U.S. patent application number 11/605208 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for integration of functional layers in or on transparent plastic parts for vehicle manufacture.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH. Invention is credited to Ingmar Petersen, Markus Pfletschinger, Bernd Schwarz.
Application Number | 20070137141 11/605208 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37877053 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070137141 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petersen; Ingmar ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
Integration of functional layers in or on transparent plastic parts
for vehicle manufacture
Abstract
The invention relates to a transparent plastic part (1, 11) of
an electrically nonconductive material on or in which electrically
conductive structures (2) are integrated for use in a motor
vehicle, where according to the invention the electrically
conductive structures (2) are printed on an outside surface.
Inventors: |
Petersen; Ingmar;
(Esslingen, DE) ; Schwarz; Bernd; (Waldorfhaslach,
DE) ; Pfletschinger; Markus; (Eningen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
Hirschmann Car Communication
GmbH
|
Family ID: |
37877053 |
Appl. No.: |
11/605208 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/750 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 1/1271 20130101;
H05K 2201/09118 20130101; H01Q 1/38 20130101; H05K 1/036 20130101;
H05K 2201/0376 20130101; H05K 3/0058 20130101; H05K 2203/1327
20130101; H05K 2201/0108 20130101; H05K 3/207 20130101; H05K 3/28
20130101; H01Q 1/40 20130101; H05K 1/02 20130101; H05K 1/095
20130101; H05K 3/281 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/750 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/00 20060101
E04B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2005 |
DE |
102005057027.5 |
Claims
1. A transparent plastic part (1, 11) of an electrically
nonconductive material on or in which electrically conductive
structures (2) are integrated for use in a motor vehicle,
characterized in that the electrically conductive structures (2)
are printed on an outside surface.
2. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the electrical conductive structures (2) are
imbedded.
3. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the electrically conductive structures (2)
are imbedded by an additional layer (3, 8).
4. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 3,
characterized in that the additional layer is a transparent foil
(7).
5. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 3,
characterized in that the additional layer is an antiscratch
coating (3).
6. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part is a finished
part made by injection molding and sheet assembly.
7. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part is an
oversprayed transparent plastic sheet (6, 7).
8. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part is a
injection-molded sheet-assembled part assembled by gluing.
9. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part is an externally
finished injection-molded or sheet-assembled part.
10. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the conductive structures are integrated into
the transparent plastic part by a transfer process (9).
11. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part serves for
glazing the vehicle, as for example the window or roof.
12. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the transparent plastic part is PC or
PMMA.
13. The transparent plastic part (1, 11) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the electrically conducting structures are an
antenna system, heater, or solar cell.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to the integration of functional
layers, in particular electrically conductive structures such as
antennas, heating elements, and photovoltaic elements, in or on
transparent plastic parts used in automobile manufacture.
[0002] The use of transparent plastic parts is becoming more
widespread in automobile manufacture. Compared to glass,
transparent plastic parts have a number of advantages. The savings
in weight is directly reflected in reduced fuel consumption. In
addition, more favorable aerodynamic characteristics may be
obtained due to the greater freedom in design resulting from
diverse and virtually unlimited shapes in the injection-molding and
injection-stamping processes, which also reduces energy
consumption. Use of these plastics as side and rear windows or as
roofs in automobiles, for example, lowers the vehicle's center of
gravity, thereby positively influencing the stability of the
vehicle.
[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a transparent
plastic part made of an electrically nonconductive material, on or
in which electrically conductive structures are integrated, and
that is designed for use in a vehicle, by means of which the
above-described disadvantages are avoided and/or by which the
above-described advantages may be retained, and by means of which
conductor structures for current conduction or signal transmission,
as antennas, or for photovoltaic elements may be mounted.
[0004] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
[0005] Polycarbonate (PC) and polymethlymethacrylate (PMMA) are
preferably used in window panes. Their characteristics are
essentially comparable to glass. Polycarbonate does not shatter,
and is impact-resistant, tintable, and dimensionally stable. When
these materials are not scratch-resistant, this characteristic can
be imparted by additionally applying-an anti-scratch coating (for
example, using ceramic nanoparticles in a silicon layer). The
possibility for working the plastic by drilling, sawing, milling,
welding, and gluing, for example, represents further advantages
compared to the conventional use of glass. The integration of
additional functions such as antennas, antenna systems, heating
elements, and photovoltaic elements, for example, desired by
automobile manufacturers or customers promotes the use of
transparent plastic as an alternative to glass, and is the object
of the present invention.
[0006] According to the invention, the electrically conductive
structures applied by means of a printing process are located on
the exterior of the transparent plastic part. This has the
advantage that the transparent plastic part can be manufactured
and, if needed, finish-machined according to its intended use, so
that by means of a printing process, in particular a
screen-printing process, the electrically conductive structures can
be subsequently mounted on the exterior of the transparent plastic
part. In this manner the greatest possible freedom of design is
maintained for manufacturing and shaping of both the transparent
plastic part and the electrically conductive structures in order to
achieve the desired function in the plastic part by means of the
electrically conductive structures.
[0007] Illustrated embodiments of the invention, which do not limit
the invention, are described in the dependent claims and are also
illustrated in the figures and described below.
[0008] In the figures:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows the transparent plastic component directly
imprinted;.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the transparent plastic component directly
imprinted. A protective film is then laminated thereon. This
protective film may also be an applied silicon layer (anti-scratch
coating);
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a transparent film imprinted and subsequently
joined to the transparent component. The conductive structures may
be imbedded. Two shapes are shown.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a transparent film imprinted and then
insert-molded with the transparent plastic. As illustrated, an
additional protective layer may be applied.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a transparent film imprinted and used for the
insert molding process as a transfer medium that transfers the
conductive structures into the transparent target component. A
protective layer is possible as in FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a detailed illustration of a transparent
plastic part 1 having electrically conductive structures 2 printed
thereon. The transparent plastic part 1 preferably is made of
polycarbonate (PC) or polymethlymethacrylate (PMMA), the
electrically conductive structures being applied by means of a
printing process, preferably a screen-printing process. For
printing, electrically conductive pastes are preferably used which
may be formed into any desired shape for the electrically
conductive structures 2. As equivalent alternatives to the printing
process, other methods including but not limited to spraying,
painting, ink jet, airbrush, or spattering are also possible.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an illustrated embodiment in which a protective
layer 3 is applied over the transparent plastic part 1 and the
conductive structures 2, so that the electrically conductive
structures 2 are imbedded. This protective layer 3 may be a
protective film which is laminated, for example. Alternatively, the
protective film could also be an applied silicon layer for
protecting the conductive structures 2 from damage (in particular
interruptions) and protecting the transparent plastic part 1 from
scratches (anti-scratch layer).
[0016] FIG. 3 shows that a transparent film 4 is imprinted with the
electrically conductive structures 2, and this film 4 is applied to
the plastic part, in particular glued or laminated thereon. The
upper part of FIG. 3 shows that the plastic film 4 is applied to
the plastic part 1 at the surface opposite from the electrically
conductive structures 2. The lower part of FIG. 3 shows the reverse
situation in which the plastic film 4 is applied to the surface of
the plastic part 1 at the side on which the conductive structures 2
have been printed. Thus, as a result of the additionally applied
layer in the form of the film 4 the electrically conductive
structures 2 are imbedded. The film 4 may be attached to the
plastic part 1 over a part or most of its surface, in particular
over the entire surface.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows that a transparent plastic part 7 is imprinted
and is then oversprayed with a transparent plastic 6. The upper
illustration of FIG. 4 shows that the electrically conductive
structures are printed on the transparent plastic film 7
(alternatively, on the rigid transparent plastic part 1), and by
use of an appropriate method (insert molding, for example), a
transparent plastic is injection-molded or insert-molded to the
plastic film 7 (or to the plastic part 1). According to the upper
illustration of FIG. 4, it is particularly advantageous for the
surface of the molded plastic 6 to be level with the surface of the
electrically conductive structures in order to produce a flat
surface. Alternatively or additionally, of course, the
injection-molded plastic may be molded over the surfaces of the
electrically conductive structures that project from the plastic
film 7.
[0018] The lower illustration of FIG. 4 shows that both the
injection-molded or insert-molded transparent plastic 6 and the
electrically conductive structures 2 are enclosed by an additional
protective layer 8, in particular an anti-scratch layer.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows that a transfer medium 9 has been provided
before actually carrying out an injection molding process with the
conductive structures 2, this premanufactured transfer medium 9
being attached to the transparent plastic part 1, or alternatively,
to the transparent plastic film 7. During the injection molding
process (insert molding process) the electrically conductive
structures 2 are then transferred via a transfer film 10 to the
target component, namely, a transparent plastic part 11 having
conductive structures. The finished transparent plastic part 11 may
also be provided with an additional coating, in particular the
anti-scratch coating 3.
[0020] The plastic parts 1 and 11 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 are
used according to the invention for vehicular panes in applications
such as window panes (windshield, rear or side windows) or in the
vehicle roof (transparent and therefore light-permeable sliding
roof).
[0021] The geometric dimensions of the electrically conductive
structures 2, in particular their length, width, height, cross
section, and longitudinal extension, are designed according to
their function. Thus, the electrically conductive structures 2 may
be antenna structures, for example, for receiving or transmitting
high-frequency signals. For this purpose, in a diversity system,
for example, multiple linear electrically conductive structures 2
are configured in parallel or at right angles on a vehicle window
pane, but are separated by a minimum distance to prevent mutual
interference of the reception and transmission characteristics. If
the electrically conductive structures 2 are used for rear window
heating, for example, it is possible for two electrically
conductive structures 2 to be aligned perpendicular to the sides of
the rear window, and for numerous additional, closely spaced
electrically conductive structures 2 of extremely thin cross
section to be provided therebetween, to prevent the optical
characteristics of the transparent plastic part 1 in the form of a
rear window from being adversely affected. The electrically
conductive structures 2 may also be designed for signal
transmission, current conduction, or the like, or also preferably
as solar cells. The latter embodiment offers the advantage that
solar cells in the form of electrically conductive structures 2 may
be printed on transparent plastic parts such as vehicular panes,
for example, and the energy from the solar cells is supplied via
additional electrically conductive structures 2 to a plug-in
connection or an electronic device, so that, for example, a fan is
driven by the solar energy for ventilating or cooling the interior
of the vehicle at high temperatures. In addition to this
ventilating function, solar cells in the form of electrically
conductive structures 2 may also be printed on the transparent
plastic part 1 to provide energy for other equipment.
[0022] The embodiments are only examples. A combination of these
approaches, or also thermal pre- and post-treatment of the
components, impossible as well. Therefore, the design is
versatile.
List of Reference Numerals
[0023] 1. Transparent plastic part
[0024] 2. Conductive structures
[0025] 3. Protective layer (film, silicon layer, or other)
[0026] 4. Transparent plastic film
[0027] 5. Joining material (adhesive, for example)
[0028] 6. Injection-molded or insert-molded transparent plastic
[0029] 7. Transparent plastic film
[0030] 8. Protective layer
[0031] 9. Transfer medium during the injection molding process
[0032] 10. Transfer film
[0033] 11. Transparent plastic part with conductive structures
* * * * *