Laminated vehicle windshield with internal luminous sign(s)

Abstract

A laminated vehicle windshield containing internal luminous information, includes a first glazing, a lamination interlayer, a second glazing and peripheral exterior and interior masking layers. The interior masking layer is discontinuous and includes one or more first discontinuities that form a first sign. The windshield also includes a first curved organic-light-emitting-diode device to illuminate the first sign.

Claims

1. A laminated vehicle windshield including one or more internal luminous signs, comprising: a first curved glazing with a first main face, which first main face is intended to be on an exterior side of the vehicle, and an opposite second main face; a second curved glazing with a third main face and an opposite fourth main face, which fourth main face is intended to be on an interior side of the vehicle, at least one of the first and second curved glazings being made of mineral glass, said first and second curved glazings being connected together via the second and third main faces by a lamination interlayer made of a thermoformable and thermoplastic polymeric material, said lamination interlayer including a first bonding main face toward a side of the second main face and a second bonding main face toward a side of the third main face; a first peripheral layer forming an interior masking layer made of opaque material, which is between the second bonding face and the third main face or that is on the fourth main face, said interior masking layer being discontinuous and comprising one or more first discontinuities, the one or more first discontinuities forming a first sign, made up of one or more symbols and/or letters; a second peripheral layer forming an exterior masking layer made of opaque material, between the first bonding face and the second main face, facing the interior masking layer and the one or more first discontinuities; and a first radiation source for the first sign, wherein the first radiation source includes a first curved organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) device between the second and third main faces configured to emit a first emission in the visible spectrum to illuminate the first sign.

2. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sign is inscribed in a rectangle of centimeter-sized vertical dimension or height H and such as to define an angle between the windshield and a gaze axis of the driver, the first sign being characterized by a vertical apparent height H and H is set by the formula H=H/sin().

3. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a color filter between the first curved OLED device and the first sign on the fourth main face or the third main face side.

4. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 3, wherein the color filter includes a colored filtering layer that is on the third main face side: on the third main face; or on the first curved OLED device; or on a curved carrier that is common to the first curved OLED device and to a second OLED device configured to illuminate a second sign, said curved carrier being transparent in front of the first curved OLED device.

5. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior masking layer is on the third main face, and one or more first apertures in the interior masking layer are filled with a transparent layer or with a colored filtering layer.

6. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more second discontinuities of the interior masking layer that form a second sign, made up of one or more symbols and/or letters, which second sign is adjacent to the first sign, and wherein a second curved organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) device is between the second and third main faces, said second curved OLED device being distinct from the first curved OLED device and being configured to illuminate the second sign, and the first and second OLED devices are on a curved common carrier.

7. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 6, wherein the curved common carrier bears electrical conductors supplying power to the first curved OLED device and to the second curved OLED device, and the curved common carrier bearing one or more first electronic components including a first microcontroller addressing the first curved OLED device and regulating the electrical power supply of the first curved OLED.

8. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device is covered by a dielectric protective layer that optionally bears electrical conductors that supply the first curved OLED device with power, said protective layer optionally extending beyond one or more edges of the first curved OLED device and covering a second curved OLED device that is adjacent to the first curved OLED device and that is configured to illuminate a second sign.

9. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device is mounted on the second main face directly or via a carrier that is common to a second OLED device that is adjacent to the first curved OLED device and that is configured to illuminate a second sign, the first bonding main face optionally being apertured plumb with the first curved OLED device, or wherein the first curved OLED device is mounted on the third main face directly or via a carrier that is common to a second OLED device that is adjacent to the first curved OLED device and that is configured to illuminate a second sign, the second bonding main face optionally being apertured plumb with the first OLED device.

10. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device is encapsulated by the thermoformable material.

11. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoformable material includes polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

12. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sign is chosen from: a driver aid; a status indicator indicating an operating state of the automobile; information on the external environment; and an indicator indicating connectivity to a communications network on the front passenger side lateral edge.

13. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior masking layer and the exterior masking layer are made of the same material, and are on the second main face and the third main face or on the second main face and the fourth main face.

14. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior masking layer is a strip of width L0 and in the zone of the first sign of width L1>L0.

15. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device includes a first substrate and is configured to emit through the first substrate and an optional second OLED device includes a second substrate that is adjacent or identical to the first substrate, and that is configured to emit through the second substrate.

16. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device includes a first curved transparent substrate including on the second main face side in this order: a transparent lower electrode; a first organic light-emitting system; and a reflective upper electrode; and wherein the windshield optionally includes a second OLED device, between the second and third main faces, which includes a second curved transparent substrate, adjacent to the first curved OLED device and configured to illuminate a second sign, and including on the second main face side in this order: a transparent lower electrode; a second organic light-emitting system; and a reflective upper electrode.

17. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved OLED device is a bottom-emitting device.

18. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first curved glazing has a thickness E1 of at most 2.5 mm and the second curved glazing has a thickness E1 of at most 2.2 mm.

19. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved common carrier is of thickness E2, with E2+E2 smaller than E3, E2 being the thickness of the first curved OLED device, and E3 is the thickness of the lamination interlayer.

20. The laminated vehicle windshield as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interior masking layer and the exterior masking layer are made of enamel.

Description

(1) The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description of nonlimiting embodiments, which description is given below with reference to the following figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a passenger compartment side front view of a first windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 1 shows a passenger compartment side front view of a second windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a partial passenger compartment side front view of a third windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 1i is a side view that shows the inclination of a windshield with an internal luminous sign according to the invention and FIG. 1j shows signs stretched in the vertical direction to compensate for the effect of the inclination.

(6) FIG. 1a shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 1b shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(8) FIG. 2a shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(9) FIG. 2b shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(10) FIG. 2c shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(11) FIG. 2d shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(12) FIG. 3 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(13) FIG. 3a shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(14) FIG. 3b shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(15) FIG. 4 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(16) FIG. 5 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(17) FIG. 5 shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(18) FIG. 6 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(19) FIG. 6 shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(20) FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(21) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a common carrier bearing two OLED devices for backlighting and bearing current-distributing conductors, the carrier being laminated in the windshield.

(22) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a common carrier bearing two OLED devices for backlighting and bearing the current-distributing conductors of two microcontrollers, the carrier being laminated in the windshield.

(23) FIG. 1 shows a passenger compartment side front view of a windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(24) The windshield 1000 is laminated and includes a first curved external glazing with main faces F1 (the outermost face) and F2, a polymeric lamination interlayer made of a material such as a PVB, and a second curved internal glazing 1 with main faces F3 and F4 (the innermost face).

(25) It is of a rectangular shape defined by its lateral and longitudinal edges and has an opaque peripheral border, that here is black, on face F2 and on face F3 or on F2 and F4.

(26) The interior masking layer 4 is opaque and may be made of a black enamel deposited on face 13 or F3 or face 14 or F4 of the internal glass 1, made of paint or of an optically opaque ink deposited on the polymer interlayer, or of an added, tinted or painted, opaque polymer layer laminated between the interior glass and the interlayer.

(27) This layer is deposited using any technique known to those skilled in the art, for example, nonlimitingly, using screen-printing techniques, inkjet-printing techniques or even rotogravure-, flexographic or offset-printing techniques.

(28) This layer 4 contains discontinuities 51 forming signs such as pictograms. These are apertures in the masking layer 4, the shape of which is adjusted to each pattern sought. These are in particular apertured zones of the masking layer 4, i.e. zones lacking masking material (enamel), and the shape of which corresponds to the pattern recognized by the driver (or the passenger) such as simple and immediate information during the illumination of this zone by a first OLED device, each apertured zone thus being backlit.

(29) As a result, the visual information is borne by the interior masking layer.

(30) A plurality of signs, each backlit by a dedicated OLED device, are located along the lower longitudinal edge 15a (in mounted position) in particular driver side, above all when the signs are driver aids (requiring a rapid reaction from the driver. For example the OLED devices are on a common carrier 7 (not visible but shown by a dashed line).

(31) Mention may be made of: an indicator indicating excess speed (SPEED in letters) that lights up optionally red or optionally orange when the limit is almost reached; an anti-frontal-collision diagnostic that for example turns on if the vehicle is too close to the vehicle (automobile, motorcycle, etc.) in front i.e. not respecting the stopping distance; a hazard warning light that turns on in case of danger.

(32) A plurality of signs, each backlit by a dedicated OLED device, are located along the upper longitudinal edge 15b (in mounted position) in particular in the central position conventionally used for fastening the rearview mirror, the OLED devices for example being on a common carrier 7 (not visible but shown by a dashed line).

(33) A plurality of signs, each backlit by a dedicated OLED device, are located along the left lateral edge 15c (in mounted position) the OLED devices for example being on a common carrier 7 (not visible but shown by a dashed line). Mention may be made of: pictograms on the state of the vehicle: oil level, temperature, door poorly closed, seatbelt not fastened; pictograms on whether the lights are turned on or not.

(34) A plurality of signs, each backlit by a dedicated OLED device, are located along the right lateral edge 15d (in mounted position) the OLED devices for example being on a common carrier 7 (not visible but shown by a dashed line). Mention may be made of: pictograms about the door (poorly closed), the safety belt (not fastened); pictograms about the air conditioning, fans; pictograms giving information about the external environment:an indicator indicating a friend is located in proximity to the vehicle; an indicator indicating connectivity to a telecommunications network.

(35) The width of the enamel strip 4 is judiciously larger in the zones of the signs.

(36) FIG. 1 shows a passenger compartment side front view of a second windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(37) A plurality of signs, each backlit by a dedicated OLED device, are located along the lower longitudinal edge 15a driver side (in mounted position) the OLED devices for example being on a common carrier 7 (not visible but shown by a dashed line).

(38) Mention may be made of: an anti-left-lateral-collision diagnostic that for example turns on if an overtaking vehicle and/or a vehicle in the left-hand lane is too close; an anti-right-lateral-collision diagnostic that for example turns on if a vehicle in the right-hand lane is too close; a lane-position diagnostic that for example turns on if the vehicle being driven is too far to the left or too far to the right in its lane.

(39) The common carrier may be L-shaped so as to extend each side of a corner, such as here over the left lateral edge 15c and the upper longitudinal edge 15b.

(40) FIG. 1 shows a partial passenger compartment side front view of a third windshield comprising internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(41) A pictogram, for example here the hazard warning light, may be isolated from the other pictograms with an extra thickness of enamel dedicated to this pictogram. For example, the first OLED device is here mounted on face F2 or F3 or laminated between face F2 and F3 (without common carrier).

(42) FIG. 1i is a side view that shows the steep inclination of a windshield with an internal luminous sign according to the invention of actual height H and of apparent height H (as perceived by the driver located opposite).

(43) For example, the angle is about 25.

(44) Furthermore, FIG. 1j shows signs stretched in the vertical direction in order to compensate for the effect of the inclination.

(45) FIG. 1a shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 100a comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(46) The laminated vehicle windshield 100a including one or more internal luminous signs, comprises: a first curved glazing that is preferably made of mineral glass and optionally tinted, in particular grey or green, with a first main face called F1 that is intended to be exterior side of the vehicle and an opposite second main face called F2, said glazing being of thickness E1 of preferably at most 2.5 mm, and even of at most 2 mmin particular 1.9 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.6 mm and 1.4 mmor even of at most 1.3 mm or of at most 1 mm, for example made of the glass TSA (by the applicant company) and of thickness 2.1 mm; a second curved (just like the first glazing) glazing that is preferably made of mineral glass, with a third main face called F3 and an opposite fourth main face called F4 that is in particular intended to be interior side of the vehicle, of thickness E1 preferably being smaller than E1, and even of at most 2 mmin particular 1.9 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.6 mm and 1.4 mmor even of at most 1.3 mm or of at most 1 mm, the total thickness of the glazings E1+E1 preferably being strictly smaller than 4 mm and even than 3.7 mm, for example made of the glass TSA (by the applicant company) and of thickness 2.1 mm,
said first and second glazings being connected together via the faces F2 and F3 by a lamination interlayer made of (clear or extra-clear) thermoformable and preferably thermoplastic polymeric material and even of PVB and of (total) thickness E3 of at most 2.2 mm and better still of at most 2 mm, of at most 1.5 mm or even of at most 1 mm, said interlayer being made up of 1, 2 or 3 sheets for example and in particular being set back from the edge face of the second glazing (by at most 5 mm or even at most 2 mm or at most 1 mm) and even set back from the edge face of the first glazing (by at most 5 mm or even at most 2 mm or at most 1 mm), said interlayer including a first bonding main face, face F2 side and a second bonding main face, face F3 side; a first peripheral layer called the interior masking layer 4 made of an opaque material that, along a border of face F3, on face F4, in particular along a border of face F4in particular (directly) on face F4 is discontinuous and thus comprising one or more first discontinuities 51 forming a first sign made up of one or more symbols and/or letters; and a second peripheral layer called the exterior masking layer 6 made of opaque material on face F2, which faces the interior masking layer and the one or more first discontinuitiesalong a border of the face F2.

(47) Furthermore, a first curved (because flexible and soft) organic-light-emitting-diode device called an OLED device is between the faces F2 and F30, being able to illuminate the first sign (by backlighting), thus facing the first sign, and facing the interior masking layer, and able to emit light only toward the first sign.

(48) The first OLED device 2 is of preferably subcentimeter-sized thickness E2 smaller than E3 and even of at most 0.5 mm and better still of at most 0.35 mm and in particular of thickness substantially equal to the thickness of one thermoplastic sheet and therefore of 0.76 mm, 0.38 mm or 0.17 mm thickness.

(49) The first OLED device is for example individual (not borne with another OLED device on a common carrier) and is here encapsulated by the thermoformable material by means of two or three PVB sheets.

(50) A functional layer, such as a transparent conductive layer 6, may be on face F3 and may serve for example as an anti-solar or heating (anti-fog, etc.) layer. If necessary, for reasons of color, this layer may be removed in the one or more signs zones.

(51) The interior masking layer 4 and the exterior masking layer 6 are made of the same material and preferably of an enamel.

(52) FIG. 1b shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 100b comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention. The laminated vehicle windshield 100b including one or more internal luminous signs differs from the windshield 100a in that a flexible common carrier 7 bears a plurality of (here two) OLED devices, each dedicated to backlighting a given sign.

(53) The flexible common carrier 7 is here behind the OLED devices. It may advantageously bear electrical conductors for supplying the OLED devices with electrical power and extend as far as an edge of the windshield and even extend beyond the windshield in order to simplify the electrical connections.

(54) The flexible common carrier 7 may be a thin plastic such as a PET, of at most 0.2 mm thickness, or even a glass, in particular a chemically tempered glass. It is not necessarily transparent and does not necessarily bear transparent conductors because it is masked by the layer 4 (and the layer 6).

(55) FIG. 2a shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 200a comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(56) The laminated vehicle windshield 200a including one or more internal luminous signs differs from the windshield 100a in that a colored filtering layer 9 is deposited (sol-gel, etc.) or is a film against or fastened to the face F3 directly or fastened to the optional functional layer 6. In this case, it may serve to choose the color if a white-emitting OLED device is used or to adjust the color emitted by a colored OLED device.

(57) FIG. 2b shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 200b comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention. The laminated vehicle windshield 200b including one or more internal luminous signs differs from the windshield 100b in that a colored filtering layer 9a, 9b is deposited (sol-gel, etc.) on the OLED devices. In this case, it may serve to choose the color if a white-emitting OLED device is used or to adjust the color emitted by a colored OLED device.

(58) FIG. 2c shows a partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 200c comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(59) The laminated vehicle windshield 200c including one or more internal luminous signs differs from the windshield 100a in that: the layer 4 is deposited (preferably) on face F3 directly or on the optional functional layer 6; a colored filtering layer 9 is deposited (preferably) on face F3 directly or on the optional functional layer 6.

(60) For example, the layer 4 and the filtering layer 9 are made of enamel.

(61) An all-enamel alternative is possible face F4 side.

(62) FIG. 2d shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention.

(63) The laminated vehicle windshield 200c including one or more internal luminous signs differs from the windshield 200b in that the (transparent) common carrier 7 is on the emission face side of the OLED devices 2a and 2b. Its bottom face 71 (face F2 side) bears the OLED devices 2a and 2b. Its top side 71 (face F3 side) bears the colored filtering layers 9a and 9b. Alternatively, the colored filtering layers 9a and 9b could be on its bottom face 71 (face F2 side).

(64) FIG. 3 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(65) The first and second OLED devices 2a and 2b are chosen to be bottom-emitting devices and each includes: a, for example plastic (PET etc.) or (tempered) glass, first curved transparent substrate 20 bearing: a transparent lower electrode (closest to the substrate) 21 that is for example made of ITO or a metal (silver, etc.) grid; a first organic light-emitting system 22; a reflective electrode that is called the upper electrode (the furthest from the substrate) 23 and for example made of aluminum or silver; a varnish or a protective film 24, for example made of kapton, that is adhesively bonded to and optionally extends beyond the upper electrode and that comprises contact lands for the electrodes.

(66) Each device is adhesively bonded by a glue 8 or a double-sided adhesive to the common carrier 7, which is bottommost. The OLED devices may be against the face 72 of the carrier and attached just by solder bumps between contacts of the electrodes and conductors on the face 72. These contacts may be on the same side of the OLED device, for example 21a and 23a.

(67) FIG. 3a shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 300a comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(68) It illustrates one possible way of laminating a bottom-emitting (or optionally top-emitting if flipped) first OLED device 2 based on 3 preferably PVB sheets: two external sheets 33 and 34 making contact with F2 and F3; an apertured central sheet (with a void 35a) on the perimeter of the common carrier 7 and of substantially the same thickness as the OLED device and carrier assembly.

(69) This sheet 33 may be optional.

(70) FIG. 3b shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 300b comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(71) It illustrates one possible way of laminating a bottom-emitting (or optionally top-emitting if flipped) first OLED device 2 based on two preferably PVB sheets: an external sheet 33 face F2 side; an apertured sheet 34 (with a void 34a) on the perimeter of the first OLED device and with a (slight) excess thickness with respect to the top face of the substrate 20.

(72) This sheet 33 may be optional.

(73) FIG. 4 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 400 comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(74) It differs from the windshield 300 in that the carrier 7 itself plays the role of the protective film protecting the upper electrode 23. The carrier 7 may be adhesively bonded to the upper electrode.

(75) FIG. 5 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(76) It differs from the windshield 300 in that the carrier 7 is top side. It is transparent and could be made of PET or glass. The top face of the substrate may be adhesively bonded to face 71.

(77) The OLED devices 2a and 2b may be against the face 71 of the carrier 7 and attached just by solder bumps between contacts of the electrodes and conductors on the face 71. These contacts may be on the same side of the OLED device, for example side 21a and 23a.

(78) FIG. 5 shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 500 comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature). It illustrates one possible way of laminating a bottom-emitting (or optionally top-emitting if flipped) first OLED device 2 based on 3 preferably PVB sheets: two external sheets 33 and 34 making contact with F2 and F3; an apertured central sheet (with a void 35a) on the perimeter of the top side common carrier 7 and of substantially the same thickness as the OLED device and carrier assembly 7.

(79) This sheet 34 may be optional.

(80) FIG. 6 shows an exploded partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 600 comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(81) It illustrates one possible way of laminating a bottom-emitting (or optionally top-emitting if flipped) first OLED device 2 based on 3 preferably PVB sheets: two external sheets 33 and 34 making contact with F2 and F3; an apertured central sheet 35 (with a void 35a) on the perimeter of each OLED device 2a and 2b (without common carrier) and of substantially the same thickness as the OLED device.

(82) This sheet 33 may be optional.

(83) FIG. 6 shows an exploded partial lateral cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 600 comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(84) It illustrates one possible way of laminating a bottom-emitting (or optionally top-emitting if flipped) first OLED device 2 based on 2 preferably PVB sheets: an external sheet 33 making contact with F2; an apertured central sheet 34 (with a void 34a) on the perimeter of the OLED device 2 (without common carrier) and with an excess thickness with respect to the top face of the substrate 20.

(85) This sheet 33 may be optional.

(86) FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a laminated windshield 700 comprising one or more internal luminous signs according to the present invention (for the sake of simplicity the elements have not been drawn curved i.e. with a curvature).

(87) The OLED device 2 may have a substrate or be on a carrier (common to other OLED devices) with a curved portion 26 extending beyond the edge of the windshield and as far as the face F4, said portion being adhesively bonded to the face F4 by an adhesive 7a. The body of the automobile is itself adhesively bonded in this location by an adhesive bead 7b.

(88) As here, provision may be made to recess the internal glass 1 in order to make it easy to fold the portion onto the face F4 and to increase compactness.

(89) The distance D between the (longitudinal) edge of the glazing and the base of the first sign may be at least 5 cm, 8 cm or 10 cm. The distance D between the (longitudinal) edge of the glazing and the base of the first sign may be at most 25 cm, and even at most 20 cm.

(90) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a common carrier 7 bearing two OLED devices 2a and 2b for backlighting, and bearing current-distributing conductors, the common carrier 7 being laminated in the windshield and with a dog-legged portion 73 exiting via the edge face 15.

(91) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a common carrier bearing two OLED devices for backlighting, and bearing current-distributing conductors and two microcontrollers 10a and 10b, the common carrier 7 being laminated in the windshield and with a dog-legged portion 73 exiting via the edge face 15.