Optical: systems and elements – Polarization without modulation – Polarization by reflection or refraction
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-25
2001-07-10
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Polarization without modulation
Polarization by reflection or refraction
C359S487030, C359S630000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a glass arrangement such as a laminated glass including a polarization-direction changing film, and more particularly to such a laminated glass to be used in a head-up display system which is configured, for example, such that a driver of an automotive vehicle can observe an image of driving information projected as displaying light on a windshield glass while looking a frontal view through the windshield glass in such a manner that the vehicular information is superimposed on the frontal view.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of glass arrangements have been hitherto proposed and put into practical use for a head-up display system of an automotive vehicle. The glass arrangements include those of the type using a film functioning as a half mirror. These glass arrangements are configured by directly applying the half mirror on a windshield glass, or by interposing the half mirror between two glass plates. However, with these glass arrangements, reflection of light of an image is unavoidably made on the front-side or rear-side surface of the glass plate thereby forming a double image which is difficult to be observed by a driver. In view of this, the glass arrangements of another type have been proposed, in which light of the image is reflected from the surface of the glass plate without using the half mirror in order to avoid formation of the double image. One of these is configured by applying a so-called &lgr;/2 film (for changing a direction of polarization of light) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2-141720. Another one is configured by bonding a transparent film having birefringence on a transparent plate, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2-294615. A further one is configured by bonding a polarization-direction changing film on a transparent plate, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 6-40271. However, such conventional glass arrangements are insufficient in impact resistance and penetration resistance so that they cannot meet the requirements of the impact and penetration resistances according to safety regulations such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) No. R3211 (Automotive Vehicle Safety Glass) and R3212 (Automotive Vehicle Safety Class Testing Method).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved glass arrangement (such as laminated glass) which can overcome the drawbacks encountered in conventional glass arrangements.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved glass arrangement (such as laminated glass) which is sufficiently high in impact resistance and penetration resistance so as to be safe upon being used as a windshield glass of an automotive vehicle.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved glass arrangement (such as laminated glass) by which broken pieces cannot drop to the side of a vehicle passenger even if the glass arrangement is broken, in case that the glass arrangement is used as a windshield glass of an automotive vehicle.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved glass arrangement (such as laminated glass) which forms part of a head-up display system for an image of information, while ensuring sufficient impact and penetration resistances for an automotive vehicle windshield glass.
An aspect of the present invention resides in a glass arrangement comprising first and second glass plates which are respectively located at an inside where a person resides and an outside opposite to the inside. A polarization-direction changing film is disposed between the first and second glass plates to change a direction of polarization of light to be incident thereon. An adhesive is disposed between the polarization-direction changing film and the second glass plate to bond the polarization-direction changing to the second glass plate.
Another aspect of the present invention resides in a laminated glass comprising first and second glass plates which are respectively located at an inside where a person resides and an outside opposite to the inside. An intermediate film is disposed between and in contact with the first and second glass plates. A polarization-direction changing film is disposed between the first and second glass plates to change a direction of polarization of light to be incident thereon. An adhesive is disposed between the polarization-direction changing film and the second glass plate to bond the polarization-direction changing film to the second glass plate.
A further aspect of the present invention resides in a display system comprising a laminated glass which includes first and second glass plates which are respectively located at an inside where a person resides and an outside opposite to the inside. An intermediate film is disposed between and in contact with the first and second glass plates. A polarization-direction changing film is disposed between the first and second glass plates to change a direction of polarization of light to be incident thereon. An adhesive is disposed between the polarization-direction changing film and the second glass plate to bond the polarization-direction changing film to the second glass plate. Additionally, a display device is provided such that light is incident in a polarized state on the first glass plate of the laminated glass, the light forming an image to be observed by the person.
Accordingly, the glass arrangement (such as the laminated glass) of the present invention is sufficiently high in impact resistance and penetration resistance so as to meet the requirements according to safe regulations such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) Nos. R3211 and R3212. Therefore, the glass arrangement can be suitably used as a front windshield glass of an automotive vehicle, forming part of a head-up display system for an image of light representative of information such as driving information. In the head-up display system, the double image can be effectively prevented from being formed under the action of the polarization-direction changing film, so that the image of the information can be clearly observed on the windshield glass by a person (driver) residing in a passenger compartment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2440103 (1948-04-01), Land
patent: 3208902 (1965-09-01), Arond et al.
patent: 5049427 (1991-09-01), Starzewski et al.
patent: 5231379 (1993-07-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5352528 (1994-10-01), L'Her et al.
patent: 5510913 (1996-04-01), Hashimoto et al.
patent: 0 013435 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 0 171917 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 0 580143 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 2-141720 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 2-294615 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 3-228854 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 6-40271 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 6-273691 (1994-09-01), None
Safety Glass for Road Vehicles, JIS R-3211-1992, pp. 1536-1545 and English translation, pp. 1-15.
Test Method of Safety Glass for Road Vehicles, JIS R-3212-1992, pp. 70-83, and English translation, pp. 1-40.
Testing Methods for Yellowness Index and Change of Yellowness Index of Plastics, K7103-1977, pp. 146-149.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. JP6255051, Patented Sep. 13, 1994.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. JP2243544, Patented Sep. 27, 1990.
Asakura Motoh
Kobayashi Kazuya
Yamate Takashi
Central Glass Company Limited
Crowell & Moring , L.L.P.
Schuberg Darren
LandOfFree
Glass arrangement including an outside glass plate, a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Glass arrangement including an outside glass plate, a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Glass arrangement including an outside glass plate, a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2541682