U.S. patent application number 14/312729 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-09 for rigid elements embedded in a windshield.
The applicant listed for this patent is ORIGIN GPS LTD.. Invention is credited to Haim GOLDBERGER.
Application Number | 20140300515 14/312729 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43767366 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140300515 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GOLDBERGER; Haim |
October 9, 2014 |
RIGID ELEMENTS EMBEDDED IN A WINDSHIELD
Abstract
A windshield with rigid elements embedded therein, including an
upper layer of glass, a lower layer of glass, one or more rigid
elements positioned between the two layers of glass, a layer of
interlayer material surrounding the rigid elements cured between
the two layers of glass, wherein the width of the interlayer
material is equal or greater than the width of the rigid
elements.
Inventors: |
GOLDBERGER; Haim; (Modi'in,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ORIGIN GPS LTD. |
Jerusalern |
|
IL |
|
|
Family ID: |
43767366 |
Appl. No.: |
14/312729 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12686391 |
Jan 13, 2010 |
8810462 |
|
|
14312729 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
342/357.75 ;
343/713; 428/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 1/325 20130101;
H01Q 1/3233 20130101; B32B 17/10165 20130101; Y10T 428/249921
20150401; B32B 17/10871 20130101; B32B 17/10036 20130101; H01Q
1/1271 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
342/357.75 ;
343/713; 428/221 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 1/32 20060101
H01Q001/32; B32B 17/10 20060101 B32B017/10 |
Claims
1. A windshield with rigid elements embedded therein, comprising:
an upper layer of glass; a lower layer of glass; one or more rigid
elements positioned between the two layers of glass; a layer of
interlayer material surrounding the rigid elements cured between
the two layers of glass; wherein the width of the interlayer
material is equal or greater than the width of the rigid
elements.
2. A windshield according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements
include a patch antenna.
3. A windshield according to claim 1, wherein the rigid elements
include an integrated circuit.
4. A windshield according to claim 3, wherein the integrated
circuit serves as a front end receiver providing amplification for
the patch antenna.
5. A windshield according to claim 3, wherein the integrated
circuit serves as a global positioning receiver coupled to said
patch antenna.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority as a divisional application
of application Ser. No. 17/686,391 filed on Jan. 13, 2010 the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the manufacture
of a windshield with rigid elements embedded therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Some mobile electronic devices include a miniature patch
antenna to enable them to communicate and provide a service, for
example GPS navigation systems, WiFi, Bluetooth, and satellite
mobile TV. It is commonplace today for users to use such devices
inside motor vehicles. However the motor vehicle, being an
essentially metallic enclosure may interfere with the reception of
the device or weaken the signal that arrives at the device.
[0004] In order to overcome this problem the device's antenna may
be provided in a separate unit that can be placed outside of the
motor vehicle, for example on the roof of the motor vehicle.
Typically a cable is either permanently or temporarily extended
from the antenna into the interior of the motor vehicle so that it
can be connected to the device.
[0005] One drawback of an external antenna is that it is
susceptible to damage from external sources, for example from
natural sources such as wind or rain, or from non-natural sources
such as colliding with objects or vandalism.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,157 to Mays et al. describes an embedded
RFID transponder in vehicle window glass. Mays et al. describes
embedding an RFID device that is made up from a flexible circuit
substrate with an antenna formed thereon and a transponder circuit
disposed on the substrate and coupled to the antenna. The
flexibility of the RFID transponder allows it to be placed between
glass layers without the circuit breaking or the glass breaking
during the manufacturing process.
[0007] Miniature patch antennas for GPS, WiFI, Bluetooth and other
applications are generally rigid elements since they require the
use of rigid materials with high dielectric constants to achieve
compactness. As a result there is a problem to embed them between
the layers of the glass of the windshield of a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An aspect of an embodiment of the invention, relates to a
method of embedding a rigid antenna and/or integrated circuit in
the windshield of a motor vehicle and to a windshield with a rigid
antenna and/or integrated circuit embedded therein. In an exemplary
embodiment of the invention, the windshield is prepared from two
sheets of glass cut and beat into a desired shape. A layer of
interlayer material (e.g. PVB) is coupled to each sheet of glass,
facing the other layer of interlayer material. One or more rigid
elements are placed between the layers of interlayer material.
Optionally, the rigid elements are electrically connected together.
In some embodiments of the invention, a flexible flat wire element
is used to connect the rigid elements together electrically and to
provide an electrical connection from the rigid elements out from
in between the layers of glass, so that an electrical connection
can be made with the rigid elements from outside the windshield. In
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sheets of glass are
pressed together and heated to cure the interlayer material and
form a glass sandwich. Optionally, the combined thicknesses of the
layers of interlayer material are equal to or greater than the
thickness of the rigid elements, so that the rigid elements settle
into the interlayer material without damaging the glass sheets.
[0009] In some embodiments of the invention, both layers of
interlayer material are of the same thickness. Alternatively, one
layer is thicker than the other, for example to provide extra
protection to the top or bottom of the rigid elements or the glass
sheets. In some embodiments of the invention, the rigid elements
function independent of each other, for example each connected to
an external device separately. Alternatively, the rigid elements
are connected together electrically and optionally, function
together.
[0010] In some embodiments of the invention, the rigid elements
communicate via the flat wires with an external device.
Alternatively or additionally, the rigid elements communicate
wirelessly with an external device.
[0011] In some embodiments of the invention, the rigid elements
include a rechargeable battery to power the rigid elements.
Optionally, the battery is charged by a wire connection.
Alternatively, the battery is charged wirelessly or by a
photoelectric cell that absorbs electromagnetic energy. In some
embodiments of the invention, the rigid elements are powered by an
external electromagnetic field, which is applied wirelessly by an
external device.
[0012] In some embodiments of the invention, the rigid elements
include a patch antenna to receive signals and provide them to a
device located external to the windshield. Alternatively, the rigid
elements include an integrated circuit that serves as a signal
amplifier (e.g. a low noise amplifier (LNA)) to enhance the signals
received by the antenna. Further alternatively, the rigid elements
may include an integrated circuit that proved extended
functionality, for example an integrated circuit that functions as
a GPS, a mobile TV, a WiFi transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver or
other devices. Optionally, an external display is controlled by the
integrated circuit embedded in the windshield.
[0013] There is thus provided according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention, a method of embedding rigid elements in a
windshield, comprising: [0014] cutting two sheets of glass in a
desired shape to serve as an upper layer and lower layer of the
windshield; [0015] inserting a layer of interlayer material for
each of the two layers of glass, facing each other, between the two
layers of glass; [0016] placing the rigid elements between the two
layers of interlayer material; [0017] pushing the two layers of
glass together to form a glass sandwich with the rigid elements and
two layers of interlayer material between the upper and lower glass
layers; [0018] heating the glass sandwich while applying pressure
to form a unified sheet of glass; and [0019] wherein the combined
thickness of the layers of interlayer material is at least as thick
as the rigid elements.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the thickness
of both layers of the interlayer material are identical.
Alternatively, the thickness of one of the layers of the interlayer
material is greater than the thickness of the other.
[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rigid
elements are connected together electrically. Optionally, a
flexible flat wire extends out from between the glass sandwich to
provide an electrical connection to the rigid elements. In an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rigid elements
communicate wirelessly to an external device. Optionally, the rigid
elements include a patch antenna. In an exemplary embodiment of the
invention, the rigid elements include a rechargeable battery.
Optionally, the rigid elements include a photoelectric cell to
recharge the battery. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention,
the rigid elements accept power wirelessly to recharge the battery.
Optionally, the rigid elements are powered by an external
electromagnetic field.
[0022] There is further provided according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention, a windshield with rigid elements
embedded therein, comprising: [0023] an upper layer of glass;
[0024] a lower layer of glass; [0025] one or more rigid elements
positioned between the two layers of glass; [0026] a layer of
interlayer material surrounding the rigid elements cured between
the two layers of glass; [0027] wherein the width of the interlayer
material is equal or greater than the width of the rigid
elements.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rigid
elements include a patch antenna. Optionally, the rigid elements
include an integrated circuit. In an exemplary embodiment of the
invention, the integrated circuit serves as a front end receiver
providing amplification for the patch antenna. In an exemplary
embodiment of the invention, the integrated circuit serves as a
global positioning receiver coupled to said patch antenna.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The present invention will be understood and better
appreciated from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the drawings. Identical structures, elements or
parts, which appear in more than one figure, are generally labeled,
with the same or similar number in all the figures in which they
appear, wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1A is as schematic illustration of a cross sectional
view of as rigid patch antenna and a rigid integrated circuit
embedded between an upper and lower layer of glass of a windshield
before lamination, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
[0031] FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of as cross sectional
view of a rigid patch antenna and a rigid integrated circuit
embedded between an upper and lower layer of glass of a windshield
after lamination, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the process of embedding rigid
elements between the layers of a laminated glass, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an windshield with a
rigid patch antenna and a rigid integrated circuit embedded
therein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
and
[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an enlarged view of
the embedded elements in the windshield, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional
view of a rigid patch antenna 130 and/or a rigid integrated circuit
140 embedded between an upper and lower layer of glass 110 of a
windshield 100 before lamination, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. Generally the windshield of a motor
vehicle is prepared by laminating two sheets of glass together to
increase the strength of the windshield and prevent shattering in
the case of an accident. A single layer of an interlayer material
(e.g. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB)) is used to bind the layers of glass
together while providing optical clearness. The bonding process is
performed using heat and pressure and results in a laminated glass
that looks like a single sheet of glass and can essentially be
handled like one. The laminated glass prevents cracks from passing
from one side to the other.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 of the process of embedding
rigid elements between the layers of a laminated glass, according
to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0037] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, two sheets of
glass 110 are cut (210) to the desired shape for preparing
windshield 100 of a motor vehicle. Optionally, the thickness of the
sheets of glass 110 is between 1-3 mm, for example about 2 mm. In
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the two sheets are glass
are heated to a high temperature (e.g. 400-600.degree. C. as is
known in the art) and bent (220) under pressure to a pre-selected
shape. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a layer of an
interlayer material 120 (e.g. PVB) is inserted (230) for each sheet
of glass 110. Optionally, the thickness of each layer is
approximately the same as the thickness of the rigid elements (130,
140) that are to be placed between the layers of glass 110. In some
embodiments of the invention the thickness of each layer of
interlayer material 120 is only about half the thickness of the
rigid elements (130, 140), but at least that the combined thickness
of the two layers of interlayer material 120 is at least as thick
as the thickness of the rigid elements (130, 140). As an example
each layer of interlayer material may be about 0.3 mm to 1 mm, and
the thickness of patch antenna 130 is about 0.3-1 mm.
[0038] In some embodiments of the invention, a flexible flat wire
150 (e.g. a coplanar strip line or other type of strip line) is
soldered (240) to rigid elements (130, 140) to provide an
electrical connection between the rigid dements (130, 140) and
serve as an electrical connection out from between the layers of
glass 110. Alternatively, other types of wires may be used. In some
embodiments of the invention, flat wire 150 connects the rigid
elements together sequentially, for example from patch antenna 130
to integrated, circuit 140 and then out from the glass.
Alternatively, flat wire 150 connects the rigid elements in
parallel, for example connecting each rigid element independently
out of the glass. In some embodiments of the invention flat wire
150 may be placed between the rigid elements (130, 140) or under
the rigid elements (130, 140) to provide electrical contact with
the rigid elements (130, 140).
[0039] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, flat wire 150
and the rigid elements (130, 140) are placed (250) between the two
layers of interlayer material 120 in a selected position so that
flat wire 150 will extend to the edge of glass 110 and optionally
slightly beyond the edge of glass 110 to enable attachment of a
connector 160. In some embodiments of the invention, connector 160
includes thin legs, which are placed between the glass layers, so
that the connecter will be firmly attached to the windshield. In an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, connecter 160 serves as an
interface for accommodating external connectors to electrically
connect between flat wire 150 and an external device, such as a
global navigation satellite system (GNSS) (e.g. the US global
positioning system (GPS) or the European Galileo system), as mobile
TV receiver or other devices. Optionally connecter 160 is adapted
to enable plugging or screwing in connectors to provide a reliable
electrical connection between the embedded rigid elements (130,
140) and the external device.
[0040] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the layers of
glass 110 are clamped (260) together with the interlayer material
and rigid elements in between, forming a glass sandwich.
Optionally, the layers of glass 110 are placed in an oven and
heated, while applying pressure to the glass sandwich, to cure and
form a unified sheet of glass to serve as the windshield 100 of a
motor vehicle. Optionally the heating process is performed at a
temperature of about 150.degree. C. to cure the interlayer material
causing the rigid elements (130, 140) to melt into the interlayer
material and become affixed between the glass sheets.
[0041] FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional
view of rigid patch antenna 130 and rigid integrated circuit 140
embedded between upper and lower layers of glass 110 of windshield
100 after lamination, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. Optionally, during the lamination process the rigid
elements settle into the layers of interlayer material 120
displacing some of the interlayer material. Optionally, the two
layers of interlayer material 120 provide cushioning for the glass
layers 110 during the lamination process to prevent the rigid
elements from causing damage to the glass layers 110.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of windshield 100 with
rigid patch antenna 130 and rigid integrated circuit 140 embedded
therein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electronic device 340,
for example a GPS is positioned to the right of steering wheel 330
near the driver of the vehicle. Optionally, a cable is extended
from electronic device 340 to embedded elements 320 to complement
the functionality of electronic device 340. Alternatively,
communications between embedded elements 320 and electronic device
340 are established wirelessly, for example using Bluetooth, WiFi
or other protocols. In some embodiments of the invention, power is
provided to embedded elements 320 from an external power source via
connector 160 and flat wire 150. Alternatively or additionally,
integrated circuit 340 may include a battery and a photoelectric
cell to store power independently. In some embodiments of the
invention, power for the functionality of embedded elements 320 may
be transmitted wirelessly, for example from electronic device 340.
Optionally, embedded elements 320 may or may not include flat wire
150 and connector 160, since all communications and power may be
transferred wirelessly.
[0043] Optionally, various levels of cooperation may exist between
electronic device 340 and embedded elements 320, for example:
[0044] 1. Embedded elements 320 may include antenna 130, without
integrated circuit 140. Optionally, electronic device 340 provides
the rest of the functionality of the device and plugs into
connector 160 to enhance antenna reception; [0045] 2. Embedded
elements 320 may include antenna 130, and integrated circuit 140,
wherein integrated circuit 140 serves as a front end receiver
providing amplification (e.g. a low noise amplifier (LNA)) and
electronic device 340 provides the rest of the functionality;
[0046] 3. Embedded elements 320 may include antenna 130, and
integrated circuit 140, wherein integrated circuit 140 provides
extended functionality, for example serving as a full GPS receiver
or full TV receiver. Optionally, electronic device 340 provides a
display to display the information to a user.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an enlarged view of
the embedded elements 320 in windshield 100, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0048] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the embedded
elements 320 include patch antenna 130, integrated circuit 140,
flat wire 150 and connector 160.
[0049] Optionally, patch antenna 130 may be formed as an
essentially rectangular shaped unit, although it may deviate from
the essentially rectangular shape, for example having truncated
corners 410 or rounded corners 420 to enhance reception.
Alternatively, patch antenna 130 may come in other shapes. In some
embodiments of the invention, any low profile antenna may be used
to serve as patch antenna 130.
[0050] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, patch antenna
130 is filled with rigid dielectric tape material to provide it
with a high dielectric coefficient so that it may be miniaturized
and yet have a high gain coefficient, Optionally, patch antenna 130
may be as small as 10-50 mm.times.10-50 mm with a thickness between
0.3 mm-4 mm.
[0051] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, integrated
circuit 140 may have similar dimension as patch antenna 130
although they need not be identical in size. Optionally, integrated
circuit 140 may include a battery 430, a photoelectric cell 440, a
control circuit 450 and other elements.
[0052] In some embodiments of the invention, the elements include
flexible flat wire 150 to connect between the embedded elements 320
and to provide electronic access to the embedded elements 320 from
devices external to windshield 100. Optionally, flat wire 150 may
have a length between 10-150 mm, although it may be longer or
shorter. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, its width may
be between 0.5 to 10 mm and its thickness may be between 0.05 to
0.2 mm, so that it is not very noticeable through the windshield.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one side of flat wire
150 has contact points 152 that are soldered to patch antenna 130
and/or integrated circuit 140. Optionally, the other side of flat
wire 150 has contact points 154 that are connected to a connector
160. Optionally, connector 160 serves as an interface for
electrically connecting to the embedded elements 320. In some
embodiments of the invention, flat wire 150 may include more than
three leads and it may split into multiple branches and/or extend
in various directions, to allow connecting multiple elements either
sequentially or in parallel.
[0053] It should be appreciated that the above described methods
and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or
adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices
used. It should be appreciated that different features may be
combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features
shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every
embodiment of the invention. Further combinations of the above
features are also considered to be within the scope of some
embodiments of the invention.
[0054] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present
invention is defined only by the claims, which follow.
* * * * *