IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,286,056
Granted Patent B2
US 12,286,056 · App. 17/910,302 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Vehicle window pane comprising a light source and a light-conducting layer

Inventor: Robert Pasquarelli (Stockdorf, DE)
Assignee: WEBASTO SE
B60Q3/208B32B3/08B32B17/10036B32B17/10761B32B17/1077B60Q3/74B62D25/06G02B6/001G02B6/0028G02B6/0046G02B6/0053G02B6/0095B32B2250/40B32B2307/412B32B2605/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,286,056
App. No.
17/910,302
Granted
Apr 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle window pane having a window pane body assembly having an outer side, which faces a vehicle environment, and an inner side, which faces a vehicle interior, and having a light-conducting layer; and a light source configured to couple its light into the light-conducting layer. An input coupling element coupling light emitted by the light source into the light-conducting layer is disposed on the inner side of the window pane body assembly.

Claims (30)

1. A vehicle roof comprising:

a window pane body assembly having an outer side, which faces a vehicle environment, and an inner side, which faces a vehicle interior, and having a light-conducting layer;

wherein illuminators are provided on either side of a vertical longitudinal center roof plane,

each illuminator extending in the longitudinal vehicle direction and being disposed on the respective lateral edge of the window pane body,

wherein each illuminator comprises a light source configured to couple its light into the light-conducting layer, and

an input coupling element coupling light emitted by the light source into the light-conducting layer is attached on the inner side of the window pane body assembly,

wherein the input coupling element is attached to the window pane body assembly by an adhesive layer,

wherein the light source is disposed on a lateral surface of the input coupling element,

wherein the light source is an LED bar comprising a plurality of LEDs

wherein the window pane body assembly comprises an outer window pane body and an inner window pane body which is connected to the outer window pane body by a connecting layer, the inner window pane body forming the light-conducting layer, and the input coupling element being attached to the side of the inner window pane body facing away from the outer window pane body.

2. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is a body of material which is transparent to the light of the light source and which is in the shape of a bar.

3. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element has a wedge-shaped or trapezoidal cross section.

4. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is provided with an additional deflection structure on its side facing the window pane body assembly.

5. The vehicle window pane according to claim 4 , wherein the additional deflection structure is in one piece with the input coupling element or is a coating of the input coupling element.

6. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the outer window pane body is made of at least one of an inorganic glass and a polymer glass, and the inner window pane body is made of at least one of an inorganic glass and a polymer glass.

7. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises at least one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a liquid optically clear adhesive, an adhesive comprising EVA, PVB, TPU, an epoxy adhesive, and an acrylic adhesive.

8. The vehicle window pane according to 1 , wherein the adhesive layer has a refractive index between 1.40 and 1.65.

9. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is molded from a casting resin and molded onto the window pane body assembly.

10. The vehicle window pane according to claim 9 , wherein the light source, which is an LED bar, is an insert of the casting resin.

11. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is made of at least one of a material comprising PMMA, PC, PA, COC and COP.

12. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element has a refractive index between 1.40 and 1.65.

13. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein a light conductor is attached on a lateral surface of the input coupling element, the light conductor being connected to the light source and being in one piece with the input coupling element.

14. The vehicle window pane according to claim 13 , wherein the light conductor is connected to an output coupling element, the output coupling element directing light in the direction of the input coupling element.

15. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the inner window pane body has a base area which corresponds to that of the outer window pane body.

16. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element further comprises at least one of a cladding element and accommodated in a molded section which is connected to the window pane body.

17. The vehicle window pane according to claim 16 , wherein the cladding element and the molded section push the input coupling element in the direction of the window pane body assembly so that an optical contact between the input coupling element and the window pane body assembly is maintained.

18. The vehicle window pane according to claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is coupled to the window pane body assembly by a transparent immersion agent.

19. The vehicle window pane according to claim 18 , wherein the immersion agent comprises at least one of an oil and a gel.

20. The vehicle window pane according to claim 18 , wherein the immersion agent has a refractive index between 1.47 and 1.59.

21. The vehicle window pane according to claim 18 , wherein the immersion agent has a viscosity between 10 and 50,000 cP.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2022
From: PASQUARELLI, ROBERT
To: WEBASTO SE
Reel/Frame 061769/0283 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 109 338.1 · Apr 3, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230118480A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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