WO2023143945A1

WO2023143945A1 - Disc comprising a circuit region

Info

Publication number: WO2023143945A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/050850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Weber
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
Priority date: 2022-01-25
Filing date: 2023-01-16
Publication date: 2023-08-03
Also published as: CN116868510A

Abstract

The invention relates to a disc (100) comprising a circuit region, said disc comprising at least: - a transparent substrate (1) having a surface (III); - at least one transparent, electrically conductive layer (2) which is located at least on one portion of the surface (III), wherein - the layer (2) has an inner switching region (5.1), at least one outer switching region (5.2), and a surrounding region (3.1), - the inner switching region (5.1) has at least one inner contact region (6.1) and the outer switching region (5.2) has at least one outer contact region (6.2), and the outer contact region (6.2) surrounds at least part of the inner contact region (6.1), and - the inner switching region (5.1), the outer switching region (5.2) and the surrounding region (3.1) are electrically insulated from one another by at least one separating line (4.1), - wherein the inner switching region (5.1) has an inner supply region (11.1) and an inner connection region (12.1), and the outer switching region (5.2) has an outer supply region (11.2) and an outer connection region (12.2), and wherein the inner supply region (11.1) electrically conductively connects the inner contact region (6.1) to the inner connection region (12.1), and the outer supply region (11.2) electrically conductively connects the outer contact region (6.2) to the outer connection region (12.2), - wherein the inner supply region (11.1) and the outer supply region (11.2) each have a length (I_Z1, I_Z2) of 1 cm to 30 cm.

Description

Disc with circuit area

The invention relates to a disk with a circuit area, a disk assembly, a method of manufacturing the disk and its use.

Today's vehicles have a multitude of electronic functions. For example, the seat heating, the radio or the air conditioning can be switched on by pressing a button. The number of operable functions in a vehicle will probably continue to grow in the future. A challenge in operating as many electronic functions as possible is user interfaces, such as buttons and sensors, where a user creates a function in response to its use. However, a large number of functions usually also requires a large number of such user interfaces. This can create space issues in tight spaces such as the interior of a vehicle. This can also make it difficult to get an overview. In addition, there is the fact that, especially while driving, the driver's gaze away from the roadway to press a button on the dashboard can pose a safety risk.

To this end, WO2015/162108 discloses a pane in which a heating layer located within the pane can be switched on or off via a circuit area. The circuit area is part of the pane, which means that no additional space is required for the user interface. The circuit area works, for example, by means of capacitive buttons. It is known that capacitive switches can be formed by a line or a surface electrode or by an arrangement of two coupled electrodes.

When an object approaches the capacitive button, the capacitance of the surface electrode to ground or the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the two coupled electrodes changes. The change in capacitance is measured using a circuit arrangement or sensor electronics and a switching signal is triggered when a threshold value is exceeded. Circuit arrangements for capacitive switches are known, for example, from DE202006006192U1, EP0899882A1, US6452514B1 and EP1515211A1.

WO2021156430A1 discloses a disk arrangement with a capacitive switching area.

The switching area has areas that are electrically separated from one another. The different areas of the switching area are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that Interference from external electromagnetic interference can be reduced. The detection area provided for touching is preferably connected to a connection area by means of a 48 cm long feed line area.

US20170034875A1 discloses an electrically heatable pane which additionally has a capacitive switching area.

If several functions are to be triggered, this in turn requires the operation of several circuit areas, which makes clarity more difficult. The space requirement also increases due to the arrangement of several buttons in a circuit arrangement.

The object of the present invention is to provide a disc with a circuit area, where the circuit area can trigger several functions, has a smaller space requirement and is easy to operate.

The object of the present invention is achieved according to the invention by a circuit area disk according to independent claim 1 . Preferred embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

The circuit area disk of the present invention comprises at least one transparent substrate having a surface and a transparent electrically conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface. The layer has an inner switching area, at least one outer switching area and a surrounding area. The inner switching area has at least one inner contact area and the outer switching area has at least one outer contact area. The outer touch area at least partially surrounds the inner touch area. The inner switching area, the outer switching area and the surrounding area are electrically insulated from one another by at least one separating line. The at least one dividing line can be divided into several parts.

Preferably, the inner switching region is electrically isolated from the surrounding layer by a first portion of the dividing line. The “layer surrounding it” can mean both the at least one outer switching area and the surrounding area as well as other optional areas of the layer that are in the vicinity of the inner switching area. The outer switching area is preferably through the first part of the Separation line from the inner switching area and electrically delimited by a second part of the separating line from the surrounding area and/or other optional areas of the layer. The outer switching area is preferably delimited by the second part of the dividing line for the most part and in particular only from the surrounding area.

The inner switching area, the outer switching area and the surrounding area can be electrically connected to sensor electronics, and the inner switching area and the outer switching area are intended to have a different electrical potential than the surrounding area. The inner switching area, the outer switching area and the surrounding area together represent a switching area.

For the purposes of the invention, “the outer contact area surrounds the inner contact area” means that no further area of the layer is arranged between the outer contact area and the inner contact area. The outer touch area borders the inner touch area. The outer touch area is separated from the at least one inner touch area only by the first part of the dividing line. This description of "surrounded" also applies to all other cases where one area surrounds another area. If an area is only partially surrounded by another area, it has at least one edge section that does not border on the other area, that is to say it is separated by a dividing line and is therefore also not bordered.

If the pane according to the invention is connected to sensor electronics, a switching signal can be triggered by touching the inner or outer contact area, which activates or terminates an electronic function. Alternatively, the switching signal can also be triggered by approaching the inner or outer contact area. The triggered switching signals of the inner and the outer touch area are preferably different, but can also be identical. The outer touch area surrounds the inner touch area, so the switching signal of both the outer and the inner touch area can be triggered by just one touch or approach. By triggering the two switching signals in parallel, it is possible to activate another electronic function. For example, triggering the inner touch zone switching signal could turn on a radio connected to the sensor electronics, while triggering the inner touch zone switching signal and the outer touch zone switching signal turn the radio off again. The arrangement also reduces the space required for the interior and the outer switching area is reduced because both contact areas are adjacent to each other. These are great advantages of the invention.

In an advantageous configuration, the layer has a further surrounding area which at least partially, preferably completely, surrounds the surrounding area and a further separating line electrically separates the further surrounding area from the surrounding area. The pane preferably comprises at least two busbars which are provided for connection to a voltage source and are connected to the further surrounding area in such a way that a current path for a heating current is formed between the busbars.

The busbars are preferably each arranged along a side edge of the layer. The length of the busbar is typically substantially equal to the length of the side edge of the sheet, but may be slightly greater or lesser. More than two busbars can also be arranged on the layer, preferably in the edge area along two opposite side edges of the electrically conductive layer. Alternatively, more than two busbars can also be arranged around two or more independent heating areas that belong to the wider surrounding area. Busbars may be interrupted or offset by one or more uncoated zones such as communication windows. The teaching according to the invention then applies to at least one and preferably to each of the independent heating areas.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first and/or the second busbar are designed as a printed and burned-in conductive structure. The first and/or second printed busbar preferably contains at least one metal, a metal alloy, a metal compound and/or carbon, particularly preferably a noble metal and in particular silver. The printing paste preferably contains metallic particles, metal particles and/or carbon and in particular precious metal particles such as silver particles. The electrical conductivity is preferably achieved by the electrically conductive particles. The particles can be in an organic and/or inorganic matrix such as pastes or inks, preferably as a printing paste with glass frits.

The width of the first and second bus bar is preferably from 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly preferably from 4 mm to 20 mm and in particular from 10 mm to 20 mm. Thinner busbars lead to an excessively high electrical resistance and thus to excessive heating of the busbar during operation. Furthermore, thinner busbars are only difficult to produce by printing techniques such as screen printing. Thicker busbars require an undesirably high use of material. Furthermore, they lead to an excessive and unaesthetic restriction of the viewing area of the pane. The length of the bus bar depends on the expansion of the heating area. For a busbar, which is typically in the form of a strip, the longer of its dimensions is referred to as the length and the shorter of its dimensions is referred to as the width. The third or additional bus bars can also be made thinner, preferably from 0.6 mm to 5 mm.

The layer thickness of the printed first and/or second busbar is preferably from 5 μm to 40 μm, particularly preferably from 8 μm to 20 μm and very particularly preferably from 8 μm to 12 μm. Printed busbars with these thicknesses are technically easy to implement and have an advantageous current-carrying capacity. The specific resistance of the bus bars is preferably from 0.8 pOhm.cm to 7.0 pOhm.cm and particularly preferably from 1.0 pOhm.cm to 2.5 pOhm.cm. Busbars with specific resistances in this range are technically easy to implement and have an advantageous current-carrying capacity. Alternatively, the bus bar can also be designed as a strip of an electrically conductive foil. The busbar then contains, for example, at least aluminum, copper, tinned copper, gold, silver, zinc, tungsten and/or tin or alloys thereof. The strip preferably has a thickness of 10 μm to 500 μm, particularly preferably 30 μm to 300 μm. Busbars made of electrically conductive foils with these thicknesses are technically easy to implement and have an advantageous current-carrying capacity. The strip can be electrically conductively connected to the electrically conductive structure, for example via a soldering compound, via an electrically conductive adhesive or by direct application.

In an advantageous embodiment of the inner switching area according to the invention, the inner contact area has an area of 1 cm ² to 200 cm ² , preferably 0.5 cm ² to 20 cm ² , particularly preferably 0.5 cm ² to 9 cm ² , in particular 1 cm ² to 3 cm ² . The length IBI of the inner contact area is preferably from 1 cm to 14 cm and more preferably from 1 cm to 3 cm. The maximum width bßi of the inner contact area is preferably from 1 cm to 14 cm and particularly preferably from 1 cm to 3 cm. In principle, the inner contact area can have any shape. Shapes that allow the flow of the heating current to be redirected well around the contact surface are particularly suitable. Particularly suitable inner contact areas are circular, elliptical or drop-shaped. Alternatively, angular shapes are possible, for example Triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids or other types of quadrilaterals or higher-order polygons. In general, it is particularly advantageous if any corners are rounded. This applies to all areas of the inner switching area. It is particularly advantageous if the corners have a radius of curvature of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 8 mm.

In an advantageous embodiment of the outer switching area according to the invention, the outer contact area has an area of 1 cm ² to 200 cm ² , preferably 0.5 cm ² to 20 cm ² , particularly preferably 0.5 cm ² to 9 cm ² , in particular 1 cm ² to 3 cm ² . The length IB2 of the outer contact area is preferably from 1 cm to 45 cm and particularly preferably from 1 cm to 9 cm. The maximum width bß2 of the outer contact area is preferably from 1 cm to 5 cm and particularly preferably from 1 cm to 2 cm. In principle, the outer contact area can have any desired shape. In particular, the outer contact area is arranged in strips almost like a ring around the inner contact area, with the contact area not representing a closed ring but preferably being open at at least one point. At this point, the inner contact area preferably merges into a feed area. The outer touch area may also be angular in shape, such as an open triangle, square, rectangle, trapezium, or other type of quadrilateral or higher-order polygon. In general, it is particularly advantageous if any corners are rounded. This applies to all areas of the inner switching area. It is particularly advantageous if the corners have a radius of curvature of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 8 mm. According to the invention, the outer contact area surrounds the inner contact area at least partially, preferably for the most part, ie at least 51%, particularly preferably at least 80% and in particular at least 90%. The outer contact area preferably surrounds the inner contact area by no more than 99%, since the inner contact area preferably merges into a lead area on one side. It is advantageous if the majority of the touch area surrounds the inner touch area, since this makes it easy to generate the switching signal of both the inner and the outer touch area without great coordination of the touch.

The inner switching area preferably also comprises an inner lead area and an inner terminal area, and the outer switching area preferably comprises an outer lead area, which preferably at least partially surrounds the inner lead area, and an outer terminal area. The inner and the outer Connection areas are intended to be connected to the sensor electronics. The inner lead area electrically conductively connects the inner contact area to the inner connection area. The outer lead area electrically conductively connects the outer contact area to the outer connection area. The inner lead portion is preferably located right between the inner contact portion and the inner terminal portion. The outer lead portion is preferably located right between the outer contact portion and the outer terminal portion. The contact areas can be electrically contacted via the connection areas and form an electrical potential. This arrangement avoids contacting the touching areas by means of other connecting elements (such as foil conductors), which can make it difficult to touch or approach the touching areas and can be unaesthetic and opaque.

The inner lead area preferably connects the inner connection area to exactly one inner contact area. The inner switching area thus includes exactly one inner contact area. However, it is also possible for the inner lead area to connect more than one, particularly preferably more than two and in particular more than three inner contact areas to the inner connection area. The outer lead area also connects the outer connection area to exactly one outer contact area, it being possible for the outer lead area to connect more than one, particularly preferably more than two and in particular more than three outer contact areas to the inner connection area. With only one connection area and one connection to the sensor electronics, this enables the electrical contacting of several contact areas. This ensures good accessibility from different positions, for example if the pane is designed as a windshield, both the driver and the front passenger could easily reach one of the inner and outer contact areas. The effort involved in connecting multiple contact areas is also reduced, which means that process steps and material can be saved.

The inner feed line area and the outer feed line area preferably have a length lzi, lz2 of 1 cm to 30 cm and preferably of 1 cm to 20 cm. In other words, the inner feed line area and the outer feed line area preferably have a length lzi, lz2 of 1 cm to 30 cm and preferably of 1 cm to 20 cm. With this length, the entire circuit area remains very compact and requires less space. Energy losses are also in the range from 1 cm to 30 cm, preferably from 1 cm to 20 cm very low due to the resistance of the supply line area and at the same time the distance between the connection area and the contact area is large enough so that as far as possible no false signals can be triggered by the operator.

The inner lead area and the outer lead area preferably have a width bzi, bz2 of 0.5 mm to 10 mm and preferably of 0.5 mm to 2 mm, alternatively also of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. In the event that the outer feeder area at least partially surrounds the inner feeder area and/or the inner connection area and thus two substantially parallel strip-shaped areas run at least in sections as the outer feeder area towards the outer contact area, then each of these parallel areas is preferably together form the outer lead area from 0.5 mm to 10 mm and preferably from 0.5 mm to 2 mm, alternatively also from 0.1 mm to 22 mm wide. The inner lead area and the outer lead area preferably have a length lzi, lz2 of 1 cm to 30 cm and preferably 1 cm to 20 cm and a width bzi, bz2 of 0.5 mm to 10 mm and preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm The inner and the outer lead area are preferably rectangular, strip-shaped or linear. The ratio of length lzi to width bzi of the inner lead region is preferably less than or equal to 1:700 and particularly preferably from 1:1 to 1:100. The ratio of length Iz2 to width bz2 of the outer lead region is preferably less than or equal to 1:700 and particularly preferably from 1:1 to 1:100. The outer lead area preferably at least partially surrounds the inner lead area and the inner connection area and particularly preferably at least 70% and in particular at least 90%. The outer lead area can also completely surround the inner lead area and the inner connection area, which saves a particularly large amount of space.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the inner and outer switching area according to the invention, the ratio of the width bzi of the inner lead area to the maximum width bßi of the contact area is at least 1:2 and in particular at least 1:10. This made it possible to achieve particularly good switching results.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, the surrounding area has a circular, elliptical or drop-shaped shape. Shapes that enable the current flow of a possible heating current to be diverted well around the surrounding area are particularly suitable. The surrounding area has in particular a recess, ie an area that is not part of the surrounding area but is completely (in the plane of the surface) surrounded by it. The inner and the outer switching area as well as possible further switching areas are preferably arranged within this recess. The surrounding area preferably has rounded corners, which is particularly advantageous because if there is another surrounding layer that is heated, the heating current is guided particularly advantageously around the surrounding area and little or no local heating, so-called hotspots, occurs. The surrounding area is electrically insulated from the inner and outer switching area by the at least one separating line.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, in addition to the inner and outer switching area, the surrounding area also has a connection area. The connection area of the surrounding area, the inner and the outer switching area are preferably arranged on the outer edge of the pane and/or adjacent to one of the busbars that may be present (preferably the first or the second busbar). The distance from the outer edge or from the nearest bus bar is preferably less than 10 cm, particularly preferably less than 0.5 cm. This allows electrical contacting of the inner and outer connection area and the connection area of the surrounding area to be concealed, for example with a foil conductor, under an optically unobtrusive black print or with a cover, for example a camera housing. In an advantageous development of the pane according to the invention, the inner and outer connection area and the connection area of the surrounding area are connected to a flat conductor and the flat conductor is led out of the pane. The inner and outer switching area as well as the surrounding area can then be connected particularly easily at the place of use to sensor electronics which evaluate the switching signal of the inner and outer switching area and the surrounding area.

In the context of the invention, the “width” means the extension perpendicular to the direction of extension. If an area (for example the inner or the outer lead area, the inner or the outer connection area and the inner and the outer contact area) does not have a constant width, the width is understood to mean the average width of the area within the scope of the present invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention with the further surrounding area, the longitudinal direction of the surrounding area is arranged essentially in the direction of the current path of the heating current. Essentially means here that the angle a between the current path and the longitudinal direction of the surrounding area is from 0° to 45°, preferably from 0° to 20° and particularly preferably from 0° to 10°. This is particularly advantageous since the surrounding area only slightly disturbs the current flow through the heating area in this arrangement. If the current path and the surrounding area are not straight, the direction of the current path and the longitudinal direction of the surrounding area each mean the average direction.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, the width d of the dividing line and optional further dividing lines is from 30 μm to 200 μm and preferably from 70 μm to 140 μm. Thin separating lines of this kind allow reliable and sufficiently high electrical insulation and at the same time do not interfere, or only slightly, with the view through the pane.

In principle, it is also conceivable that the layer has more than one outer switching area; So there are other external switching areas in addition to the one outer switching area. All outer switching areas are preferably divided by at least one separating line into areas that are electrically isolated from one another and that optionally each have their own connection area and supply line area and are electrically connected to the sensor electronics. Each of these additional switching areas includes at least one separate touch area and preferably a feeder area and a connection area. The touch area of a first outer switch area surrounds the inner touch area. The contact area of a second outer switching area preferably surrounds the contact area of the first outer switching area. The touch area of a third outer switch area preferably surrounds the touch area of the second outer switch area and so on with up to n outer switch areas, where n is a natural number and n represents the total number of outer switch areas. The outer contact areas are preferably circular, square, triangular or rectangular, but preferably have an opening so that the inner lead area can be connected to the inner contact area. The opening of the outer contact areas is preferably larger with the distance to the inner contact area, since the smaller contact areas arranged deeper (i.e. closer to the inner contact area) can preferably be connected to their own connection area by their own feeder area. The number n of all outer switching ranges is preferably less than 10, particularly preferably less than or equal to 4 and in particular less than or equal to 3 Threshold a switching signal can be triggered. This refinement of the invention makes it possible to output a plurality of switching signals in the circuit area in an even simpler manner, as a result of which the number of functions that can be operated can be increased and space can be saved. In addition, the overall sensitivity can be increased for an approximation function.

Alternatively, the plurality of outer switching areas and their associated outer touch areas are arranged in sections around the inner touch area such that, taken together, they have the shape of, for example, an open ring, square, triangle or rectangle (the opening allows the inner lead area to be connected to the inner contact area). In addition to the outer switching area, the layer preferably comprises a further outer switching area, the outer touch area being arranged, for example, around the first, e.g. left, side of the inner touch area and the further outer touch area being arranged around the opposite, second, e.g. right, side of the inner touch area. Alternatively, in addition to the outer switching area, the layer also includes three further outer switching areas which are arranged in sections with their respective outer contact area around the inner contact area. In principle, more than one outer switching area is possible, with the layer preferably having 1 to 3 further outer switching areas, that is to say a total of preferably 4 outer switching areas. This arrangement enables three or more switching signals to be output. Different switching signals can thus be output by location-dependent touching of the switching area.

The inner and outer switching areas and the surrounding area are preferably capacitive switching areas. In an advantageous embodiment, the inner and outer switching areas and the surrounding area each form a surface electrode, with the surface electrodes of the inner and outer switching area being capacitively coupled to the surface electrode of the surrounding area independently of one another. According to the invention, the outer and inner switching area are provided to have a different electrical potential than the surrounding area. The capacity of the surface electrodes of the inner and outer switching area is measured via external capacitive sensor electronics. The capacitance of the inner switching area and the outer switching area changes (independently of each other) against the potential of the surrounding area when a grounded body comes close to them or, for example, touches an insulator layer over the surface electrode. The surrounding area is preferably a screen electrode. The insulator layer includes in particular the substrate itself or an intermediate layer or a cover plate. The change in capacitance is measured by the sensor electronics and a switching signal is triggered when a threshold value is exceeded.

Alternatively, the inner and the outer switching area as well as the surrounding area can also have inductive, thermal or any other sensor functions that are contactless. "Contactless" means that no direct contact with the electrically conductive structure is necessary to trigger a switching process. It goes without saying that the switching function is also effective when the electrically conductive structure is touched directly if the electrically conductive structure is accessible to the user. In principle, switching areas can also be designed with touch-dependent sensor functions. The inner and the outer switching area as well as the surrounding area are integrated into the pane according to the invention. So there is no need for a switch as a separate component that has to be attached to the pane. The pane according to the invention, which can be designed as a single pane or as a composite pane, also preferably has no other components that are arranged on its surfaces in the viewing area. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a thin construction of the pane and only minor disruption to the view through the pane.

The layer is electrically conductive and transparent. In this case, transparent means permeable to electromagnetic radiation, preferably electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 300 nm to 1,300 nm and in particular to visible light, i.e. from 400 nm to 800 nm. 052315A1 known. They typically contain one or more, for example two, three or four, electrically conductive, functional layers. The functional layers preferably contain at least one metal, for example silver, gold, copper, nickel and/or chromium, or a metal alloy. The functional layers particularly preferably contain at least 90% by weight of the metal, in particular at least 99.9% by weight of the metal. The functional layers can consist of the metal or the metal alloy. The functional layers particularly preferably contain silver or an alloy containing silver. Such functional layers have a particularly advantageous electrical conductivity combined with high transmission in the visible spectral range. The thickness of a functional layer is preferably from 5 nm to 50 nm, particularly preferably from 8 nm to 25 nm. In this range For the thickness of the functional layer, an advantageously high transmission in the visible spectral range and a particularly advantageous electrical conductivity are achieved.

At least one dielectric layer is typically arranged in each case between two adjacent functional layers of the layer. A further dielectric layer is preferably arranged below the first and/or above the last functional layer. A dielectric layer contains at least a single layer of a dielectric material, for example containing a nitride such as silicon nitride or an oxide such as aluminum oxide. However, dielectric layers can also include a plurality of individual layers, for example individual layers of a dielectric material, smoothing layers, matching layers, blocking layers and/or antireflection layers. The thickness of a dielectric layer is, for example, from 10 nm to 200 nm.

This layer structure is generally obtained by a sequence of deposition operations carried out by a vacuum process such as magnetic field-assisted sputtering.

Alternatively, the layer preferably contains indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO2:F) or aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al). In principle, the electrically conductive layer can be any coating that can be electrically contacted.

In an advantageous configuration, the electrically conductive layer is a layer or a layer structure of several individual layers with a total thickness of less than or equal to 2 μm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 1 μm. An advantageous electrically conductive layer according to the invention has a surface resistance of 0.4 ohms/square to 10 ohms/square. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive layer according to the invention has a surface resistance of 0.5 ohms/square to 1 ohms/square. Coatings with surface resistances of this type are particularly suitable for heating vehicle windows with typical on-board voltages of 12 V to 48 volts or in electric vehicles with typical on-board voltages of up to 500 V.

The pane according to the invention comprises a substrate on which the electrically conductive layer is arranged. Depending on the type of layer, it is advantageous to protect the layer with a protective layer, for example a paint, a polymer film and/or a cover plate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, the surface of the substrate on which the transparent, electrically conductive layer is arranged via a thermoplastic intermediate layer connected to a cover plate. In principle, all electrically insulating substrates that are thermally and chemically stable and dimensionally stable under the conditions of manufacture and use of the pane according to the invention are suitable as the substrate and optionally the cover pane.

The substrate and/or the cover pane are preferably made from transparent glass, in particular from soda-lime glass, which is customary for window panes. In principle, however, the panes can also be made of other types of glass (for example borosilicate glass, quartz glass, aluminosilicate glass) or transparent plastics (for example polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate). The substrate and/or the cover pane are preferably transparent, in particular for use of the pane as a windshield or rear pane of a vehicle or other uses in which high light transmission is desired. In the context of the invention, a pane is then understood to be transparent if it has a transmission in the visible spectral range of more than 70%. However, for panes that are not in the driver's field of vision relevant to traffic, for example for roof panes, the transmission can also be much lower, for example greater than 5%.

The thickness of the substrate and/or cover plate can vary widely and can thus be perfectly adapted to the requirements of the individual case. Standard thicknesses of 0.8 mm to 25 mm, preferably 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm for vehicle glass and preferably 4 mm to 25 mm for furniture, appliances and buildings, in particular for electric heaters, are preferably used. The size of the disc can vary widely and depends on the size of the use according to the invention. The substrate and optionally the cover pane have areas of 200 cm ² up to 20 m ² , which are common in vehicle construction and architecture, for example. The disc can have any three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the three-dimensional shape has no shadow zones so that it can be coated by, for example, sputtering. The substrate and/or the cover plate is/are preferably planar or slightly or strongly curved in one direction or in several spatial directions. In particular, the substrate and/or the cover plate is/are planar. The substrate and/or the cover plate can be colorless or colored.

A plurality of substrates and/or cover sheets are connected to one another by at least one intermediate layer. The intermediate layer preferably contains at least one thermoplastic, preferably polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The thermoplastic intermediate layer can one or more thermoplastic foils arranged one on top of the other are formed, the thickness of the thermoplastic intermediate layer after the lamination of the layer stack preferably being from 0.25 mm to 1 mm, typically 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm.

In the case of a composite pane according to the invention made from a substrate, an intermediate layer and a cover pane, the substrate and the cover pane each have an interior-side surface and an outside-side surface. The outside surface of the substrate and the inside surface of the cover pane face each other and are connected to each other via the thermoplastic intermediate layer. The outside surface of the cover pane and the inside surface of the substrate face away from each other and from the thermoplastic intermediate layer.

The transparent, electrically conductive layer is preferably applied to the outside surface of the substrate. Of course, a further electrically conductive layer can also be applied to the surface of the cover pane on the interior side. The outside surface of the cover pane or the interior surface of the substrate can also have coatings. The terms "substrate" and "cover pane" are chosen to differentiate between the two panes in a composite pane according to the invention. No statement about the geometric arrangement is connected with the terms. If the pane according to the invention is intended, for example, to separate the interior from the external environment in an opening, for example in a vehicle or a building, the substrate can face the interior or the external environment. However, the interior surface of the substrate is preferably intended to face an interior, for example a vehicle interior, with the outside surface of the cover pane preferably being intended to face an external environment.

The electrically conductive layer can extend over the entire surface of the substrate. Alternatively, however, the electrically conductive layer can also extend over only part of the surface of the substrate. The electrically conductive layer preferably extends over at least 50%, particularly preferably over at least 70% and very particularly preferably over at least 90% of the inside surface of the substrate. The electrically conductive layer can have one or more uncoated zones. These zones can be transparent to electromagnetic radiation and are known, for example, as data transmission windows or communication windows. In an advantageous embodiment of a pane according to the invention as a composite pane, the inside surface of the substrate has a peripheral edge area with a width of 2 mm to 50 mm, preferably 5 mm to 20 mm, which is not provided with the electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer then has no contact with the atmosphere and is advantageously protected from damage and corrosion inside the pane by the thermoplastic intermediate layer.

The inner switching area, the outer switching area, the surrounding area and, if applicable, the busbars of the other surrounding area can be connected to a voltage source by means of an electrical supply line, with the areas and busbars mentioned not necessarily having to be connected to the same voltage source. The busbars of the further surrounding area are preferably connected to a voltage source provided only for them, independently of the inner and outer switching area and surrounding area.

The electrical supply lines are preferably in the form of film conductors or flexible film conductors (flat conductors, ribbon conductors). This applies both to the feed lines of the busbars of the further surrounding area and to the feed lines of the inner and outer switching areas and the surrounding area, which may be connected to the connection area or areas. A foil conductor is understood to mean an electrical conductor whose width is significantly greater than its thickness. Such a foil conductor is, for example, a strip or band containing or consisting of copper, tinned copper, aluminum, silver, gold or alloys thereof. The foil conductor has, for example, a width of 2 mm to 16 mm and a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm. The foil conductor can have an insulating, preferably polymeric, sheathing, for example based on polyimide. Foil conductors that are suitable for contacting electrically conductive coatings in panes only have a total thickness of 0.3 mm, for example. Such thin foil conductors can be embedded without difficulty between the individual discs in the thermoplastic intermediate layer. A foil conductor strip can contain several conductive layers that are electrically isolated from one another.

Alternatively, thin metal wires can also be used as the electrical supply line. The metal wires contain in particular copper, tungsten, gold, silver or aluminum or Alloys of at least two of these metals. The alloys can also contain molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, iridium, palladium or platinum.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pane according to the invention has a light irradiation means and a light deflection means. Light irradiation means and light deflection means are arranged in or on the substrate and/or on the cover pane. The circuit area may be arranged on the same surface of the substrate as the light deflecting means. At this time, the electrically conductive layer having the circuit portion may be disposed above or below the light deflecting means from the direction of the substrate, or may be on the same plane as the light deflecting means. Alternatively, the layer and the light deflecting means can be arranged on the opposite surfaces of the substrate.

According to the invention, the light irradiation means comprises at least one light source, preferably an LED or OLED. The special advantage lies in the small dimensions and the low power consumption. The wavelength range emitted by the light source can be freely selected in the visible light range, for example according to practical and/or aesthetic aspects. The light irradiation means can include optical elements, in particular for directing the light, preferably a reflector and/or an optical waveguide, for example a glass fiber or a polymer optical fiber. The light irradiation means can be arranged at any point on the substrate or the cover pane, in particular on the side edge of the substrate or the cover pane or in a small recess in the middle of the substrate or cover pane.

The light deflection means preferably comprises particles, dot grids, stickers, attachments, indentations, incisions, line grids, imprints and/or screen prints and is suitable for decoupling the light transported in the substrate or in the cover pane from the same. The light deflection means can be arranged at any desired position on the plane of the substrate or the cover plate. It is particularly advantageous if the light deflection means is arranged in the area or in the immediate vicinity of the circuit area, thus enabling the otherwise hardly visible circuit area to be found quickly. This is particularly advantageous, especially at night or in the dark.

Alternatively, light can be guided to and mark the circuit area through a light guide, which is arranged on the transparent substrate, the intermediate layer or the cover plate. Alternatively or in combination it can Light irradiation means, together with the light deflection means, visualize information on the pane, for example displaying the switching state of the circuit area, for example whether the electrical heating of the pane is switched on or off. In an alternative advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, the inner and outer contact area can be marked or marked directly by one or more active light sources, preferably by one or more light-emitting diodes (LED), one or more organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), one or more light bulbs or other active illuminants, such as a luminescent material, preferably a fluorescent or phosphorescent material.

In a further alternative advantageous embodiment of the pane according to the invention, the switching area, preferably the inner and outer switching area, is marked by a colored, preferably white or black, imprint, for example a screen print, on the transparent substrate, the intermediate layer or the cover pane. This has the particular advantage that the inner and outer circuit area or the entire circuit area is permanently marked and independent of a voltage source. The imprint can also contain a luminescent material, preferably a fluorescent or phosphorescent material, and/or be luminescent.

An advantageous aspect of the invention comprises a pane arrangement with a pane according to the invention and sensor electronics which are electrically connected to the inner switching area, to the outer switching area and to the surrounding area. The sensor electronics are preferably connected to the inner switching area via the inner connection area and to the outer switching area via the outer connection area. The sensor electronics are preferably capacitive sensor electronics.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pane arrangement according to the invention, the sensitivity of the sensor electronics is selected such that the sensor electronics emits a first switching signal when a human finger touches or approaches the inner contact area on the substrate and emits a second switching signal when the inner and outer contact areas are touched . The sensitivity of the sensor electronics is preferably selected in such a way that the sensor electronics emits a third switching signal when a human finger on the substrate touches or approaches the outer contact area. The first, second and possibly third switching signal preferably differ from one another. If the inner and/or the outer contact area is touched or approached with a finger via the cover plate, this preferably means that no switching signal is output. It goes without saying that the inner and/or outer contact area can also be touched or approached with several fingers or another part of the human body. In the context of this invention, touch is understood as meaning any interaction with the inner and/or outer switching area that leads to a measurable change in the measurement signal, for example the capacitance. In particular, this is direct contact with the switching area or contact across an insulator, for example across the thickness of the substrate or the thickness of the intermediate layer or the thickness of the intermediate and cover panes.

The output switching signals can be arbitrary and adapted to the requirements of the respective use. For example, the switching signal can mean a positive voltage, for example 12 V, no switching signal can mean, for example, O V and another switching signal can mean, for example, +6. The switching signals can also correspond to the voltages CAN_High and CAN_Low that are usual in a CAN bus and can change by a voltage value in between. The switching signal can also be pulsed and/or digitally encoded.

The sensitivity of the sensor electronics can be determined in simple experiments depending on the size of the inner and outer contact area as well as the surrounding area and depending on the thickness of the substrate, intermediate layer and cover plate. In particular, an intermediate layer with a permittivity number of 2 to 4 and preferably a minimum thickness of 0.5 mm results in a clear difference in the capacitance change between touching the inner and/or the outer touch area via the substrate compared to touching via the cover plate. It is particularly advantageous if the cover plate has the same or a greater thickness than the substrate.

The particular advantage of such a pane arrangement according to the invention is that the switching signal can only be triggered when the pane is touched from one side. When the pane arrangement is used in a vehicle pane and the pane is installed with the substrate side in the direction of the vehicle interior, triggering of the switching process by people from outside or unintentional triggering of the switching process due to rain or the movement of the windshield wiper can be reliably avoided, for example. In combination with the pane arrangement just mentioned or as an alternative, the sensitivity of the sensor electronics can be selected so that it emits another switching signal when a human finger touches or approaches the inner contact area on the substrate and/or the cover pane and when it touches or approaches of the inner lead area on the substrate and/or the cover plate does not emit a switching signal or outputs another switching signal with a finger.

The sensitivity of the sensor electronics can vary depending on the size of the inner and outer contact area and depending on the geometry and the aspect ratio between the width and length of the inner and outer lead area (ratio of the inner lead area to the inner contact area and the outer lead area to the outer contact area). be determined within the framework of simple experiments. It is particularly advantageous if the width of the inner and the outer lead area is selected to be as small as possible.

The particular advantage of this embodiment of a pane arrangement according to the invention is that two different switching signals can be output with just one touch. By gently tapping the inner contact area, the first switching signal is output by the sensor electronics. By firmly pressing on the inner contact area, the area of the pressing finger in contact with the substrate is also enlarged, so that the outer contact area is usually also touched, as a result of which the second switching signal is output. When the pane arrangement is installed in a piece of furniture that can be illuminated, a lamp can be switched on, for example, when the first switching signal is output, whereas the output of the second and the first switching signal switches the lamp off again.

In an advantageous development of a pane arrangement according to the invention, the inner and the outer connection area and the connection area of the surrounding area are each connected to a flat conductor and the respective flat conductor is led out of the pane. The integrated pane arrangement can then be connected particularly easily at the place of use to a voltage source and a signal line that evaluates the switching signal of the sensor circuit, for example in a vehicle via a CAN bus. The invention further includes a method of making a circuit area wafer. The method according to the invention comprises at least the following method steps:

(a) Application of the transparent, electrically conductive layer to the surface of the transparent substrate. The application preferably takes place by physical vapor deposition.

(b) introducing at least one dividing line into the layer. It is preferably introduced by laser structuring or by mechanical or chemical removal. The separating line is introduced into the layer in such a way that the inner switching area is electrically isolated from the surrounding layer and the outer switching area is electrically isolated from the inner switching area, the surrounding area and optional further areas.

The electrically conductive layer can be applied in method step (a) by methods known per se, preferably by cathode sputtering supported by a magnetic field. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a simple, quick, inexpensive and uniform coating of the substrate. However, the electrically conductive layer can also be applied, for example, by vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-enhanced vapor deposition (PECVD) or by wet-chemical methods.

After process step (a), the substrate can be subjected to a heat treatment. The substrate with the electrically conductive layer is heated to a temperature of at least 200°C, preferably at least 300°C. The temperature treatment can serve to increase the transmission and/or to reduce the surface resistance of the electrically conductive layer.

The substrate can be bent after process step (a), typically at a temperature of 500°C to 700°C. Since it is technically easier to coat a flat pane, this procedure is advantageous if the substrate is to be bent. Alternatively, the substrate can also be bent before method step (a), for example if the electrically conductive layer is not suitable for surviving a bending process without being damaged.

The production of the dividing line and optional further dividing line in the electrically conductive layer is preferably carried out using a laser beam. Methods for structuring thin metal films are known, for example, from EP2200097A1 or EP2139049A1. The width of the decoating is preferably 10 μm to 1000 μm, particularly preferably 30 μm to 200 μm and in particular 70 μm to 140 μm. In this area, a particularly clean and residue-free decoating takes place using the laser beam. The decoating by means of a laser beam is particularly advantageous since the decoated lines are optically very inconspicuous and only slightly impair the appearance and the view through. A line with a width that is wider than the width of a laser cut is stripped by repeatedly scanning the line with the laser beam. The process duration and the process costs therefore increase with increasing line width. Alternatively, the coating can be removed by mechanical removal and by chemical or physical etching. It is also possible that the separating line and/or optional further separating lines are not lines that have been stripped of the coating, but rather are high-impedance separating regions/lines produced, for example, by chemical oxidation of the layer.

An advantageous development subsequent to process step (b) of the process according to the invention comprises at least the following further process steps:

(c) placing a thermoplastic intermediate layer on the coated surface of the substrate and placing a cover sheet on the thermoplastic intermediate layer and

(d) Bonding the substrate to the cover sheet via the thermoplastic intermediate layer.

In process step (c), the substrate is arranged in such a way that that of its surface which is provided with the electrically conductive layer faces the thermoplastic intermediate layer. The surface thereby becomes the outside surface of the substrate. The thermoplastic intermediate layer can be formed by a single thermoplastic foil or by two or more thermoplastic foils which are arranged one on top of the other in terms of surface area. The joining of substrate and cover plate in method step (d) preferably takes place under the action of heat, vacuum and/or pressure. Methods known per se can be used to manufacture a disk.

For example, so-called autoclave processes can be carried out at an increased pressure of about 10 bar to 15 bar and temperatures of 130° C. to 145° C. for about 2 hours. Known vacuum bag or vacuum ring methods work, for example, at about 200 mbar and 80°C to 110°C. The first disc, the thermoplastic intermediate layer and the second disc can also be pressed into a disc in a calender between at least one pair of rollers. Plants of this type are known for the production of disks and usually have at least one Heating tunnel in front of a press shop. The temperature during the pressing process is, for example, from 40°C to 150°C. Combinations of calender and autoclave processes have proven particularly useful in practice. Alternatively, vacuum laminators can be used. These consist of one or more chambers that can be heated and evacuated, in which the first pane and the second pane are laminated within about 60 minutes, for example, at reduced pressures of 0.01 mbar to 800 mbar and temperatures of 80°C to 170°C.

The invention includes the use of the pane according to the invention in means of transport for traffic on land, in the air or on water, in particular in motor vehicles, for example as a windshield, rear window, side windows and roof window and as a functional individual piece and as a built-in part in furniture, appliances and buildings , especially as an electric heater.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawing does not limit the invention in any way. Show it:

1-2 show an enlarged representation of the circuit area of a disc according to the invention,

3 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a pane arrangement according to the invention with a pane according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along section line AA' from Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line B-B' of Figs. 2 and

6 shows a further alternative embodiment of a circuit area in an enlarged view.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an enlarged section Z of a pane 100 according to the invention as shown in FIG. In contrast to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows the middle current path 9 in a wider area 3.2, otherwise FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the same section Z outer switching area 5.2, an inner switching area 5.1 and a surrounding area 3.1 and has a further surrounding area 3.2.

The inner switching area 5.1 includes an inner contact area 6.1, which is approximately teardrop-shaped and merges into an inner lead area 11.1 on an upper side (the tapered area). Teardrop-shaped means here that the inner contact area 6.1 is essentially circular and tapers funnel-shaped on the upper side towards the inner feed line area 11.1. The width bßi of the inner contact area 6.1 is 40 mm, for example. The width bzi of the inner lead region 11.1 is 1 mm, for example. The ratio of bzi:bßi is therefore about 1:40.

The outer switching area 5.2 includes an outer contact area 6.2, which is arranged in strips around the inner contact area 6.1 and is separated from it by a first part of a dividing line 4.1. The outer contact area 6.2 completely surrounds the inner contact area 6.1, but the almost annular shape of the outer contact area 6.2 is interrupted by the funnel-shaped section of the inner switching area 5.1. The outer contact area 6.2 has, for example a width bß2 of 8 mm. The outer contact area 6.2 is connected to an outer lead area 11.2 on an upper side. In principle, however, the outer contact area 6.2 and the outer supply line area 11.2 can be connected to one another on each side of the outer contact area 6.2. The outer lead region 11.2 has a width bz2 of 1 mm, for example, and extends in sections with a length of 30 mm, for example, perpendicular to the direction in which the inner lead region 11.1 extends away from the outer contact region 6.2. The outer feed line area 11.2 then runs parallel to the inner feed line area 11.1 in the direction of the upper edge area of pane 100.

The inner lead area 11.1 is connected to an inner connection area 12.1 and the outer lead area 11.2 is connected to an outer connection area 12.2. The inner and outer connection areas 12.1, 12.2 each have a square shape with rounded corners and an edge length and width bAi, bA2 of 12 mm, for example. The length Izi of the inner supply line area 11.1 is approximately 70 mm, for example. The length Iz2 of the outer lead area 11.2 is 100 mm, for example. If pane 100, the enlarged section Z of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2, is used, for example, as a windshield in a motor vehicle, the length of supply line areas 11.1, 11.2 can be selected such that the driver of the vehicle or the passenger can use circuit area 5 can easily reach. The inner and outer connection areas 12.1, 12.2 are each electrically conductively connected to a foil conductor 14 via an electrical line connection 13. The foil conductors 14 consist, for example, of a 50 μm thick copper foil and are insulated, for example, with a polyimide layer outside the respective connection area 12.1, 12.2. As a result, the respective film conductor 14 can be routed beyond the busbar 10.2 over the upper edge of the pane 100 without an electrical short circuit. It goes without saying that the electrical connection of the inner and outer connection areas 12.1, 12.2 to the outside can also be routed to the outside via insulated wires or via an area in which the bus bar 10.2 is interrupted.

FIG. 2 shows the current path 9 in the wider area 3.2. The extension direction 18 of the inner supply line region 11.1 (shown here by a parallel dashed line 18) has an angle a of 0.5°, for example, to the direction of the current path 9. As a result, the current flow of the heating current when a voltage is applied to the bus bars 10.1, 10.2 (see FIG. 3) is only slightly disturbed by the inner or outer supply line area 11.1, 11.2. The inner and outer supply area 11.1, 11.2 can therefore be chosen to be as long as desired without the course of the heating current being significantly disturbed and without local overheating, so-called hotspots, occurring on pane 100.

Surrounding area 3.1 is arranged around inner and outer switching area 5.1, 5.2. The surrounding area 3.1 is electrically separated from the inner switching area 5.1 by the first part of the separating line 4.1 and from the outer switching area 5.2 by a second part of the separating line 4.2. The inner contact area 6.1 does not border on the surrounding area 3.1, since it is completely surrounded by the outer contact area 6.2, with the exception of the edge section of the inner contact area 6.1, which merges into the inner lead area 11.1. The further surrounding area 3.2 is arranged around the surrounding area 3.1. The surrounding area 3.1 and the further surrounding area 3.2 are electrically separated from one another by a further separating line 4.3. This means that both the inner and the outer switching area 5.1, 5.2, the surrounding area 3.1 and the further surrounding area 3.2 consist of the electrically conductive layer 2. However, they are electrically insulated from one another by two separating lines 4.1, 4.2, 4.3. The two dividing lines 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 are introduced, for example, by means of laser structuring.

The surrounding area 3.1 is electrically conductively connected to a film conductor 14 via an electrical line connection 13. The surrounding area 3.1 extends, for example, parallel to the extension direction of the inner supply line area 11.1 over a length Ci of, for example, 35 cm and has a width Cb of 18 cm. The surrounding area 3.1 extends rectangularly in plan view in the direction from the upper edge area of the pane to the lower edge area of the pane, with the lower edge section of the surrounding area terminating in a semicircle. The corners of the surrounding area 3.1 are rounded.

The foil conductors 14, which run out of the inner connection area 12.1, the outer connection area 12.2 and the surrounding area 3.1, are connected to capacitive sensor electronics 7 outside the pane 100 (see Figure 3), the changes in capacitance of the inner and outer switching area 5.1, 5.2 compared to the surrounding area 3.1 measures. For this purpose, the surrounding area 3.1 has an electrical potential that is different from the inner and outer switching area 5.1, 5.2 and is capacitively coupled to the outer and inner switching area 5.1, 5.2. For example, the surrounding area 3.1 is negative and the inner and outer switching areas 5.1, 5.2 positively (electrically) polarized. The sensor electronics 7 determine both the change in capacitance of the inner switching area 5.1 and of the outer switching area 5.2. In both cases, depending on a threshold value, a switching signal is passed on via a connection point, for example to the CAN bus of a vehicle. A first switching signal is transmitted when the threshold value for the inner switching range 5.1 is reached, whereas a second switching signal, different from the first, is generated and transmitted when the threshold value for the outer switching range 5.2 is reached. Any functions in the vehicle can be switched via the two different switching signals, for example also the voltage source 8 and thus the electrical heating of the pane 100 by the further surrounding area 3.2.

The change in capacitance and the switching signals triggered thereby are preferably triggered in the inner and outer contact area 6.1, 6.2. This triggering can take place, for example, by touching one or more of the contact areas 6.1, 6.2 with a finger. By framing the inner contact area 6.1 with the outer contact area 6.2, only the first switching signal can be triggered selectively, for example, with a light press in the middle of the inner contact area 6.1, whereas the first and second switching signal can be triggered when the finger is pressed firmly or two fingers are used Switching signal can be triggered. The transmission of the second switching signal without the transmission of the first switching signal preferably does not lead to any functional switching. Advantageously, only the first or the first and the second switching signal can be output due to the form of operation (firm pressing or light pressing of the finger). This allows different electronic functions to be operated intuitively and in a confined space.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a pane arrangement 101 according to the invention with a pane 100 according to the invention, which has the section Z shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and alternatively in FIG. The pane 100 comprises a substrate 1 and consists, for example, of thermally toughened soda-lime glass and is transparent to visible light. An electrically conductive layer 2 is applied to one of the surfaces III of the substrate 1 . The electrically conductive layer 2 is divided by the further dividing line 4.3 into a further surrounding area 3.2, which acts as a heating layer, and a circuit area 5 (in area Z). Three film conductors 14, which are connected to sensor electronics 7, run out of the circuit area 5. The electrically conductive layer 2 is a layer system which contains, for example, three electrically conductive silver layers which are separated from one another by dielectric layers. If a current flows through the electrically conductive layer 2, it is heated as a result of its electrical resistance and Joule heat generation. The electrically conductive layer 2 can therefore be used for active heating of the pane 100 . The dimensions of the pane 100 are 0.9 mx 1.5 m, for example.

For electrical contacting of the further surrounding area 3.2, a first busbar 10.1 is arranged in the lower edge area and a further, second busbar 10.2 is arranged in the upper edge area of the further surrounding area 3.2. The busbars 10.1, 10.2 contain silver particles, for example, and were applied using the screen printing process and then burned in. The length of busbars 10.1, 10.2 approximately corresponds to the extent of electrically conductive layer 2. Both busbars 10.1, 10.2 run approximately parallel. The extension of the layer 2 means the length of the layer 2 along the upper edge area for the second busbar 10.2 and the length of the layer 2 along the lower edge area for the first busbar 10.1. The length of layer 2 (and thus busbar 10.1, 10.2) can be identical both in the upper edge area and in the lower edge area of pane 100, so that layer 2 is designed as a rectangle or square in plan view (not shown here). In FIG. 3, layer 2 has a shorter length in the upper edge area of pane 100 than in the lower edge area, as a result of which layer 2 is trapezoidal in plan view. The width of layer 2 means the length of layer 2 measured perpendicular to the direction of extension.

If an electrical voltage is applied to the first and second busbars 10.1 and 10.2, a uniform current flows via a current path 9 through the electrically conductive layer 2 of the further surrounding area 3.2. The current path 9 runs between the busbars 10.1, 10.2. A foil conductor 14 is arranged approximately in the center of each busbar 10.1, 10.2. The foil conductor 14 is electrically conductively connected to the busbar 10.1, 10.2 via a contact surface, for example by means of a soldering compound, an electrically conductive adhesive or by simply lying on it and pressing it inside the pane 100. The foil conductor 14 contains, for example, a tinned copper foil with a width of 10 mm and a thickness of 0.3 mm. The busbars 10.1, 10.2 are connected via the foil conductors 14 via supply lines 15 to a voltage source 8, which provides an on-board voltage that is customary for motor vehicles, preferably from 12 V to 15 V and, for example, about 14 V. Alternatively, the voltage source 8 can also have higher voltages, for example from 35 V to 45 V and in particular 42 V. In the example shown, the busbars 10.1, 10.2 have a constant thickness of, for example, approximately 10 μm and a constant specific resistance of, for example, 2.3 pOhmrcm.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line AA' of Figure 1. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B' of Figure 2.

In both cases, the pane 100 comprises, for example, in addition to the substrate 1 , a cover pane 17 which is connected over a surface area to the substrate i via a thermoplastic intermediate layer 16 . The pane 100 is, for example, a vehicle pane and in particular the windshield of a passenger car. The substrate 1 is intended, for example, to face the interior in the installed position, whereas the cover pane 17 is intended to face the external environment in the installed position. The cover plate 17 has an outside surface I and an inside surface II. The substrate 1 has an outside surface III and an inside surface IV. The interior surface II of the cover pane 17 and the exterior surface III of the substrate 1 face the thermoplastic intermediate layer 16 .

Like the substrate 1, the cover plate 17 is made of soda-lime glass, for example. The thickness of the substrate 1 is 1.6 mm, for example, and the thickness of the cover plate 17 is 2.1 mm. It goes without saying that the substrate 1 and the cover plate 17 can have any thickness and, for example, can also be of the same thickness. The thermoplastic intermediate layer 16 consists of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and has a thickness of 0.76 mm. The electrically conductive layer 2 is applied to the inside surface III of the substrate 1 .

The electrically conductive layer 2 extends, for example, over the entire side III of the substrate 1 minus a peripheral, frame-shaped, uncoated area (not shown here) with a width of 8 mm. The uncoated area is used for electrical insulation between the live, electrically conductive layer 2 and the vehicle body. The uncoated area is hermetically sealed by gluing to the intermediate layer 16 to protect the electrically conductive layer 2 from damage and corrosion.

FIG. 4 shows the separating lines 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 introduced by means of laser radiation, the width d of the separating line 4.1, 4.2 and the further separating line 4.3 being, for example, 30 micrometers be. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the inner and outer contact areas 6.1, 6.2.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a pane 100 according to the invention in an enlarged representation of detail Z from FIG. 1. The variant shown in FIG. 6 essentially corresponds to the variant from FIGS the description of Figures 1 and 2 is referred.

Unlike what is described for FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer supply line area 11.2 of the outer switching area 5.2 extends from the upper side of the outer contact area 6.2 to the outer connection area 12.2. The inner contact area 6.1 of the inner switching area 5.1 is completely surrounded by the outer contact area 6.2 and, unlike in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner lead area 11.1 and the inner connection area 12.1 are completely surrounded by the outer lead area 11.2. This means that the entire inner switching area 5.1, including inner contact area 6.1, inner lead area 11.1 and inner connection area 12.1, is surrounded by the outer contact area 6.2 and outer lead area 11.2, with the exception of the section where the inner contact area 6.1 enters the inner lead area 11.1 and the inner lead area 11.1 transition into the connection area 12.1. The first part of the dividing line 4.1 electrically separates the inner switching area 5.1 from the outer switching area 5.2.

The outer feeder area 11.2 extends to the left and right along the inner feeder area 11.1 and the inner connection area 12.1 in a plan view of the section Z. The width bz2 of the outer lead region 11.2 is 1 mm, for example, both to the left and to the right of the inner lead region 11.1. The outer connection area 11.2 is arranged somewhat closer to the upper edge area of the pane 100 (further up in plan view) than the inner connection area 12.1. The length Iz2 of the outer supply line area 11.2 is, for example, from 90 mm to 180 mm. In principle, it is also possible for the outer feeder area 11.2 to only partially surround the inner feeder and connection area 11.1, 12.1, for example only along a left-hand or right-hand edge section. The width Cb of the surrounding area 3.1 is 12 cm, for example. The width Cb of the surrounding area 3.1 is reduced in the embodiment shown compared to the embodiment of Figure 1 and 2, since the outer Switching area 5.2 is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the inner switching area 5.1, whereas the outer switching area 5.2 in Figures 1 and 2 extends partially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the inner switching area 5.1 (perpendicular to the direction of extension of the inner lead area 11.1).

Unlike what is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer contact area 6.2 has a greater width bß2 of 16 mm, for example. This makes it possible to selectively touch the outer contact area 6.2 without also touching the inner contact area 6.1 at the same time. In this way, for example, a first switching signal with a change in capacitance of the inner contact area 6.1, a second

Switching signal with a change in capacitance of the outer contact area 6.2 and a third switching signal with a change in capacitance of both contact areas 6.1, 6.2 are generated.

Reference List

1 substrate

2 layer

3.1 Surrounding Area

3.2 further surrounding area

4.1 first part of the dividing line

4.2 second part of the dividing line

4.3 further dividing line

5 circuit area

5.1 inner switching area

5.2 outer switching area

6.1 Interior Touch Area

6.2 External Touch Area

7 sensor electronics

8 voltage source

9 current path

10.1 first busbar

10.2 second busbar

11.1 inner feeder area

11.2 external supply area

12.1 inner connection area

12.2 outer connection area

13 electrical line connection

14 foil conductors

15 leads

16 thermoplastic intermediate layer

17 cover disc

18 Direction of extension of the inner supply line area 11.1

100 disc

101 disk arrangement bßi width of the inner contact area 6.1 bß2 width of the outer contact area 6.2 lzi length of the inner lead area 11.1 Iz2 Length of the outer lead area 11.2 bzi Width of the inner lead area 11.1 bzz Width of the outer lead area 11.2 bAi Width of the inner connection area 12.1 bA2 Width of the outer connection area 12.2

Ci length of surrounding area 3.1

Cb width of surrounding area 3.1 d dividing line width A-A' cutting line

B-B' cutting line

Z cutout

I outside surface of the cover plate 17 II interior surface of the cover plate 17

III outside surface of the substrate 1

IV interior side surface of the substrate 1

Claims

Claims Disc (100) with a circuit area, at least comprising: a transparent substrate (1) having a surface (III), at least one transparent, electrically conductive layer (2) which is arranged on at least part of the surface (III), the Layer (2) has an inner switching area (5.1), at least one outer switching area (5.2) and a surrounding area (3.1), the inner switching area (5.1) has at least one inner contact area (6.1) and the outer switching area (5.2) has at least one outer contact area (6.2) and wherein the outer contact area (6.2) at least partially surrounds the inner contact area (6.1) and the inner switching area (5.1), the outer switching area (5.2) and the surrounding area (3.1) electrically from one another by at least one separating line (4.1). are isolated

- wherein the inner switching area (5.1) has an inner feeder area (11.1) and an inner connection area (12.1) and the outer switching area

(5.2) an outer lead area (11.2) and an outer connection area

(12.2) and wherein the inner feeder area (11.1) electrically conductively connects the inner contact area (6.1) to the inner connection area (12.1) and the outer feeder area (11.2) electrically conductively connects the outer contact area (6.2) to the outer connection area (12.2). connects, wherein the inner lead region (11.1) and the outer lead region (11.2) each have a length (l _Z i, Iz2) of 1 cm to 30 cm. Disc (100) according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the inner contact area has a circular, elliptical or teardrop shape or rounded corners. Pane (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface of the outer contact area (6.2) has a strip-like shape which at least partially, preferably for the most part, surrounds the inner contact area (6.1). Disk (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer lead region

(11.2), at least partially surrounds the inner feed line area (11.1). 5. Pane (100) according to claim 4, wherein the outer lead area (11.2) surrounds the inner lead area (11.1) and the inner connection area (12.1) by at least 90% and the outer lead area (11.2) preferably has a width (bz2, ) of 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

6. Pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the layer (2) has a further surrounding area (3.2) which at least partially surrounds the surrounding area (3.1) and wherein a further dividing line (4.3) separates the further surrounding area (3.2 ) electrically separates from the surrounding area (3.1).

7. disc (100) according to claim 6, further comprising at least two busbars (10.1, 10.2) which are connected to the further surrounding area (3.2) so that, when an electrical voltage is applied between the busbars (10.1, 10.2), a Current path (9) is formed for a heating current.

8. Pane (100) according to claim 7, wherein the angle (a) between the current path (9) and the longitudinal direction of the surrounding area (3.1) is from 0° to 20°, preferably from 0° to 10°.

9. Pane (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the width di of the dividing line (4.1) and optionally the width da of the further dividing line (4.3) is from 30 μm to 200 μm and preferably from 70 μm to 140 μm.

10. Pane (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the layer (2) contains silver (Ag), indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO2:F) or aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al).

11. Pane (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the surface (III) of the substrate (1) is connected over a surface area to a cover pane (17) via a thermoplastic intermediate layer (16).

12. Pane (100) according to claim 11, wherein the substrate (1) and the cover pane (17) contain or consist of glass, preferably quartz glass, borosilicate glass or soda-lime glass. Disk assembly (101) comprising:

- a disc (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and

- Capacitive sensor electronics (7) which are electrically connected to the inner switching area (5.1), the outer switching area (5.2) and the surrounding area (3.1), the sensitivity of the sensor electronics (7) being selected such that when the inner contact area (6.1) with a human finger on the substrate (1) emits a first switching signal and when the inner contact area (6.1) and the outer contact area (6.2) are touched with a human finger on the substrate (1) a second one, from the first switching signal different, switching signal outputs. A method of manufacturing a disk (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein

(a) the transparent, electrically conductive layer (2) is applied to the surface (III) of the transparent substrate (1), preferably by physical vapor deposition, and

(b) the dividing line (4.1) is introduced into the layer (2), preferably by laser structuring or by mechanical or chemical removal. Use of the pane (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 12 in means of transport for traffic on land, in the air or on water, in particular in motor vehicles, for example as a windscreen, rear window, side windows and roof window and as a functional individual piece, and as a built-in part in Furniture, appliances and buildings, in particular as electric heaters.