in this embodiment, two glass panes 4a and 4b. These are held apart at a predetermined distance by a spacer 5 placed between the glass panes 4a, 4b near the end face 14 of the insulating glazing unit 1. The main body of the spacer 5 is made, for example, of glass-fiber-reinforced styrene acrylonitrile (SAN).

[0087] FIG. 1B depicts a schematic plan view of the insulating glazing unit 1 in a viewing direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B therefore depicts the second glass pane 4b lying on top.

[0088] Multiple spacers 5 (here, for example, four) are routed along the side edges of the glass panes 4a, 4b and form a spacer frame 5′. The pane contact surfaces 5.1, 5.2 of the spacers 5, i.e., the contact surfaces of the spacers 5 with the glass panes 4a, 4b, are bonded in each case to the glass panes 4a or 4b and thus mechanically fixed and sealed. The adhesive bond consists, for example, of polyisobutylene or butyl rubber. The inner surface 5.4 of the spacer frame 5′ delimits, together with the glass panes 4a, 4b, an inner region 12.

[0089] The spacer 5 is usually hollow (not shown) and filled with a desiccant (not shown), which binds, via small interior-side openings (likewise not shown), any moisture that has penetrated into the inner region 12. The desiccant contains, for example, molecular sieves such as natural and/or synthetic zeolites. The inner region 12 between the glass panes 4a and 4b is filled, for example, with a noble gas, such as argon.

[0090] The glass panes 4a, 4b usually project beyond the spacer frame 5′ on all sides such that the outer surface 5.3 of the spacer 5 and the outer sections of the glass panes 4a, 4b form an outer region 13. A sealing element (sealing profile) 6 is introduced into this outer region 13 of the insulating glazing unit 1 between the glass panes 4a and 4b and outside the spacer 5. This is shown here in simplified form as a single piece. In practice, it usually comprises two components, one of which seals the contact surface between the spacer 5 and the glass panes 4a, 4b and protects against penetrating moisture and external influences. This can be identical to or combined with the adhesive surfaces between the spacer 5 and the glass panes 4a,4b. The second component of the sealing element 6 additionally seals and mechanically stabilizes the insulating glazing unit 1. The sealing element 6 is, for example, formed from an organic polysulfide.

[0091] An insulation film 11, which reduces the heat transfer through the polymeric spacer 5 into the inner region 12, is applied, for example, on the outer surface 5.3 of the spacer 5, i.e., on the side of the spacer 5 facing the outer region 13. The insulation film 11 can, for example, be attached to the polymeric spacer 5 with a polyurethane hot-melt adhesive. The insulation film 11 contains, for example, three polymeric layers of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 12 μm and three metallic layers made of aluminum with a thickness of 50 nm. The metallic layers and the polymeric layers are attached alternatingly in each case, with the two outer plies formed by polymeric layers. In other words, the layer sequence consists of a polymeric layer, followed by a metallic layer, followed by an adhesive layer, followed by a polymeric layer, followed by a metallic layer, followed by an adhesive layer, followed by a metallic layer, followed by a polymeric layer.

[0092] As already mentioned, the main body of the spacer 5 is made, for example, of glass-fiber-reinforced styrene acrylonitrile (SAN). By means of the selection of the glass fiber content in the spacer main body, its coefficient of thermal expansion can be varied and adjusted. By adjusting the coefficient of thermal expansion of the spacer main body and of the insulation film 11, temperature-induced stresses between the different materials and flaking of the insulation film 11 can be avoided. The spacer main body has, for example, a glass fiber content of 35%. The glass fiber content in the spacer main body simultaneously improves strength and stability.

[0093] The first glass pane 4a and the second glass pane 4b are made, for example, of soda lime glass with a thickness of 3 mm and have, for example, dimensions of 1000 mm×1200 mm. It goes without saying that each insulating glazing unit 1 depicted in this and the following exemplary embodiments can also have three or more glass panes.

[0094] The insulating glazing unit 1 of FIG. 1A and 1B is, by way of example, provided with an RFID transpondern 9, on the outer surface 6.1 of the sealing element 6.

[0095] FIG. 1C depicts a schematic plan view of the edge region of the insulating glazing unit 1 of FIG. 1A in a viewing direction indicated by the arrow B of FIG. 1A.

[0096] The operating frequency of the RFID transponder is in the UHF range and is, for example, 866.6 MHz.

[0097] The example shown is an RFID transponder 9 according to the invention with a slot antenna 9.1 in which the RFID electronics 9.2 are arranged in the center of the slot 9.1.1, are attached to the adjacent regions of the base body 9.1.2 of the slot antenna 9.1, and are electrically conductively connected thereto, for example, by two galvanic connections on both sides of the slot 9.1.1 (in FIG. 1C, once at the top and once at the bottom). It goes without saying that the RFID electronics 9.2 can also be arranged at a different location and can be connected to the slot antenna 9.1 via lines, galvanic connections, or electromagnetic coupling.

[0098] FIG. 1D depicts a perspective representation of the slot antenna 9.1 according to the invention. This consists of a metallic base body 9.1.2, for example, made of a rectangular copper foil with a length LG of 140 mm, a width BG of 10 mm, and a thickness DG of 0.1 mm. The base body 9.1.2 has, for example, in the center, a slot 9.1.1 in the form of a complete cutout with a length LS of 120 mm and a width BS of 2 mm. The edge region of the base body 9.1.2 around the slot 9.1.1 is consequently approx. 10 mm in the longitudinal direction (LR) in each case and approx. 4 mm in the transverse direction (BR) in each case. It goes without saying that lengths, widths, position of the slot, material, etc. can be adapted to the respective conditions of the installation situation, the radiation characteristics, and the RFID frequency.

[0099] Two strip-shaped regions (also called strips 10.1, 10.2) are situated between the slot 9.1.1 and the edge of the base body 9.1.2 along the direction of extension. In the example of FIG. 1D, these strips 10.1,10.2 have the same width and the same length.

[0100] The base body 9.1.2 can also be made of a comparatively rigid, thin metal plate or of a very thin metal foil or metallization that can be arranged on a carrier element, preferably a dielectric carrier element, such as a polymer plate or polymer film.

[0101] The slot antenna 9.1 has a distance A from the outer surface 5.4 of the spacer 5. The spacer 5 has, as already mentioned above, a metallized and thus electrically conductive (thermal) insulation film 11. Without the distance A and the dielectric sealing element 6, the slot antenna 9.1 would be arranged directly on the electrically conductive insulation film 11 and therefore “short-circuited”.

[0102] It goes without saying that in the case of spacers 5 made of a dielectric without insulation film 11 or with purely dielectric insulation films (e.g., without metallization and, in particular, with, for example, ceramic insulation layers), the entire slot antenna 9.1 of the RFID transponder 9 can even be arranged directly on the spacer 5.

[0103] FIG. 2A depicts a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region a glazing 2 with an alternative insulating glazing unit 1 according to the invention. The insulating glazing unit 1 of FIG. 2A essentially corresponds to the insulating glazing unit 1 or the slot antenna 9.1 according to the invention of FIG. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D such that, in the following, only the differences will be discussed.

[0104] In contrast to the insulating glazing unit 1 of FIG. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the RFID transponder 9 together with the slot antenna 9.1 is arranged within the outer region 13 and essentially between the spacer 5 and the sealing element 6, between the glass pane 4b and the sealing element 6, and partially within the sealing element 6.

[0105] The slot 9.1.1 of the slot antenna 9.1 is offset here, for example, 2 mm from the center of the width BG of the base body 9.1.2. The wider strip 10.1 of the base body 9.1.2 is arranged directly on the spacer 5. In the case of metallic spacers 5 or spacers 5 coated with a metallized film on the outer surface 5.3, the wider strip 10.1 of the base body 9.1.2 is coupled to the metal or the metallization between its edge and the slot 9.1.1 such that this forms part of the slot antenna 9.1 in terms of functional high-frequency technology.

[0106] The slot 9.1.1 and the narrower strip 10.2 between the slot 9.1.1 and the edge of the base body 9.1.2 are, for example, angled by approx. 90° and arranged on the inner surface 19 of the glass pane 4b in the outer region 13.

[0107] Furthermore, a, for example, U-shaped frame 3 surrounds the edges of the insulating glazing unit 1 together with the RFID transponder 9. In this example, the frame 3 consists of a first metallic frame element 3.1 that is connected to a second metallic frame element 3.2 via a polymeric and thermally and electrically insulating third frame element 3.3. In this example, the first and second frame elements 3.1, 3.2 are L-shaped. Consequently, the frame 3 engages the end face 14 of the insulating glazing unit 1 in the shape of a U. The sections of the first and second frame elements extending parallel to the large surfaces of the glass panes 4a, 4b are implemented such that they completely cover at least the outer region 13 with the sealing element 6 and the spacer frame 5′ in the through-vision direction (arrow A) through the insulating glazing unit 1.

[0108] The insulating glazing unit 1 is arranged on carriers (not shown here), in particular on plastic carriers. Furthermore, an elastomer profile 7 is arranged in each case between the metallic frame elements 3.1, 3.2 and the glass panes 4a, 4b such that the insulating glazing unit 1 is firmly held within the frame 3. The elastomer profile 7 has, for example, a thickness of 6.5 mm and fixes the distance between the respective frame elements 3.1, 3.2 and the glass panes 4a, 4b.

[0109] Due to the installation situation and the dimensions of the insulating glazing unit 1, the slot 9.1.1 of the slot antenna 9.1 runs with its direction of extension (i.e., its longitudinal direction (length LS)/longest dimension) parallel to the direction of extension of the immediately adjacent spacer 5 or of the metallic frame element 3.2. As already explained above, the E field radiated by the slot antenna 9.1 runs orthogonal to the direction of extension of the slot antenna 9.1 and thus also orthogonal to the direction of extension (longest dimension) of the spacer 5 or of the frame 3.2. Since the spacer 5 and the frame 3.2 are very narrow in the direction parallel to the E field (approx. 10 mm-40 mm), the E field is only attenuated very weakly. This results in strong radiation performance or sensitivity for signals transmitted and received in the wavelength range of the RFID operating frequency. Thus, signals could be sent to the RFID transponder 9 and read out with an RFID reader at relatively large distances.

[0110] FIG. 2B depicts a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of an alternative glazing 2 with an insulating glazing unit 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2B depicts a modified design that has largely the elements and the structure of the glazing 2 with an insulating glazing unit 1 according to FIG. 2A. Thus, the same reference numbers are used as there and the structure is not described again here.

[0111] The insulating glazing units 1 of FIG. 2A and 2B differ by the shape of the slot antenna 9.1. In FIG. 2B, the base body 9.1.2 is wider and is routed all the way to the end face 14 of the glass pane 4b and, for example, glued thereto. Here, for example, the slot 9.1.1 can again be arranged centrally relative to the width BG of the base body 9.1.2.

[0112] FIG. 3 depicts a detailed view (cross-sectional representation) of an edge region of an alternative glazing 2 with an insulating glazing unit 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 depicts a modified design that has largely the elements and the structure of the glazing 2 with an insulating glazing unit 1 according to FIG. 2B. Thus, the same reference numbers are used as there and the structure is not described again here.

[0113] The insulating glazing units 1 of FIG. 3 and of FIG. 2B differ essentially by the position at which the slot antenna 9.1 is arranged on the insulating glazing unit 1. In FIG. 3, the RFID transponder 9 is arranged with the slot antenna 9.1 on the outer surface 18 of the glass pane 4b and, for example, fastened by gluing. Here again, the view of the RFID transponder 9 from above (in the direction of the arrow A) is obscured by the frame 3. Due to the distance between the slot antenna 9.1 and the metallic frame element 3.2 resulting from the elastomer profile 7, a high-frequency short-circuit of the slot antenna 9.1 by the frame element 3.2 is avoided.

[0114] The practice of the invention is not limited to the examples and highlighted aspects of the embodiments, but is also possible in a large variety of modifications apparent to the person skilled in the art from the appended claims.

[0115] FIG. 4A shows a perspective representation of an alternative embodiment of a slot antenna 9.1 according to the invention. This essentially corresponds in shape, dimensions, and material to the slot antenna 9.1 of FIG. 1D such that, in the following, only the differences will be discussed.

[0116] Whereas, in the case of the slot antenna 9.1 of FIG. 1D, the RFID electronics 9.2 are galvanically connected to the slot antenna 9.1, in FIG. 4A, the RFID electronics 9.2 are electromagnetically coupled to the slot antenna 9.1. For this purpose, the RFID electronics 9.2 are galvanically connected to a, for example, ring-shaped coupling antenna 9.3. The coupling antenna 9.3 is separated and galvanically isolated from the base body 9.1.2 of the slot antenna 9.1 by a distance d of, for example, 0.3 mm, via, for example, a polymeric intermediate layer (not shown) such as a plastic film.

[0117] The coupling antenna 9.3 is thus capable of exciting an electromagnetic signal in the slot antenna 9.1 or of receiving it from the slot antenna 9.1 and forwarding it to the RFID electronics 9.2.

[0118] FIG. 4B shows a perspective representation of a further development of the slot antenna 9.1 of FIG. 4A such that, in the following, only the differences relative to

[0119] FIG. 4A are discussed.

[0120] In contrast to the slot antenna 9.1 of FIG. 4A, the coupling antenna 9.3 is not arranged in the center of the slot 9.1.1 relative to the longitudinal direction, but, instead, in an end region (here, at the left end). Furthermore, the slot 9.1.1 of the slot antenna 9.1 has, in the region of the orthogonal projection of the coupling antenna 9.3 onto the base body 9.1.2, a circular cutout 9.1.1.1, which is connected to the slot-shaped cutout 9.1.1 and forms its one-sided end. By means of the circular cutout 9.1.1.1, the coupling of the coupling antenna 9.3 to the slot antenna 9.1 can be improved.

List of Reference Characters

[0121] 1 insulating glazing unit

[0122] 2 glazing

[0123] 3 frame

[0124] 3.1,3.2 metallic, first or second frame element

[0125] 3.3 polymeric, third frame element

[0126] 4a, 4b glass panes

[0127] 5 spacer

[0128] 5′ spacer frame

[0129] 5.1,5.2 pane contact surface

[0130] 5.3 outer surface of the spacer 5

[0131] 5.4 inner surface of the spacer 5

[0132] 6 sealing element

[0133] 6.1 outer surface of the sealing element 6

[0134] 7 elastomer profile

[0135] 9 RFID transponder

[0136] 9.1 slot antenna

[0137] 9.1.1 slot, slot-shaped cutout

[0138] 9.1.1.1 circular section

[0139] 9.1.2 base body, foil

[0140] 9.2 RFID electronics

[0141] 9.3 coupling antenna

[0142] 10.1, 10.2 strip-shaped region, strip

[0143] 11 metallized insulation film

[0144] 12 inner region

[0145] 13 outer region

[0146] 13.1 outer side of the outer region 13

[0147] 14 end face of the insulating glazing unit 1 or of the glass panes 4a, 4b

[0148] 18 outer surface of the glass pane 4a or 4b

[0149] 19 inner surface of the glass pane 4a or 4b

[0150] arrow A top view direction or through-vision direction

[0151] arrow B top view direction

[0152] A distance

[0153] B width of the base body 9.1.2 of the slot antenna 9.1

[0154] BS width of the slot 9.1.1

[0155] BR width of the (edge) strip 10.1,10.2

[0156] d distance

[0157] L length of the base body of the slot antenna 9.1

[0158] LD thickness of the base body 9.1.2

[0159] LS length of the slot 9.1.1

[0160] LR length of the edge