WO2007057461A1

WO2007057461A1 - Laminated glazing and a method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007057461A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/068665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine Luijkx; Hugues Lefevre
Original assignee: Agc Flat Glass Europe Sa
Priority date: 2005-11-21
Filing date: 2006-11-20
Publication date: 2007-05-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a laminated glazing comprising an internal conductive circuit, wherein the application of the electric conductor for connecting to an external power supply is carried out after lamination. The inventive laminated glazing consists of two sandwich glass-type substrates: one or several interleaved thermoplastic sheets and an electric conductor network to which one or several LEDs are connected. One substrate extends beyond of at least one part of the other substrate edge in such a way that the electric conductor which is enabled to connect the conductor work and the external power supply is arrangeable on the edge falling outside of one substrate.

Description

Laminated glazing and method of manufacturing laminated glazing

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a laminated glazing unit comprising an internal conductive circuit to be connected to an external electrical circuit (or connected to an external power supply). In particular, the inner conductive circuit is formed of a conductive layer in which insulating strips have been formed. And the laminated glazing comprises, in particular, electronic components such as LEDs.

Laminated glazing having conductive heating layers has long been available, particularly for use as an automobile windshield. And there are also laminated glazings comprising an internal conductive circuit formed by thin heating filaments extending between current collecting strips (FR 2709911).

In any case, to connect the internal circuit to an external power supply or to an external electrical circuit, it is necessary to insert, before the lamination, an electrical conductor, for example a foil, one end of which extends beyond beyond the edges of the laminated glazing.

WO 2004/009349 discloses laminated glazings into which LEDs are inserted. These are previously deposited on a flexible insert having an electric circuit. In order to make the connection with the energy source, the insert is mounted in the laminate with one end protruding from the edge of the laminated glazing. Alternatively, it is disclosed that the flexible insert can be completely incorporated between the two glass sheets and connected to a "bus bar" or a thin metal or metal oxide layer. In this case also it is necessary to insert, before lamination, an electrical conductor in contact with the bus bar or the conductive layer and protruding from the edge of the laminated to be connected to the external power supply to the glazing. The use of these electrical conductors making the connection between the internal electrical circuit glazing and the external power supply does not pose a problem for the manufacture of glazing with fixed dimensions and pre-determined. For the manufacture of windshields, the two sheets of glass are cut to the dimensions of the finished product before the lamination step. The insertion of an electrical conductor that protrudes from the edge of the finished product can therefore be performed before lamination since the glazing will no longer be cut.

On the other hand, in particular in the case of laminated glass panes comprising LEDs, there is a need to manufacture laminated glazings for which the electrical connection should not be provided necessarily before the lamination. In particular, there is a need for a large-sized laminated glazing manufacturing process that can be cut to various and variable measurements after lamination and whose electrical connection can be made after cutting to the dimensions of the finished product.

The subject of the present invention is a method which comprises the following steps:

a) depositing a conductive network on a support which may be a first glass-type substrate (float glass sheet) or a thermoplastic interlayer sheet or any other thin sheet, for example of the PET type;

b) possibly, installation of electronic components such as LEDs;

c) laminating a first glass-like substrate with the conductive network on its support, one or more thermoplastic interlayer sheets, and a second glass-type substrate; d) optionally, pre-cutting the laminate to the dimensions of the finished product;

e) cutting a portion of the glazing so that the first glass-like substrate, and the conductive network on its support extend over at least a portion beyond the edge of the second glass-like substrate;

f) laying an electrical conductor on the edge of the protruding substrate.

The present invention also relates to a laminated glazing unit obtained according to steps a) to c) above and which is capable of being cut according to steps d) and e) and which is able to receive an electrical conductor to make the connection between the internal conductive tracks and the external electrical circuit or the external power supply.

The present invention also relates to a laminated glazing comprising two glass-type substrates sandwiching: one or more thermoplastic interlayer sheets, an electrically conductive network and one or more LEDs, one of the two substrates extending over at least a portion, beyond the edge of the other substrate, such that an electrical conductor capable of making the connection between the conductive network and an external power supply, can be placed on the edge protruding from one of the two substrates.

In particular, the present invention is described as in the dependent claims.

The present invention is described in more detail, in a nonlimiting manner, with reference to the drawings, in which: fig. 1 represents a laminated glazing before cutting according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a laminated glazing whose longitudinal edge has been cut according to the invention;

fig. 3 represents a laminated glazing whose longitudinal edge is provided with an electrical conductor according to a first embodiment;

fig. 4 and 5 show a laminated glazing whose longitudinal edge is provided with electrical conductors respectively according to a second and a third embodiment;

fig. 6 shows a laminated glazing whose circular edge has been cut according to another embodiment of the invention.

Example 1

a) Float glass sheets are produced in large dimensions, traditionally 6 m by 3.21 m, and are then called trays or pif. A conductive layer 1 is deposited on a first sheet of glass 2 of this size.

Known conducting layers are for example doped oxide-based layers whose thickness is generally between 0.02 and 0.5 μm, preferably between 0.2 and 0.4 μm and whose surface resistance can vary between 10 and 80 Ω / square. preferably between 12 and 20 Ω / square. Such layers comprise, for example, indium doped zinc oxide or aluminum oxide, fluorine or antimony doped tin oxide, or tin doped indium oxide. (usually known as the ITO abbreviation).

Other typical conductive layers are silver-based layers. These conductive layers may be composed of one, two or even three layers of silver (or any other conductive material), separated by layers of dielectric. For layers comprising a total thickness of conductive material between 10 and 30 nm, the surface resistance can reach very low values of between 2 and 3 Ω / square.

However, any other layer even more weakly conductive could be suitable. These layers can be deposited by magnetron assisted vacuum spraying or by pyrolytic deposition which has the advantage of being able to be carried out on the float glass production line.

b) A conductive network is formed by removing the layer on thin strips, for example using a laser or etching. Other methods are possible for forming the conductive tracks, for example masking deposition (for example screen printing).

c) Series of LEDs (not shown) are then disposed on the surface of the conductive network and connected to this network through a conductive glue or by any other means available. The number of LEDs and their arrangement are chosen according to the desired light intensity and the desired light pattern.

d) A laminated glazing is then produced according to traditional methods by superimposing a thermoplastic insert 3 of the pvb (polyvinyl butyral) type and a second glass sheet 4 of the same size as the first. The assembly is then subjected to the temperature and pressure conditions usually used for the traditional manufacture of laminated glazing, (figl)

The glazing can then be stored or sold in this form of plateau "pif" of 6 m by 3.21 meters.

e) The glazing can then be cut to the desired measures for the finished product, taking care to respect the conducting network and taking care not to do switch from cutting line to LED locations. In the simplest cases, the luminous vitreous element of the finished product will be square or rectangular.

f) The positive and negative terminals of the conductor network are then exposed to deposit a conductive element for making the electrical connection with the external power supply or the external circuit. Depending on the conductive network used in the laminate, the two terminals could be of variable size and be located in variable locations. In the case illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 to 3, one of the positive or negative terminals of the internal electrical circuit terminated on one of the longitudinal sides of the cut glazing.

This side 5 of the glazing is cut so that the glass sheet 2 carrying the conductive layer 1 slightly exceeds (by about 1 or 2 cm) the glass sheet 4 not carrying a conductive layer. This "offset" cut can be made using conventional cutting means, for example by scratching the outer face of each of the glass sheets 2, 4 constituting the laminate and crunching the glazing so that the scratch spreads over the entire thickness of the glass sheet. In the present invention, the upper and lower glass sheets 2 and 4 must be striped along lines that are slightly offset from each other in a vertical plane.

The same "offset-edge" cutout must be provided for the opposite terminal of the internal conductor circuit.

The size of the protruding edge may vary from about 1 mm to 3 cm, preferably from 5 mm to 2 cm.

g) The layer of the thermoplastic interlayer 3 is also cut and removed so that the edge protruding from the bottom glass sheet 2 is free of this interlayer layer 3. h) A metal strip 7 can then be deposited on the conductive layer. This conducting element has the function of making the connection between one of the + or - terminals of the circuit and the external power supply but may also have the function of connecting different zones of the conductive layer to close the circuit.

i) The metal strip 7 is then secured to the conductive layer for example by gluing, by pressure (clipping or spring)

Alternatively, it can be provided not to eliminate the layer of the thermoplastic interlayer or not over its entire thickness, if the metal strip has spikes able to pierce the thermoplastic interlayer and to make the electrical connection.

Example 2

In the case illustrated in FIG. 4, the circuit is designed in such a way that a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the circuit terminate on the same side of the cut glazing. Only one of the sides of the finished product must then be cut off with offset edges as described above. The metal strip is then replaced by two conductive elements 8 of smaller size which are each deposited on one of the positive and negative terminals of the conductive network.

Example 3

In the case illustrated in FIG. 5, the circuit is made in such a way that several positive and negative terminals terminate on the same side of the cut end product. Conductive elements 9, 10 are staggered on each of the terminals, so that a first conductive tab can be used to connect each conductive element placed on the positive terminals and a second Conductive tab can be used to connect each of the conductive elements placed on the negative terminals.

Example 4

In the case illustrated in FIG. 6, the steps a) to e) are carried out as in example 1.

The positive and negative terminals of the internal electrical circuit are then exposed not on one or both of the longitudinal edges of the laminated glazing but at one or more circular holes.

f) The two glass sheets 2, 4 are perforated, for example by drilling with concentric holes 16, 17 but of different dimensions.

The diameter of the perforation 16 made in the glass sheet 2 carrying the conductive layer 1 to be slightly less than the diameter of the perforation 17 made in the glass sheet not carrying a conductive layer.

g) The interlayer layer 3 is also cut in a circular manner and removed so as to expose the conductive layer 1.

h) A circular conductor 18 of diameter intermediate that of the perforation 16 of the lower sheet 2 and 17 of the upper sheet 4 can then be inserted into the perforation. The conductor must be placed on the conductive layer 1 and can then be used to make the connection of the internal electrical circuit to the external power supply.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a laminated glazing which comprises the following steps:

a) depositing a conductive network (1) on a support;

b) laminating a first glass-like substrate (2) with the conductive network (1) on its support, one or more thermoplastic interlayer sheets (3), and a second glass-like substrate (4);

c) cutting a part of the glazing so that the first substrate (2) glass type, and the conductive network (1) on its support, extend over at least a portion beyond the edge the second glass-like substrate (4);

d) laying an electrical conductor on the edge of the substrate (2) protruding.

2. Manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive network (1) is deposited on the first glass-type substrate (2).

3. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, between step a and b, is connected to the conductive network (1), electronic components such as LEDs.

4. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between step b) and c) is intercalated a precut step of the laminated glazing to the dimensions of the finished product;

5. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step c, the portion of the cut glazing is one or more of the linear edges of the finished product.

6. Manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in step c, the cutting of a portion of the glazing consists in making one or more holes drilled through the thickness of the second glass substrate (4).

7. Manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that step c) consists in making one or more holes (15) through the glazing, the dimensions of the (or each) hole (16) carried out in the first glass-like substrate (2) is smaller than the diameter of the hole or holes (17) made in the glass-like substrate (4).

8. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical conductor laid in step d) is suitable for making the electrical connection between one of the terminals of the internal conductive circuit and the power supply. outside or the external conductive circuit.

9. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical conductor laid in step d) is able to connect different areas of the internal electrical circuit.

10. Laminated glazing comprising two glass-like substrates (2, 4) sandwiching:

one or more thermoplastic interlayer sheets (3),

an electrically conductive network (1),

- one or more LEDs, characterized in that one of the two substrates (2) extends over at least a portion beyond the edge of the other substrate (4), such that an electrical conductor (5, 7, 9, 10) adapted to make the connection between the conductive network (1) and an external power supply, can be placed on the protruding edge (5) of one of the two substrates.

11. Laminated glazing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the conductive network (1) is deposited on one of the two glass-type substrates (2), the substrate (2) and the conductive network (1) extending over at least one portion beyond the edge of the other substrate (4) not carrying the conductive network.

12. Laminated glazing according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that at least a portion of the substrate which extends beyond the other substrate is one or more of the linear edges of the laminated glazing.

13. Laminated glazing according to any one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that it comprises one or more openings in the substrate (4) not carrying a conductive network, so that the other substrate (2) has a surface adapted to receive an electrical conductor for making the connection between the conductive network (1) and an external power supply.