Abstract: Automotive glazing has long been a factor which has frustrated and limited the freedom of automotive designers to embody their vision. The idealized initial design often must be changed and sometimes even radically altered due to the limitations on the shapes of glazing that can be produced due to the methods used to form the glazing. While sheet metal can be formed to just about any conceivable shape, glass is limited to relatively simple large radii cylindrical/spherical shapes. By means of a multi-stage forming method, it is possible to produce glazing with complex curvature, comprising small compound radii with excellent optical quality, that exceed the forming limits and dimensional accuracy of what has previously been possible.

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: The use of camera based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. As the industry moves towards vehicles with full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required and the resolution of the cameras are both 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. Variations in the thickness of the glass and the plastic layer, surface mismatch, surface texture and the design curvature of the glass in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can reduce the optical clarity of the camera optics. These optical aberrations are further exacerbated during the lamination process when the layers are bonded together under pressure. The laminate of the invention utilizes a cutout in the plastic bonding layer in side of the laminate, preferable in the camera field of view.

Abstract: Glass laminates, comprising more than one glass composition, are becoming increasingly common as the industry moves towards lighter and stronger glazing. Bending dissimilar glass compositions can present problems. A mismatch in the glass viscosity curves, especially in the viscoelastic region of the compositions can result in one layer becoming softer than one of the other layers during the thermal bending process. As a result, economical processes, such as gravity or press bending in which multiple glass layers are simultaneously bent, may not be practical to use forcing the use of more expensive single glass layer bending processes. By thermal treatment processes the fictive temperature of at least one of the glass compositions prior to bending can be shifted to better match the other compositions allowing the glass layers to be simultaneously bent.

Abstract: It is now possible to economically produce, in series production, automotive glazing that has complex small radii feature lines (30). Such feature lines (30) are desirable as they can improve the stiffness of the glazing as well as contribute to the overall aesthetic and differentiation of the vehicle, allowing body lines to blend into and continue in the glazing. However, traditional automotive laminating methods do not lend themselves well to this type of product. Typically, the offset between the mating surfaces of the laminate must be very uniform. Such uniformity is difficult to achieve when producing small radii features. Rather than bending multiple layers with small radii feature lines that can be nested and subsequently laminated using standard plastic automotive interlayers, the invention makes use of a two part method for laminating, a dry lamination process and a wet lamination process, which requires only that the feature lines (30) be present in the outer glass layer (201).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for bending at least one glass pane, having a lower bending mould with a working surface that is suitable for influencing the shape of at least one glass pane, an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the working surface that is suitable for generating a positive pressure on the surface of the at least one glass pane facing away from the working surface, where the upper shaping tool has a hollow space with at least one opening oriented toward the lower bending mould and a membrane closing the opening and is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to deform the membrane in the direction of the lower bending mould and to thus generate the positive pressure.

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 device and method for bending a glass pane. The device includes a gravity bending mould with a supporting surface, which is suitable for arranging a glass pane thereon; and an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the supporting surface. The upper shaping tool is suitable for producing an overpressure on the top surface of the glass pane arranged on the supporting surface. The top surface faces away from the supporting surface. The shaping tool has a cover that forms a hollow space open in the direction of the gravity bending mould and is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to produce the overpressure. The hollow space is divided by a separating wall into two subspaces such that a different pressure can be produced in two regions of the surface. The shaping tool is equipped with a common gas feed line, and the separating wall extends to the common gas feed line.

Abstract: Glass laminates, comprising more than one glass composition, are becoming increasingly common as the industry moves towards lighter and stronger glazing. Bending dissimilar glass compositions can present problems. A mismatch in the glass viscosity curves, especially in the viscoelastic region of the compositions can result in one layer becoming softer than one of the other layers during the thermal bending process. As a result, economical processes, such as gravity or press bending in which multiple glass layers are simultaneously bent, may not be practical to use forcing the use of more expensive single glass layer bending processes. By thermal treatment processes the fictive temperature of at least one of the glass compositions prior to bending can be shifted to better match the other compositions allowing the glass layers to be simultaneously bent.

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: Functional layers do not have a good performance at lower temperatures. This limitation is overcoming by combining the functional layers with a resistive heating circuit. The heating circuit uses minimal power to maintain the glazing at or above the temperature required for acceptable operation.

Abstract: A bending tool for bending at least one glass pane by suction, includes a frame-like convex contact surface and a cover having a peripheral air guide plate that surrounds the contact surface at least in regions is described. The bending tool is suitable for generating a first, reduced pressure in a first pressure region between the air guide plate and the contact surface; a second reduced pressure in a second pressure region. The second pressure is less than the first pressure; and a third pressure in a third pressure region, wherein the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: The use of camera based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. As the industry moves towards vehicles with full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required and the resolution of the cameras are both 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. Variations in the thickness of the glass and the plastic layer, surface mismatch, surface texture and the design curvature of the glass in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can reduce the optical clarity of the camera optics. These optical aberrations are further exacerbated during the lamination process when the layers are bonded together under pressure. The laminate of the invention utilizes a cutout in the plastic bonding layer in side of the laminate, preferable in the camera field of view.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vehicle glazing having a sharply curved portion and the method for bending such glazing The sharply curved portion of the glass may extend along the surface of the glass. The sharply curved portion is obtained by locally heating by means of a laser source, heating the portion of the glass to a temperature sufficiently high enough to allow said portion of glass to bend. In preferred embodiments, the sharply curved portion comprises a first bent portion described by a first radius and a second bent portion described by a second radius, wherein the point where the radiuses of the first and second bent portions change their orientation generate an inflection point. The radius of curvature of the first and second bent portions is of less than 150 mm.

Abstract: A vehicle glazing with improved stiffness having a modified structure which comprises at least one stiffening portion, wherein each portion is a recessed portion and/or a raised portion, and wherein each portion has at least a portion of its contour being sharply curved.

Abstract: A bending tool for bending at least one glass pane by suction, includes a frame-like convex contact surface and a cover having a peripheral air guide plate that surrounds the contact surface at least in regions is described. The bending tool is suitable for generating a first, reduced pressure in a first pressure region between the air guide plate and the contact surface; a second reduced pressure in a second pressure region. The second pressure is less than the first pressure; and a third pressure in a third pressure region, wherein the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: A bending tool for bending at least one glass pane by means of suction, comprising a frame-like convex contact surface and a cover having a peripheral air guide plate that surrounds the contact surface at least in regions is described. The bending tool is suitable for generating a first, reduced pressure in a first pressure region between the air guide plate and the contact surface; a second reduced pressure in a second pressure region. The second pressure is less than the first pressure; and a third pressure in a third pressure region, wherein the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for bending at least one glass pane. The device includes: a gravity bending mould with a supporting surface, which is suitable for arranging at least one glass pane thereon; an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the supporting surface, the upper shaping tool being suitable for producing an overpressure on a surface of the at least one glass pane arranged on the supporting surface, and the surface of the at least one glass pane faces away from the supporting surface. The shaping tool has a cover that forms a hollow space open in the direction of the gravity bending mould and is equipped with a sealing lip arranged on an edge section of the cover for making contact with the surface of the at least one glass pane, and the shaping tool is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to produce the overpressure.

Abstract: A tool for holding at least one glass pane by means of suction in a bending process, comprising a frame-like, convex contact surface and a cover having a peripheral air guide plate that surrounds the contact surface at least in regions is described. The tool is suitable for generating a first, reduced pressure in a first pressure region between the air guide plate and the contact surface; a second pressure in a second pressure region, which is arranged in a central region inside the contact surface, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

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.