US 2022/0018516 A1 · ILLUMINATED LAMINATE WITH SUPERIOR AESTHETICS AND BRIGHTNESS

Abstract

The trend towards increasing the glazed area in automobiles has reduced the potential locations for mounting cabin lighting. This is especially true for vehicles having large panoramic glazing. Attempts to utilize integrated light sources within the glazing have had mixed results. Embedded LEDs in the laminate tend to be too bright for night driving. Edge feed illumination with light dispersing elements on the glass to date have only been able to provide low intensity levels. Both approaches tend to reduce visibility and aesthetics in the off state. The current invention provides a means and a method to produce a laminate which provides bright cabin lighting without compromising the function of the glazing to serve as a window, by creating a light dispersing layer that is substantially invisible when in the off state and very bright in the on state.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for producing an illuminated curved automotive laminate with superior aesthetics and brightness comprising:

providing an emulsion comprised of an organic material with dispersed sub-micron inorganic particles having an average particle size that is no greater than 1 μm;
providing a light conducting layer, wherein said light conducting layer is a glass layer;
printing the emulsion onto a main surface of the light conducting layer;
curing the emulsion by heating the glass layer with the emulsion to evaporate and burn off the organic material forming a light dispersing layer;
providing at least one additional glass layer;
bending at least said one additional glass layer;
providing at least one plastic interlayer;
disposing the light conducting layer with the light dispersing layer in contact with said at least one plastic interlayer;
laminating the light conducting layer with the light dispersing layer and said at least one plastic interlayer;
placing at least two lighting means and aligning them with opposite edges of said light conducting layer.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Illuminated laminate with superior aesthetics and brightness

Life of this patent

Illuminated laminate with superior aesthetics and brightness

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29