Abstract: An article having a sealed layered edge, e.g. an automotive laminate and a multiple glazed unit includes a pair of glass sheet in a fixed relationship with one another. A sputtered coating is deposited on a major surface of one of the sheets and includes at least one combination of a metal film, e.g. a silver film and a dielectric film. Discontinuities in the metal film at the marginal edges of the coated sheet provide voids in the metal film to impede or stop corrosion of the metal film. The discontinuities include (1) break lines or segments in the coating, (2) coating thickness variations provided by abrading the coating and (3) spaced discrete coating areas on the marginal edges of the coated sheet. The discontinuities may be made in the metal film using a laser, an abrasive surface, a coating mask and/or coating deletion techniques.

Abstract: A heads-up display system includes a laminate and an image projecting source for directing an image onto a first portion of the laminate. The outer major surfaces of the laminate are angularly offset within a first portion is such that an image from the image projector source projected onto a first major surface of the laminate within the first portion is reflected in a manner that reduces double imaging of the reflected image.

Abstract: An automotive transparency includes a first glass ply having a constant thickness, a second glass ply having a constant thickness, and an interlayer having a constant thickness in a first predetermined area and a decreasing thickness in a second predetermined area. The first and second plies are secured together by the interlayer to form a laminate having a first outer major surface, an opposing second outer major surface, a first predetermined area defined by the first predetermined area of the interlayer over which the outer major surfaces are substantially parallel to one another, and a second predetermined area defined by the second predetermined area of the interlayer over which the outer major surfaces are nonparallel to each other such that images reflected off the nonparallel surfaces of the laminate are substantially superimposed over each other to at least reduce double imaging of the reflected image.

Abstract: An article having a sealed layered edge, e.g. an automotive laminate and a multiple glazed unit includes a pair of glass sheet in a fixed relationship with one another. A sputtered coating is deposited on a major surface of one of the sheets and includes at least one combination of a metal film, e.g. a silver film and a dielectric film. Discontinuities in the metal film at the marginal edges of the coated sheet provide voids in the metal film to impede or stop corrosion of the metal film. The discontinuities include (1) break lines or segments in the coating, (2) coating thickness variations provided by abrading the coating and (3) spaced discrete coating areas on the marginal edges of the coated sheet. The discontinuities may be made in the metal film using a laser, an abrasive surface, a coating mask and/or coating deletion techniques.

Abstract: An automotive transparency includes a first glass ply having a constant thickness, a second glass ply having a constant thickness, and an interlayer having a constant thickness in a first predetermined area and a decreasing thickness in a second predetermined area. The first and second plies are secured together by the interlayer to form a laminate having a first outer major surface, an opposing second outer major surface, a first predetermined area defined by the first predetermined area of the interlayer over which the outer major surfaces are substantially parallel to one another, and a second predetermined area defined by the second predetermined area of the interlayer over which the outer major surfaces are nonparallel to each other such that images reflected off the nonparallel surfaces of the laminate are substantially superimposed over each other to at least reduce double imaging of the reflected image.

Abstract: A windshield for a head-up display system has a pair of opposing major surfaces that are nonparallel to one another in selected areas. Light rays directed toward the nonparallel area of the windshield are reflected from the outer and inner major surfaces of the windshield and directed toward the eye of the observer as parallel or superimposed light rays to eliminate ghost images when viewing images projected by the head-up display system through the windshield. The interlayer blank utilized to make the windshield has a non-uniform thickness profile with a tapered thickness positioned in the selected areas of the windshield.

Abstract: A wedge shaped interlayer blank is used in the fabrication of a laminate e.g. a vehicle windshield to provide the subsequently formed windshield with opposing major surfaces that are non-parallel and offset at a predetermined angle such that images from a display source that are reflected off the opposing major surfaces of the windshield are substantially superimposed over each other.

Abstract: A windshield for a head-up display system has a pair of opposing major surfaces that are nonparallel to one another in selected areas. Light rays directed toward the nonparallel area of the windshield are reflected from the outer and inner major surfaces of the windshield and directed toward the eye of the observer as parallel or superimposed light rays to eliminate ghost images when viewing images projected by the head-up display system through the windshield. The interlayer blank utilized to make the windshield has a non-uniform thickness profile with a tapered thickness positioned in the selected areas of the windshield.

Abstract: A wedge shaped interlayer blank is used in the fabrication of a laminate e.g. a vehicle windshield to provide the subsequently formed windshield with opposing major surfaces that are non-parallel and offset at a predetermined angle such that images from a display source that are reflected off the opposing major surfaces of the windshield are substantially superimposed over each other.

Abstract: A sound dampening glazing, for example an automotive windshield, in one embodiment of the invention includes a pair of glass sheets having facilities therebetween. In cross section and moving from one glass sheet to the other, the facilities include a polyvinyl butyral sheet, an intermediate sheet having a surface harder than the surface of the interlayer to smooth the interlayer surface e.g. an intermediate polyester sheet, a sheet of dampening material, a polyester sheet, a polyvinyl butyral sheet. In another embodiment, the automotive windshield has two sheets of dampening material, the sheets have sound dampening properties in different temperature ranges to as to provide the automotive windshield with sound dampening properties over a wider temperature range. Methods for making the glazings of the instant invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A windshield for a head-up display system has a pair of opposing major surfaces that are nonparallel to one another in selected areas. Light rays directed toward the nonparallel area of the windshield are reflected from the outer and inner major surfaces of the windshield and directed toward the eye of the observer as parallel or superimposed light rays to eliminate ghost images when viewing images projected by the head-up display system through the windshield. The interlayer blank utilized to make the windshield has a non-uniform thickness profile with a tapered thickness positioned in the selected areas of the windshield.

Abstract: A sound dampening glazing, for example an automotive windshield, in one embodiment includes a pair of glass sheets. In cross section and moving from one glass sheet to the other there is an interlayer e.g. polyvinyl butyral, an intermediate sheet e.g. a polyester sheet having a surface harder than the surface of the interlayer to smooth the interlayer surface, a sheet of dampening material, an intermediate sheet, an interlayer and the other glass sheet. In another embodiment, the glazing has two sheets of dampening material each having different sound dampening temperature range to provide the glazing with sound dampening properties over a broader temperature range. A method for making the glazing is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a desired pattern with a coating on a substrate. The method includes the steps of applying a water soluble resist material in a predetermined pattern to a surface of a substrate, drying the resist material, depositing a coating on the surface of the substrate to form a coated substrate, wherein a portion of the coating overlays the resist material, and dissolving the resist material on the coated substrate with water to remove the resist material and corresponding overlaying coating and form a desired coating pattern on the substrate surface. The dissolving step preferably includes the step of directing high temperature and high pressure water sprays at the surface of the coated substrate to wash off the resist and corresponding overlaying coating. The removal of the resist material may include a prewash operation wherein the surface of the substrate is wetted with water and coating is allowed to soak.

Abstract: A windshield display system for automobile includes a wavelength selective holographic combiner (12) laminated within the plies (36, 50) of an automobile windshield. A lamination process is provided to prevent degradation of the holographic combiner (12), which might otherwise occur with conventional windshield lamination processes. The holographic combiner (12) is processed in a manner that permits it to withstand the temperature and pressure extremes of the windshield lamination process. Also provided is a display system (60) for producing an image of vehicle information and the motorist's field of view as the motorist observes the real world scene.

Abstract: A method for processing exposed holograms to enhance their thermal stability and enable them to withstand a windshield lamination process is disclosed. The secondary processing procedure entails an optional step of applying a moisture barrier to the hologram, followed by heat stabilizing the hologram and storing it in a relatively low humidity environment. Specifically, the exposed holographic material is heated to a peak temperature of about 135.degree. C. and thereafter cooled to provide a thermally stabilized holographic material that maintains its holographic qualities over a relatively broad range of temperatures.

Abstract: An automotive windshield for a head up display system is disclosed. The windshield includes a hologram embedded within the windshield assembly. In fabricating the windshield, the hologram, is deposited on a carrier substrate. The hologram is initially adhered to the windshield interlayer and the carrier substrate is removed, leaving the hologram. The windshield is then assembled and laminated.

Abstract: A holographic windshield (10) includes an inner glass ply (36) having an inner flexible optically transparent inner interlayer (42) overlaid upon its inner surface (40). A middle flexible transparent interlayer (44) is overlaid upon the inner interlayer. The middle interlayer has an opening (46) formed therein. A flexible hologram (12) is fitted within the opening in the middle interlayer. An outer interlayer (48) is overlaid upon the middle interlayer including the flexible hologram. An outer glass ply (50) is overlaid upon the outer interlayer. The two glass plies are bonded together to form a unitary article. Also disclosed is a method for processing a holographic combiner to withstand a windshield construction process employing lamination techniques.