Technical Area

The invention relates to use LOW-E (low emission) glass which has transparent, conductive coating on one of its surfaces, on vehicles such as cars, busses, ships, trains, planes etc., without using cables, using light generators (lamp, LED-light emitting diode, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) with transparent, electric conductive paths and switching.

State of the Art

No entry is found during the research related to this invention. In the research made, there isn’t an implementation for lighting (lamp) or switching on glasses which have transparent coating. Today, transparent conductive materials produced with the present technology are made with ITO (IndiumTinOxide). ITO coating does not have high current conductance. Therefore, it cannot conduct the electric current needed for conduction to a light generator. In addition, the resistance of ITO coated glass against physical, chemical and environmental abrasives is much lower compared to LOW-E glass. Therefore, it cannot be used for lighting or on places where high current is needed. Another disadvantage is its resistance to sun, it is very low compared to LOW-E. It loses its feature when exposed to sunlight for a long time.

Because of the above-mentioned reasons ITO coated glasses cannot be used. For this reason, LOW-E glasses are used to reach the aim which is the subject of this invention.

Explanation of the Invention

In this invention, LOW-E glass, which has electric conductive coating, is used on ceilings, side windows, windscreens or rear windscreens of vehicles such as cars, busses, ships, trains, planes, etc., for light generators (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) assembled on the glass without using cables and for switching. Coating removal is applied on the electric conductive surface of the LOW-E glass leaving enough area between to do electricity conduction. The electric connection of the glass with other conductive areas is cut off with this coating removal application. Dielectric fields are formed with the areas where the coating is removed. Electric conductive paths are formed with the transparent electric conductive areas left among the dielectric fields. Electric conduction for light generators (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) and switching is made with these electric conducting paths.

The electricity needed for light generators (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) and switching is conducted with the dielectric fields and the electric conducting paths among these dielectric fields made by coating removal on the conductive coating on LOW-E glass. Thus, electric conduction for light generators (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) is made by using invisible transparent electric conductive coating. For example, the electric coming from the electric source or the switching system for the roof lighting of cars with glass roof, electric conduction to the light generator assembled on any area of the LOW- E glass is made with the coating on the glass. Thus, roof lighting, which does not exist on cars with glass roof, is made technically possible and a distinguishing feature is added to the vehicle. In addition, by adding both mechanical and touch operated switching, the opportunity to control without the user, in particular the driver, getting destructed is given.

The system made for the invention to reach its aim is explained below referring to the figures enclosed.

These figures;

Figure 1: General view of LOW-E glass Figure 2: The application of light generator on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 3: Side view of the application of light generator on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 4: The application of light generator which is not on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 5: Side view of the application of light generator which is not on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating Figure 6: The application of mechanical switching on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 7: Side view of the application of mechanical switching on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 8: The application of mechanical switching which is not on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 9: Side view of the application of mechanical switching which is not on the same plane with the transparent electric conductive coating

Figure 10: The application of direct control of the light generator by the mechanical switch

Figure 11 : The application of touch operated switching with touch sensitive area

Figure 12: The application of touch operated switching with more than one touch sensitive areas

The parts on the figure are given numbers one by one and the parts the numbers refer to are explained below:

1- LOW-E glass

1.1- Transparent, electric conducting coating

1.2- Electric conducting paths

1.3- Dielectric areas

1.4- Touch-sensitive area

1.5- Hole

2- Light generator

3- Mechanical switch

4- Cable

5- Printed-circuit card

For reaching the aim of the invention, minimum two electric conductive paths (+ and - or phase and neutral) (1.2) necessary for the light generator (2) of the electric conductive coating (1.1) on one surface of the LOW-E glass (1) (Figure 1) are made with the known methods below (Figure 2 - Figure 4). Also, the hot and neutral current conducting path (1.2) (Figure 6- Figure 8) for the mechanical switch (3) or electric conducting path (1.2) for the touch sensitive areas (1.4) (Figure 1- Figure 12) are made with the known methods below. As a known method; in the application numbered US 8927069, the transparent, electric conductive coating (1.1) on one surface of the LOW-E glass (1) is removed from the glass with the removing coating by laser method. In this known application the aim of removing coating from the LOW-E (1) glasses is increasing the amount of transition of the RF (Radio frequency) signals on buildings where this glass is used. LOW-E glasses (1) with transparent, electric conductive coating (1.1) on one surface have been produced with the aim to prevent sun radiation transition. Those glasses used in architecture provide energy saving by preventing sun radiation from passing into the places. However, they also weaken the transition of RF with this feature. In this method, applied to increase the transition of RF necessary for the electrical devices used in these places, the application of removing coating from glass by using laser device is applied at certain areas of the electric conducting transparent coating (1.1) on the LOW-E glass (1). With this method electric conduction is not made on the conducting coating left on the glass. Only non-conductive areas are created for the passing of RF signals.

Another known method is the patent application numbered TR2019/02731. In this application, the removal of the electric conducting coating (1.1) on the LOW-E glass (1) with the electrochemical method is explained. In said application, masking and electrochemical coating-removal is applied in order to remove the transparent, electric conducting cover (1.1) from the glass on the LOW-E glass (1) and divide it to conductive paths (1.2) and dielectric areas (1.3). In this method, in order to make electric conducting paths (1.2) necessary for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) and switching on the transparent, electric conducting coating which is found as a whole on one side of the LOW-E glass (1);

- Masking is applied onto the LOW-E glass (1) as explained in the application with number 2019/02731, making the design starting from the side of the glass going over to the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching assembling area.

Later, by removing the coating with the electrochemical method from the LOW-E glass (1), electric conductive paths (1.2) are created. (Figure 2, Figure 4). In this invention, which is applied, minimum two electric conductive paths are made on the electric conductive coating (1.1), which covers the whole of the LOW-E glass (1) using any of the above mentioned methods for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) (Figure 2 - Figure 4). One end of these electric conducting paths (1.2) reaches the area where the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) is going to be assembled and the other end reaches the edge of the glass. The electric conducting cables (4) (+ and - or phase and neutral) coming from the electric source or switching system are assembled to these ends of the electric conductive ends (1.2) on the edge of the LOW-E glass (1). And the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) is assembled onto the electric conductive paths (1.2) on the LOW-E glass (1). (Figure 2 - Figure 4). Thus, the conducting of electric energy necessary for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) is made by means of the transparent, electric conducting paths (1.2) on the glass (Figure 2 - Figure 4). Electric conducting paths (1.2) for the mechanical switch (3) or touch detection switching are made on the surface of the glass with the same known methods. Thus, electric conduction is made for both the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) and for switching with the transparent, electric conductive paths (1.2) on the glass without cables (Figure 2).

Electric conducting cables (4) coming from the electric source or switching are assembled to the ends of the electric conducting paths (1.2) reaching the edge of the glass (Figure 2, Figure 4). And one or more light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) is assembled onto the electric conducting path (1.2) (Figure 2).

Mechanical switching system (3) is assembled to the electric conducting paths made with the known methods. Thus, lighting and switching are made with electric conducting paths (1.2) on the transparent, electric conducting coating (1.1) on the LOW-E glass (1) and the light generator (2) on the glass (Figure 6).

One or more touch detecting areas (1.4) on the coated surface (1.1) of the LOW-E glass (1) by removing coating with the known methods explained above for touch operated switching. Printed-circuit card (5) connection is made to the end of the electric conductive path (1.2) reaching to the edge of the glass from these areas. (Figure 11, Figure 12).

If the electricity to be used in this invention is bigger than 42 volt or 40mA which is accepted as the international upper limit of electricity for human security, it is assembled in such a way that the user has no contact with the electric paths (1.2).

If electricity big enough to harm the user is going to be applied to the transparent, electric conduction paths (1.2) on the LOW-E glass (1) the electric conducting paths (1.2) should be left on the other side of the glass so that the user does not contact them. But if the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or the switching systems need to be on the side that the user is going to touch, a hole (1.5) is made on the glass. The electric energy necessary for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching is assembled to the electric conducting paths (1.2) or a connection for electric conduction is made through this hole (1.5) (Figure 4). If it is not necessary that the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.,) or switching is on the surface which the user is going to touch, a hole is not made into the glass and the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) and switching systems are assembled to the electric conducting paths (Figure 2). But the electric conducting coating (1.1) of the LOW-E glass (1), which means the electric conducting paths (1.2) are assembled onto its place of usage (the vehicle) so that the user cannot touch it.

In a method of the invention, electric conducting paths (1.2) are made on the transparent, electric conducting coating (1.1) on the LOW-E glass (1) with the above-mentioned methods. Electric conducting cables (4) coming from the electric source or switching system are assembled to the ends of electric conducting on the edge of the glass. And the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching systems are assembled onto the electric conducting paths (1.2). In this application the electric conducting coating and the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching systems are on the same surface of the glass (Figure 10). If the electricity to be used is at a level not to harm the user, the LOW-E glass (1) can be assembled leaving the electric conducting coated surface which means the surface with electric conducting paths (1.2) on the desired side according to the design or need. Again, according to the design or need, it can be assembled opening a hole (1.5) for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching systems, or not.

The switching system is made with mechanical (3) (Figure 6, Figure 10) or touch sensitive areas (1.4) for switching to be made on the glass (Figure 11).

Electric conducting paths (1.2), starting from the edge of the glass to the area where the switch is going to be assembled, are made on the coating (1.1) on the LOW-E glass (1) using the above explained methods for mechanical switching. The electric source or printed-circuit card cables are assembled to the ends of these paths (1.2), which are on the edges of the glass. And the mechanical switching (3) is assembled onto the electric conducting paths (1.2) on the glass and switching is enabled (Figure 6, Figure 8). The mechanical switch (3) in the application made like this conducts the switch position (on-off) to the printed-circuit card (5) it is connected to, through the transparent, electric conducting paths. And the printed-circuit card (5) sends electricity to the light generator (2) according to the position of the switch and the program on it.

If a printed-circuit card (5) is going to be used with a mechanical switch (3) minimum two electric conducting paths (1.2) are made up to the edge of the glass. One of these paths (1.2) is for hot current and the other one is for neutral over the mechanical switch (3). The printed- circuit card operates according to the electric coming from the mechanical switch (3). (Figure 6, Figure 8).

If the mechanical switch (3) is going to be used to control the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) on the glass and there is not going to be a printed-circuit card; minimum two electric conducting paths (1.2) starting from the edge of the glass are made onto the LOW-E glass (1) (Figure 10). One of these paths is the path (1.2) conducting the electricity coming from the source of electricity and going to the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.). The other one again goes as far as the mechanical switch (3) from the edge of the glass. An additional electric conducting path (1.2) is made on the glass between the mechanical switch (3) area and the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.). Thus, the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.,) is controlled by the switch directly (Figure 6).

For the other switching type, which is for touch sensitive switching (Figure 11); a printed- circuit card is used. Coating removal application is applied with the above explained methods to the LOW-E glass (1) according to the touch sensitive area (1.4) and switching on the glass (Figure 11). Thus, a touch sensitive area (1.4) which recognizes the touch and an electric conducting path (1.2) connected to that area and reaching the edge of the glass is formed on the LOW-E glass (1). Printed-circuit card (5) connection is made to the ends of the electric conductive path which reaches the edge of the glass from the touch sensitive area which is the touching area (1.4). If the touch operated switching is going to be used for the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) on the glass, the printed-circuit card (5) is connected to the ends at the edge of the glass of the electric conductive path (1.2) which is connected to the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.), If it is going to be used for another service, the printed-circuit card (5) is connected to the electric system suitable for that service. Touch sensitive areas (1.4) can be applied more than one and can be used for different functions with the control of the printed-circuit card (5). These functions can be turning the light generator (2) on and off, adjusting the amount of light or colour changing or other functions can be controlled by the printed-circuit card (5). The functions, one or more touch sensitive areas (1.4) are going to make are defined with the software on the printed-circuit card (5) (Figure 12).

Electricity conduction to the electric conduction paths (1.2) on the glass or reaching the edges of the glass, the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.), mechanical switch (3), cables coming from the electricity source (4), and touch sensitive areas (1.4) with the printed-circuit card (5) using one or more assembling types below. These assembling types are; by brazing, by assembling electric terminals with surface contact electric conductive anisotropic tape (ACT).

For the brazing process or according to the design or the user’s preference silver solder is applied to the ends of the electric conducting paths (1.2) on the glass. After that applying the heating process (min. 450°C) it is enabled that the silver solder bonds to the glass. If the glass is cooled quickly after the heating process applied, it gains the tempered feature. If it is cooled slowly it does not gain the tempered feature. But in both cooling methods the silver solder will be bonded to the glass.

For the brazing, by brazing the electric conducting cables (4) or electric terminals (pins) are brazed onto the silver solder on the glass or at the edge of the glass, the connections of

The light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.),

The mechanical switch (3),

The connection between the touch sensitive area (1.4) the printed-circuit card (5),

The cables coming from the electricity source (4) are made.

If electric conduction is going to be made with electric terminals with surface contact without brazing, there is no need for silver solder and heating process. But the application subject to the invention is implemented with heating process with or without silver solder according to the design or the user’s preference.

The electric terminals with surface contact can be fastened contacting the electric conducting paths (1.2) or the silver solder on the electric conducting paths with any adhesive or mechanically. And the other ends of the terminals are assembled to the light generator (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.), mechanical switch (3), to the electric conducting and at the edge of the glass for touch detection and cables coming from the electricity source are assembled. Thus, the electric connection of the electric conducting paths (1.2) is made.

The other electric conduction connection is made using electric conducting tapes known as anisotropic film (ACF) or anisotropic tape (ACT). ACF (ACT) tapes perform one-way electric conduction. These tapes only perform electric conduction along the z axis. This means they perform electric conduction between the electric conduction paths (1.2) on the glass and the ends of the cable (4) which come across to them. Electric conduction between the electric conducting path (1.2) on the glass and the electric terminals or cables (4) is made by applying ACF (ACT) tapes between them.

Both lighting and switching have been made on vehicles with wireless electric conduction with the above explained invention subject. By means of this application, because the position and the large size of the switching area provide easy access for the user, it enables the user, especially the driver to control without getting distracted. With this invention, by making switching on the glass surface, it is provided that electric operated devices such as light generators (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.), electric operated windows etc. are controlled on the glass surface easily, which wasn’t provided up to present. The switching systems of light generators (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.), are applied onto the electric conduction paths (1.2) made on the glass by making series or parallel connection as one, or more than one. Light generators (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching systems are assembled to the whole surface of the glass or certain areas according to the design or user’s preference. Thus, light generators (2) (lamp, LED, fluorescent lighting, flashlight, etc.) or switching system application is applied multiply or regionally.

In addition, with this invention lighting on glass (especially on glass roof cars), which wasn’t provided up to present either, is made and vehicles have been given a new feature.

LOW-E glass (1) with transparent, electric conducting coating (1.1) on one side, which is used in this invention, is suitable for other glass applications such as laminating, tempering, painting, bending, hole etc. LOW-E glass (1) is used because, compared to other transparent, electric conducting coated glasses, it has some outstanding features such as having high physical and chemical resistance, being suitable for tempering, bending. It is not possible to temper or bend the other known coated glasses. Additionally, their resistance to humidity or water is very low compared to LOW-E glass (1). Because the applications explained in this invention are for vehicles and need to operate under atmospheric conditions, it is not possible to make them with other transparent coated glasses.