Abstract: Vehicle glazing, which once served just to provide for vision and protect from the elements, has been taking on new functions as the complexity and functionality of modern automobiles has evolved. Performance films and interlayers are often used to add to and enhance the functionality of laminates. These functions include solar control, sound dampening, head up display and variable light transmittance. Recent advances have made it possible to produce electronic circuits on thin transparent substrates that are essentially invisible under normal lighting conditions. While these circuits can be inserted into the laminate and successfully laminated, the edges of the circuit insert are prone to objectionable aesthetics due to mismatch between the substrate and the interlayer index of refraction, thickness and color.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a flush vehicle glazing that allows to achieve a perfect alignment between the adjacent sections of the glazing vehicle area in the final assembled product by providing a vehicle glass panel which comprise at least two adjacent sections of the vehicle glazing area in one single panel, followed by bending the vehicle glass panel and LASER cutting before cooling thereof.

Abstract: A switchable laminated glazing comprising two stacks of components with different lamination parameters, a first stack of components which provides the mechanical protection of the glazing, and a second stack of components with variable light transmission.

Abstract: Strengthened glass substrates with glass fits and methods for forming the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a glass frit with a coefficient of thermal expansion less than or equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass substrate where it is going to be painted. The glass frit of the present invention has similar ion exchange properties to the glass substrate that is going to be used to paint with the glass frit allowing the glass substrate to be ion-exchanged. The glass frit of the present invention is mixed with an organic carrier.

Abstract: The laminated glass panoramic roof is a popular although expensive option offered on a growing number of automobiles. Much of its appeal comes from the sleek modern appearance that it gives to the vehicle. The opaque laminated vehicle roof, by removing vision and optical requirements can be produced at a lower cost. The opaque laminated roof, by retaining a glass outer surface, maintains the same exterior appearance, aesthetic and much of the appeal of a conventional laminated glass panoramic roof. The opaque laminated vehicle roof also allows for the use of alternate materials which can further reduce cost and weight while adding additional features such as installation hardware, fasteners, lighting, antennas and solar cells to the roof.

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.

Abstract: The use of camera-based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted, are becoming larger and more complex in shape. As the industry moves towards vehicles with full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required and the resolution of the cameras are both increasing. However, the optical quality of the windshield is less than optimal. One of the problems is caused by the typical black enamel frit that is printed on the glass, prior to heating and bending, to hide or obscure the camera hardware. The abrupt thermal gradients during bending, caused by the heat absorbing black frit, result in a high level of distortion in the camera field of view.

Abstract: The use of camera based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. As the industry moves for full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required is increasing. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted are becoming larger and more complex in shape. This presents problems in the area of camera optics. For one, the camera is looking out through at least two layers of bent glass bonded together by a third layer of plastic. Mismatches in the refractive index can result in a double image. The curvature of the glass turns the window into a lens and, in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can reduce the optical clarity of the camera field of view. The laminate of the invention has a cutout in the area of the camera(s) on the interior glass layer where the cameras are mounted.

Abstract: Laminated glazings with embedded wire circuits, have many uses. But, due to the higher cost of manufacture, they are not widely used. This invention provides a process to reduce the cost of production for embedded wire laminated glazing. Rather than embedding the wire one interlayer at a time, several circuits are produced on the same sheet, cut out and then inserted into the interlayer of each separate laminate during assembly, reducing the direct labor and capital investment required.

Abstract: An automotive laminated glazing is provided, comprising an outer glass layer and an inner glass layer, said outer glass layer having a first surface and a second surface and said inner glass layer having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the inner glass layer has a thickness of not more than 1.0 mm and is chemically strengthened, and wherein the fourth surface features a low-e coating, obtainable by chemically strengthening a flat glass pane having a thickness of not more than 1.0 mm, then applying the low-e coating, and finally laminating the flat glass pane to a curved glass pane forming the outer layer, thereby cold bending said flat glass pane.

Abstract: A laminated glazing with at least one step-shaped functional portion comprising two stack of components, the main stack of components in which the alteration of its properties is not desirable, and a second stack of components comprising a functional layer.

Abstract: The price and performance of LED lighting have reached the point where LEDs are displacing more traditional lighting. Even though LED lifetimes are as high as 50,000 hours, they are still being designed as replaceable bulbs rather than being integrated as a permanent part of the lighting assembly. The invention provides for a means of economically producing laminated glass with integrated LED lighting designed to last the life of the vehicle. This is done by embedding the LED die into the plastic layer used to bond the glass layers of a laminate together, forming an embedded wire circuit from thin high tensile strength Tungsten wire to power the LEDs and by utilizing machine tool technology originally developed to produce integrated circuit assemblies such as RFID ID cards, tickets and passports.

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.

Abstract: Laminated glazing, once limited to just the windshield, is finding more and more application in other positions on the vehicle due to its ability to improve passenger safety, security and comfort. Problems are encountered when producing a laminated version of a tempered part with holes, because tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than annealed glass. The laminate of the invention has a hole in the exterior glass layer. An insert is bonded to a cutout in the area of the hole on the interior glass layer so as to reinforce the hole and distribute the load over a wider area. The result is a laminated glazing with one or more holes that has the reliability of and is a direct replacement for a tempered part.

Abstract: Improved automotive security has led to an increase in carjacking and smash and grab crimes. Tempered glass offers little resistant to attacks. Laminated glass improves penetration resistance but only by several seconds. By including a stiff frame in the laminate and a plastic interior 5 layer, the present invention significantly increases the amount of time that an occupant has to react and possibly escape an attack by driving off or for the attack to be detected. In the event of an accident, the invention also provides improved occupant retention, especially for movable glass that is not bonded to the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for bending multiple sheet of thin glass at the same time on a single set of molds. Multiple sheets of thin glass are stacked onto a full surface female mold. A partial surface male mold is placed onto the thin glass stack. The male mold serves to hold the edges in place and prevents the formation of wrinkles as the glass is heated and sags to conform to the shape of the female mold. Optionally, the top mold can be enclosed and pressurized to provide a pneumatic pressure assist to form the glass. In addition, the bottom mold can be enclosed to allow for vacuum assist to form the glass.

Abstract: Method for strengthening and bending glass sheets, wherein a saturated saline solution is applied to glass sheets, followed by a rapid temperature change, allowing the salt to 5 precipitate. The glass sheets are then evenly coated with a recrystallized salt. Subsequently, the glass sheets are ion exchanged and bent at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a laminated automotive glazing having an obscuration area produced by printing the obscuration on a film laminated between at least two layers of plastic interlayers rather than printing and firing an enamel frit onto the glass. This results in a laminate having superior optical quality, higher strength and a lower probability of breakage as compared to a laminate with a black enamel frit obscuration.

Abstract: The use of camera based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. As the industry moves for full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required is increasing. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted are 5 becoming larger and more complex in shape. This presents problems in the area of camera optics. For one, the camera is looking out through at least two layers of bent glass bonded together by a third layer of plastic. Mismatches in the refractive index can result in a double image. The curvature of the glass turns the window into a lens and, in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can reduce the optical clarity of the camera field of view. The 0 laminate of the invention has a cutout in the area of the camera(s) on the interior glass layer where the cameras are mounted. The cameras are mounted directly to the glass via a bracket or adhesive or to a thin transparent insert.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a laminated automotive glazing having an obscuration area produced by printing the obscuration on a film laminated between at least two layers of plastic interlayers or directly on the interlayer rather than printing and firing an enamel frit onto the glass. This results in a laminate having superior optical quality, higher strength and a lower probability of breakage as compared to a laminate with a black enamel frit obscuration.