Interlayers having enhanced optical performance
AssigneeSolutia Inc.
InventorsLORA LEE SPANGLER, JEFFREY B. HURLBUT
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Abstract
A tapered interlayer and windshield employing the same are provided. Unlike conventional windshields, which are optimized to reduce ghost images for a single driver height, the windshields of the present invention may exhibit reduced ghosting for drivers of multiple heights, including very tall or very short drivers, while also providing desirable image clarity for average-height drivers. Windshields as described herein may be used in a variety of applications, including automotive, aircraft, marine, and recreational vehicles that employ HUD projection systems.
Claims20
A windshield comprising—
- a pair of glazing panels;
- and
- a polymeric interlayer disposed between and in contact with each of the glazing panels, wherein said polymeric interlayer defines a HUD region, and wherein said HUD region has a tapered vertical thickness profile including at least one variable angle zone,
- wherein said windshield exhibits at least one of an upper eyebox reflected double image separation distance of less than 2 arc-min and a lower eyebox reflected double image separation distance of less than 2 arc-min, when measured at standard installation conditions for said windshield.
A method of producing an interlayer, or a windshield comprising said interlayer, said method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a prescribed vertical wedge angle profile for a HUD region of a target interlayer;
- and
- (b) forming an interlayer to provide a formed interlayer, wherein said formed interlayer defines a HUD region, and wherein said forming is carried out such that at least 50 percent of said HUD region of said formed interlayer has a vertical wedge angle profile that varies from said prescribed vertical wedge angle profile for said HUD region of said target interlayer by no more than 0.10 mrad.
A method of producing a windshield comprising an interlayer, said method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a prescribed vertical wedge angle profile for a HUD region of a target interlayer;
- (b) forming an interlayer to provide a formed interlayer, wherein said formed interlayer defines a HUD region, and wherein said forming is carried out such that at least 50 percent of said HUD region of said formed interlayer has a vertical wedge angle profile that varies from said prescribed vertical wedge angle profile for said HUD region of said target interlayer by no more than 0.10 mrad;
- and
- (c) laminating said formed interlayer between a pair of glazing panels to form said windshield, wherein said windshield exhibits at least one of an upper eyebox reflected double image separation distance of less than 2 arc-min and a lower eyebox reflected double image separation distance of less than 2 arc-min, when measured at standard installation conditions for said windshield.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.