TRANSPARENT PANE WITH HEATABLE COATING

Abstract

A transparent pane having an electrically heatable coating and at least one coating-free zone that can be used, for example, as a communication window, is disclosed. The electrically heatable coating is connected to two collecting electrodes, such that a supply voltage applied to the electrodes generates a heating current that flows via a heating field formed between the collecting electrodes, the heating field containing the coating-free zone whose zone-edge is formed, at least in sections, by the heatable coating. Other implementation details include subdivision of one of the two collecting electrodes into separated subregions, each connected, via an electrical supply line, to an additional electrode. In one case, the electrical supply line runs, at least in sections, in the coating-free zone, in a coating-free edge strip, in a subregion of the coating outside the heating field, and/or in the zone-edge. Methods for producing the transparent pane are also disclosed.

Claims

1.-2. (canceled)

3. A transparent pane, comprising: at least one electrically heatable coating connected to at least two collecting electrodes configured to establish an electrical connection to two poles of a voltage source, so that an applied supply voltage of the voltage source causes a heating current to flow via a heating field formed between the two collecting electrodes, wherein the heating field contains at least one coating-free zone bordered by a zone edge of the coating-free zone, the zone edge being formed, at least in sections, by the heatable coating, wherein at least one of the two collecting electrodes is subdivided into at least two subregions separated from one another, and wherein at least one electrical supply line, of at least two electrical supply lines, is guided from each of the at least two subregions to at least one additional electrode.

4. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional electrode is subdivided into at least two subregions separated from one another, and wherein each of the at least two subregions is electrically connected to one end of a respective electrical supply line of the at least two electrical supply lines as well as to the heating field section of the heating field between the two collecting electrodes.

5. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional electrode is electrically connected to ends of the at least two electrical supply lines and to a heating field section of the heating field between the two collecting electrodes.

6. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electrical supply line runs, at least in sections, i) in the at least one coating-free zone, and/or ii) in a coating-free edge strip of the transparent pane, and/or iii) in at least one subregion of the heatable coating outside the heating field, and/or iv) at and/or in the zone edge of the at least one coating-free zone formed by the heatable coating.

7. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein each of the at least two subregions of the at least one of the two collecting electrodes is electrically connected via at least one flat conductor to a voltage source.

8. The transparent pane according to claim 4, wherein each of the at least two subregions of the at least one additional electrode is connected via at least one flat conductor to a common voltage source.

9. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional electrode has at least two connection sections which extend into the heating field section of the heating field, between the at least one additional electrode and at least one collecting electrode of the two collecting electrodes.

10. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electrical supply line is arranged predominantly or entirely in a coating-free edge strip and/or a coating-free zone of the transparent pane.

11. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least two electrical supply lines are guided in sections through a respective one of at least two subregions of the heatable coating outside the heating field.

12. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least two electrical supply lines are guided in sections through an upper region of the coating-free zone in an installed state of the transparent pane.

13. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least two electrical supply lines extend in sections along lateral zone edges of the at least one coating-free zone in an installed state of the transparent pane.

14. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least one additional electrode extends along a lower zone edge in an installed state of the transparent pane.

15. The transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the at least two subregions are electrically conductively connected via at least one connecting part to at least one flat conductor adapted for connection to a voltage source, and wherein the at least one flat conductor and the at least one connecting part are electrically isolated from the at least two electrical supply lines.

16. The transparent pane according to claim 15, wherein the at least two subregions are electrically conductively connected via a common connecting part to the flat conductor.

17. The transparent pane according to claim 15, wherein electrical isolation between, the at least one flat conductor and the at least one connecting part, and the at least two electrical supply lines is accomplished by means of an electrically insulating layer.

18. A method for producing a transparent pane, the method comprising: A) producing an electrically heatable coating; B) producing at least one coating-free zone in the electrically heatable coating; C) forming at least two collecting electrodes provided for connection to two terminals of a voltage source, the at least two collecting electrodes being electrically connected to the electrically heatable coating, wherein at least one of the two collecting electrodes is subdivided into at least two subregions separated from one another; D) producing at least one additional electrode provided for electrically connecting to the at least two subregions separated from one another; and E) producing at least two electrical supply lines which electrically connect the at least one additional electrode respectively to the at least two subregions separated from one another.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the process steps C), D), and E) can be performed simultaneously using a screen printing method.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising applying the transparent pane to a functional and/or decorative individual piece and as a built-in component in furniture, devices, buildings, and means of transportation.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the process step D) further comprises subdividing the a least one additional electrode into at least two subregions separated from one another, wherein each of the at least two subregions is electrically connected to one end of a respective electrical supply line of the at least two electrical supply lines as well as to a heating field section of a heating field between the two collecting electrodes.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the two electrical supply lines is produced running, at least in sections, in the at least one coating-free zone, and/or in a coating-free edge strip of the transparent pane, and/or in at least one subregion of the heatable coating outside a heating field, and/or at and/or in the zone edge of the at least one coating-free zone formed by the heatable coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0119] The invention is now explained in detail using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. They depict, in simplified, not to scale representation:

[0120] FIG. 1 a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the windshield according to the invention;

[0121] FIG. 2 a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of the windshield according to the invention;

[0122] FIG. 3 a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of the windshield according to the invention;

[0123] FIG. 4 a plan view of the essential detail from another embodiment of the windshield according to the invention;

[0124] FIG. 5 a representation of a vertical cut through a detail of the windshield according to the invention of FIG. 1 through 4;

[0125] FIG. 6 a perspective cross-sectional view of a detail of the windshield of FIG. 1 through 4;

[0126] FIG. 7 a representation of a vertical cut through a detail of the windshield according to the invention of FIG. 1;

[0127] In the FIGS. 1 to 7, the reference characters have the following meaning: [0128] 1 windshield [0129] 2 outer pane [0130] 3 inner pane [0131] 4 adhesive layer [0132] 5 pane edge [0133] 6, 6 first side [0134] 7, 7 second side [0135] 8 coating [0136] 8, 8 subregion of the coating 8 outside the heating field 12 [0137] 9 coating-free edge strip [0138] 10 coating edge [0139] 11, 11 collecting electrode [0140] 11, 11 subregion of the collecting electrode 11 [0141] 12 heating field between the collecting electrodes 11 and 11 [0142] 13, 13 masking strip [0143] 13 edge of the masking strip [0144] 14 coating-free zone [0145] 14 upper region of the coating-free zone 14 in the installed state of the windshield 1 [0146] 14 lower region of the coating-free zone 14 in the installed state of the windshield 1 [0147] 15 additional electrode [0148] 15, 15 subregion of the additional electrode 15 [0149] 16, 16 electrical supply line [0150] 17 zone edge, formed by the electrically conductive coating 8, of the first coating-free zone 14 [0151] 17, 17 lateral zone edge of the coating-free zone 14, in the installed state of the windshield 1 [0152] 17 lower zone edge of the coating-free zone 14, in the installed state of the windshield 1 [0153] 17 upper zone edge of the coating-free zone 14, in the installed state of the windshield 1 [0154] 18, 18 flat conductor to one terminal of a voltage source [0155] 19, 19 copper connection between flat conductors 18, 18 and connecting part 20, 20 to the collecting electrode 11, 11 [0156] 20, 20 connecting part between flat conductor 18 or copper connection 19, 19 and the subregions 11 and 11 of collecting electrode 11 [0157] 21, 21 connection section [0158] 22 heating field section of the heating field 12 between additional electrode 15 or [0159] 23 its subregions 15 and 15 and collecting electrode 11 electrically insulating layer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0160] FIG. 1 depicts a transparent windshield 1 of a motor vehicle viewed from the inside. Here, the windshield 1 is implemented, for example, as a laminated glass pane whose structure is illustrated using the representation of a vertical cut through a detail of the windshield 1 in FIG. 5 and using the perspective sectional view of a detail of the windshield 1 in FIG. 6.

[0161] Accordingly, the windshield 1 comprises two rigid individual panes, namely an outer pane 2 and an inner pane 3, which are adhesively bonded to each other by a thermoplastic adhesive layer 4, here, for example, a polyvinyl butyral film (PVB), an ethylene vinyl acetate film (EVA), or a polyurethane film (PU). The two individual panes 2, 3 are roughly the same size and shape and can, for example, have a trapezoidal curved outline, which is not shown in detail in the figures. They are made, for example, of glass, being also possibly made of a nonglass material such as plastic. For applications other than windshields, it would also be possible to produce the two individual panes 2, 3 from a flexible material. The outline of the windshield 1 is defined by a pane edge 5 common to the two individual panes 2, 3, with the windshield 1 having, at the top and bottom, two opposing first sides 6, 6 as well as, on the left and on the right, two opposing second sides 7, 7.

[0162] As depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, a transparent, electrically heatable coating 8 is deposited on the side of the inner pane 3 bonded to the adhesive layer 4. Here, the heatable coating 8 is, for example, applied substantially on the entire surface of the inner pane 3, with an edge strip 9 of the inner pane 3 circumferential on all sides not coated such that a coating edge 10 of the electrically conductive coating 8 is set back inward relative to the pane edge 5. This effects electrical isolation of the electrically conductive coating 8 toward the outside. In addition, the electrically conductive coating 8 is protected against corrosion penetrating from the pane edge 5.

[0163] The heatable coating 8 comprises, in a manner known per se, a layer sequence (not shown) with at least one electrically heatable, metallic sublayer, preferably silver, and, optionally, other sublayers such as anti-reflection layers and blocker layers. The layer sequence advantageously has high thermal stability such that it withstands, without damage, the temperatures of typically more than 600 C. necessary for bending glass panes; however, layer sequences with low thermal stability can also be provided. The heatable coating 8 can also be applied as a metallic single layer. It is also conceivable not to apply the electrically conductive coating 8 directly on the inner pane 3, but instead to apply it first on a carrier, for example, a plastic film that is subsequently bonded with the outer and inner pane 2, 3. Alternatively, the carrier film can be bonded to adhesive films (e.g., PVB films) and bonded as a three layer arrangement (trilayer) to inner and outer pane 2, 3. The heatable coating 8 is preferably applied by sputtering or magnetron cathodic sputtering onto the inner or outer pane 2, 3.

[0164] As depicted in FIG. 1, the heatable coating 8 is electrically conductively connected adjacent the first sides 6, 6, i.e., at the upper and lower pane edge 5, to a band-shaped upper collecting electrode or busbar 11 and a band-shaped lower collecting electrode 11 and, for example, for this purpose, galvanically coupled to the two collecting electrodes 11, 11. The upper collecting electrode 11 is provided for connecting to one terminal of a voltage source (not shown). The two collecting electrodes 11, 11 of opposite polarity serve for uniform introduction and distribution of the heating current in the heating field 12 of the heatable coating 8, situated therebetween. The two collecting electrodes 11, 11 are, for example, printed onto the electrically heatable coating 8 and have, in each case, an at least approx. rectilinear course.

[0165] According to the invention, the upper collecting electrode 11 is subdivided into two subregions 11 and 11 separated from one another.

[0166] From each of the two subregions 11, 11, in each case, an electrical supply line 16, 16 runs to an additional electrode 15. The electrical supply lines 16, 16 run a short distance through the subregions 8, 8 laid outside the heating layer 12 above the two subregions 11 and 11. Thereafter, the electrical supply lines 16, 16 run a longer distance through the coating-free edge strip 9 adjacent the upper side 6 of the windshield 1 all the way to the upper region 14 of the coating-free zone 14. From there, the two electrical supply lines 16, 16 run within the coating-free zone 14 along the lateral zone edges 17, 17 formed by the heatable coating 8 to the additional electrode 15, which is arranged on the lower zone edge 17 of the coating-free zone 14 such that it is galvanically coupled to the heating field section 22 of the heating field 12 between the additional electrode 15 and the lower collecting electrode 11.

[0167] The coating-free zone has here, for example, an at least approx. rectangular contour. It is bordered by the zone edges 17, 17, and 17. In its upper region 14, it transitions into the coating-free edge region 9. It is transparent at least to a part of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., IR radiation, radio waves in the ultrashort, short, and longwave range), to enable unobstructed data traffic through the windshield 1. The coating-free zone 14 can be produced, for example, by prior masking at the time of the application of the heatable coating 8 on the inner pane 3. Alternatively, it can also be produced after application of the heatable coating 8 by chemical and/or mechanical ablation, for example, by etching or use of a friction wheel. It is situated within the heating field 12 in the vicinity of the subregions 11, 11 of the upper collecting electrode 11.

[0168] The subregions 11, 11, the lower collecting electrode 11, the additional electrode 15, and the electrical supply lines 16, 16 can be produced by printing, for example, using a screen printing method, a metallic printing paste, for example, silver printing paste, onto the subregions 8, 8 of the heatable coating 8, the coating-free edge strip 9, and the coating-free zones 14, 14, preferably in one process step.

[0169] The electrical connection of the two subregions 11, 11 to a terminal of the voltage source (not shown) is made via an electrically conductive, metallic connecting part 20, which connects the two subregions 11, 11 to a conventional and known flat conductor 18. The arrangement comprising the flat conductor 18 and connecting part 20 is electrically isolated by a strip-shaped, electrically insulating layer 23 from the sections of the electrical supply lines 16, 16 running thereunder. The strip-shaped, electrically insulating layer 23 runs between the two subregions 11, 11 and abuts their end edges.

[0170] This arrangement is again further illustrated with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 depicts a vertical section through the arrangement comprising inner pane 3, subregions 8, 8, 8 with the zone edges 17, 17, subregions 11, 11, strip-shaped, electrically insulating layer 23, flat conductor 18 lying thereon, and adjacent subregions 20, 20 of the connecting part 20.

[0171] In another embodiment, the strip-shaped, electrically insulating layer 23 does not abut the end edges of the subregions 11, 11, but, instead, covers only the intersections of the electrical supply lines 16, 16 with the connecting parts 20, 20.

[0172] The regions of the windshield 1 in which the above-described functional elements are situated as well as parts of the heating field 12 are concealed by black, opaque masking strips 13, 13 with the edges 13 and thus visually masked. The masking strips also serve for shielding against UV radiation, which could compromise the functions of the electrically conductive elements.

[0173] FIG. 2 depicts a plan view of another embodiment of the windshield 1 according to the invention.

[0174] The embodiment of FIG. 2 resembles the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the following significant differences:

[0175] Each of the two subregions 11, 11 is connected via, in each case, an electrically conductive connecting part 20, 20 and flat, strip-shaped connections made of copper 19, 19 to, in each case, a flat conductor 18, 18. The two flat conductors 18, 18 are connected to a terminal of a voltage source. The connecting parts 20, 20 and two flat conductors 18, 18 run, in sections, on the subregions 8, 8 of the heatable coating 8. The two strip-shaped connections 19, 19 are arranged entirely in the subregions 8, 8.

[0176] From each of the two subregions 11, 11, in each case, an electrical supply line 16, 16 runs for a short distance over the heatable coating 8 in the coating-free zone 14. Within the coating-free zone 14, each of the two electrical supply lines 16, 16 runs along the lateral zone edges 17, 17 to, in each case, a subregion 15, 15 of the additional electrode 15. These subregions 15, 15 run within the lower region of coating-free zone 14 along the lower zone edge 17.

[0177] Each of the two subregions 15, 15 is galvanically coupled via a plurality of narrow strip-shaped connection sections 21, 21 to the heating field section 22 of the heating field 12 such that the heating current can be precisely guided into the adjacent regions.

[0178] The embodiment of FIG. 3 substantially resembles the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the significant difference that the two electrical supply lines 16, 16 run directly from the side edges of the subregions 11, 11 into the upper region 14 of the coating-free zone 14. Here, the upper region 14 transitions into the coating-free edge strip 9 situated on the first side 6, or the relevant section of the coating-free edge strip 9 is an integral component of the upper region 14. The advantage of this embodiment of FIG. 3 is that the electrical supply lines 16, 16 have no contact with the heatable coating 8.

[0179] The embodiment of the windshield 1 according to the invention of FIG. 4 (only the upper section of the windshield 1 is depicted) differs from the embodiments of the windshield 1 according to the invention of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the following significant characteristics:

[0180] The two flat conductors 18, 18 for the subregions 11, 11 are arranged in the region of the ends of the subregions 11, 11 that are adjacent the second sides 7, 7.

[0181] The electrical supply lines 16, 16 run a longer distance over the subregions 8, 8 of the heatable coating 8 above the two subregions 11, 11 to the upper region 14 of the coating-free zone 14.

[0182] In the coating-free zone 14, the two supply lines 16, 16 run first along the upper zone edge 17 and from there out along the lateral zone edges 17, 17 to the additional electrode 15, which is arranged outside the lower region 14 of the coating-free zone 14 below the lower zone edge 17 such that it is galvanically coupled to the heating field section.