Agc Automotive Americas R&d, Inc.

Agc Flat Glass North America, Inc.

Timothy P Hoepfner

Mark S Ackerman

Makoto Sato

A solder joint is disposed on an electrical conductor which comprises silver. The solder joint comprises bismuth and tin. The solder joint has a microstructure comprising a bismuth-rich solder bulk and a silver-solder reaction zone. The bismuth-rich solder bulk is disposed adjacent to the silver-solder reaction zone. The solder joint comprises a plurality of bismuth-rich grains formed from bismuth and substantially dispersed throughout at least the bismuth-rich solder bulk of the solder joint. A window pane comprising the solder joint is also disclosed.

Solder joint for an electrical conductor and a window pane including same

A window pane has a substrate formed from glass and includes an electrical device. The electrical device includes an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is operatively connected to and in electrical communication with the conductor for transferring electrical energy to the conductor. The substrate has a first coefficient of expansion and the connector has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. A difference between the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion is equal to or less than 5&#xd7;10/&#xb0; C. for minimizing mechanical stress between the connector and the substrate due to thermal expansion of the connector and the substrate resulting from changes in temperature.

Electrical connector for a window pane of a vehicle

A method of bonding a connector to an electrical conductor. The conductor is applied to a glass substrate and the connector is placed over the conductor. An ultrasonic welding apparatus is used to oscillate the connector relative to the conductor to bond the connector to the conductor while maintaining the temperatures of the connector and conductor below the predefined melting points and without damaging the glass substrate. In addition, an electrically conductive foil can be disposed between the connector and the conductor for ensuring electrical communication between the connector and the conductor.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Lodge, MI, United States of America

Timothy P Hoepfner