Window assembly with transparent layer and an antenna element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9647319-B2
Application number	US-201615195223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A window assembly includes an electrically conductive transparent layer and an antenna element disposed on a substrate. The transparent layer has an area defining a periphery with a plurality of edges. An outer region devoid of the transparent layer is defined adjacent the transparent layer along the periphery. The antenna element includes a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment. The first antenna segment is elongated and disposed in the outer region and spaced from the periphery and extends solely along one edge of the periphery. The second antenna segment extends integrally from the first antenna segment towards the transparent layer such that the second antenna segment crosses a periphery of the transparent layer. A feeding element is coupled to the first antenna segment to energize the antenna element and the transparent layer such that the antenna element and the transparent layer collectively transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A window assembly comprising:
a substrate;
a transparent layer disposed on said substrate and defining an area having a periphery comprising a plurality of edges and with said transparent layer comprising a metal compound such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive;
an outer region devoid of said transparent layer defined adjacent said transparent layer along said periphery;
an antenna element disposed on said substrate and including a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment;
said first antenna segment disposed in said outer region and spaced from said periphery with said first antenna segment being elongated and extending solely along one edge of said periphery;
said second antenna segment extending integrally from said first antenna segment toward said transparent layer such that said second antenna segment crosses said periphery of said transparent layer; and

a feeding element coupled to said first antenna segment and being configured to energize said antenna element and said transparent layer such that said antenna element and said transparent layer collectively transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals.

2. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element and said feeding element are integrated into a single component.

3. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second antenna segments are comprised of a metallic print.

4. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element is disposed non-coplanar with respect to said transparent layer.

5. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element comprises a substantially flat configuration.

6. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first antenna segment extends substantially parallel to said one edge of said periphery and wherein said second antenna segment extends substantially perpendicular from said first antenna segment.

7. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first antenna segment includes a first end and a second end opposite said first end.

8. A window assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said feeding element is coupled to said first antenna segment between said first and second ends of said first antenna segment such that said feeding element is spaced from each one of said first and second ends of said first antenna segment.

9. A window assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said feeding element is coupled to said first antenna segment at one of said first and second ends of said first antenna segment.

10. A window assembly as set forth in claim 7 including two of said antenna elements with said feeding element being coupled to each one of said two antenna elements at one of said first and second ends of said first antenna segment of each of one of said two antenna elements.

11. A window assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second antenna segment extends from said first antenna segment between said first and second ends of said first antenna segment such that said second antenna segment is spaced from each one of said first and second ends of said first antenna segment.

12. A window assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second antenna segment extends from said first antenna segment at one of said first and second ends of said first antenna segment.

13. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding element is spaced from and capacitively coupled to said first antenna segment.

14. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding element is abutting and in direct electrical connection with first antenna segment.

15. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding element is disposed in said outer region and spaced from said transparent layer.

16. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transparent layer occupies an entirety of said area such that said transparent layer is free of deletions, slits, or voids for antenna purposes.

17. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transparent layer is a defrosting or defogging element.

18. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises an exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface, an interior substrate disposed adjacent said exterior substrate and having an inner surface and an outer surface, an interlayer disposed between said inner surfaces of said exterior and interior substrates, and said transparent layer sandwiched between said interlayer and said inner surface of one of said exterior and interior substrates.

19. A window assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said antenna element is disposed on said outer surface of said interior substrate.

20. A window assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said antenna element has a substantially flat configuration and is sandwiched between said interlayer and said inner surface of the other one of said exterior and interior substrates.

21. A window assembly comprising:
an exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface;
an interior substrate disposed adjacent said exterior substrate and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
a transparent layer disposed between said inner surfaces of said exterior and interior substrates and defining an area having a periphery comprising a plurality of edges and with said transparent layer comprising a metal compound such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive;
an outer region devoid of said transparent layer defined adjacent said transparent layer along said periphery;
an antenna element having a substantially flat configuration and being disposed on any one of said surfaces and being disposed non-coplanar with respect to said transparent layer and including a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment;
said first antenna segment disposed in said outer region and spaced from said periphery with said first antenna segment being elongated and extending solely along one edge of said periphery;
said second antenna segment extending integrally from said first antenna segment toward said transparent layer such that said second antenna segment crosses said periphery of said transparent layer; and

a feeding element coupled to said first antenna segment and being configured to energize said antenna element and said transparent layer such that said antenna element and said transparent layer collectively transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals.

22. A window assembly comprising:
an exterior substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface;
an interior substrate disposed adjacent said exterior substrate and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
an interlayer disposed between said inner surfaces of said exterior and interior substrates;
a transparent layer disposed between said interlayer and said inner surface of one of said exterior and interior substrates and with said transparent layer defining an area having a periphery comprising a plurality of edges and with said transparent layer comprising a metal compound such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive;
an outer region devoid of said transparent layer defined adjacent said transparent layer along said periphery;
an antenna element having a substantially flat configuration and being sandwiched between said interlayer and said inner surface of the other one of said exterior and interior substrates and with said ante

Assignees

• Agc Automotive Americas R&D Inc
• Agc Flat Glass Na Inc
• Agc Automotive Americas R&D Inc

Inventors

• Lee Ming
• Gedde Jesus
• Schaible Iii Frederick M
• Horiki Yasutaka
• Noda Jun

Classifications

• H01Q1/1271 Primary

  for mounting on windscreens · CPC title

• H01Q1/528

  reducing the re-radiation of a support structure (in a parabolic reflector antenna H01Q19/023) · CPC title