Abstract: A sliding window assembly is used with a vehicle. The sliding window assembly includes at least one fixed panel having first and second edges, with the fixed panel also having an arcuate configuration between the first and second edges. The sliding window assembly includes at least one rail coupled to the fixed panel and having first and second rail ends. The rail extends along an axis between the first and second rail ends. The rail defines a rail channel having a substantially linear configuration along the axis. The sliding window assembly includes a sliding panel at least partially disposed within the rail channel and movable along the rail and the axis relative to the fixed panel between open and closed positions. The first edge of the fixed panel is spaced from the second edge of the fixed panel along the axis that the rail extends along.

Abstract: A window assembly includes an electrically conductive transparent layer and an antenna element disposed on a substrate. The antenna element includes a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment. The first antenna segment is elongated and disposed in an outer region devoid of the transparent layer. The second antenna segment extends from the first antenna segment toward the transparent layer such that the second antenna segment crosses a periphery of the transparent layer. The second antenna segment abuts and is in direct electrical contact with the transparent layer. A feeding element is coupled to the antenna element and energizes the first and second antenna segments and the transparent layer such that the first and second antenna segments and the transparent layer collectively transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals.

Abstract: A vertical sliding window assembly can be coupled to a flange of a vehicle. The vertical sliding window assembly includes a first fixed panel and a second fixed panel adapted to be fixed to the vehicle. The first and second fixed panels have a top edge and a bottom edge spaced from each other. First and second vertical tracks are coupled to and extends between the top and bottom edges of a respective one of the first and second fixed panels. Each of the vertical tracks have a bottom end adjacent the bottom edge of a respective one of the fixed panels. A sliding panel is movable along the first and second vertical tracks relative to the fixed panels. The bottom end of each of the first and second vertical tracks terminates between the top and bottom edges of the fixed panels.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle includes a substrate that is substantially transparent and has a surface. A transparent layer is disposed on the surface and comprises a metal compound such that the transparent layer is electrically conductive. The transparent layer defines a first region and a second region that are spaced from one another by a section cut that is devoid of the transparent layer. The first and second regions are non-congruent to one another. A feeding arrangement is coupled to the first and second regions to energize the first and second regions such that the first and second regions operate as antenna elements. The first and second regions each define at least one performance enhancing slit that is devoid of the transparent layer. The slits are configured to operate as at least one of an impedance matching element and a radiation pattern altering element.

Abstract: A solder joint is disposed on an electrical conductor which comprises silver. The solder joint comprises bismuth and tin. The solder joint has a microstructure comprising a bismuth-rich solder bulk and a silver-solder reaction zone. The bismuth-rich solder bulk is disposed adjacent to the silver-solder reaction zone. The solder joint comprises a plurality of bismuth-rich grains formed from bismuth and substantially dispersed throughout at least the bismuth-rich solder bulk of the solder joint. A window pane comprising the solder joint is also disclosed.

Abstract: An antenna (10) suitable for receiving circularly polarized RF signals from a satellite is integrated with a window (12) of a vehicle (14), such as a roof window (12). The antenna (10) includes a patch element (18) disposed adjacent to the window (12). Radiating strips (26) forming at least one dipole pair are disposed below the patch element (18) and connectable to a transmission line. A coupling element (20) surrounds the radiating strips (26) and a dielectric layer (38) is sandwiched between the patch element (18) and the radiating strips (26). A ground plane (36) is also disposed below the radiating strip (26). A conductive casing (46) perpendicularly surrounds the antenna (10) elements while electrically connecting the ground plane (36) to the coupling element (20) such that the radiating strips (26) are generally disposed within a cavity (24).

Abstract: A vertical sliding window assembly can be coupled to a vehicle. The vertical sliding window assembly includes first and second fixed panels adapted to be fixed to the vehicle. The fixed panels each have a top edge and a bottom edge spaced from each other. A top cross-member is coupled to the first and second fixed panels adjacent the top edge. A bottom cross-member is spaced from the top cross-member and is coupled to the first and second fixed panels adjacent the bottom edge. A sliding panel has an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface and is movable relative to the fixed panels. The top cross-member is disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the sliding panel and the bottom cross-member is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the sliding panel such that the exterior surface of the sliding panel is unobstructed by the bottom cross-member.

Abstract: A sliding window assembly is used with a vehicle. The sliding window assembly includes at least one fixed panel having first and second edges, with the fixed panel also having an arcuate configuration between the first and second edges. The sliding window assembly includes at least one rail coupled to the fixed panel and having first and second rail ends. The rail extends along an axis between the first and second rail ends. The rail defines a rail channel having a substantially linear configuration along the axis. The sliding window assembly includes a sliding panel at least partially disposed within the rail channel and movable along the rail and the axis relative to the fixed panel between open and closed positions. The first edge of the fixed panel is spaced from the second edge of the fixed panel along the axis that the rail extends along.

Abstract: A window pane has a daylight opening and includes a substrate having a first surface. The window pane further includes an electrical device including a first busbar, a second busbar, and a gridline portion with each independently including a conductive material. The gridline portion has a first end operatively connected to and abutting the first busbar and a second end operatively connected to and abutting the second busbar. A gridline length is defined between the first and second ends of the gridline portion. The gridline portion is completely and directly disposed on the first surface along the gridline length. The first busbar and second busbar each independently includes a first layer of the conductive material disposed on the substrate. At least one of the first and the second busbars each independently includes a second layer of the conductive material disposed on the first layer.

Abstract: An antenna system and method utilize a splitter electrically connectable to a single antenna for splitting an RF signal into two signals. A variable phase shifter shifts the phase of one of the signals. A combiner combines the phase shifted and non-phase shifted signals to produce a conditioned signal. A quality examiner circuit changes the amount of phase shift provided by the variable phase shifter to produce a plurality of different conditioned signals. The quality examiner circuit then determines a quality of each conditioned signal and changes the phase shift again to provide the highest quality conditioned signal to a receiver.

Abstract: A window assembly is used in a vehicle. The window assembly comprises a transparent pane having an inner surface and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface. The window assembly also comprises a ceramic frit disposed on a portion of the transparent pane. A primer is disposed on at least one of the transparent pane and the ceramic frit for providing a bonding surface. An encapsulation is coupled to the primer.

Abstract: An antenna system and method utilize an evaluation branch circuit and an implementation branch circuit. These circuits are each connected to both a first antenna input and a second antenna input. An output of the evaluation branch circuit is in communication with a controller while an output of the implementation branch circuit is in communication with a receiver. Each branch circuit includes at least one signal conditioner to change an electrical characteristic of RF signals received from antennas via the antenna inputs. The evaluation branch circuit, controlled by the controller, changes the electrical characteristics of the RF signals in a variety of different ways to discover an optimized evaluation RF signal. Once the optimized evaluation RF signal is determined, the implementation branch circuit is controlled, by the controller, to produce an optimized implementation RF signal in accordance with that discovered by the evaluation branch circuit.

Abstract: An adhesively bonded window and hardware assembly includes a window member (12) presenting a surface (12a), a hardware member (14) having a flange (14a) and a projecting portion (14b) contiguous with and projecting from the flange, an adhesive member (18) disposed between the flange and the surface of the window member and adhesively bonding the hardware member (14) to the window member (12), and a sealing member (20) that envelopes part of the flange, fully surrounds the adhesive member, and bonds to and seals against the surface of the window member. The sealing member (20) serves to protect the adhesive member (18) from heat and humidity in the surrounding environment. The sealing member (20) can comprise an overmolded member formed of a polymer material.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a transparent pane and an encapsulant bonded to the transparent pane, wherein the encapsulant is a copolymer of at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer and at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer, wherein the at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer is at least one thermoplastic polyester, at least one thermoplastic polyether, or a copolymer of at least one thermoplastic polyester and at least one thermoplastic polyether. The at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer may be a renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer, wherein the total weight of the renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer is at most 60 percent of the total weight of the copolymer.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a transparent pane and an encapsulant bonded to the transparent pane, wherein the encapsulant is a copolymer of at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer and at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer, wherein the at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer is at least one thermoplastic polyester, at least one thermoplastic polyether, or a copolymer of at least one thermoplastic polyester and at least one thermoplastic polyether. The at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer may be a renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer, wherein the total weight of the renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer is at most 60 percent of the total weight of the copolymer.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle having an essentially chlorine-free modified polyolefin primer disposed onto a transparent pane and a two-shot encapsulant applied onto the primer is provided. The two-shot encapsulant includes a first encapsulation layer disposed on the primer and a second encapsulation layer disposed on the first encapsulation layer. The first encapsulation layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 39 and a Flexural modulus of at least 100 MPa, while the second encapsulation layer has a Shore A hardness of less than 90.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a transparent pane and an encapsulant bonded to the transparent pane, wherein the encapsulant is a copolymer of at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer and at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer, wherein the at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer is at least one thermoplastic polyester, at least one thermoplastic polyether, or a copolymer of at least one thermoplastic polyester and at least one thermoplastic polyether. The at least one crystalline thermoplastic polymer may be a renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer, wherein the total weight of the renewably-sourced thermoplastic polymer is at most 60 percent of the total weight of the copolymer.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a circularly polarized (CP) antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a circularly polarized RF signal. The CP antenna includes a pair of radiating patches each having an elongated shape. An elongated axis is defined along a longest length of each of the radiating patches. The elongated axes are disposed generally perpendicular to one another to generate the circular polarization. A coplanar waveguide feeding element is disposed between the radiating patches for feeding RF signals from and/or to the radiating patches via electromagnetic coupling. A width of the slot of the coplanar waveguide is varied to provide impedance matching of the CP antenna with a transmission line.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle has a transparent layer including a metal compound such that the transparent layer as is electrically conductive. The transparent layer defines an area covering the window assembly. An outer region which is electrically non-conductive surrounds the area. The window assembly includes an antenna element including wire or transparent coating disposed within and surrounded by the outer region without extending into the transparent layer. The antenna element is electrically disconnected from the transparent layer such that the antenna element operates independent of the transparent layer. A feeding element is coupled to the antenna element for energizing the antenna element. The feeding element is electrically disconnected from the transparent layer such that the feeding element energizes the antenna element independent of the transparent layer.