EP2256856A1 - Transparent, flat device for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation with at least one other function, method for producing same and use of same - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a flat, transparent, dielectric substrate (A) and a transparent and an electrically conductive linear structure in contact with a main surface of the substrate as a receiving part (B) or transmitting part. A connection (C) is provided for decoupling the received or coupling the transmitted electromagnetic radiation. A frequency filter (D) is electrically connected with the connection. An electric or electronic component is electrically connected with the frequency filter to measure or change a physical property in the area of the receiving or transmitting part.

Description

The present invention relates to a novel, transparent, planar device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation having at least one further function.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a novel method for producing a transparent, planar device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation having at least one further function.

Not least, the present invention relates to the novel use of a transparent, planar device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation for at least one further function.

• ECE R 43: "Einheitliche Vorschriften für die Genehmigung des Sicherheitsglases und der Verbundglaswerkstoffe" oder
• Technische Anforderungen an Fahrzeugteile bei der Bauartprüfung § 22 a StVZO, Nr. 29 "Sicherheitsglas"
  und aufgrund von Designaspekten muss die Anzahl von elektrisch leitfähigen Strukturen in und auf dem Glas so klein wie möglich gehalten werden. Insbesondere sollten diese elektrisch leitfähigen Strukturen in der Helligkeit, d.h. bei Tageslicht und nachts bei Scheinwerferlicht, visuell nicht oder kaum wahrnehmbar sein.

Recently, more and more electrical and electronic functions have been integrated into the windows of motor vehicles. In particular, wires or printed electrically conductive structures are introduced into windshields in order to receive and / or transmit electromagnetic radiation as an antenna, to keep the area for cameras and sensors free of ice and fog as heating fields or to control the wiper intervals as a capacitive rain sensor. Due to legal requirements regarding the size of the viewing area in windshields and the structural stability such as

• ECE R 43: "Uniform requirements for the approval of safety glass and laminated glass materials" or
• Technical requirements for vehicle parts during type approval § 22 a StVZO, No. 29 "Safety glass"
  and due to design considerations, the number of electrically conductive structures in and on the glass must be kept as small as possible. In particular, these electrically conductive structures in the brightness, ie in daylight and at night in the spotlight should be visually not or hardly noticeable.

Electrically conductive structures that are not visually or barely perceptible, but have only one function, are known.

From the international patent application WO 2008/058855 A1 For example, a windshield with antenna function for motor vehicles is known. The known antenna disk comprises a glass pane which is in contact with a line-shaped electrical conductor, wherein a part of the conductor is designed to function as an antenna, and another part is designed as a connection area for coupling out the received electromagnetic radiation serves. The diameter of the line-shaped electrical conductor is 10 to 500 microns. The connection region and a surface contact form a coupling structure which serves as bandpass filter for the received frequency band f . The part of the electrical conductor forming the terminal region has a length of one quarter of the effective wavelength λ _{eff of} the received frequency band f for a straight electrical conductor on glass or an odd number of multiples thereof. The antenna disc is used to receive AM, FM, HF, UHF, VHF and / or SHF signals and has no other functions. Because of the diameter of the linear electrical conductor and the distance between its loops, it is visually imperceptible or barely noticeable.

From the international patent application WO 2006/122943 A1 For example, a windscreen incorporating the resonant circuit of a device for detecting moisture is known. The windshield is made of laminated safety glass and includes a polyvinyl butyral film enclosed by two sheets of glass. Between the two panes of glass there is a carrier foil, which carries a visually imperceptible or barely perceptible wire with a diameter of 20 to 200 μm. The wire is completely or partially enclosed in the carrier foil and forms the inductance and the capacitance of the resonant circuit. The device serves as a rain sensor and has no other functions beyond.

From the German patent application DE 10 2005 006 862 A1 For example, a moisture sensing element comprising a dielectric substrate and a conductor pattern attached to the substrate is known. The conductor structure has a substrate-influenced inductive component and capacitive component. The substrate has a first temperature-dependent region in which the capacitance and / or the inductance change as the temperature changes, and a second temperature-dependent region temperature-dependent area, which changes its inductance and / or capacity opposite to the first range at the same temperature changing, so that the caused by existing moisture measurement signal is independent of the temperature in a wide range and therefore only dependent on the existing humidity , The sensor element has no further functions. The sensor element can be designed so that it can be placed in the field of vision of the driver of a motor vehicle without impairing its visibility.

From the German patent application DE 10 2005 022 980 A1 is a windshield with a sensor element for moisture known, which includes a resonant circuit having an inductance and a capacitance and an evaluation circuit which is coupled to the resonant circuit and with which a detuning of the resonant circuit can be determined contains. The evaluation circuit is suitable for determining the resonant frequency and an amplitude of the detuned resonant circuit and / or the non-tuned resonant circuit. The sensor element contains a means for exciting a vibration in the resonant circuit comprising a tunable in its frequency oscillator. In this way, the oscillation of the resonant circuit can be modulated, in particular information about the amplitude or attenuation and the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit being present as modulated signals. As a result, distortions of the signal, which are caused by external influences, for example by the reception of high-frequency electromagnetic signals, can be compensated. Other functions, the sensor element does not have.

A comparable sensor element for moisture is from the international patent application WO 2008/071485 A1 known. It is expressly emphasized here that capacitive rain sensors are particularly sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. To compensate for this, the sensor element comprises a control electronics, which acts on the resonant circuit with a predetermined frequency, wherein the control electronics varies the frequency for purposes of compensation. In other words, in the known sensor element, the irradiated electromagnetic energy should not be meaningfully used, but turned off in its effect.

From the German patent application DE 44 26 736 A1 is a disc with a heating resistor of electrically conductive wire is known, which is also used as a capacitive moisture sensor. For this purpose, the heating resistor is connected to a measuring device for measuring the impedance, in particular the capacitive component. The disadvantage here is that the wires of the heating resistor are visible and can not be effectively used to receive electromagnetic radiation.

The present invention was based on the object to provide a new, transparent, sheet-like device suitable for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation on the basis of a sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate and a visually imperceptible or barely perceptible, electrically conductive line-shaped structure, which still has at least one other function.

In particular, the new device should be eminently suitable as an antenna for receiving and / or transmitting LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF and / or SHF signals.

The further function should preferably be in the measurement and / or in the change of at least one physical property in the region of the electrically conductive structure. The physical property should preferably be the temperature, the electrical capacitance and / or the inductance and / or the electrical resistance so that the new, transparent, sheet-like device is outstandingly suitable for heating, temperature measurement and / or the detection of moisture can.

Furthermore, the new, transparent, sheet-like device should be visually imperceptible or barely perceptible in daylight and spotlight, so that it does not interfere with visual perception, e.g. is installed in the field of vision of a windshield for a motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the new, transparent, sheet-like device in a simple and highly reproducible manner by means of methods and devices as they are on the Field of production of monolithic panes and laminated glass panes and electrical and electronic components are common and known to be produced.

Last but not least, the new, transparent, sheet-like device should be ideally suited as a transparent built-in part in means of transport for land, air and water transport as well as in furniture, equipment and buildings.

• mindestens ein flächenförmiges, transparentes, dielektrisches Substrat,
• mindestens eine transparente, elektrisch leitfähige, linienförmige Struktur auf oder in Kontakt mit mindestens einer Hauptoberfläche des Substrats als Empfangsteil und / oder Sendeteil,
• mindestens einen Anschluss zum Auskoppeln der empfangenen und / oder Einkoppeln der ausgesendeten elektromagnetischen Strahlung aus dem Empfangsteil und / oder in das Sendeteil,
• mindestens einen Frequenzfilter, der mit dem Anschluss elektrisch verbunden ist und
• mindestens ein weiteres elektrisches und / oder elektronisches Bauteil, das mit dem Frequenzfilter elektrisch verbunden ist, zur Messung und / oder Veränderung mindestens einer physikalischen Eigenschaft im Bereich des Empfangs- und / oder Sendeteils
  umfasst und die im Folgenden als »erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung« bezeichnet wird. Außerdem wurde das neue Verfahren zur Herstellung einer transparenten, flächenförmigen Vorrichtung zum Empfangen und / oder Senden von elektromagnetischer Strahlung mit mindestens einer weiteren Funktion gefunden, bei dem man
  • (I) mindestens eine transparente, elektrisch leitfähige, linienförmige Struktur auf mindestens einer Hauptoberfläche mindestens eines flächenförmigen, transparenten, dielektrischen Substrats als Empfangsteil/ Sendeteil aufbringt oder hiermit in Kontakt bringt,
  • (II) den mindestens einen Empfangs- und / oder Sendeteil mit mindestens einem Anschluss zum Aus- und / oder Einkoppeln von elektromagnetischer Strahlung aus dem Empfangsteil und / oder in das Sendeteil ausrüstet,
  • (III) den mindestens einen Anschluss mit mindestens einem Frequenzfilter elektrisch verbindet und
  • (IV) den mindestens einen Frequenzfilter mit mindestens einem weiteren elektrischen und / oder elektronischen Bauteil zur Messung und / oder Veränderung mindestens einer physikalischen Eigenschaft im Bereich des mindestens einen Empfangs- oder Sendeteils elektrisch verbindet.

Accordingly, the novel, transparent, sheet-like device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation has been found with at least one further function, which

• at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate,
• at least one transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure on or in contact with at least one main surface of the substrate as receiving part and / or transmitting part,
• at least one connection for decoupling the received and / or coupling in of the emitted electromagnetic radiation from the receiving part and / or into the transmitting part,
• at least one frequency filter electrically connected to the terminal and
• at least one further electrical and / or electronic component, which is electrically connected to the frequency filter, for measuring and / or changing at least one physical property in the region of the receiving and / or transmitting part
  and hereinafter referred to as "device according to the invention". In addition, the new method for producing a transparent, sheet-like device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation has been found with at least one further function in which
  • (I) at least one transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure on at least one main surface of at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate as receiving part / transmitting part applies or brings into contact,
  • (II) equipping the at least one receiving and / or transmitting part with at least one connection for coupling and / or coupling in electromagnetic radiation from the receiving part and / or into the transmitting part,
  • (III) electrically connects the at least one terminal to at least one frequency filter and
  • (IV) electrically connects the at least one frequency filter with at least one further electrical and / or electronic component for measuring and / or changing at least one physical property in the region of the at least one receiving or transmitting part.

In the following, the new method will be referred to as "inventive method".

• mindestens ein flächenförmiges, transparentes, dielektrisches Substrat,
• mindestens eine transparente, elektrisch leitfähige, linienförmige Struktur auf oder in Kontakt mit mindestens einer Hauptoberfläche des Substrats als Empfangsteil und / oder Sendeteil und
• mindestens einen Anschluss zum Auskoppeln und / oder Einkoppeln der empfangenen elektromagnetischen Strahlung aus dem Empfangs- und / oder Sendeteil,
  für mindestens eine weitere Funktion gefunden, was im Folgenden als »erfindungsgemäße Verwendung« bezeichnet wird.

Not least was the new use of a transparent, sheet-like device for receiving and / or emitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising

• at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate,
• at least one transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure on or in contact with at least one main surface of the substrate as a receiving part and / or transmitting part and
• at least one connection for decoupling and / or coupling in of the received electromagnetic radiation from the receiving and / or transmitting part,
  found for at least one other function, which is hereinafter referred to as "inventive use".

With regard to the prior art, it was also not directly derivable for the person skilled in the art that the object on which the present invention was based could be achieved by means of the device according to the invention, the method according to the invention and the use according to the invention.

In particular, it was not deducible in view of the state of the art that the device according to the invention was outstandingly suitable as an antenna for receiving or transmitting LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF and / or SHF signals.

Advantageously, the further function of the device according to the invention was the measurement and / or the change of at least one physical property in the region of the electrically conductive structure. In a particularly advantageous manner, the physical properties temperature, capacitance and / or inductance and / or the electrical resistance could be measured and / or changed, so that the device according to the invention could be particularly excellent for heating, temperature measurement and / or detection of moisture.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention was visually imperceptible or barely perceptible in daylight and headlights, so that it did not interfere with visual perception, e.g. was installed in the field of view of a windshield for a motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention was produced in a simple and highly reproducible manner by means of the method according to the invention using methods and devices which were customary and known in the field of production of monolithic panes and laminated glass panes as well as electrical and electronic components.

Last but not least, the device according to the invention and the transparent, sheet-like device produced by the method according to the invention, in particular the device according to the invention, was outstandingly suitable as a transparent fitting in locomotion means for land, air and water transport as well as in furniture, devices and buildings.

The devices of the invention are transparent to visible light. This means that they are permeable at least in individual regions, but preferably in total, for electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength of 350 to 800 nm. "Permeable" means that the transmission, in particular for visible light, is> 50%, preferably> 75% and in particular> 80%.

The devices according to the invention are planar. This means that in a given device according to the invention, each of the two main surfaces has a much larger area than the peripheral edge. Preferably, the ratio of the area of a main surface to the surface of the peripheral edge is> 2, preferably> 5 and in particular> 10.

The devices according to the invention may have different three-dimensional shapes. Thus, they may be planar or slightly or strongly curved or curved in one or more directions of the space. In addition, they can have different outlines. The outlines can be symmetric or asymmetrical. Preferably, they are exact or approximately circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrangular, square trapezoidal, diamond-shaped, pentagonal or hexagonal. In particular, they are approximately quadrangular or trapezoidal. For example, "approximated" means that in an approximately quadrangular outline, the corners may be rounded and / or the edges bent inward and / or outward. Preference is given to outlines, such as window panes, particularly preferably covers of headlights, windscreens, side windows, rear windows or glass roofs, in particular of motor vehicles.

The size of the devices according to the invention can vary widely and depends on the particular intended use in the context of the use according to the invention. Thus, the devices according to the invention can have dimensions of the order of a few centimeters to several meters. In particular, the planar or slightly or strongly bent or curved in one direction or several directions of the space or curved devices may have an area in the order of 100 cm ² to 25 m ² , preferably> 1 m ² . However, the devices according to the invention may also have surfaces such as covers of headlights, windscreens, side windows, rear windows and glass roofs for motor vehicles or large-scale windows, as used in the construction industry, usually have.

The devices according to the invention can have openings. These can be used to hold devices for holding, for connection to other objects and / or for the passage of lines, in particular electrical lines.

The devices according to the invention can be tinted colorless or in a wide variety of colors.

The devices according to the invention serve to receive and / or transmit electromagnetic radiation. The received and / or emitted electromagnetic radiation is preferably LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF and / or SHF signals in the frequency range from 30 kHz to 30 GHz, particularly preferably radio signals, in particular VHF (30 to 300 MHz, corresponding to a wavelength of 10 to 1 m), shortwave (3 to 30 MHz, corresponding to a wavelength of 100 to 10 m) or medium wave (300 to 3000 kHz, corresponding to a wavelength of 1000 to 100 m), and mobile, digital radio, television or satellite navigation (GPS) signals.

The devices according to the invention each comprise at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate.

Here, the properties "sheet-like" and "transparent" have the meaning given above.

The property "dielectric" means that the transparent, sheet-like substrates are electrically insulating and electrically polarizable.

Accordingly, basically all sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates are suitable which have such a transmission and which are thermally and chemically stable and dimensionally stable under the conditions of manufacture and use of the devices according to the invention.

The sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates may have any three-dimensional shape which is predetermined by the three-dimensional shapes of the devices according to the invention which they contain. Preferably, the three-dimensional shape has no shadow zones, so that it can be uniformly coated in particular from the gas phase. Preferably, the three-dimensional shapes described above are used.

The sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates may be colorless or colored.

Examples of suitable materials for producing sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates are glass and clear plastics, preferably rigid clear plastics, in particular polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

Transparent, sheet-like, dielectric substrates made of glass are preferably used. Basically, all the usual and well-known glasses, such as those in Römpp-Online 2008 under the keywords "glass", "tempered glass" or "safety glass" or in the German translation of the European patent EP 0 847 965 B1 with the file number DE 697 31 268 T2 , Page 8, paragraph [0053], as a substrate material into consideration. Examples of particularly suitable glasses are non-tempered, semi-tempered and tempered float glass, cast glass and ceramic glass. In particular, float glass is used.

The thickness of the transparent, electrically insulating substrates can vary widely and are thus perfectly adapted to the requirements of the individual case. Preferably, glasses with the standard glass thicknesses of 1 mm to 24 mm are used.

The size of the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates can vary widely and depends on the size of the devices according to the invention containing them. Accordingly, the sizes described above are preferably used.

The devices according to the invention each contain at least one visually imperceptible or barely perceptible, electrically conductive, linear structure on or in

Contact with at least one major surface of the respective sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate.

The transparent line-shaped structure serves as a receiving and / or transmitting part for receiving and / or emitting electromagnetic radiation.

In this case, the property "transparent" can have the meaning given above, that is to say that the material making up the electrically conductive, linear structure is, by itself, transparent.

However, "transparent" in this context may also mean that the material of which the electrically conductive linear structure is made may, by itself, be opaque or completely opaque, but because of the fineness of the line-shaped structure in the brightness, i. visually or hardly perceived in daylight or at night in the spotlight, so that the device of the invention appears to be transparent overall.

The property "linear" means that the "stretched" to the straight line, electrically conductive structure has a length which is orders of magnitude larger than their width or their diameter.

The transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure may have the geometric shape of at least one straight, curved, spiral or meandering line. But it can also consist of at least two preferably parallel to each other, straight or curved lines.

The width or the diameter of the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure is preferably 10 to 500 .mu.m, preferably 10 to 250 .mu.m, particularly preferably 10 to 150 .mu.m and in particular 10 to 100 .mu.m.

If the transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure has this width or this diameter, it is visually hardly or no longer perceived visually by a viewer, unless it is in the case of spiral or meandering lines or parallel, straight or curved lines too little space between adjacent parts respected. Preferably, the distance should be at least about ten times the diameter or the width {cf. to this the German patent application DE 103 19 606 A1 , Page 2, paragraph [0004]}.

Preferably, the area in which the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure is located extends over at most 50%, preferably at most 30%, particularly preferably at most 20%, in particular at most 10%, of a main surface of the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate.

The length of the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure depends in particular on the frequency band f that is to be received. The person skilled in the art can therefore readily determine the respectively suitable length on the basis of his general knowledge, where appropriate with the aid of a few orienting experiments. Preferably, the length at a quarter or an odd multiple of a quarter of the effective wavelength λ _{eff of} the center frequency of the received frequency band f for a straight electrical conductor is glass or a plastic such as a polyvinyl acetal resin, especially polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

The transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure may be a metal wire, in particular a copper, tungsten, gold, silver or aluminum wire or a wire, an alloy of at least two of these metals or an alloy of at least one of these metals with at least one other metal such as molybdenum, rhenium, osmium, iridium, palladium or platinum. The wire may be equipped with an electrically insulating coating.

The transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure may also be an imprinted metal structure, in particular made of silver, which forms a structured, electrically conductive coating.

Last but not least, the visually imperceptible or barely perceptible, electrically conductive, linear structure of one of the transparent, electrically conductive oxides (transparent conductive oxides, TCO), as described for example in the American patent application US 2007/029186 A1 on page 3, paragraph [0026], and page 4, paragraph [0034]. Preferably, the TCO around indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine tin oxide (FTO), aluminum doped zinc oxide (aluminum zinc oxide, AZO), gallium doped zinc oxide, boron doped zinc oxide, tin zinc oxide or antimony doped tin dioxide ( Antimony Tin Oxide, ATO). The transparent, electrically conductive oxide then forms a structured, electrically conductive coating.

In particular, a metal wire is used.

In addition to its function as a receiving and / or transmitting part, the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure has the function of measuring and / or changing a physical property in the region of the receiving and / or transmitting part. The physical property is preferably the temperature, electrical capacitance and / or the electrical inductance and / or the electrical resistance.

The transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure therefore preferably forms a more or less electrically resistively damped resonant circuit with a capacitance and inductance or an electrically heatable heating field. Therefore, in addition to its function as receiving and / or transmitting part, it particularly preferably has the function of a heating field, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature and / or a moisture-sensitive sensor element, in particular a rain sensor. In particular, it has the function of a heating field or a rain sensor.

In its function as a moisture-sensitive sensor element, in particular as a rain sensor, the transparent, electrically conductive, first line-shaped structure can be supplemented with a second structure which serves for temperature compensation or correction of the detected measured variable of the first structure, which changes as the temperature changes Changing the capacitance and / or inductance of the first structure results. As a result, a temperature correction is achieved, so that the measurement signal caused by existing moisture is independent of the temperature in a wide range and therefore only depends on the existing humidity.

The devices according to the invention each comprise at least one connection for decoupling and / or coupling in the received or transmitted electromagnetic radiation from the receiving and / or transmitting part, i. from the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure. The coupling or coupling is galvanic, capacitive or inductive, preferably capacitive.

In the devices according to the invention, in each case a connection for decoupling or coupling in the received or emitted electromagnetic radiation is electrically connected to a frequency filter. The frequency filter separates the decoupled or coupled electrical signals as a function of the frequency. Thus, it separates the electrical signals resulting from the further function of the above-described receiving and / or transmitting part of the electrical signals resulting from the received or emitted electromagnetic radiation. For example, it separates the electrical signals in the range of 15 to 20 MHz, which originate from the function as a rain sensor, from the signals resulting from the FM reception.

The frequency filter can be a passive filter.

However, the frequency filter can also be an active filter, in which at least one amplifier part is integrated, which serves to amplify the electrical signals and / or to cascade several filter stages to a higher-order filter.

The filter can be electrically connected directly or indirectly via a downstream processing, in particular a signal amplifier, with the most diverse analog and digital receiving or transmitting units, such. Radios, televisions, electric radio-controlled clocks, GPS navigational devices or mobile telephones, and portable or onboard data-processing equipment.

In addition, the frequency filter is electrically connected to a further electrical and / or electronic component, which, as described above, the measurement and / or change of at least one property in the region of the receiving or transmitting part is used.

Preferably, this further electrical and / or electronic component is a voltage source, a device for evaluating the electrical signals obtained from the frequency filter, which are separated from the electrical signals resulting from receiving or emitting the electromagnetic radiation, a device for exciting an electromagnetic oscillation in the receiving or transmitting part and / or a device for modulating an electromagnetic oscillation in the receiving or transmitting part.

Examples of suitable further electrical and / or electronic components are known from the German patent specification DE 101 27 978 C1 , the German patent applications DE 10 2005 022 980 A1 and DE 10 2005 006 862 A1 known.

Preferably, the frequency filters and the further electrical and / or electronic components are arranged outside the region of the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate.

The further electrical and / or electronic components can be connected to a multiplicity of different analogue and digital, optical, acoustic and / or audiovisual devices for signaling or electrical, mechanical and / or pneumatic devices, in particular devices which can trigger and terminate a movement ,

The devices according to the invention may also have at least one further sheet-like, transparent, dielectric material. Preferably, this has the same or substantially the same dimensions as the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate. Here, "substantially" means that the dimensions of the material differ from those of the substrate by not more than 20% relative to the substrate. Preferably, the dimensions are the same.

The transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure or the combined, transparent, electrically conductive, linear structures are preferably arranged between the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate and the further sheet-like, transparent, dielectric material.

It can be used a variety of sheet-like, transparent, dielectric materials. Preferably, these are the above-described, transparent, dielectric substrates of plastic or glass and / or plastic layers, in particular adhesion-promoting plastic layers, which have a high adhesion.

The adhesion-promoting plastic layers show a high elongation at break or breaking elongation in the tensile test. Preferably, the elongation at break is> 50%.

"Adhesive" means that the layers in question have a high intercoat adhesion, which is preferably so high that the bonded layers can no longer be separated without seriously damaging or even destroying them.

The thickness of the plastic layers can vary widely and therefore be well adapted to the requirements of the case. Preferably, the layers are 0.01 to 10 mm, preferably 0.2 to 5 mm, particularly preferably 0.3 to 1 mm thick.

As materials for the preparation of the adhesion-promoting layers are basically all materials into consideration, which have the required property profile described above. Preferably, the material is selected from the group consisting of thermally and / or actinic radiation cured cast resins and tear resistant adhesive sheets.

As is known, thermally cured cast resins are made from thermosetting cast resins containing complementary reactive functional groups that react with each other under the action of heat energy to form a three-dimensional network in the cured cast resin. Examples of suitable thermally curable casting resins are epoxy resins, as described for example in Rompp Online 2008 under the heading "epoxy resins".

As is known, casting resins cured with actinic radiation are prepared from casting resins which contain reactive functional groups which polymerize under the action of actinic radiation anionically, cationically or radically, in particular free-radically. In particular, it is in the reactive functional groups to olefinically unsaturated double bonds. Examples of suitable actinic radiation curable casting resins are known from Rompp Online 2008, "Radiation Curing Systems" and "Radiation Curing." As actinic radiation is electromagnetic radiation, such as near infrared (NIR), visible light, UV radiation, X-rays and gamma rays, or corpuscular radiation, such as electron radiation, proton radiation, beta radiation or alpha radiation into consideration.

The casting resins may be customary and known adhesion promoters, as described, for example, in the European patent application EP 0 799 949 A1 , Column 6, lines 24 to 32, are included.

Preferably, the tear-resistant adhesive films are selected from the group comprising polyvinyl acetal resin, polyvinyl butyral, PVB, polyethylene vinyl acetate, EVA, polyethylene terephthalate, PET, polyvinyl chloride, PVC, ionomer resins based on ethylene and / or propylene and alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids or polyurethane, PU, selected. In particular, polyurethane films and PVB films are used.

If a sheet-like, transparent, dielectric, adhesion-promoting plastic layer with high adhesiveness is used, the visually imperceptible or barely perceptible, electrically conductive, linear structure or the combined, visually imperceptible or barely perceptible, electrically conductive, linear structures can be partially or completely inserted into this plastic layer embedded or they may or may be located between the plastic layer and a sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate. On the side facing away from the linear structure of the plastic layer may be another substrate.

Configurations of this kind are described, for example, in the international patent application WO 2006/122943 A1 , Illustration, described.

In addition, the devices according to the invention may contain further functional, sheet-like, transparent materials, such as barrier layers, adhesion-promoting layers, color reflection films, UV or IR reflection films, Tinting films, heat protection films or opaque decorative frames for optical covering of parts of the device according to the invention.

In the first method step of the method according to the invention, at least one transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure is applied to or brought into contact with at least one main surface of at least one planar, transparent, dielectric substrate.

For this purpose, the line-shaped structure may be applied to the main surface of the substrate by means of an electrically conductive ink, e.g. an ink containing silver particles are printed. This can be done by screen printing or inkjet printing.

However, the line-shaped structure can also be applied as a wire to a main surface of the substrate or brought into contact therewith. For this purpose, the desired line-shaped structure can be produced by ultrasonically hammering the wire onto an adhesive layer or casting resin layer present on the main surface or onto a carrier film, in particular an adhesion-promoting plastic film.

However, the line-shaped structure can also be produced by removal of a layer of a transparent electrically conductive oxide (TCO) by extensive deposition and subsequent structuring of the deposited electrically conductive TCO layer by material-removing processes.

For this purpose, conventional and known methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) and the corresponding devices suitable for this purpose can be used. Examples of CVD processes are spray pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition and sol-gel deposition. Examples of PVD processes are electron beam evaporation and sputtering. Preferably, sputtering methods are used.

Sputtering is a common and well-known method for producing thin layers of materials that are not easily vaporized. Here is the Surface of a solid of suitable composition, the so-called target, by bombardment with high-energy ions from low-pressure plasmas, such as oxygen ions (O ⁺ ) and / or argon ions (Ar ⁺ ), or neutral particles atomized, after which the sputtered materials on substrates in the form thinner Layers are deposited (see Rompp Online, 2008, "Sputtering"). Preferably, the high-frequency sputtering, short RF sputtering, or the magnetic field-assisted sputtering, short magnetron sputtering (MSVD) is applied.

Suitable sputtering methods are described, for example, in the American patents US 7,223,940 B2 , Column 6, lines 25 to 38, and US 4,985,312 , Column 4, page 18, to column 7, line 10, or in the German translation of the European patent EP 0 847 965 B1 with the file number DE 697 31 268 T2 , Page 8, paragraph [0060], and page 9, paragraph [0070], to page 10, paragraph [0072].

The material-removing process can be carried out mechanically, thermally and / or by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation.

An advantageous method of mechanical removal that works very precisely and can provide particularly fine line-shaped structures is ultrasonic hammering.

An advantageous method for removing by thermal action and / or by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation, which also works very precisely and can provide particularly fine line-shaped structures, is the irradiation with a laser beam, as described for example in the European patent applications EP 0 827 212 A2 and EP 1 104 030 A2 is described.

In the second step of the method according to the invention, the receiving part and / or transmitting part produced in the first method step is equipped with at least one connection for decoupling or coupling in electromagnetic radiation. The connection can be galvanic, inductive or capacitive, with the in the publications US 7,223,940 B2 , Column 1, line 55, to column 2, line 43, and column 6, line 48, to column 9, line 59, in conjunction with Figures 1 to 9; DE 103 19 606 A1 Paragraphs [0010] to [0039], in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 3; DE 198 32 228 A1 , Column 1, line 56, to column 4, line 41, in conjunction with Figures 1 to 3; and WO 2008/058855 A1 , Page 3, last paragraph, to page 25, last Paragraph, end, can be used in conjunction with Figures 1a to 16, known methods and devices.

In the third step of the method according to the invention, the connection produced in the second method step is electrically connected to at least one frequency filter. This is preferably done by means of customary and known electrical lines and permanent or detachable connections.

In the fourth method step of the method according to the invention, the frequency filter is electrically connected to at least one further electrical and / or electronic component for measuring and / or changing at least one physical property in the region of the receiving and / or transmitting part. Preferably, this is also done here by means of conventional and known electrical lines and permanent or detachable connections.

In further process steps, which may be integrated in the method according to the invention and / or upstream or downstream thereof, the sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrates may be cleaned, deformed and adhesively bonded to the other sheet-like, transparent, dielectric materials described above.

"Bonding" means that the individual layers of the resulting devices according to the invention can no longer be detached from one another, without damaging or even destroying individual layers or the devices according to the invention as a whole.

Examples of suitable methods and devices are known from the European patent specification EP 1 857 424 A1 , Page 5, paragraphs [0042] to [0044].

The devices according to the invention described above and the devices produced by means of the method according to the invention, in particular the devices according to the invention, can be used in astonishingly diverse ways. In particular, they are used in the context of the use according to the invention.

• mindestens ein flächenförmiges, transparentes, dielektrisches Substrat, wie vorstehend beschrieben,
• mindestens eine transparente, elektrisch leitfähige, linienförmige Struktur auf oder in Kontakt mit mindestens einer Hauptoberfläche des Substrats als Empfangs- und / oder Sendeteil, wie vorstehend beschrieben, und
• mindestens einen Anschluss zum Auskoppeln der empfangenen elektromagnetischen Strahlung aus dem Empfangsteil oder zum Einkoppeln der gesendeten elektromagnetischen Strahlung in das Sendeteil, wie vorstehend beschrieben,
  sowie für mindestens eine weitere Funktion.

In its broadest aspect, the use according to the invention is based on the use of a transparent, planar device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation

• at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate, as described above,
• at least one transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure on or in contact with at least one main surface of the substrate as a receiving and / or transmitting part, as described above, and
• at least one connection for decoupling the received electromagnetic radiation from the receiving part or for coupling the transmitted electromagnetic radiation into the transmitting part, as described above,
  as well as for at least one other function.

This further function is preferably in the measurement and / or modification of at least one physical property in the region of the receiving part and / or transmitting part. The physical property is preferably the temperature, the electrical capacitance and / or the inductance and / or the electrical resistance. In particular, the device is used for the heating, the temperature measurement and / or the detection of moisture, especially rain. For this purpose, it is equipped with at least one frequency filter as described above and at least one further electrical and / or electronic component, as described above.

Preferably, the device is used in the form of tempered safety glass or laminated safety glass.

In this form, they are ideal as transparent built-in parts for means of transport for transport on land, air and water as well as for furniture, equipment and buildings. In the means of transport they can with particular advantage as a cover of headlights, windscreens, side windows, rear windows and / or glass roofs, in furniture and appliances as doors, windows and glazings and in buildings as overhead glazing for roofs, glass walls, facades, windows, glass doors, balustrades, parapet glazing, skylights or walk-in Glass to be used.

In particular, it is used as a windshield in motor vehicles. The placement of the area in which the transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure is located depends on the additional function. For example, if it is used to heat part of the windshield to keep the glass fog-free in front of a camera or an optical sensor, that area is located in front of that device. If the additional function lies in particular in the detection of moisture, in particular of rain, the area is very particularly preferably in the field of vision of the driver.

In the context of the use according to the invention, the device supplies an electrical measurement signal which activates at least one further device.

Examples of suitable further devices are devices for switching on and off of windshield wipers, devices for spraying liquids and / or gases, in particular for drying or cleaning, devices for triggering optical and / or acoustic signals, devices for switching on lights, devices for opening and Closing windows and doors and / or devices for placing opaque parts such as Venetian blinds or screens in front of the transparent devices.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine erste Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Figur 2 zeigt eine alternative Ausführungsform zur ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

In the following, the device according to the invention is described on the basis of FIGS. 1 and 2 exemplified. Both FIGS. 1 and 2 they are schematic representations intended to illustrate the principle of the invention. The schematic representations therefore need not be true to scale. The illustrated proportions therefore do not have to correspond to the proportions used in practice of the invention in practice.

• FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment to the first embodiment of the invention.

• (V) Transparente, flächenförmige Vorrichtung zum Empfangen und / oder Aussenden von elektromagnetischer Strahlung (Antennenvorrichtung),
  • (A) flächenförmiges, transparentes, dielektrisches Substrat,
  • (B) Figur 1: Transparente, elektrisch leitfähige, linienförmige Struktur mit der Form eines Mäanders als Empfangsteil für den UKW-Empfang,
  • (B) Figur 2: Transparente, elektrisch beheizbare, linienförmige Struktur,
  • (C) Anschluss zum kapazitiven Auskoppeln der empfangenen UKW-Strahlung [nur der Teil des Anschlusses, der mit dem Frequenzfilter (D) elektrisch verbunden ist, ist abgebildet; er verdeckt den räumlich hiervon getrennten Teil des Anschlusses, von dem der Empfangsteil (B) ausgeht,
  • (D) Frequenzfilter, der mit dem Anschluss (C) elektrisch verbunden ist,
  • (E_R) elektronisches Bauteil, das mit dem Frequenzfilter (D) elektrisch verbunden ist, als Auswerteschaltung des Regensensors,
  • (E_V) nachgeschaltete Signalverarbeitung für die Verstärkung der empfangenen UKW-Signale und
  • (E_P) Spannungsquelle.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 the reference signs have the following meaning:

• (V) Transparent, surface-shaped device for receiving and / or emitting electromagnetic radiation (antenna device),
  • (A) Sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate,
  • (B) FIG. 1 : Transparent, electrically conductive, line-shaped structure with the shape of a meander as receiver for FM reception,
  • (B) FIG. 2 : Transparent, electrically heatable, linear structure,
  • (C) Connection for capacitive decoupling of the received FM radiation [only the part of the terminal that is electrically connected to the frequency filter (D) is shown; it conceals the spatially separated part of the connection, from which the receiving part (B) emanates,
  • (D) frequency filter electrically connected to the terminal (C),
  • (E _R ) electronic component, which is electrically connected to the frequency filter (D), as the evaluation circuit of the rain sensor,
  • (E _V ) downstream signal processing for the amplification of the received VHF signals and
  • (E _P ) Voltage source.

The electrical connections of the electronic component (ER), the amplifier (Ev) and the voltage source (E _P ) to other devices are not shown.

The substrates (A) are, in particular, float glass panes of dimensions, as used, for example, for headlight covers, Windshields, side windows, glass roofs and rear windows used in vehicle construction as well as for small, medium or large-scale panes in the furniture, equipment or construction sector. The dimensions can be several square centimeters to several square meters.

In the receiving part (B) of the antenna device of FIG. 1 It is a 50 μm thick copper wire which has been laid by ultrasound hammering on an adhesive layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The distance between the adjacent parts of the meander is 1 mm. The length of the copper wire was chosen so that it is suitable for FM reception.

The meandering receiving part (B) of the antenna device of FIG. 1 is directly connected to the one part of the terminal (C) for capacitive decoupling of the received VHF signals. The distance between the adjacent meander sections is 1 mm. The length of the copper wire was selected to be one quarter of the effective electrical wavelength of the center frequency of the FM band for the selected FM reception. The connecting part of the terminal (C), which adjoins directly the meandering receiving part was carried out grid-shaped to the electrode and laid by ultrasonic hammering of the copper wire on the adhesive layer of PVB.

The entire assembly is covered by a 0.8 mm thick PVB film (not shown). The side of the PVB film facing away from the float glass pane (A) is adhesively bonded to another float glass pane (A), resulting in the configuration of a laminated safety glass pane. To produce them, the two float glass panes (A) were adhesively bonded together via the PVB film by means of a precompounding process (calender roll, quench or vacuum bag process) and an autoclave process.

On the main surface of the further float glass pane (A) facing away from the PVB film, the counterelectrode of the capacitive terminal (C) is arranged above the part of the terminal (C) which adjoins the receiving part (B), so that a coupling capacitance is used as the overall arrangement (C) in the form of a plate capacitor results as described in the corresponding textbooks. For clarification, the patent application DE 198 32 228 A1 directed.

The arranged on the outer main surface of the other float glass pane (A) part of the designed as a plate capacitor coupling capacitance (C) is electrically connected to the frequency filter (D). The frequency filter (D) separates the electrical signals generated by the reception of the FM radiation from the electrical signals resulting from the raindrop-induced change in the capacitance of the receiving section (B). The latter signals are fed to an evaluation circuit (E _R ), so that the function of a rain sensor results in addition to the antenna function. The signals are supplied via electrical leads to a device that starts or shuts off a windshield wiper (not shown). The electrical signals from FM reception are amplified by the amplifier (Ev) and sent to a radio receiver (not shown).

The reception characteristics of the antenna device of FIG. 1 are outstanding. It also fulfills the function of a rain sensor in a particularly reliable and precise manner. When used as a windshield, it does not hinder the driver's view.

The antenna device of FIG. 2 is different from the one of FIG. 1 merely in that the receiving part (B) is designed as an electrically heatable heating field (B) and the evaluation device (E _R ) is replaced by a voltage source (E _P ). This can be a motor vehicle battery.

The reception characteristics of the antenna device of FIG. 2 are outstanding. In addition, it performs the function of a heating excellent. When used as a windshield, it reliably keeps the area away from moisture and ice in front of cameras and sensors located in the interior of the vehicle.

Claims (14)

Transparent, sheet-like device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation having at least one further function, comprising (A) at least one sheet-like, transparent, dielectric substrate, (B) at least one transparent, electrically conductive, linear structure on or in contact with at least one main surface of the substrate (A) as the receiving and / or transmitting part, (C) at least one connection for decoupling the received and / or coupling in of the emitted electromagnetic radiation from the receiving part and / or into the transmitting part, (D) at least one frequency filter electrically connected to a terminal (C), and (E) at least one further electrical and / or electronic component, which is electrically connected to the frequency filter (D), for measuring and / or changing at least one physical property in the region of the receiving and / or transmitting part. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF and / or SHF signals. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the physical property in the region of the receiving and / or transmitting part is the temperature, the electrical capacitance, the inductance and / or the electrical resistance. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is in the further electrical and / or electronic component (E) to a voltage source, a device for evaluation of the frequency filter (D) obtained electrical signals, a device for exciting an electromagnetic oscillation in the receiving and / or transmitting part and / or a device for modulating an electromagnetic oscillation in the receiving part and / or transmitting part is. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the region in which the structure (B) is located extends over at most 50% of a major surface of the substrate (A). A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the line-shaped electrical conductor of the structure (B) has a width or a diameter of 10 to 500 μm. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a part of the structure (B) forms an area for the terminal (C) for the galvanic, capacitive and / or inductive output and / or coupling of the received and / or emitted electromagnetic radiation. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a part of the structure (B) forms an area for the terminal (C) for coupling out the received or launching of the electromagnetic radiation to be transmitted, which is a quarter of the effective wavelength λ _eff Center frequency of the received and / or transmitted frequency band for a straight electrical conductor on glass or an odd multiple thereof. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the line-shaped electrical conductor of the structure (B) is an electrically insulated or non-insulated wire or a structured, electrically conductive coating. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the structure (B) has the form of a resonant circuit or a heating field. Use of a transparent, sheet-like device for receiving and / or transmitting electromagnetic radiation according to one of claims 1 to 10 as a single-pane safety glass or Laminated safety glass and as a transparent component in means of transport for transport by land, air and water and in furniture, equipment and buildings. Use according to claim 11, wherein the device is used in the means of locomotion as covering headlamps, windscreens, side windows, rear windows and / or glass roofs, in furniture and appliances as doors, windows and glazings and in buildings as overhead glazing for roofs, glass walls, facades, window panes, Glass doors, balustrades, parapet glazing, skylights or walk-in glass is used. Use according to claim 12, wherein the device is used as a windscreen in motor vehicles. Use according to claim 13, wherein the device is placed in the field of view of the driver.

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