Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10009—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
  • B32B17/10036—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising two outer glass sheets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10165—Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10174—Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10165—Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10174—Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
  • B32B17/10183—Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer being not continuous, e.g. in edge regions
  • B32B17/10192—Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer being not continuous, e.g. in edge regions patterned in the form of columns or grids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
  • B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
  • B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
  • B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10165—Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
  • B32B17/10174—Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
  • B32B17/10201—Dielectric coatings
  • B32B17/10211—Doped dielectric layer, electrically conductive, e.g. SnO2:F
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/016—Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
  • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
  • G06F3/0445—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
  • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
  • H04R7/04—Plane diaphragms
  • H04R7/045—Plane diaphragms using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion

Definitions

• 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.
• 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.
• Panels of laminated glass with integrated exciters are known for providing speaker functionality, i.e. providing sound and/or music.
• 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).
• an exciter e.g. an inductive coil.
• glass based speakers use at least one sheet of glass as a deformable membrane as suggested in patent application n°WO2007065909.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• the panel of glass according to the invention is advantageous over the prior art.
• 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).
• 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).
• the control functionality of the panel does not disturb or interfere seriously with the speaker functionality of the panel.
• the control functionality of the panel does not disturb or interfere seriously with the speaker functionality of the panel.
• 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
• 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).
• 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.
• the touch sensing device is provided between the first sheet of glass and the second sheet of glass.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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 -
• 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.
• the touch sensing device can be provided in different ways.
• 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.
• 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.
• the touch sensing device is provided as a capacitive sensor, such as a surface or projected capacitive sensor.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• a nearby object such as a finger, a pen, a liquid, a gas or a solid
• dielectric constant other than air preferably in the area of the electrical insulation between the first electrically coating and the second electrically conductive coating.
• 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.
• the third electrically conductive coating is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive coating and from the second electrically conductive coating.
• the exciter(s) can be provided in different ways.
• the exciter(s) is(are) provided as piezoelectric exciter(s) (also called piezoelectric actuators) and/or as inductive exciter(s).
• 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.
• 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
• the second sheet of glass is provided between the plastics interlayer and the display.
• 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.
• a control module 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Fig. 3 shows a side view of a part of a panel of laminated glass according to another 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.
• 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.
• ITO indium tin oxide
• 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.
• these electrically conductive coatings can also be manufactured by conductive screen printing.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40846158

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (16)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2008
  • 2008-12-03 WO PCT/EP2008/066727 patent/WO2010063320A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-12-03 EA EA201100893A patent/EA020100B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-12-03 EP EP08875410A patent/EP2374051A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events