Pilkington Group Limited

Jonathan Barclay Dixon

Mark Andrew Chamberlain

Michael Lyon

Jonathan Peter Voss

Andrew Thomas Stanley

Michael Robert Greenall

Matthias Kriegel-Gemmecke

A laminated glazing pane is described comprising first and second sheets of glazing material joined by an interlayer structure comprising at least one sheet of adhesive interlayer material. Each sheet of glazing material has respective first and second major surfaces and the laminated glazing is arranged such that the second major surface of the first sheet of glazing material faces the first major surface of the second sheet of glazing material. An illumination device is arranged relative to the first sheet of glazing material to emit light towards the second major surface of the first sheet of glazing material. The first and/or second major surface of the first sheet of glazing material has an array of dots thereon for diffusing light emitted by the illumination device that is transmitted through the first sheet of glazing material and out from the first major surface thereof.

Laminated glazing

A switchable device for changing the opacity of at least a portion of a glazing is described. The switchable device comprises at least two (a first and a second) switchable regions in electrical communication with at least two (a first and a second) electrical connector regions. Each switchable region comprises an electrically actuated variable opacity layer between a first electrode and a second electrode, the first switchable region being arranged relative to the second switchable region such that upon connecting the first and second electrical connector regions to a suitable power supply, the opacity of the first and second switchable region changes such that at least two (a first and a second) portions of the switchable device have a change of opacity, the first portion of the switchable device having a different opacity to the second portion of the switchable device.

Switchable device

A laminated glazing is described comprising a first pane of glazing material having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, there being an obscuration band on the second major surface extending around a portion of the periphery of the first pane such that the second major surface is not smooth. A first adhesive layer having a thickness of between 6 &#x3bc;m and 100 &#x3bc;m contacts a portion of the second major surface of the first pane of glazing material and a portion of the obscuration band. The laminated glazing also has a carrier ply carrying an infra red reflecting coating wherein the first adhesive layer is between the first pane of glazing material and the carrier ply.

An improved process for fabrication of laminated glazings incorporating conductors such as heating elements is described. During assembly of the glazing, a solution comprising the same polymer material as the interlayer is applied to the conductors and allowed to dry prior to fitting a glazing sheet on top. This gives rise to a thin coating of polymer around the conductors and subsequent heat treatment causes the this coating and the main polymer interlayer to soften and fuse. The resulting structure shows improved encapsulation of the conductors (wires and busbars) with greater resistance to water ingress at the edge of the glazing.

Manufacturing process for glazing with integral wiring

A heatable glazing is disclosed in which electrical heating elements such as fine wires are connected to a busbar. The resistance of the busbar is chosen such that, at the supply voltage of the installation, the busbar provides heating of a portion of the glazing in which it is located.

Heatable glazing

A laminated glazing comprising two panes of glazing material, a sheet of interlayer material extending therebetween, and an electrically conductive member formed (possibly etched) from a sheet of electrically conductive material also positioned between the panes. The electrically conductive member may function as one or more of: an antenna element, a capacitive sensor, an electromagnetic shield, part of alarm circuitry, a resistance thermometer, a busbar. Also a method of manufacturing such a glazing involving locating a pre-formed electrically conductive member and a sheet of interlayer material on a first pane of glazing material, placing a second pane of glazing material in register with the first so that the electrically conductive member and the interlayer material are between the two panes, and laminating in an autoclave.

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Ormskirk, United Kingdom

Jonathan Barclay Dixon