GLAZING

Abstract

A glazing includes at least one first pane having a first primary surface and a second primary surface, at least one light source, at least one transparent light coupling system, wherein the light source is connected to the first primary surface of the first pane via the light coupling system such that light from the light source can be coupled into the first pane, and at least one light outcoupling system for outcoupling light from the first pane via at least one of the primary surfaces.

Claims

1. A glazing comprising: at least one first pane having a first primary surface and a second primary surface, at least one light source, at least one light coupling system, wherein the at least one light source is connected to the first primary surface of the first pane via the at least one light coupling system such that light from the at least one light source is to be coupled into the first pane, and at least one light outcoupling system for outcoupling light from the first pane via at least one of the first and second primary surfaces.

2. The glazing according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light amplification system arranged opposite the light coupling system on the second primary surface of the first pane.

3. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein a second pane is connected to the first pane by at least one intermediate layer.

4. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes or consists of a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, an incandescent lamp, and/or a gas discharge lamp.

5. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light coupling system is adapted to deflect part of the light incident from the light source in transmission by scattering, reflection, refraction, or diffraction and to couple it into the first pane at an angle θ greater than or equal to the angle θ.sub.total of the total reflection.

6. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light coupling system is introduced into the first primary surface of the first pane, and/or is printed onto the first primary surface of the first pane, and/or is part of the at least one light source, and/or is a transparent body that is materially connected to the first primary surface of the first pane, wherein the transparent body contains or is made of a patterned plastic film or plastic sheet, or a holographic film, and wherein the following applies to a refractive index n.sub.1 of the first pane and a refractive index n.sub.10 of the transparent body: n.sub.10 is from n.sub.1−0.3 to n.sub.1+0.3.

7. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light outcoupling system is adapted for light outcoupling of light guided in the first pane at at least one at least one of the first and second primary surfaces of the first pane.

8. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light outcoupling system is introduced into the first primary surface and/or into the second primary surface, and/or is materially connected to the first primary surface and/or to the second primary surface of the first pane, and/or is arranged within the first pane, and/or is a transparent body, wherein the transparent body contains or consists of a) a patterned plastic film or plastic sheet, or b) a transmission-holographic film, and/or is a reflecting body, wherein the reflecting body contains or consists of c) a patterned plastic film or plastic sheet, or d) a reflection holographic film, and/or is a transparent body, wherein the transparent body has or consists of a patterned layer, or plastic sheet and whose refractive index n.sub.10 is substantially greater than a refractive index n.sub.1 of the first pane by at least +0.2.

9. The glazing according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light amplification system deflects light emerging from the first pane back into the first pane by reflection, scattering, or diffraction.

10. The glazing according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light amplification system is materially bonded to the second primary surface of the first pane directly or via at least one intermediate layer or via at least one adhesive layer.

11. The glazing according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light amplification system contains or consists of a metal foil, a metallized plastic film, or a nonmetallic enhanced specular reflector film.

12. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein a semitransparent reflective coating is arranged at least in some sections, and directly on the second primary surface of the first pane.

13. The glazing according to claim 1, wherein the first pane and/or a second pane of the glazing contains or is made of glass, or polymers, and/or mixtures or combinations thereof.

14. The glazing according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate layer contains or consists of at least one thermoplastic plastic film.

15. A glazing arrangement comprising a glazing according to claim 1, and a voltage source or control electronics connected to the at least one light source.

16. A method for producing a glazing according to claim 1, comprising: arranging a light-scattering, light-reflecting, light-refracting, or light-diffracting, light coupling system on a first primary surface of a first pane, and arranging at least one light source at the light coupling system as well as arranging at least one light outcoupling system at or in the first pane.

17. A method comprising providing the glazing according to claim 1 in a vehicle of locomotion for travel on land, in the air, or on water, as or in a built-in part in furniture, appliance, or building, or as building glazing in construction sector or architectural sector in interior or exterior.

18. The glazing according to claim 5, wherein the scattering is diffuse scattering.

19. The glazing according to claim 5, wherein the light coupling system is adapted to deflect part of the light incident from the at least one light source to increase the proportion of the light coupled into the first pane from the light source at an angle θ greater than or equal to the angle θ.sub.total of the total reflection by a factor of at least 50.

20. The glazing according to claim 6, wherein the at least one light coupling system is introduced into the first primary surface by laser patterning, mechanical patterning, and/or etching.

Description

[0064] In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to drawings and exemplary embodiments. The drawings are schematic representations and are not-to-scale. The drawings in no way restrict the invention.

[0065] They depict:

[0066] FIG. 1A a schematic cross-sectional representation of an embodiment of a glazing according to the invention using the example of a single pane,

[0067] FIG. 1B a schematic cross-sectional representation of another embodiment of a glazing according to the invention using the example of a single pane,

[0068] FIG. 2A light microscope image of an exemplary embodiment of a light coupling means according to the invention,

[0069] FIG. 2B light microscope image of another exemplary embodiment of a light coupling means according to the invention,

[0070] FIG. 3 detail of a schematic cross-sectional representation of a glazing according to the invention having a step prism,

[0071] FIG. 4 a schematic cross-sectional representation of another embodiment of a glazing according to the invention using the example of a composite pane, and

[0072] FIG. 5 a schematic cross-sectional representation of another embodiment of a glazing according to the invention using the example of a composite pane.

[0073] FIG. 1A depicts a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a glazing 101 according to the invention using the example of a single pane. The single pane can, for example, be an automobile glazing, a construction glazing, or a component of a piece of furniture or an (electrical) appliance. For example, the glazing 101 is a roof panel of a vehicle. The glazing 101 can also be part of an insulating glazing and serve, for example, as an exterior or interior pane in a window of a building. Alternatively, the glazing 101 can be arranged in an interior and can be, for example, a glazing of a conference room.

[0074] The glazing 101 includes a pane 1, also referred to in the context of the present invention as “first pane 1”. The dimensions of the first pane 1 are, for example, 1.4 m×1.5 m. The first pane 1 is made, for example, of soda lime glass. The thickness of the first pane 1 is, for example, 3 mm. It goes without saying that the thickness of the first pane 1 can be adapted to the respective use. The first pane 1 can, for example, contain toughened, partially toughened, or non-toughened glass. Alternatively, the first pane 1 can be made of a plastic, for example, polycarbonate.

[0075] The first pane 1 has a first primary surface IV and another opposing second primary surface III. The first pane 1 is further delimited by four circumferential side surfaces arranged orthogonal to the primary surfaces III, IV.

[0076] The glazing 101 includes a light source 4, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), which emits, for example, light in the visible spectrum. The light beam of the light source 4 is directed toward the first pane 1 and strikes the primary surface IV of the first pane 1 substantially orthogonally.

[0077] Arranged between the light source 4 and the first pane 1 is a coupling means 5, which, by scattering, reflection, refraction, or diffraction, couples a major part of the light of the light source 4 into the first pane 1 at an angle θ (theta) greater than or equal to the angle of the total reflection θ.sub.total. The angle of the total reflection θ.sub.total depends on the refractive index of the light guiding medium and is, for the present soda lime glass-pane (n=1.52) about 42°.

[0078] Due to the principle of total reflection, all light coupled into the first pane 1 at an angle θ≥θ.sub.total in the first pane 1 propagates loss-free through the first pane 1. In FIG. 1A, this is depicted schematically by the light beam L1.

[0079] The light coupling means 5 can be designed differently. In the present exemplary embodiment, it consists of a region of the primary surface IV, in which scattering centers had been introduced into the primary surface IV by laser patterning (see also FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, as well as the description thereof).

[0080] A light outcoupling means 6 is arranged, for example, on the second primary surface III of the first pane 1 opposite the first primary surface IV. The light outcoupling means 6 can be arranged at any desired position of the primary surface III or of the primary surface IV and is, in particular, offset relative to the light coupling means 6 (i.e., not directly opposite).

[0081] Suitable light outcoupling means 6 include, for example, patterns of the primary surface III, IV of the first pane 1 on which total reflection is prevented and light can exit the first pane 1 via the respective primary surface III, IV from the first pane 1. Alternatively, the light outcoupling means 6 can comprise an imprint on the first pane 1 or light-scattering, light-refracting, light-diffracting, or light-reflecting particles or cavities introduced into the first pane 1.

[0082] For example, here, in the present exemplary embodiment, the light outcoupling means 6 is implemented as an imprint of fine light-scattering particles on the primary surface III of the first pane 1. As a result of these, the total reflection of the light beam L1 at the interface between the first pane 1 and the surrounding air is interrupted and light is outcoupled from the first pane 1 by scattering.

[0083] FIG. 1B depicts a further development according to the invention of the glazing 101 of FIG. 1A. The glazing 101 of FIG. 1B has a structure similar to the glazing 101 of FIG. 1A such that, in the following, only the differences are discussed and, otherwise, reference is made to the description for FIG. 1A.

[0084] In contrast to FIG. 1A, the glazing 101 of FIG. 1B has a light amplification means 7 that is arranged opposite the light source 4 relative to the first pane 1. The light amplification means 7 has the task of deflecting most of the light that penetrates into the first pane 1 at an angle θ<θ.sub.total and immediately exits it due to a lack of total reflection at the interface opposite the entry surface (here, primary surface III) back into the first pane 1, preferably at an angle θ≥θ.sub.total. Here, the light amplification means 7 preferably utilizes mechanisms of reflection, light refraction, diffraction, and/or scattering.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1B, the light amplification means 7 consists, for example, of a mirror element which is adhesively bonded to the primary surface III of the first pane 1 via a double-sided adhesive film. The mirror element is, for example, a metal foil, a metallized plastic film, or a non-metallic enhanced specular reflector film (3M ESR), as is marketed, for example, by the company 3M. As result of the adhesive bonding with a double-sided adhesive film, which is not perfectly plane-parallel due to the adhesive compound, but, instead, has a certain surface corrugation, only part of the light is reflected back directly and another part is changed in its angle.

[0086] In FIG. 1B, the paths of several light beams L1, L2, L3 are sketched in by way of example. The light beam L1 is coupled into the first pane 1 by scattering at the light coupling means 5 at an angle θ≥θ.sub.total and propagates almost unimpeded through the first pane 1 due to total reflection. The light beam L2 enters the first pane 1 at an angle θ<θ.sub.total and leaves it again at the opposite primary surface III. There, the light beam L2 is, for example, deflected back into the first pane 1 at a changed angle θ≥θ.sub.total and now propagates almost unimpeded through the first pane 1 due to total reflection. The path of the light beam L3 is possible with significantly lower probability. The light beam L3 also enters the first pane 1 at an angle θ<θ.sub.total and leaves it again at the opposite primary surface III. There, the light beam L3 is deflected back into the first pane 1 by the reflecting light amplification means 7, for example, at an angle θ<θ.sub.total, and now hits the light coupling means 5 again from the pane side I out. There, the light beam L3 can be scattered for example, by the light coupling means 5 and deflected back into the first pane 1 at an angle θ≥θ.sub.total. There, the light beam L3 now propagates almost unimpeded through the first pane 1 due to total reflection.

[0087] The light amplification means 7 significantly increases the intensity of the light coupled into the first pane 1 under total reflection and thus also the intensity of the outcouplable light.

[0088] FIG. 2A depicts a light microscope image of an exemplary embodiment of a light coupling means 5 according to the invention. The image depicts an enlarged detail of the primary surface IV of the first pane 1, into which the light coupling means 5 is introduced by laser patterning. For this purpose, a line grid with a periodicity of 1 μm and a trench depth of 100 nm is patterned in the surface. For this, a short-pulse laser was moved linearly over the primary surface IV.

[0089] FIG. 2B depicts a light microscope image of another exemplary embodiment of a light coupling means 5 according to the invention. The image depicts an enlarged detail of the primary surface IV of the first pane 1, into which the light coupling means 5 is introduced by laser patterning. A diffuse scattering surface patterning was introduced into the surface by local ablation. For this, a short-pulse laser with a power of 10 Watts was moved in a grid pattern over the primary surface IV.

[0090] FIG. 3 depicts a detail of a schematic cross-sectional representation of another glazing according to the invention with a transparent body 10 as a light coupling means 5. The surface of the transparent body 10 facing the light source 4 has a step prism 11, which is suitable for refracting a large part of the light from the light source 4 and coupling it into the first pane 1 at an angle θ≥θ.sub.total. For this purpose, the pane contact surface of the transparent body 10 is planar and is adhesively bonded directly on the primary surface IV of the first pane 1. The transparent body 10 is made, for example, of a plastic and, in particular, from a photopolymer into which the step prism 11 is introduced by suitable micro-patterning or exposure methods. For optimal coupling in of the light, a transparent body 10 with a refractive index n.sub.10 adapted to the refractive index n.sub.1 of the first pane 1 is used, with the refractive index n.sub.10 deviating from the refractive index n.sub.1 by a maximum of 0.3.

[0091] FIG. 4 depicts a schematic cross-sectional representation of another embodiment of a glazing according to the invention using the example of a composite pane. FIG. 4 depicts a further development of the glazing 101 according to the invention of FIG. 1B. The glazing 101 of FIG. 1B has a structure similar to the glazing 101 of FIG. 4 such that, in the following, only the differences are discussed and, otherwise, reference is made to the description for FIG. 1B.

[0092] In contrast to the glazing 101 of FIG. 1B, in FIG. 4 the first pane 1 is bonded to a second pane 2 by lamination via an intermediate layer 3, for example, in an autoclave. The intermediate layer 3 is firmly bonded to the primary surface III of the first pane 1 on one side and to the primary surface II of the second pane 1 on the opposite side.

[0093] The dimensions of the glazing 101 are, for example, 1.6 m×1.5 m. The first pane 1 is intended, for example, to face the interior of a vehicle in the installed position. In other words, the first primary surface IV of the first pane 1 is accessible from the interior, whereas, in contrast, the fourth primary surface I of the second pane 2 faces outward relative to the vehicle interior. The first pane 1 and the second pane 2 are made, for example, of soda lime glass. The thickness of the first pane 1 is, for example, 1.6 mm and the thickness of the second pane 2 is, for example, 2.1 mm. It goes without saying that the first pane 1 and the second pane 2 can have any thicknesses and, for example, even the same thickness. The intermediate layer 3 is preferably made of an acoustic-damping 3-ply PVB film. The panes 1,2 and the intermediate layer 3 are, for example, clear, i.e., neither tinted nor colored.

[0094] In this example, the light coupling means 5 comprises a transparent body 10 that includes a plastic film 12 that is bonded to the primary surface IV of the first pane 1. The plastic film 12 is, for example, imprinted with light-scattering particles that diffusely scatter the light from the light source 4.

[0095] Here, for example, the light outcoupling means 6 is arranged on the first primary surface IV of the first pane 1. It goes without saying that it can be arranged on the second primary surface III of the first pane 1 or within the first pane 1. In the example of FIG. 4, the light amplification means 7 is arranged directly on the second primary surface III of the first pane 1. Furthermore, the light amplification means 7 is connected, via the intermediate layer 3, to the third primary surface II of the second pane 2. It goes without saying that a glazing according to the invention can also have multiple light sources 4, multiple light coupling means 5, multiple light outcoupling means 6, and multiple light amplification means 7.

[0096] The glazing 101 depicted in FIG. 4 is particularly well suited as a roof panel of a motor vehicle.

[0097] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic cross-sectional representation of another embodiment of a glazing 101 according to the invention. FIG. 5 depicts a further development according to the invention of the glazing 101 of FIG. 4. The glazing 101 of FIG. 5 has a structure similar to the glazing 101 of FIG. 4 such that, in the following, only the differences are discussed and, otherwise, reference is made to the description for FIG. 4.

[0098] In contrast to the glazing 101 of FIG. 4, in FIG. 5 the intermediate layer 3 consists of at least one tinted or colored PVB film. Furthermore, the second pane 2 is also tinted dark. Here, the light amplification means 7 is arranged between the first pane 1 and the intermediate layer 3, analogously to FIG. 4.

[0099] As investigations by the inventors demonstrated, the intensity of the light outcoupled via the light outcoupling means 6 decreases due to the presence of a tinted intermediate layer 3 in comparison to a glazing 101 with a clear intermediate layer 3 (see, for example, FIG. 4). This is remedied by a coating 20 (for example, an anti-reflection coating with a suitable refractive index n.sub.20) that preserves the total reflection and is arranged directly on the primary surface III of the first pane 1. The refractive index n.sub.20 of the coating 20 is smaller than the refractive index n.sub.1 of the first pane 1. Preferably, the difference n.sub.1−n.sub.20 is greater than or equal to 0.1, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 0.2. In the present example, the coating 20 is, for example, an anti-reflection coating of porous SiO2 with a refractive index n.sub.20 of, for example, 1.25, which is produced, for example, by means of a sol-gel process.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0100] 1 first pane

[0101] 2 second pane

[0102] 3 intermediate layer

[0103] 4 light source

[0104] 5 light coupling means

[0105] 6 light outcoupling means

[0106] 7 light amplification means

[0107] 10 transparent body or reflecting body

[0108] 11 step prism

[0109] 12 plastic film

[0110] 20 coating

[0111] 101 glazing

[0112] L1, L2, L3 light beam

[0113] θ angle (theta)

[0114] θ.sub.total angle (theta) of the total reflection

[0115] n.sub.1 refractive index of the first pane 1

[0116] n.sub.10 refractive index of the transparent or reflecting body 10

[0117] n.sub.20 refractive index of the coating 20

[0118] I fourth primary surface, outside surface of the second pane 2

[0119] II third primary surface, inside surface of the second pane 2

[0120] III second primary surface, inside surface of the first pane 1

[0121] IV first primary surface, outside surface of the first pane 1