WO2010063320A1

WO2010063320A1 - Panel of glass comprising at least a sheet of glass, an exciter and a touch sensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2010063320A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/066727
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Ayoub; Marek Novotny; Bart Verbeeren
Original assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA
Current assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA
Priority date: 2008-12-03
Filing date: 2008-12-03
Publication date: 2010-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-03
Also published as: EA020100B1; EA201100893A1; EP2374051A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel of glass, comprising a first sheet of glass 1, a second sheet of glass 2, a plastics interlayer 3, at least an exciter 10 and a touch sensing device 7, wherein the first sheet of glass 1 and the second sheet of glass 2 are laminated together via the plastics interlayer 3, the second sheet of glass 2 is provided between the plastics interlayer 3 and the exciter 9, and the touch sensing device 7 is provided on the side of the first sheet of glass 1 facing away from the plastics interlayer 3 or the touch sensing device 7 is provided between the first sheet of glass 1 and the second sheet of glass 2. Accordingly, the invention allows for realizing a panel of laminated glass, which provides speaker functionality and control functionality at small size, simple to manufacture and at low costs.

Description

PANEL OF GLASS COMPRISING AT LEAST A SHEET OF GLASS, AN EXCITER AND A TOUCH SENSING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a panel of glass, for instance a laminated glass, comprising at least a first sheet of glass and an exciter, as well as methods of operating and making the same.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by the plastics interlayer, typically of Polyvinylbutyral (PVB), sandwiched between its two or more sheets of glass. The plastics interlayer keeps the sheets of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the panel of laminated glass from breaking-up into large sharp pieces.

Methods for manufacturing laminated glass are well-known in the window industry since decades. A so-called sandwich of the first sheet of glass, the plastics interlayer and the second sheet of glass is laminated in an automated laminating line by using the procedure of calendaring and autoclaving. Calendaring means the pre-gluing of the sandwich under the action of a pressure imposed by two rolls applied on either side of the sheet of glass, optionally with action of heat. The final gluing of the panel by a vacuum/heating cycle, which combines pressure and temperatures, takes place during the step of autoclaving, which completely removes air between the plastics interlayer and the sheets of glass. The result is a clear glass laminate well known from car windscreens.

Panels of laminated glass with integrated exciters are known for providing speaker functionality, i.e. providing sound and/or music. Generally, speaker functionality is obtained thanks to a deformable membrane, which is used to move air, thus resulting in sound. The membrane is generally electrically excited by an exciter (e.g. an inductive coil). So-called glass based speakers use at least one sheet of glass as a deformable membrane as suggested in patent application n°WO2007065909. For such solutions, the powering, i.e. for generating the vibrations and thus the sound, and the control signals, i.e. for controlling the amplitude and phase of the generated vibrations, which are provided to the glass based speaker via electrical cables, are generated thanks to an external control module associated to an external control panel. As a consequence, those solutions known from the prior art, which make use of external control module and control panel associated to the glass based speaker, are costly, bulky and space consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide an alternative panel of glass, comprising at least a first sheet of glass and an exciter , as well as methods of operating and making the same.

An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a panel of glass with at least a speaker functionality and a control functionality, wherein the panel of glass can be manufactured in a compact and simple way, and at low costs.

This object is addressed by a panel of glass, comprising at least a first sheet of glass, at least an exciter and a touch sensing device, wherein the touch sensing device is provided on a side of the first sheet of glass.

Accordingly, it is an essential idea of the invention to provide the touch sensing device within the panel of glass, thus realizing a panel of glass providing a speaker functionality and a control functionality at small size, simple to manufacture and at low cost. In this way, the panel of glass according to the invention is advantageous over the prior art.

Thus the panel of glass according to the present invention is both : at least a membrane generating vibrations and thus the sound thanks to the exciters) ; a control panel thanks to the touch sensing device e.g. which allows a user to input commands functions for controlling the speaker functionality of the panel (e.g. volume up/down, ON/OFF etc.) and/or other functionality of the panel (e.g. if the panel includes a display, the display functionality).

Surprisingly, the control functionality of the panel does not disturb or interfere seriously with the speaker functionality of the panel. As a matter of fact, for instance in the case of a panel of glass comprising a single sheet of glass on which is provided the touch sensing device and on which is fixed at least one exciter to generate the sound, when the user touch the touch sensing device on the sheet of glass, it does not disturb significantly the sound generated by the sheet of glass associated with the exciter(s).

Preferably, the panel of glass is a panel of laminated glass further comprising a second sheet of glass and a plastics interlayer, wherein the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass are laminated together via the plastics interlayer, the second sheet of glass is provided between the plastics interlayer and the exciter(s), and the touch sensing device is provided on the side of the first sheet of glass facing away from the plastics in- terlayer or the touch sensing device is provided on the other side of the first sheet of glass, between the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass.

Preferably, the touch sensing device is provided between the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass. As a consequence, the first sheet of glass and/or the second sheet of glass provide protection functionality for the touch sensing device, thus protecting the touch sensing device against water, gas or dust. It is especially preferred to provide the touch sensing device between the plastics interlayer and the first sheet of glass for providing a better sensitivity for the touch sensing device, as the touch sensing device is preferably being touched from the surface of the first sheet of glass facing away from the plastics interlayer.

The exciter(s) is (are) preferably arranged on the second sheet of glass, thus allowing for an excitation of at least the second sheet of glass. For example, the at least second sheet of glass acts as a deformable membrane for generating sound. The touch sensing device may allow for controlling the sound, i.e. changing the volume of the sound and/or turning on/off the sound and may also allow for controlling of any other functionality of the panel (e.g. if the panel includes a display, the display functionality).

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a printing is provided and the printing is arranged on the first sheet of glass or on the second sheet of glass in the area of the touch sensing device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the printing is provided between the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass, but according to another embodiment the printing is provided on the exterior side of one - A -

of the sheets of glass. Thus, the printing may guide an operator where to find the touch sensing device on the panel of glass. It is further preferred that the printing is provided as an adhesive opaque film (it may also be a transparent film on which are materialized zones to guide an operator), as a paint and/or as a button. It is especially preferred that the printing is provided in a different colour other than the panel of glass or that the printing (which can be transparent) comprises a structure or texture.

In general, the touch sensing device can be provided in different ways. However, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the touch sensing device comprises at least one of the following sensors: an optical detection sensor, an optical imaging sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a surface acoustical wave sensor, a pending wave sensor and/or an active digitizer sensor. Thus, for example, the touch sensing device can be provided as an optical detection sensor, e.g. via infrared wave acting on the presence of an object, such as a finger or a pen. It is especially preferred that the touch sensing device is provided as a capacitive sensor, such as a surface or projected capacitive sensor.

In this context, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the touch sensing device comprises a first electrically conductive coating and a second electrically conductive coating, wherein the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating are electrically insulated from each other. The first electrically conductive coating and/or the second electrically conductive coating are preferably provided as a coplanar and/or as a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) coating. The conductive material can be a tin oxide film such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) film. In order to obtain the electrical insulation between the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating, it is possible to provide an electrically conductive coating, which is then separated into the first electrically conductive coating and into the second electrically conductive coating by laser decoating, masking or chemical attack.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating are adapted for generating an electric field on the side of the first sheet of glass facing away from the plastics interlayer, and the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating are adapted for detecting a variation of the electric field on the side of the first sheet of glass facing away from the plasties interlay er. The electric field can be established by connecting an electrical power source to the first electrically conductive coating and to the second electrically conductive coating, respectively. In this way, the invention allows for a simple and precise detection of an object optionally a nearby object, such as a finger, a pen, a liquid, a gas or a solid, with a preferably different dielectric constant other than air and preferably in the area of the electrical insulation between the first electrically coating and the second electrically conductive coating. Thus, it is possible to detect an object in a reliable way without requiring any additional material such as known from the prior art.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a third electrically conductive coating is provided between the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating, wherein the third electrically conductive coating is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive coating and from the second electrically conductive coating. In this way, larger fringes can be created for the electric field, as the third electrically conductive coating is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive coating and from the second electrically conductive coating.

In general, the exciter(s) can be provided in different ways. However, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the exciter(s) is(are) provided as piezoelectric exciter(s) (also called piezoelectric actuators) and/or as inductive exciter(s). According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the position of the exciters) is calculated using a Distributed Mode Loudspeaker principle. In this way, a distributed mode behaviour of a speaker results in complex vibration, which in turn creates the sound.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a display is provided on a side of at least one of the sheet of glass the touch sensing device allowing a user to control the at least one exciter and/or the display Preferably, the second sheet of glass is provided between the plastics interlayer and the display. Thus, the invention allows for modifying a content of the display according to signals generated by the touch sensing device. The display can be provided in different ways, such as an LCD or plasma display.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a busbar is provided and the busbar is electrically connected to the touch sensing device. It is further preferred that the busbar is arranged on the first electrically conductive coating and/or on the second electrically conductive coating (and/or to any other conductive coating), wherein the busbar is electrically connected to the first electrically conductive coating and/or to the second electrically conductive coating (and/or to any other conductive coating). Is furthermore preferred, that a wire is provided, wherein the wire is electrically connected to the busbar. The wire can be connected to the busbar and/or the busbar can be connected to the first electrically conductive coating and/or to the second electrically conductive (and/or to any other conductive coating) coating by means of gluing and/or sol- dering.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a control module is provided for controlling the exciter(s) and/or the touch sensing device, wherein the control module is laminated between the first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass. In this way, the panel of laminated glass can be provided in a very compact manner. It is further preferred that the control module allows for controlling the display and/or the content of the display. It is especially preferred that the control module acts as a power source to the exciter(s), to the touch sensing device and/or to the display.

Preferably, the panel of glass according to the invention is at least a part of at least one of the following devices: an audio speaker; a Global Positioning System; a digital picture frame; - a television set.

The object of the invention is further addressed by a method for controlling a content of a display with a touch sensing device, comprising the steps of detecting a signal with the touch sensing device, wherein the touch sensing device is provided between a first sheet of glass and a plastics interlayer, and the first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass are laminated together via the plastics interlayer, and altering the content of the display based on the detected signal, wherein the display is provided on the side of the second sheet of glass facing away from the plastics interlayer. Thus, the method according to the invention allows for a simple way and at low cost for controlling the content of the display of the panel of laminated glass by signals detected by the touch sensing device, which is provided within the panel of laminated glass.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the step of exciting at least the second sheet of glass. It is further preferred that the signal detected by the touch sensing device allows for controlling the exciting of the at least second sheet of glass. In this way, the exciting of the at least second sheet of glass and/or the content of the display can be controlled by the signal generated by the touch sensing device.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a panel of laminated glass according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 schematically shows a side view of a panel of laminated glass according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a part of a panel of laminated glass according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Where the term "comprising" is used in the present description and claims, it does not exclude other elements or steps. Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun e.g. "a" or "an", "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated.

Furthermore, the terms first, second and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same em- bodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an inten- tion that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodi- ments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a panel of laminated glass comprising a first sheet of glass 1 and a second sheet of glass 2 is provided. The first sheet of glass 1 and/or the second sheet of glass 2 comprise a thickness of 0,3 to 4 mm. A plastics interlayer 3, such as Polyvinylbutyral, with a thickness of 0,5 mm, is provided between the first sheet of glass 1 and the second sheet of glass 2.

An electrically conductive coating, for example provided by chemical vapour deposition (CVD), magnetron coating, is provided on this side of the first sheet of glass 1 that faces towards the plastics interlayer. The conductive coating can be made of tin oxide materials such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) film. The electrically conductive coating is then partly removed, for example by means of laser ablation or chemical attack, for creating the first electrical conductive coating 4, the second electrical conductive coating 5 and a third electrically conductive coating 6, thus forming a touch sensing device 7. Obviously, these electrically conductive coatings can also be manufactured by conductive screen printing. When applying electrical power, for example by means of a control unit 8, to the first electrically conductive coating 4 and the second electrically conductive coating 5, an electrical field is established between the first electrically conductive coating 4 and the second electrically conductive coating 5. In this way, the invention allows for a precise detection of the presence of an object, such as a finger or a pen, on this side of the first sheet of glass 1 facing away from the plastics interlayer 3, as the object leads to a variation of the electric field.

The third electrically conductive coating 6 is provided between the first electrically conductive coating 4 and the second electrically conductive coating 5, wherein the first electrically conductive coating is electrically separated from the third electrically conductive coating 6 and the second electrically conductive coating 5 is electrically separated from the third electrically conductive coating 6. In this way, larger fringes are created for the electrical field resulting in an increased accuracy of the detection of the ob- ject.

As can be seen further from Fig. 1, a marking or printing 9 is optionally provided between the plastics interlayer 3 and the second sheet of glass 2 in the area of the first electrically conductive coating 4, the third electrically conductive coating 6 and the sec- ond electrically conductive coating 5 forming the touch sensing device 7. The marking or printing 9 is provided as an indicator such as a button showing an operator the position of the touch sensing device 7 on the panel of laminated glass.

An exciter 10 is provided on the side of the second sheet of glass 2 facing away from the plastics interlayer 3. The exciter 10 allows for generating vibrations of the at least second sheet of glass 2, by using the second sheet of glass 2 as a membrane for generating sound. In this way, the invention allows for controlling the sound by moving an object close towards the touch sensing device 7 on the side of the first sheet of glass 1 facing away from a plastics interlayer 3, wherein the sound can be controlled by the control unit 8.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a display 11 is provided on the side of the second sheet of glass 2 facing away from the plastics interlayer 3. The display 11, as well as the exciter 10 and the touch sensing device 7, is electrically connected to the control unit 8. Thus, it becomes possible to modify, for example, the content of the display 11 by moving an object close towards the touch sensing device 7 on the side of the first sheet of glass 1 facing away from the plastics interlayer 3. The first electrically conductive layer 4 and/or the second electrically conductive layer 5 are electrically connected with a busbar 12 and/or a wire 13, respectively, as can be seen from Fig. 3. The busbar 12 can be connected to the first electrically conductive coating 4 and/or to the second electrically conductive coating 5 by means of gluing and/or soldering. The wire 13, which is connected to the control unit 8, can be applied to the busbar 11 by means of gluing and/or soldering.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In particular, while the illustration and description discloses a panel of laminated glass, the present invention can also be applied in the case of a glass panel which is : a panel of laminated glass comprising more than two sheets of glass; - a single glass sheet panel (for instance the first sheet of glass 1 without the interlay er 3 and the second sheet of glass 2); a double or multi glazing panel (in this case the interlayer is a gas, for instance air or argon).

Other variations to be disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different depend- ent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting scope.

Claims

1. Panel of glass, comprising a first sheet of glass (1) , at least an exciter (10) and a touch sensing device (7), wherein the touch sensing device (7) is provided on a side of the first sheet of glass.

2. Panel of glass according to claim 1, wherein the panel of glass is a panel of laminated glass, further comprising a second sheet of glass (2) and a plastics interlayer (3), wherein the first sheet of glass (1) and the second sheet of glass (2) are laminated together via the plastics interlayer (3), the second sheet of glass (2) is provided between the plastics interlayer (3) and the exciter(s) (10) and the touch sensing device (7) is provided on the side of the first sheet of glass (1) facing away from the plastics interlayer (3) or the touch sensing device (7) is provided on the other side of the first sheet of glass, between the first sheet of glass (1) and the second sheet of glass (2).

3. Panel of glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a printing (9) is provided and the printing (9) is arranged on the first sheet of glass (1) or on the second sheet of glass (2) in the area of the touch sensing device (7).

4. Panel of glass according to claim 3, wherein the printing (9) is provided as ad adhesive opaque film, as a paint, and/or as a button.

5. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the touch sensing device (7) comprises at least one of the following sensors: an optical detection sensor, an optical imaging sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a surface acoustical wave sensor, a bending wave sensor and/or an active digitizer sensor.

6. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the touch sensing device (7) comprises a first electrically conductive coating (4) and a second electrically conductive coating (5), and the first electrically conductive coating (4) and the second electrically conductive coating (5) are electrically insulated from each other.

7. Panel of glass according to any claim 5, wherein the first electrically conductive coating (4) and the second electrically conductive coating (5) are adapted for generating an electric field on the side of the first sheet of glass (1) facing away from the plastics interlayer (3), and the first electrically conductive coating (4) and the second electrically conductive (5) coating are adapted for detecting a variation of the electric field on the side of the first sheet of glass (1) facing away from the plastics interlayer (3).

8. Panel of glass according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a third electrically conductive coating (6) is provided between the first electrically conductive coating (4) and the second electrically conductive coating (5), and the third electrically conductive coating (6) is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive coating (4) and from the second electrically conductive coating (5).

9. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the exciter(s) (10) are provided as piezoelectric exciter(s) (10) and/or as inductive exciter(s) (10).

10. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the position of the exciter(s) (10) is calculated using a Distributed Mode Loudspeaker principle.

11. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein a display (11) is provided on a side of at least one of the sheet of glass, the touch sensing device (7) allowing a user to control the at least one exciter and/or the display.

12. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein a control module (8) is provided for controlling the exciter(s) (10) and/or the touch sensing de- vice (7), and the control module (8) is laminated between the first sheet of glass (1) and the second sheet of glass (2).

13. Panel of glass according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the panel of glass is at least a part of at least one of the following devices: an audio speaker; a Global Positioning System; - a digital picture frame; a television set.

14. Method for controlling a content of a display (11) with a touch sensing device (7), comprising the steps of detecting a signal with the touch sensing device (7), wherein the touch sensing device (7) is provided between a first sheet of glass (1) and a plastics interlayer (3), and the first sheet of glass (1) and a second sheet of glass (2) are laminated together via the plastics interlayer (3), and altering the content of the display (11) based on the detected signal, wherein the display (11) is provided on the side of the second sheet of glass (2) facing away from the plastics interlayer (3).

15. Method according to claim 12, comprising the step of exciting at least the second sheet of glass (2).

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of exciting is exciting with a sound vibration.