Abstract
A flat plate connector including a glass substrate, a conductive silver printing, an adhesion material for electrical connection, an insulated film, a conductive metal strip, and an additional adhesion tape. The flat connector having a dedicated cut-out, where the flat connector before mechanical and electrical bounding with the adhesion material can be fixed with a tape which, depending on its type, can also enhance pull-off resistance and ageing tests. The area is then defined as the surface where the connector adheres to the glass, including the different adhesion materials. The dedicated cut is made in the flat connector to generate a symmetric tensile stress on this adhesion area when the connector is submitted to a pull-off tensile force, the symmetry axis being defined by this pull force axis.
Claims
1. A flexible flat connector to be electrically connected to a conductive structure provided on a glass substrate comprising: a conductive metal strip, an adhesion material to connect the connector to the conductive structure provided on the glass substrate mechanically and electrically, the surface of the mechanical and electrical contact between the connector and the glass substrate called an adhesion area, an insulating film at least covering the connector on its side turned towards the glass substrate, wherein the flat connector is provided with at least one dedicated cut-out region in or around the adhesion area, and wherein the dedicated cut-out region is made on the flat connector to generate a symmetric tensile stress on the adhesion area when submitted to a pull-off tensile force, wherein a symmetry axis is defined in regards to a pull-off tensile force axis.
2. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion material is selected from the group consisting of lead, a lead free solder alloy, and a conductive glue.
3. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the conductive metal strip is an alloy of copper and tin or any conductive metal or any pure metal or plated with other metal.
4. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, further comprising a second adhesion material on at least the side turned towards the support, evenly surrounding the electrical connection area in order to help in positioning the connector, and/or to enhance the adhesion strength and/or to provide a sealing around the electrical connection.
5. The flat plate connector according to claim 4, wherein the dedicated cut-out can be performed in or around the second adhesion material.
6. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating film is covering both sides of the connector.
7. The flat plate connector according to claim 6, wherein the insulating film also covers the edges of the dedicated cut-out to maximize shear resistance of the flat connector around the cut.
8. The flat plate connector according to claim 6, wherein the adhesion material is a solder alloy and wherein the insulating film is removed on an other side of the solder area in order to help the heat conduction during a soldering process.
9. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated cut-out has a U-shape.
10. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated cut-out is made straight along a the length of the flat connector, before to fold of the connector all along its longitudinal axis and finally bend of the two connection parts in opposite direction.
11. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein a multiple cut-outs are provided on the flat connector, and wherein the flat connector is a multiple way connector.
12. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion material comprises alloys from high to low melting temperatures, including tin, copper, lead, silver, indium, and bismuth.
13. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion material is a solder alloy and wherein a soldering flux is pre-applied dry on an alloy drop or applied before soldering.
14. The flat plate connector according to claim 13, wherein the soldering is selected from the group consisting of resistance soldering, solder iron, and an autoclave process.
15. A glazing comprising: at least one pane of glazing material; a conductive silvercoating structure; and a flat plate connector according to claim 1.
16. The flat plate connector according to claim 1, wherein the conductive metal strip is a conductive metal.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0027] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a side view of a standard flat connector without tensile pull-off stress applied.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view of a standard flat connector when a pulling force is applied, the pulling axis is represented in dashed line, providing the symmetry axis on the adhesion are and considered in the according invention
[0031] FIG. 4 is a side view of new flat connector design without pull-off tensile stress applied.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a side view of a new flat connector when a pulling force is applied, the pulling axis is represented in dashed line, providing the symmetry axis on the adhesion are and considered in the according invention
[0034] FIG. 7 is a side view of a new flat connector with cut-out A and cut-out B along symmetry axis during pulling force according to the invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 7.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a cross section view of cut plane A of FIG. 7.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a cross section view of cut plane A FIG. 7, including here an opening in the top insulating film in order to ease the soldering process.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a cross section view of cut plane B of FIG. 7.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a cross section view of cut plane B of FIG. 7, including here an opening in the top insulating film in order to ease the soldering process.
[0040] FIG. 13 is an oblique view of new flat connector design of FIG. 3.
[0041] FIG. 14 is an oblique view of another connector design allowing to reach the same effect of stress distribution on the adhesion area, in this case, obtained by a straight shape cut-out with both end bend in opposite direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the following detailed description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0043] Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims. The terms like can be, shall be, could be, and other related terms herein disclosed in the foregoing and later parts of the specification in any means do not limit or alter the scope of the present invention. The terms are provided just for the mere understanding of the main invention and its embodiments.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates the side view of a standard flat connector (4) design used for electrical connection on glass. The standard flat connector (4) is connected to glass substrate (1) with the help of adhesion material (3). The adhesion material (3) is connected to standard flat connector (4) and conductive silver printing (2) with the help of conductive glue or soldering alloy or both in combination. The adhesion material (3) can also be connected with or without the use of tape. The tape can be of different types from standard to structural bounding tape (SBT) with temperature or IR curing. The conductive silver printing (2) can be with or without black underlay. The conductive silver printing (2) attached to surface is capable of being connected (electrically and adhesively) to a substrate.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of standard flat connector (4). The top view show that the connector is perpendicular to the symmetrical axis of the adhesion area.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates the side view when the standard flat connector (4) is pulled perpendicularly to the glass substrate. The pulling force which is also perpendicular to the flat connector (4) plane generates an asymmetric tensile stress on the adhesion material (3), in regards to the symmetry axis of the adhesion area aligned with the pull force axis (dashed line), resulting in a peeling stress on the adhesion material (3). The stress on the adhesion material (3) is not distributed uniformly over its entire surface. This resulting peeling stress leads to low adhesion force required to secure the connection in time. Any tensile test leads to a peeling of the connector instead of a pulling of the full connection surface.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates the side view of a new flat connector (5) design used for electrical connection on glass. The new flat connector (5) is connected to glass substrate (1) with the help of adhesion material (3). The adhesion material (3) is connected to flat connector (5) according to the present invention and conductive silver coating with the help of conductive glue or soldering alloy or both in combination. The solder alloy is leaded or lead free or conductive glue and the conductive metal strip is any metal preferably copper. The adhesion material (3) can also be connected with or without the use of tape on insulating film. The tape can be of different types from standard to structural bounding tape (SBT) with temperature or IR curing. The conductive silver printing (2) can be with or without black underlay. The conductive silver printing (2) attached to surface is capable of being connected (electrically and adhesively) to a substrate.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates the top view of a flat connector (5) according to the present invention which shows that the connector is perpendicular to the symmetrical axis of the adhesion area (5), according to the present invention. The flat connector (5) according to the present invention is cut with a certain shape in order to avoid peeling effect from one side of adhesion material (3). The shape of cut-out area is not restricted to U shape as shown in FIG. 5 but can be of any shape until it provides symmetrically distributed stresses on the adhesion area in regards to the defined symmetrical axis. The flat connector (5) according to the present invention can be insulated or not, partially or totally depending upon the requirement.
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates the side view when the flat connector (5) according to the present invention is pulled perpendicularly to the glass plane. The pulling force which is also perpendicular to flat connector (5) plane generates tensile stresses which, due to the particular cut shape according to the present invention, are distributed symmetrically on the adhesion area as the pull-off axis is aligned with the symmetrical axis of the adhesion area (3). The stress generated on the adhesion material (3) is distributed uniformly along the entire surface of adhesion material (3). Thesymmetric pulling stress disitribution lead to better adhesion strength to secure the connection in time. The new flat connector (5) eliminate the peeling stress on the adhesion material (3) leading to high resistance to pull-off tensile force.
[0050] FIG. 7 illustrates the side view of a flat connector (5) according to the present invention with cut-out design used for electric connection on glass. The flat connector (5) according to the present invention is connected to glass substrate (1) with the help of adhesion material (3). The adhesion material (3) is connected to flat connector (5) according to the present invention and conductive silver printing with the help of conductive glue or soldering alloy or both in combination. The solder alloy is leaded or lead free or conductive glue and the conductive metal strip is any metal preferably copper. The adhesion material (3) can also be connected with or without the use of tape on insulating film. The tape can be of different types from standard to structural bounding tape (SBT) with temperature or IR curing. The conductive silver printing (2) can be with or without black underlay. The conductive silver printing (2) attached to surface which is capable of being connected (electrically and adhesively) to a substrate.
[0051] FIG. 8 illustrates the top view of flat connector (5) according to the present invention with cut-out design which shows that the connector is perpendicular to the symmetrical axis of the adhesion area (5) according to the present invention.. The flat connector (5) according to the present invention is cut-out from dedicated area in order to have a tensile pull force centered on the soldered area to avoid peeling effect from one side of adhesion material (3). The shape of cut-out area is not restricted to U shape as shown in fig. but can be of any shape until it provide the force along the symmetrical axis. The flat connector (5) according to the present invention can be insulated or not, partially or totally depend upon the requirement.
[0052] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrates the cross section view along A cut plane. The conductive metal stripe (7) of flat connector (5) according to the present invention is soldered with solder alloy (8), where solder alloy can have lead or completely lead free or even a conductive glue can be used. The conductive metal stripe (7) can be coated with insulation film (6). In case of electric connection by soldering an opening (9) can be performed on the top of the insulation film to allow better heat transmission during the soldering process.. A standard tape (3) can be used in addition to the adhesion material in order to help for the positioning before the adhesion by soldering or curing of conductive glue. This tape can also increase the adhesion strength in case of use of structural bounding tape (SBT) with temperature or IR curing
[0053] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrates the cross section view along B cut plane. The conductive metal stripe (7) of flat connector (5) according to the present invention is soldered with solder alloy (8), where solder alloy can have lead or completely lead free or even a conductive glue can be used. The conductive metal stripe (7) can be coated with insulation film (6). In case of electric connection by soldering an opening (9) can be performed on the top of the insulation film to allow better heat transmission during the soldering process. The insulated film (6) connect conductive metal strip (7) to adhesion material (3) which further connected to conductive silver printing (2). The center part of Cut-out B can be attached to conductive silver printing (2) without using adhesion material (3) or the adhesion material (3) only on the center part of Cut-out B. This figures presents how the elements described in FIGS. 9 and 10 are arranged around the U-shape cut-out according to the present invention. In case of use of an insulation film (6), this one is preferably placed in a manner to protect the edges of the conductive metal stripe (7) around the U-shape cut-out. In that way, the shear resistance of this insulation material can increase the mechanical resistance of the connector around this cut-out.
[0054] FIG. 13 illustrates the axonometric view of the new flat connector (5) according to the present invention explained and presented on FIGS. 4-12.
[0055] The FIG. 14 presents another connector design allowing the symmetrical distribution of the stresses on the adhesion area when submitted to pull-off tensile force. This is obtained by a straight shape cut-out at the end of a standard flat connector in the connection area, then a folding of the connector all along its longitudinal axis and finally a bending of the two connection parts in opposite direction. As explained by this example, the flat connector and cut-outs can be of any shape where the aim is to achieve uniform or symmetrical distribution of the tensile stresses on the connection area when the connector is submitted to a tensile pull-of force, in order to eliminate the peeling effects resulting in low resistance to such efforts.
[0056] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms mentioned.
