Windows With Laminated Glass Layers

    公开(公告)号:US20230075801A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-03-09

    申请号:US17881517

    申请日:2022-08-04

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A vehicle or other system may have windows. The windows may be formed by laminating together glass layers. The glass layers may include a curved inner glass layer with a convex outer surface and a curved outer glass layer with a concave inner surface. A polymer adhesive film such as a polyvinyl butyral film may be adhered to the convex outer surface. An additional polymer layer formed from a different material than the polymer film may be interposed between the polymer film and the second glass layer. The additional polymer layer may be formed from a gap-filling liquid polymer adhesive layer. The layer of gap-filling liquid polymer adhesive may have a first surface adhered to the polymer film and a second surface adhered to the concave inner surface. An optical layer may be embedded in the additional polymer layer.

    Adjustable windows
    3.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11693279B1

    公开(公告)日:2023-07-04

    申请号:US17683731

    申请日:2022-03-01

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: G02F1/1339 B60J3/04 G02F1/13725 G02F1/134309

    Abstract: A system may have windows. The window may have first and second window layers and a layer of material such as guest-host liquid crystal material between the first and second window layers. Electrodes on the window layers may be used to apply electric fields to the guest-host liquid crystal material to adjust the light transmission properties of the window. To ensure that a desired gap between the first and second window layers is maintained, spacers may be formed between the first and second window layers. The spacers may include key-and-lock spacers that have interlocking portions located, respectively, on the first and second window layers. Spacers such as photoresist posts can be attached using adhesive. Hybrid arrangements may also be used in which key-and-lock spacer structures are attached using adhesive bonds.

    Windows With Molded Layers of Polished Glass

    公开(公告)号:US20230046757A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-02-16

    申请号:US17845824

    申请日:2022-06-21

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A vehicle or other system may have windows. The windows may be formed by laminating together molded sheets of polished float glass. Sheets of float glass may be polished on one side, leaving an opposing side unpolished. Following polishing, the sheets may be placed in a molding tool. The molding tool may mold the polished sheets into a desired shape such as a shape characterized by curved surfaces. The curved surfaces may include surfaces of compound curvature. Lamination equipment may use polymer to laminate first and second molded sheets of polished glass together with their polished sides facing outwardly away from each other. Light modulators and/or other electrically adjustable layers may be incorporated into the windows.

    Windows with liquid crystal layers

    公开(公告)号:US12130521B1

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-29

    申请号:US17989447

    申请日:2022-11-17

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A vehicle or other system may have windows. A window may include an outer glass layer having a concave inner surface and an inner glass layer having a convex inner surface. Transparent conductive electrodes may be formed on the concave inner surface and the convex outer surface. A liquid crystal layer such as a nanocapsule guest-host liquid crystal layer may be interposed between the transparent conductive electrodes. During manufacturing, a first layer of liquid crystal may be coated onto the transparent electrode on the outer glass layer, and a second layer of liquid crystal may be coated onto the transparent electrode on the inner glass layer. The two coated glass layers may then be pressed together in a vacuum chamber so that the first and second liquid crystal layers merge and become a homogenous layer, thereby removing surface irregularities in the liquid crystal layers and reducing undesired haze.

    Illumination-Based Privacy System
    8.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20240004121A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-01-04

    申请号:US18468581

    申请日:2023-09-15

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: G02B6/0041 G02B6/0095 G02B6/0076 G02B6/0063 B60J3/00

    Abstract: A system may have windows. Each window may have light guide structures. The light guide structures may be formed between inner and outer glass layers. Light sources may emit light into the light guide structures. The light guide structures may include light guide core layers that guide light from the light sources across the window. Light-scattering structures may be provided to extract light from the light guide core layers. Some of the guided light may be extracted inwardly to serve as interior illumination for the system. Some of the guided light may be extracted outwardly. The outwardly extracted light visually obscures the interior region from the outside of the system, thereby providing system occupants with privacy.

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