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: Due to the increased glazed area of modern vehicles, especially the large panoramic glass roofs, we have seen a substantial growth in the use solar control glass and coatings. The solar glass compositions and coatings are expensive to manufacture. While solar coatings are more efficient than compositions, they typically cannot be used on monolithic glazing as they are not durable. They must be applied to one of the surfaces on the inside of a laminate. Most of these products also introduce an undesirable color shift. The invention provides a coating that can be used on glass to produce a laminated or monolithic glazing with a neutral gray solar control coating which also has anti-reflective properties and low emissivity.

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: 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.