Window assembly having a transparent layer and an outer region for an antenna element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9755299-B2
Application number	US-201113992611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2011
Priority date	Dec 9, 2010
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A window assembly for a vehicle has a transparent layer including a metal compound such that the transparent layer as is electrically conductive. The transparent layer defines an area covering the window assembly. An outer region which is electrically non-conductive surrounds the area. The window assembly includes an antenna element including wire or transparent coating disposed within and surrounded by the outer region without extending into the transparent layer. The antenna element is electrically disconnected from the transparent layer such that the antenna element operates independent of the transparent layer. A feeding element is coupled to the antenna element for energizing the antenna element. The feeding element is electrically disconnected from the transparent layer such that the feeding element energizes the antenna element independent of the transparent layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said 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 with said interior and exterior substrates defining a first peripheral boundary;
a transparent layer disposed between said inner surfaces of said exterior and interior substrates and defining an area covering said window assembly with said area defining a second peripheral boundary, wherein said transparent layer comprises a metal compound such that said transparent layer is electrically conductive;
an outer region defined on said window assembly between said first and second peripheral boundaries and being electrically non-conductive;
an antenna element being disposed within and surrounded by said outer region without extending across said second peripheral boundary into said area of said transparent layer; and
a feeding element coupled to said antenna element for energizing said antenna element;
wherein said antenna element is electrically disconnected from said transparent layer such that said antenna element is neither directly abutting nor in direct electrical contact with said transparent layer and such that said transparent layer is configured to parasitically couple to said antenna element.

2. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding element is electrically disconnected from said transparent layer such that said feeding element is neither directly abutting nor in direct electrical contact with said transparent layer.

3. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element comprises metal wire.

4. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element comprises a transparent coating which is electrically conductive.

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

6. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element is disposed coplanar with said transparent layer.

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

8. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding element overlaps said outer region.

9. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an interlayer disposed between said inner surfaces of said exterior and interior substrates.

10. A window assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said transparent layer is disposed between said interlayer and said inner surface of said exterior substrate.

11. A window assembly as set in claim 9 wherein said transparent layer is disposed between said interlayer and said inner surface of said interior substrate.

12. A window assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said antenna element is disposed between said interlayer and said inner surface of said exterior substrate.

13. A window assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said antenna element is disposed between said interlayer and said inner surface of said interior substrate.

14. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element is actively energized and wherein said transparent layer is parasitically energized.

15. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transparent layer is configured to parasitically modify impedance characteristics of said antenna element.

16. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element is sandwiched between said exterior and interior substrates.

17. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer region completely surrounds said area of said transparent layer along said second peripheral boundary such that said outer region separates said transparent layer from a window frame of the vehicle and such that said transparent layer is not actively coupled to the window frame.

18. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna element is electrically disconnected from said transparent layer such that said antenna element is neither wired nor soldered to said transparent layer.

19. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transparent layer is not an active antenna element operatively coupled to said antenna element.

20. A window assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transparent layer is at least one of a defrosting or a defogging element and an infrared radiation absorbing element.

Assignees

• Lee Ming
• Villarroel Wladimiro
• Horiki Yasutaka
• Lee Kwan-Ho
• Agc Automotive Americas R&D Inc
• Agc Flat Glass Na Inc

Inventors

• Lee Ming
• Villarroel Wladimiro
• Horiki Yasutaka
• Lee Kwan-Ho

Classifications

• H01Q1/1271

  for mounting on windscreens · CPC title

• H01Q9/42

  with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength · CPC title

• H01Q1/325 Primary

  characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle · CPC title

• B32B17/10376 Primary

  Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires · CPC title

• B32B17/10174

  Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer · CPC title