GLAZING WITH OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT SENSOR AREA

Abstract

A pane substrate with an optically transparent area comprising at least one optical device on the surface of the pane integrated in the optically transparent area. At least one coated glass patch is provided locally between the pane and the optical device.

Claims

1. A pane substrate with an optically transparent area comprising an optical device on a surface of the pane integrated in the optically transparent area, wherein at least one coated glass patch is provided locally between the pane and the optical device.

2. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is an optical sensor device.

3. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the pane comprises glass and/or polymers.

4. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the glass patch comprises glass.

5. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the optically transparent area has an optical transparency for visible light and/or infrared radiation of >60%.

6. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the glass patch is provided with at least one coating.

7. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the glass patch is bonded optically and mechanically to the substrate.

8. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the glass patch has a thickness of <1 mm.

9. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the coating is provided on the side of the glass patch facing the pane and/or on the side of the glass patch turned away from the pane.

10. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the pane is an automotive glazing and more particularly a windshield.

11. The pane according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor is an infrared-based remote sensing device in the wavelength range from 750 nm to 1650 nm (LIDAR sensor).

12. The pane according to claim 1, wherein the pane substrate and the glass patch have an absorption coefficient lower than 5 m.sup.−1 in the wavelength range from 750 nm to 1650 nm

13. The pane according to claim 4, wherein the glass patch is provided on an inner face and the size of glass patch fits with the size of the field of view of the optical device.

14. The pane according to claim 2, wherein the optically transparent sensor area occupies less than 10% of the surface of the pane substrate.

15. The pane according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor device comprises sensors for visible light of wavelengths from 400 nm to 750 nm and infrared light of wavelengths from 750 nm to 1650 nm.

16. The pane according to claim 3, wherein the glass and/or polymers are selected from the group consisting of flat glass, float glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, or polymethyl methacrylate, and/or mixtures thereof.

17. The pane according to claim 4, wherein the glass patch is selected from the group consisting of flat glass, float glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda lime glass, aluminosilicate glass or mixtures thereof.

18. The pane according to claim 5, wherein the optically transparent area has an optical transparency for visible light and/or infrared radiation of >70%.

19. The pane according to claim 6, wherein the glass patch is provided with at least one coating selected from the group consisting of an anti-reflective coating, a tinted coating, a heated coating, a bandpass coating, or an antifog coating.

20. The pane according to claim 14, wherein the optically transparent sensor area occupies less than 5% of the surface of the pane substrate.

Description

[0074] FIG. 1a is a plan view of the pane substrate according to the present invention, with an optically transparent sensor area according to the invention

[0075] FIG. 1a is a cross-section of a pane of FIG. 1 with an optically transparent sensor area according to the invention,

[0076] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a pane according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] FIGS. 1a and 1b, according to an embodiment of the invention, represent an automotive glazing. The automotive glazing 1 is a laminated glazing comprising an exterior and an interior glass sheets laminated with at least one thermoplastic interlayer. More particularly, FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrates a LiDAR sensor 2 as optical device, integrated on a windshield 1. According to the present invention, from the front view, the windshield 1 is divided into two zones Zone 21 is the major surface of the windshield and the optically transparent area 22 corresponds to according to the present invention. For the major surface 21, the windshield is coated with a coating blocking the infrared (IR) light to provide thermal comfort for the inside of the car. In the optically transparent area 22 where the LiDAR sensor 2 is integrated, it is needed to transmit the used IR light as much as possible to ensure optimal performances of the LiDAR sensor. Therefore, a localized antireflective (AR) coating for IR light within the optically transparent area 22 will allow the LiDAR sensor to work more efficiently.

[0078] According to the present invention, the LiDAR 2 and more generally speaking the optical device will be provided in inner face of the inner glass sheet also called face 4.

[0079] According to the present invention, several optical devices including optical sensors may be provided on the substrate, in that case, the number of glass patched should be adapted consequently. It is understood that if optical devices are different, then the coating should be adapted accordingly.

[0080] Thus, according to the present area, a functionalized coated glass patch is provided between the windshield 1 and the LiDAR senor 2 as described in FIG. 2.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows the layer structure of a windshield 1 integrated with a LiDAR sensor 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A classical windshield has a laminated structure, which has two glass sheets, an outer glass sheet 25 and an inner sheet 26 laminated together by an interlayer 27, as the pane substrate.

[0082] According to the present invention, a functionalized glass patch 100 is attached within the optically transparent area 22 of the windshield 1, wherein an optical device will be fixed

[0083] According to the present invention, the glass patch 100 can be made of soda-lime glass, Alumino-silicate glass, Boro-silicate glass or other glass as needed. The glass patch 100 may be coated either one side or two sides 101, 102 to offer one or multiple coating functions. When an IR-remote device and more particularly a LiDAR is used as optical device, a coating 101 such as an antireflective coating for the used IR light on the surface facing to the optical device is highly recommended to ensure good performance of the LiDAR. The other side of the glass patch 100 and facing the outer face of the inner glass sheet (also called face 4) may be coated with another functionalized coating 102 such as, a tinted coating to be aesthetic or any other coating which has no impact on the performances of the LiDAR and more generally speaking on the optical device. The fixation of the functionalized glass patch 100 to the inner face of the inner glass sheet in the optically transparent area 22 can be made either by autoclave assembly using an interlayer 103 (like PVB, EVA and others), or by optical bonding using special materials 103 (like 3M materials, AGC Infoverre), or by other ways suitable for the fixation of the glass patch to the pane substrate. It is understood that the method of fixation of the functionalized glass patch 100 described above may be used for a monolithic glass pane substrate or plastic pane substrate or mix thereof when it is applicable. The thickness of the glass patch may be preferably thin ie less than 1 mm. A thin glass patch may be bent more easily to fit the shape of the windshield 1 or the pane substrate. Besides, thin glass patch is light-weighted and aesthetic.

[0084] The edges of the functionalized glass patch can be easily hidden and sealed by a bracket 28 holding the LiDAR system.

[0085] It should be mentioned that the application of the functionalized glass patch above is just an illustrative example. And this glass patch can have different coating functions, and can be attached to any substrate with many materials and different shapes. It is understood also that the pane substrate may be a trim element more particularly a glass trim element, a side lite, . . .