Sensor applique with ultra violet curable pressure sensitive adhesive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12109796-B2
Application number	US-202217750843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2022
Priority date	May 22, 2019
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

An applique for covering a clear substrate through which light is at least one of transmitted and received includes: a transparent sheet having: a first surface; and a second surface that is opposite the first surface; and a ultraviolet (UV) curable pressure sensitive adhesive that is disposed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, that is curable using UV light, and that is configured to adhere the transparent sheet to a third surface of the clear substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor including a lens through which light is transmitted and received, the lens having an outer surface; and
an applique that is adhered to the outer surface of the lens, the applique comprising:
a transparent sheet having:
a first surface; and
a second surface that is opposite the first surface; and

a ultraviolet (UV) curable pressure sensitive adhesive that is disposed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, that is curable using UV light, and that is configured to adhere the transparent sheet to the outer surface of the lens,
wherein, prior to application of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive to the transparent sheet, the first surface of the transparent sheet is treated by an ozone treatment process,
wherein the lens exhibits a first index of refraction;
wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive exhibits a second index of refraction after being UV cured;
wherein the transparent sheet exhibits a third index of refraction;
wherein the third index of refraction of the transparent sheet is less than the second index of refraction of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive; and
wherein the second index of refraction of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is less than the first index of refraction of the lens.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is 2 mils.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transparent sheet is a fluoropolymer sheet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transparent sheet is fluorinated ethylene propylene.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is a dry adhesive.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive includes a sheet of UV curable adhesive that is cured using the UV light after application of the applique to the lens.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is configured to adhere better to the first surface of the transparent sheet than to the outer surface of the lens.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the lens is a planar surface.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the lens is a convex surface.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a release liner that covers the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive prior to the application of the applique to the lens and that is removed prior to the application of the applique to the lens.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is configured to adhere better to the first surface of the transparent sheet than to the release liner.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a coating on the second surface of the transparent sheet.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the coating includes at least one of:
an anti-icing coating;
an anti fouling coating;
an anti-scratch coating;
an anti-reflective coating;
a tint;
a reflective coating; and
a hydrophilic coating.

14. A sensor comprising:
a clear substrate having a first surface;
a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor module configured to receive light through the clear substrate; and
an applique that is adhered to the first surface of the clear substrate and that includes:
a transparent sheet having:
a second surface; and
a third surface that is opposite the second surface; and

a ultraviolet (UV) cured pressure sensitive adhesive that is sandwiched between the second surface of the transparent sheet and the first surface of the clear substrate and that adheres the transparent sheet to the clear substrate;

wherein a lens of the LIDAR sensor module exhibits a first index of refraction;
wherein the UV cured pressure sensitive adhesive exhibits a second index of refraction;
wherein the transparent sheet exhibits a third index of refraction;
wherein the third index of refraction of the transparent sheet is less than the second index of refraction of the UV cured pressure sensitive adhesive; and
wherein the second index of refraction of the UV cured pressure sensitive adhesive is less than the first index of refraction of the lens.

15. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the sensor module is further configured to transmit light through the clear substrate.

16. The sensor of claim 14 wherein:
the transparent sheet is fluorinated ethylene propylene.

17. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the applique further includes, on the third surface of the transparent sheet, at least one of:
an anti-icing coating;
an anti fouling coating;
an anti-scratch coating;
an anti-reflective coating;
a tint;
a reflective coating; and
a hydrophilic coating.

18. The sensor of claim 14 further comprising a release liner that covers the UV cured pressure sensitive adhesive prior to the application of the applique to the LIDAR sensor module and that is removed prior to the application of the applique to the LIDAR sensor module.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Gross Adam F
• Decker Berryinne
• Hilston Mike
• Wright Adam L
• Smith Anthony L

Classifications

• B32B37/12

  characterised by using adhesives · CPC title

• B32B2307/412

  Transparent · CPC title

• B32B2255/10

  on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer · CPC title

• B32B7/06

  permitting easy separation · CPC title

• B32B38/0008

  Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation (heat treatment B32B38/0036) · CPC title