Laminated glazing with variable liquid-crystal-induced scattering, and process and device for manufacturing it

Abstract

A laminated glazing with variable liquid-crystal-induced scattering, includes a first glass sheet; a first interlayer film for laminating the first glass sheet, made from a first plastic material; an electrically controllable, variable scattering system including the liquid crystals between a first support for a first electrode and a second support for a second electrode, the electrodes making contact with the liquid crystals; a second interlayer film, made from a second plastic material for laminating a second glass sheet; links to the electrodes; electrical wiring with two wiring inputs; a polymer material, for protecting the wiring inputs, which makes contact with the glass sheets; and a seal for sealing the liquid crystals and the electrodes from water. The protective polymer material forms a seal for sealing the electrode links and the wiring inputs from liquid water.

Claims

1. A laminated glazing with variable liquid-crystal-induced scattering, the laminated glazing comprising: a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet, wherein there is a peripheral groove between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet; a first electrode and a second electrode positioned between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet; an electrically controllable, variable scattering system comprising liquid crystals, the first and second electrodes making contact with the liquid crystals; first and second electrically conductive links, to the first and second electrodes respectively; electrical wiring with two wiring inputs, a first wiring input electrically connected to the first electrically conductive link and a second wiring input electrically connected to the second electrically conductive link, wherein at least a portion of the electrical wiring is positioned in the peripheral groove; and a polymer material, for protecting the first and second wiring inputs, which makes contact with the first and second glass sheets; wherein the protective polymer material is positioned in the peripheral groove and forms a seal configured to seal the first and second electrically conductive links, the electrical wiring positioned in the peripheral groove, and the first and second wiring inputs from liquid water.

2. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the protective material is crosslinked.

3. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the protective material is based on ethylene-vinyl acetate.

4. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the protective material has an external surface, directed towards the exterior of the glazing, which is moulded.

5. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wiring comprises a wire that, over at least some of its a length thereof located outside of an input region of the wire, comprises a sheath that makes contact with the protective material.

6. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wiring comprises a wire fixed in a defined unidirectional position at least outside of the input of the wire, said input being covered with the protective material.

7. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the protective material covers continuously the first and second electrically conductive links and a space between the first and second links.

8. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the wiring exits the glazing, not covered by the protective material, in a single region.

9. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the protective material lies around an entire perimeter of the glazing, framing the glazing and enclosing the electrical wiring.

10. A method comprising arranging the laminated glazing with variable liquid-crystal-induced scattering, according to claim 1, as: an internal partition in a building or in a terrestrial, aerial or nautical object of transportation; a glazed door, a window, a ceiling or a tiling; a rear-view mirror of a vehicle, side windows or roof of a terrestrial, aerial or nautical object of transportation; a projector screen; or a shop window or a window of a counter.

11. A process for manufacturing a laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 1, the process comprising forming a seal for sealing the first and second electrically conductive links and the first and second wiring inputs from liquid water, the forming comprising: inserting the protective polymer material into a mould having an internal moulding surface facing the first and second wiring inputs; placing the assembly in a sealed vacuum system, and heating the protective polymer material until fluid so that the protective polymer material follows closely the moulding surface and makes contact with the first and second glass sheets.

12. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the protective material is based on ethylene-vinyl acetate, and the first and second thermoplastic materials are based on ethylene-vinyl acetate.

13. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould lies along the edge of the glazing and presses against the glazing at least on an external face of the first glass sheet.

14. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould encircles the perimeter of the glazing.

15. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould is opened or pierced with one or more holes in a sidewall thereof facing the edge of the glazing so as to let the wiring exit.

16. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould is opened laterally on at least one side so as to let the wiring exit.

17. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould presses against the main external faces of the glazing.

18. The process for manufacturing the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, according to claim 11, wherein the mould only presses against one end of the main external face of the first sheet and a cover is placed on one edge of the main external face of the second sheet and extends over the mould.

19. The laminated glazing according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral groove comprises a step formed in the first glass sheet.

20. The laminated glazing according to claim 19, wherein the second glass sheet is planar opposite the step, thereby defining a rectangular-shaped peripheral groove between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet.

Description

(1) Other details and features of the invention will become clear with the following detailed description, given with regard to the appended drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the prior-art laminated Privalite glazing with liquid crystals;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of the prior-art Privalite glazing shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in a first embodiment according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in this first embodiment according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in a second embodiment according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 5a shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in this second embodiment according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in a third embodiment according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 6a shows a partial and schematic top view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of the third embodiment according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 7 shows a partial and schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a fourth embodiment according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 7a shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a fifth embodiment according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a sixth embodiment according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a seventh embodiment according to the invention;

(14) FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of an eighth embodiment according to the invention;

(15) FIG. 11 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a ninth embodiment according to the invention;

(16) FIG. 12 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of a tenth embodiment according to the invention;

(17) FIG. 13 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in an eleventh embodiment according to the invention;

(18) FIG. 13a shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in this eleventh embodiment according to the invention;

(19) FIG. 14 shows a schematic top view of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of the eleventh embodiment according to the invention;

(20) FIG. 15 shows a schematic top view of the manufacture of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water of the eleventh embodiment according to the invention;

(21) FIG. 16 shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in a twelfth embodiment according to the invention; and

(22) FIG. 16a shows a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals, and sealed from water in a twelfth embodiment according to the invention.

(23) For the sake of clarity it is specified that the various elements of the objects shown are not necessarily to scale.

(24) FIG. 1 shows a laminated glazing unit with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, a known type of glazing called Privalite glazing, which comprises: a first glass sheet 5 having an edge 51; a first interlayer film 10 for laminating the first glass sheet, made from EVA; an electrically controllable system 20 with variable optical properties comprising NCAP liquid crystals 1 between a first film 2, made from polyethylene terephthalate PET, supporting a first electrode 3, made from ITO and having a resistance per square of 75 ohms for a thickness of 30 nm, and a second film 2, made of PET, supporting a second electrode 4, made of ITO and having a resistance per square of 75 ohms for a thickness of 30 nm, the first and second electrodes making contact with the liquid crystals; and a second interlayer film 10, made from EVA, for laminating a second glass sheet 6 having an edge 61.

(25) More precisely, the electrically controllable system consists of a transparent polymer film, in which microdroplets of a nematic liquid crystal have previously been dispersed, forming the liquid crystal emulsion that has a total thickness of about twenty microns, and which is sandwiched between the two PET sheets that are about 185 m in thickness, each sheet being coated with electrodes.

(26) Liquid-crystal molecules have several refractive indices: two ordinary indices n.sub.o in the two directions perpendicular to their axis of symmetry and one extraordinary index n.sub.e along the axis of symmetry. The polymer is chosen so as to have a refractive index very close to the ordinary index n.sub.o. In the absence of voltage, the axes of the various droplets are not correlated with one another. The incident light is therefore highly refracted at each polymer/droplet interface because of the index difference between the polymer and the droplet the orientation of which is random. The light is therefore scattered in all directions.

(27) Under a maximum voltage U0, the optical axes of the various droplets align in the electric field direction, i.e. perpendicularly to the glazing. The incident light, incident essentially normal to the glazing, now sees only a medium having a continuous index n.sub.p equal to n.sub.o and is no longer scattered.

(28) Intermediate transparency states may be accessed at the speed desired by applying voltage values especially lying between 0 and U0. To do this, a dimmer is used.

(29) Furthermore, this Privalite glazing comprises: as a first current-carrying lead, a first electrically conductive strip 81 in the form of a flexible copper foil (commonly called a busbar) fixed to the first electrode, along the end of the first supporting film that protrudes beyond the second supporting film and the liquid crystals for this purpose; a first link 8 to the first electrode in the form of a fixedly soldered rigid brass tab, protruding laterally from the edge of the glazing; as a second current-carrying lead, a second busbar (not shown) fixed to the second electrode, along the end of the second supporting film that protrudes beyond the first film and the liquid crystals for this purpose (on the opposite edge); and a second link 8 to the second electrode in the form of a fixedly soldered rigid brass tab protruding laterally from the edge of the glazing.

(30) The glazing then comprises: electrical wiring 7 with two wires and therefore two wiring inputs: a first wiring input 70 connected to the first link 8 and a second wiring input (not shown) connected to the second link, inputs for wiring that is stripped and soldered to the tabs 8; a first bead 31 making contact with the edges 51, 61 of the first and second glass sheets and with a hot-melt adhesive, made from polyolefin as already mentioned, embedding the first wiring input 7, a bead that extends about 3.5 cm along the edge of the glazing; and a second bead (not shown) making contact with the edges 51, 61 of the first and second glass sheets and with a hot-melt adhesive, made from polyolefin as already mentioned, embedding the second wiring input 7, a bead that extends about 3.5 cm along the edge of the glazing.

(31) The liquid-crystal film, the electrodes and the busbars are protected by the EVA sheets, which are larger than the PET sheets and the liquid-crystal film.

(32) The beads 31 are easily torn off and do not adhere well to the glass sheets 5, 6: in a wet atmosphere the tabs (then the wiring) are then damaged leading to electrical faults.

(33) The two beads 31, protruding 5 mm locally along the edge, may furthermore create a sizing issue, hindering installation especially in end-to-end configurations.

(34) Up to now, as shown in FIG. 2, during lamination of this Privalite glazing, a fabric strip 30 is fitted and surrounds the glazing 1000 on the edge face so as to retain the flowing EVA interlayers.

(35) During the heat treatment, the brass tabs 8 become curved. To prevent the EVA from covering these tabs, each tab is covered with the adhesive. The brass tabs 8 are straightened after the lamination and this strip is removed and the wires are then soldered and the wiring inputs are encased in the hot-melt resin using a hot-melt injection technique.

(36) The manufacturing process is long and expensive.

(37) The edge finish furthermore remains unpredictable and may possibly lead to installation difficulties.

(38) FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed from water in a first embodiment according to the invention.

(39) To produce the laminated glazing with liquid-crystal-induced variable scattering, especially the seal of the electrical wiring against liquid water (and the lamination), the following steps are carried out: a structure is provided comprising: the first glass sheet 5, for example made of a rectangle of clear soda-lime-silica glass measuring 1 m by 2.5 m and 5 mm in thickness; the first EVA lamination interlayer 10here comprising several sheets, for example having dimensions that are smaller than or equal to those of the glass sheet 5; the electrically controllable variable scattering system 20 comprising: a first film 2, made from polyethylene terephthalate PET, supporting a first electrode 3, for example a transparent conductive (single or multilayer) film, such as an ITO film, having a resistance per square of 75 ohms for a thickness of 30 nm, the support being offset by 3 mm from the glass sheet 5; a second PET film 2, supporting a second transparent electrode 4, for example a transparent conductive (single or multilayer) film, such as an ITO film, having a resistance per square of 75 ohms for a thickness of 30 nm, the support being offset by 3 mm from the glass sheet 4, the first and second electrodes making contact with the liquid crystals; the second EVA lamination interlayer 10, here comprising several sheets; and the second glass sheet 6 for example made of a rectangle of clear soda-lime-silica glass measuring 1 m by 2.5 m and 5 mm in thickness;

(40) Furthermore, as in the prior art, the glazing comprises: as a first current-carrying lead, a first busbar 81 fixed to the first electrode, along the end of the first supporting film that protrudes beyond the second supporting film and the liquid crystals for this purpose; a first link 8 to the first electrode in the form of a fixedly soldered rigid brass tab, protruding laterally from the edge of the glazing; as a second current-carrying lead, a second busbar (not shown) fixed to the second electrode, along the end of the second supporting film that protrudes beyond the first film and the liquid crystals for this purpose (on the opposite edge); and a second link 8 to the second electrode in the form of a fixedly soldered rigid brass tab protruding laterally from the edge of the glazing.

(41) The glazing also comprises, before the seal (even before the lamination) electrical wiring 7 comprising a two-wire cable (or two wires) with two wiring inputs: a first wiring input 70 connected to the first link 8 and a second wiring input (not shown) connected to the second link, in fact inputs for wiring that is stripped and soldered to the tabs 8.

(42) The cable or wires are chosen to be thinner than the glazing.

(43) To protect the first wiring input 7, the thermoplastic protective polymer material 15, made from EVA and preferably crosslinkable using agents such as organic peroxider, is inserted in the form of stripsor as a variant in the form of ballsinto a mould 40 having an internal surface called a moulding internal surface facing this first wiring input. The width of the strips depends on the thickness of the glass sheets used. It is preferable to completely cover the edges 51, 61 with moulded EVA.

(44) The polymer material 15 fills the space between the moulding surface 18 and the edges 51, 61.

(45) For example 4 to 5 strips of 0.4 mm thick EVA are used to cover the (exposed) wire 8 having a core cross section equal to 0.6 mm.sup.2, the total diameter including the internal sheath being 2 mm. The total diameter with the external sheath is 5.5 mm.

(46) For the second wiring input 7, the same mould or another mould is used, as will be explained below.

(47) The mould, having a (substantially) C-shaped cross section, lies along the edge of the glazing and presses against the glazing via the external faces of the first and second glass sheets 5, 6 and butts against the edges 51, 61 via steps internal to the mould.

(48) The mould is open laterally on at least one side to allow the wire to exit along the edge. The lateral ends of the mould are closed off or obstructed especially using a fabric or an adhesive tape (not shown).

(49) As a variant, the mould has one or more sidewalls that are pierced to allow the wiring to exit.

(50) The mould has a surface to which EVA does not adhere, for example Teflon i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene.

(51) The assembly is placed in a vacuum-sealed chamber which is pumped to a rough vacuum in order to degas the EVA (removal of bubbles, etc.) and heated above 100 C. in order to fluidize the EVA protective polymer material, so that the EVA material closely follows the moulding surface and makes contact with the edges 51, 61, and to start crosslinking the EVA.

(52) This thus forms the means for sealing the first and second electrode links 8 and the first and second wiring inputs 8 from liquid water.

(53) In this embodiment, the heating furthermore fluidizes the first and second EVA interlayer material so as to produce the lamination during the same heat treatment.

(54) The EVA 15 closely follows the moulding surface and, the wiring being offset from the edge 51, 61, embeds the wiring input. The EVA 10, 10 may also make contact with the wiring input and/or the protective material.

(55) If the wiring is against the glazing, the wiring input is covered at least on the external side.

(56) In a variant that is not shown, EVA strips are not used and the films 10, 10 are made to protrude so as to surround the wire.

(57) The glazing 100 shown in FIG. 4 is therefore provided with a peripheral seal 9 against liquid water, made from moulded EVA, having a smooth external surface.

(58) This thus seals both the busbars and the solder joints of the cables

(59) The seal against liquid water is qualified by defining the second figure of the protection index (IP).

(60) The protection index (IP) is an international standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission. This index classifies the level of protection provided by a material against the ingress of solid and liquid bodies. The format of the index, given in standard CEI 60529, is IP XY, where the letters XY are two numbers and/or a letter. When no criterion is met, the figure may be replaced by the letter X. The second figure Y therefore relates to the level of protection against water under the conditions summarized in Table 1 below.

(61) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Index 2nd figure: protection against water 0 No protection 1 Protected against water droplets falling vertically 2 Protected against water droplets falling at up to 15 from vertical 3 Protected against rain at up to 60 from vertical 4 Protected against discharges of water from all directions 5 Protected against jets of water from all directions from hoses 6 Protected against large waves 7 Protected against the effects of immersion

(62) This coefficient is defined for example in standards DIN40050, IEC 529 and BS 5490.

(63) The glazing 100 (as for all the glazing of the following examples according to the invention) meets the IPX7 standard, i.e. the glazing has been shown to operate whilst completely immersed in water (test described by the standard IEC 60335-1:2002). The immersion is temporary and at a depth of between 0.15 m and 1 m. More precisely, the test was carried out by completely immersing the glazing in water in its manufacturer-recommended installation configuration, the following conditions being respected: a) the glazing was horizontal at a depth of 1 m and supplied with electrical power; b) the test lasted for 30 min; and c) the temperature of the water did not differ from that of the glazing by more than 5 K.

(64) The inputs of the embedded wires also have a better withstand. The resistance of the wire to being torn off may be established using the following method.

(65) The wire is marked where it exits the mould and it is subjected to a tensile force of 100 N (10 kg) at a distance of about 20 mm from the wire input. The wire is subjected to a 100 N tensile force for 1 s without shaking, in the least favourable direction. The test is performed 25 times. Then the wire is subjected to a torque of 0.35 N.m applied as close as possible to the input of the glazing for 1 min, During the tests the wire must not be damaged, i.e. be severed by the torque. The tensile force is again applied and the longitudinal displacement of the wire must not be more than 2 mm.

(66) In a second embodiment, the method of manufacturing shown in FIG. 5 differs from the first embodiment in that the wire 7 is inserted into a peripheral groove 53 provided by a step in the internal face of the first glass sheet 5. The tabs 8 also stop in this groove, not protruding beyond the edge of the glazing in this configuration. Furthermore, the mould 40 has no internal steps.

(67) For example, fewer EVA strips 15 are used for the seal, for example two strips. Preferably a moulding surface is preserved opposite the edges of the glazing but the thickness of the extension to the glazing 200 obtained in this second embodiment, and shown in FIG. 5a, is reduced.

(68) In a variant that is not shown, the mould is inserted between the internal faces of the glass sheets 5, 6.

(69) In a third embodiment, the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 6 differs from the first embodiment in that the mould, having an L-shaped cross section, is open and therefore touches only one end of the main external face of the first sheet 5. A cover (a strip of adhesive-coated fabric for example or a strip of fabric fixed using adhesive tape) is placed on one end of the main external face of the second sheet and extends over the mould 40 so as to cap it.

(70) In all the top views presented below the glass sheet 6 and the interlayer 10 have been left out for the sake of clarity.

(71) FIG. 6a shows a partial schematic top view (from the side of the second support 2) of the laminated glazing 210 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a third embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation but before removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(72) The first and second busbars 81, 82 lie along the same end, for example a lateral end, after installation, localized in a cut-out region of the second support and liquid-crystal film and localized in a cut-out region (dashed lines) of the first support and liquid-crystal film, respectively.

(73) The first and second brass tabs 8, 8 are spaced apart for example by 15 cm (approximately the same distance as the opposed ends of the busbars).

(74) The open mould 40 lies opposite the two inputs 70, 72 of the two-wire cable 7 on the tabs 8, 8. The protective material 9 therefore covers continuously these inputs and the tabs 8, 8 and the space between these tabs.

(75) The mould extends slightly beyond the inputs 70, 72 and thus the protective material 9 also covers a part of the internal sheaths 71, 73 and the end of the common external sheath 74, guiding the cable 7.

(76) The two-wire cable exits the mould 40 via one single side (at either end of a lateral fabric 42) and it is unidirectional.

(77) FIG. 7 shows a partial schematic top view of the laminated glazing 300 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a fourth embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation but before removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring-inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(78) The first and second busbars 81, 82 lie along two opposite ends of the edges 51, 61, for example lateral ends after installation, the first busbar 81 being localized in a cut-out region of the second support and liquid-crystal film and the second busbar 82 being localized in a cut-out region (dashed lines) of the first support and liquid-crystal film.

(79) The mould 40 extends along one end adjacent these two edge faces 51, 61, for example the top end after installation.

(80) The mould of U-shaped cross section lies opposite the two inputs 70, 72 of the two-wire cable 7 on the tabs 8, 8 protruding beyond this top end. The protective material (9) therefore covers continuously these inputs and the tabs 8, 8 and the space between these tabs. The mould is pierced so that the external sheath 74 of the two-wire cable may exit towards the electricity supply (mains, etc.).

(81) The protective material 9 also covers the exposed internal sheaths 71, 73 and the end of the common external sheath 74.

(82) The two-wire cable on exiting the mould 40 is unidirectional.

(83) FIG. 7a shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing 310 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a fifth embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation and after removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(84) The first and second busbars 81, 82 lie along a single end of the edges 51, 61, for example the top end after installation, the first busbar 81 being localized in a cut-out region of the second support and liquid-crystal film and the second busbar 82 being localized in a cut-out region (dashed lines) of the first support and liquid-crystal film.

(85) The protective material 9 covers continuously the inputs of the two-wire cable and the tabs 8, 8 and the space between these tabs. The mould is pierced so that the external sheath 74 of the two-wire cable may exit towards the electricity supply (mains, etc.)

(86) The protective material 9 also covers the exposed internal sheaths 71, 73 and the end of the common external sheath 74.

(87) The two-wire cable on exiting the moulded EVA 9 is unidirectional until it reaches its mains connection 75.

(88) FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing 400 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a sixth embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation and after removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(89) This glazing 400 differs from the glazing 210 in the configuration of the wire, especially in that the external sheath is curved after the moulded EVA and exits from the moulded EVA via the moulded surface facing the edge 51, 61.

(90) FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing 500 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a seventh embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation and after removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(91) This glazing 500 is similar to the glazing 210, however the moulding surface is smoother on the top face because the mould used was a closed, single-part, C-shaped mould.

(92) FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing 600 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in an eighth embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation and after removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(93) This glazing 600 differs from the glazing 500 in the extent of the moulding, which here extends along the entire lateral end, and in the greater distance between the tabs 8, 8, due to the location of the busbars 81, 82 along the top and bottom ends.

(94) FIG. 11 shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing 700 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a ninth embodiment according to the invention (after the laminating operation and after removal of the mould) especially illustrating the seal of the two wiring inputs and the arrangement of the links.

(95) This glazing 700 differs from the glazing 600 in the reduced distance between the tabs 8, 8 and in the location of the busbars 81, 82 along the (left) lateral edge.

(96) FIG. 12 represents a schematic top view of a glazing 800 with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in a tenth embodiment according to the invention.

(97) This glazing 800 differs from the glazing 600 in: the location of the busbars 81, 82 in two separate regions on two opposite lateral ends; the location of the tabs 8, 8 on the top end and on the lateral end, respectively; the position of the second wire 72 with its internal sheath 73 on the top end; and in that the moulded EVA lies on the lateral end and the top end of the edge 51, 61 of the glazing.

(98) FIG. 13 shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a glazing unit with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in an eleventh embodiment according to the invention

(99) The manufacturing process shown in FIG. 13 differs from the first embodiment in that the mould completely encircles the glazing.

(100) Thus even the wireless regions of the edge are covered with moulded EVA. In these regions it is possible to use less EVA, for example a single strip of EVA 0.4 mm in thickness.

(101) FIG. 13a shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the glazing with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in this eleventh embodiment. The moulded EVA 9 joins with the lamination EVA 10, 10.

(102) FIG. 14 shows a schematic top view of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed against water, in this eleventh embodiment according to the invention showing the variable-thickness, moulded EVA encircling the glazing.

(103) FIG. 15 shows a schematic top view of the manufacture of the laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed against water of the eleventh embodiment according to the invention.

(104) The mould 40 is in four pieces, each with a free lateral end and an end that butts against an end of another piece.

(105) FIG. 16 shows a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacture of a laminated glazing with liquid crystals and sealed against water in a twelfth embodiment according to the invention.

(106) This process varies from the process in FIG. 13 in that, outside of the wiring region, no EVA is added between the internal moulding surface 40 and the edge 51, 61.

(107) FIG. 16a represents a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the glazing with liquid crystals and sealed against water in the twelfth embodiment according to the invention.

(108) This glazing 700 differs from the glazing 600 in that the moulding is flush with the glass sheets outside of the wiring region(s) and is obtained using the EVA lamination interlayers 10, 10 only.