Abstract: A method of inspecting a heatable glazing is disclosed. A heatable glazing comprises a heater array having at least one heater wire. The method comprises the steps of (i) illuminating the heatable glazing with a light source to produce a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; (ii) passing a sufficiently high electrical current through the heater array such that the heater wire is observable in the shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing, such a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing being referred to as an active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; and (iii) capturing the active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing with an imaging sensor. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A laminated glazing (e.g. a vehicle windscreen) comprising two panes of glazing material (e.g. glass) having a ply of laminating interlayer extending between them, one or more wires between the panes of glazing material, arranged so as to form a sensing area of a capacitive rain sensor and/or an inductive coupling coil, and an infrared reflective coating provided on a surface of the glazing, wherein in the region of the sensing area and/or the inductive coupling coil, the coating is at most only partially provided.

Abstract: An automotive glazing having a mounting strip for mounting a glazing component attached adjacent at least one edge thereof is disclosed. The mounting strip comprises at least one ridge positioned in contact with the glazing such that the majority of the mounting strip is spaced apart from the glazing, forming a cavity. The mounting strip is bonded to a major face of the glazing by an adhesive material in contact with at least a portion of the mounting strip, and positioned such that it does not overlap the edge of the glazing. The ridge, the mounting strip end and the major face of the glazing to which the strip is bonded form a cavity having an open end facing the edge of the glazing, the cavity being dimensioned to receive a portion of said glazing component.

Abstract: Laminated vehicle glazing with a conductive panel defining slot antennas between the conductive panel and the metal surround of the vehicle with connecting leads, and a camera or other device in an area where the device and the antenna do not overlap. Locating the device in a different position to the slot antenna reduces the electromagnetic interference that the slot antenna experiences and prevents malfunction of the device where the slot antenna is used to transmit radio signals.

Abstract: A laminated vehicle glazing comprising a first ply of a glazing material and a second ply of a glazing material having a substantially co-extensive ply of an interlayer material laminated there between, at least a portion of the ply of interlayer material having a wedged cross-section, wherein the ply of interlayer material is pre-shaped by stretching such that either: (a) when the wedge angle is calculated at a plurality of points across the glazing, by taking measurements of a deflection of a laser beam as it passes through the glazing, the standard deviation in the magnitude of the wedge angle of the wedged portion is less than 0.05 mrad; or (b) when a grid pattern is projected onto the glazing, the standard deviation in the displacement between observed primary and secondary images of portions of the grid is less than 0.85 mm.

Abstract: A heated vehicle window includes at least one ply of a glazing material, provided with an antenna and an array of electrical conductors forming a heating circuit. The heating circuit comprises a plurality of electrical conductors and at least two busbars for supplying direct electrical current to which the electrical conductors are connected. A discrete electrically conductive layer is provided to cover at least a portion of at least two of the busbars in direct current electrical isolation therefrom. The busbars and the discrete electrically conductive layer act as a capacitor in the presence of alternating electrical current.

Abstract: A laminated glazing (e.g. a vehicle windscreen) comprising two panes of glazing material (e.g. glass) having a ply of laminating interlayer extending between them, and one or more wires between the panes of glazing material, each having a conductive central core and an outer dark-colored (e.g. black) sheath, which is substantially resistant to color- and substance-degradation by ultraviolet light. The wires may be in the form of a capacitive sensing plate, an inductive coupling loop, a heating element, an antenna and/or an RFID tag.

Abstract: The glass sheets (2) of an asymmetric glass-sheet pair, which is intended for the production of laminated glass, are preheated in a preheating furnace (1) and then undergo a press-bending process in a press-bending station (4). By means of a temperature measuring point (11) arranged at the exit of the press-bending station, it is ensured that the glass sheets exhibit a uniform bending behavior, in order to guarantee identical restoring forces during cooling. The temperature measuring point (11) is connected to a control device (16), which causes an intermediate cooling of the glass sheet heating more rapidly by means of an intermediate cooling installation (12, 13) in the pre-heating furnace and/or lengthens its dwell time in the press-bending station (4) by means of a timing control element (15).

Abstract: A retaining socket for mounting a vehicle glazing accessory is disclosed. The retaining socket comprises a base portion for mounting on the surface of a glazing; a retaining portion for retaining a vehicle glazing accessory; and a retaining portion for retaining a communication device. The base portion comprises an electrically conductive coupling portion, connected to the communication device. A glazing having such a socket mounted thereon is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a connector body having first and second connection portions and two or more electrical pathways provided within the connector body between the first and second connection portions, the first connection portion having a functional surface on which at least two exposed areas of conductive material are provided, each of which is in contact with a corresponding electrical pathway, for connection to an electrical element on a substrate, wherein adhesive is provided on the functional surface such that, at a minimum, a peripheral band is formed around each of the areas of conductive material for adhesion to the substrate. Also a glazing comprising at least one pane of glazing material provided with an electrical element, and an electrical connector as described above electrically connected to the electrical element and adhered to a surface of the glazing.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a heatable glazing is disclosed. A heatable glazing comprises a heater array having at least one heater wire. The method comprises the steps of (i) illuminating the heatable glazing with a light source to produce a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; (ii) passing a sufficiently high electrical current through the heater array such that the heater wire is observable in the shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing, such a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing being referred to as an active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; and (iii) capturing the active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing with an imaging sensor. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle having an aperture in the vehicle body in which a glazing, comprising a switchable film laminated between at least two plies of an interlayer material is fitted is disclosed. The plies of interlayer material are laminated between a first ply of glazing material, preferably glass, facing out of the vehicle and a second ply of glazing material, preferably glass, facing into the vehicle. The switchable film comprises first and second electrodes, both in electrical connection with a power supply. The first electrode is capacitively connected to electrical ground on the vehicle body.

Abstract: Frameless window which comprises a transparent pane, the lower edge of which is fixed in the slot of one or more holders by at least one layer of adhesive and is joined to the walls of the slot of the holders by at least two layers of a first adhesive applied close to the lateral ends of the slot, wherein at least one layer of a second adhesive is applied in the slot between the layers of the first adhesive. A process for manufacturing the window is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of determining the divergence angle between a primary image and a secondary image generated by a glazing are disclosed. In a first method, a glazing is illuminated with a light source and a primary and a secondary image of the light source, generated by the glazing, are captured using an image capture device. The distance between the primary and the secondary image is determined, and the divergence angle determined from this distance. In a second method, the primary and secondary images are viewed on a target marked with a scale indicating the divergence angle. The divergence angle is read from the scale and the positions the primary and secondary image. In this second method, the light source is located at the center of the target. In both methods, the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. Preferably, the method is used to examine the edge region of a glazing.

Abstract: System for manufacturing frameless windows which comprise a transparent pane, the lower edge of which is fixed in the slot of one or more holders by at least one layer of adhesive, which system comprises a work-table suitable for supporting the pane with the lower edge turned upwards and one or more mobile supports suitable for moving downwards the holders toward the pane, so that the holders can be inserted astride the lower edge, turned upwards, of the pane. In addition, a process is disclosed which can be carried out with the system.

Abstract: A vehicle glazing having a centring pin bonded thereto, and a centring pin suitable for a vehicle glazing are disclosed. The centring pin comprises a base portion bonded to the vehicle glazing and a centring portion adapted to be inserted into a hole in the bodywork of a vehicle. The centring portion is joined to the base portion, and moveable between a lowered position, in which the glazing may be stored, and a raised position, in which the glazing may be fitted into an aperture in a vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive glazing, comprising an antenna connector is disclosed. The glazing comprises at least a first ply of a transparent glazing material, and a ply of a plastics material extending across the ply of glazing material and having a line-like electrical conductor in contact therewith, a portion of the electrical conductor line being configured to form an antenna conductor and a portion being configured to form a coupling region. In addition, a surface contact is provided on the surface of the first ply of glazing material situated away from the plastics material, in registration with the coupling region. The coupling region and the surface contact form a transmission line acting as a bandpass filter for a frequency band f, the portion of the electrical conductor forming the coupling region having a length approximately equal to an odd multiple of a quarter of a first effective wavelength ?eff in the glazing corresponding to f.

Abstract: A heated vehicle window includes at least one ply of a glazing material, provided with an antenna and an array of electrical conductors forming a heating circuit. The heating circuit comprises a plurality of electrical conductors and at least two busbars for supplying direct electrical current to which the electrical conductors are connected. A discrete electrically conductive layer is provided to cover at least a portion of at least two of the busbars in direct current electrical isolation therefrom. The busbars and the discrete electrically conductive layer act as a capacitor in the presence of alternating electrical current.

Abstract: A laminated vehicle glazing comprising a first ply of a glazing material and a second ply of a glazing material having a substantially co-extensive ply of an interlayer material laminated there between, at least a portion of the ply of interlayer material having a wedged cross-section, wherein the ply of interlayer material is pre-shaped by stretching such that either: (a) when the wedge angle is calculated at a plurality of points across the glazing, by taking measurements of a deflection of a laser beam as it passes through the glazing, the standard deviation in the magnitude of the wedge angle of the wedged portion is less than 0.05 mrad; or (b) when a grid pattern is projected onto the glazing, the standard deviation in the displacement between observed primary and secondary images of portions of the grid is less than 0.85 mm.

Abstract: An automotive glazing having a non-galvanic contact for an electrical device associated with the glazing is disclosed. The glazing comprises a first ply and a second ply of transparent glazing material having a ply of interlayer material extending between the plies of glazing material. The glazing also comprises an electric circuit, having a first connector portion, situated adjacent the ply of interlayer material, the first connector portion being configured to form a coupling region such that electrical signals in the circuit are can be coupled between the coupling region and an electrical device placed on the glazing. A second connector portion is included on the surface of the second ply of glazing material situated away from the interlayer material, and connectable to an electrical device. The second connector portion is adapted to receive a ferromagnetic core.