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: The present invention provides for the use of electroconductive ceramic thermoplastic, thermoset and ultraviolet radiation curable paints as antenna elements and/or connector elements in a transparent antenna system. Antenna elements are formed on a major surface of a rigid transparent ply, preferably glass, and connected to a connector that permits transfer of signals generated by the antenna element to an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving device. The connector may be in direct electrical contact with or capacitively coupled to the antenna element. If desired, additional rigid transparent plies may be secured to the first ply to form a laminate, wherein the antenna element or the antenna element and the connector are laminated between the rigid plies.

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.