1. An assembly of a panel (1) made of a transparent material and at least one light device (2), the at least one light device (2) being for at least one of emitting light into the panel and receiving light from the panel, wherein the panel comprises two opposite main surfaces (3, 4) and a plurality of side edge surfaces (5) connecting the main surfaces, and wherein the light device is positioned adjacent to at least one of the plurality of side edge surfaces, characterized in that an area of the two main surfaces (3, 4) of the panel (1) adjacent to the at least one side edge surface (5) where the light device (2) is positioned is provided with light reflecting means (11, 12) for reflecting light travelling inside the panel.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the light reflecting means comprise a reflecting layer (11, 12) attached to the main surface (3, 4).

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the reflective layer (11, 12) comprises at least one of the following: a mirror coating, a metal foil or a layer of a material having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the material of the panel (1).

4. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the reflective layers (11, 12) on both main surfaces (3, 4) of the panel (1) are made of the same material.

5. Assembly according to any one of claims 2-4, comprising a further panel (9) made of a transparent material, the further panel (9) being positioned on top of one of the reflective layers (11), wherein the reflective layer simultaneously acts as a bonding agent for bonding the further panel to the panel (1).

6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the reflective layer (11) extends substantially over the entire overlapping area between the panel (1) and the further panel (9).

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that at least some of the reflective layers (11, 12) comprise high crosslink density ethylene vinyl acetate (HEVA).

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light device (2) comprises an array of LEDs (14) for emitting light into the panel (1).

9. The assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the LEDs (14) are configured such that at least some of the arrays of LEDs emit light with different intensities and/or are configured such that at least some of the arrays of LEDs have different orientations for emitting light in different directions into the panel (1) and/or a variation in pitch between at least some of the arrays of LEDs.

10. An assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the LEDs (14) are positioned adjacent only some of the side edge surfaces (5) of the panel (1), and wherein the side edge surfaces of the panel adjacent to which no LEDs are positioned are provided with a reflective layer (15).

11. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (1) is provided at its side edge surfaces (5) with an encapsulation (10), which encapsulation (10) partly overlaps at least one main surface (3) of the panel, and wherein the light reflection means (12) at the main surface (3) extend at least over the overlapping area between the main surface (3) and the encapsulation.

12. An assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, characterised in that the panel (1) is provided at least one of its side edge surfaces (5) with a cover (16), which cover (16) is attached to a main surface (3) of the panel and partly overlaps the panel, and in that the light reflecting means (12) at the main surface extends at least over the area of overlap between the main surface and the cover and is positioned between the main surface and the cover.

13. Assembly according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the light device (2) comprises at least one solar cell, preferably an array of solar cells, for receiving light from the panel, and wherein the panel comprises fluorophores, preferably quantum dots, for converting incident sunlight into light travelling through the panel towards the at least one solar cell.

14. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (1) has a substantially rectangular shape with a forward side edge surface (6), a rearward side edge surface (7) and two lateral side edge surfaces (8), and wherein the light means (2) are located adjacent to the forward and rearward side edge surfaces or to the two lateral side edge surfaces or at the forward, rearward and lateral side edge surfaces.

15. An open roof construction for a vehicle (20), the vehicle (20) having a roof opening (18) in a fixed roof portion (19) and a panel (1) for closing the roof opening, wherein the panel is part of an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

Background

Known assemblies of this type may have some drawbacks such as loss of light (e.g. absorption) in the region of the panel close to the side edge surface (particularly in the case of light emission into the panel) and artefacts in the light appearance, resulting in a final light appearance that is less uniform, and such as a reduction in the intensity of the light leaving the panel (e.g. for cooperation with solar cells), particularly in the case of light received from the panel. The manner in which the panels are attached and the poor alignment of the light devices (e.g., LEDs) relative to the curvature of the side edge surfaces are some of the causes of such defects.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved assembly.

According to the invention, the assembly is characterized in that the areas of the two main surfaces of the panel adjacent to at least one side edge surface where the light means are located are provided with light reflecting means for reflecting light travelling inside the panel. Since such light reflecting means are provided at said areas of both main surfaces, light losses in said areas can be reduced or substantially prevented. The resulting light appearance (in case of light emitted into the panel) will be more uniform, while the amount of light output (in case of light received from the panel) will be increased.

Note that in most cases the transparent material used to make the panels will be glass or a plastics material (and may be monolithic, but may also comprise any suitable type of laminated assembly).

The reflecting means may have many different embodiments. In one embodiment, the light reflecting means comprises a reflective layer attached to the major surface.

Such a reflective layer may include at least one of: a mirror coating, a metal foil (or a similar reflective layer that reflects itself) or a layer of material having a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the material of the panel (which causes total internal reflection in the panel). Moreover, combinations of such embodiments are conceivable (depending on the situation, it is even conceivable to use different said embodiments at different portions of both main surfaces of the panel adjacent to the area where the at least one side edge surface of the light device is located).

Although it is preferred that the light reflecting layers on both major surfaces of the panel are made of the same material, there may be cases where the reflecting layers are different. More generally, the light reflecting means of the two main surfaces may be different or may be identical.

In one embodiment, the assembly according to the invention comprises a further panel made of a transparent material positioned on top of one of the reflective layers, wherein the reflective layer simultaneously acts as a bonding agent for bonding the further panel to the panel. In such an embodiment, it is conceivable that the reflective layer extends substantially over the entire overlap area between the panel and the further panel.

In one embodiment, at least some of the reflective layers comprise high crosslink density ethylene vinyl acetate (HEVA). This material provides high temperature stability as well as stability of the adhesion (covalent bonding to the surface of the major surface of the panel).

In an embodiment of the assembly, the light means comprises an array of LEDs for emitting light into the panel. However, the use of such (substantially uniform) light coupling systems may still result in a partially non-uniform light appearance. For example, the front and rear corners of the panel may show a lower light intensity, and misalignment of the LEDs with respect to the panel may also result in a (local) reduction of the light intensity. Thus, to improve the light appearance (and in particular its uniformity), many specific embodiments can be implemented when using LEDs. For example, the LEDs may be configured such that at least some of the arrays of LEDs emit light having different intensities, and/or the LEDs may be configured such that at least some of the arrays of LEDs have different orientations for emitting light into the panel in different directions, and/or the spacing between at least some of the arrays of LEDs may vary.

In embodiments where the LEDs are located adjacent only some of the side edge surfaces of the panel, the side edge surfaces of the panel where the LEDs are not located may be provided with a reflective layer (preferably of the type that is itself reflective), thereby further improving the uniformity of the light appearance.

In a particular embodiment of the assembly, the panel is provided at its side edge surfaces with an encapsulation which partially overlaps at least one main surface of the panel, wherein the light reflecting means at the main surface extend at least over an overlap area between the panel and the encapsulation.

In a further embodiment, the panel is provided at least one of its side edge surfaces with a cover attached to a main surface of the panel and partially overlapping the panel, wherein the light reflecting means at the main surface extends at least over the overlapping area between the main surface and the cover and is positioned between the main surface and the cover.

In another embodiment, the light device comprises at least one solar cell, preferably an array of solar cells, for receiving light from the panel, wherein the panel comprises fluorophores, preferably quantum dots, for converting incident sunlight into light travelling through the panel towards the at least one solar cell.

In a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the panel has a substantially rectangular shape with a forward side edge surface, a rearward side edge surface and two lateral side edge surfaces, and wherein the light means are located adjacent to the forward and rearward side edge surfaces or adjacent to the two lateral side edge surfaces or at the forward side edge surface, the rearward side edge surface and the lateral side edge surfaces.

Note that during the manufacture of panels, the side edge surfaces are typically rounded to remove cracks and prevent such cracks from propagating into the panel. However, such rounded side edge surfaces may cause discontinuities (such as stripes) in the appearance of light. Therefore, it is preferable that the side edge surfaces are not rounded but flat.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening in a fixed roof part and a panel for closing the roof opening, wherein the panel is part of an assembly according to the invention.

Drawings

The invention will be elucidated hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portion of a cross-section of one embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention;

2-4 schematically illustrate portions of multiple embodiments having different LED arrangements in top plan views;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates, in a top plan view, a portion of another embodiment of an assembly;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a portion of a cross-section of another embodiment of the assembly; and

fig. 7 schematically shows a vehicle comprising an assembly according to the invention.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, an assembly of a panel 1 (e.g. a monolithic or laminated glass panel) made of a transparent material and at least one light device 2 (in this embodiment, for emitting light to an array of LEDs in the panel) is shown in a cross-sectional view. The panel 1 comprises two opposite main surfaces 3 and 4 and a plurality of side edge surfaces 5 (only one of which is shown in this view) connecting the main surfaces 3 and 4. The light device 2 is positioned adjacent to the side edge surface 5 as shown. In a practical embodiment, in which the panel 1 has a substantially rectangular shape, with a forward side edge surface 6, a rearward side edge surface 7 and two lateral side edge surfaces 8 (see e.g. fig. 7), such light means 2 may for example be positioned adjacent to the forward and rearward side edge surfaces 6, 7 or adjacent to both lateral side edge surfaces 8, or at the forward, rearward and lateral side edge surfaces 6, 7, 8 (however, the possibility of a position at only a single side edge surface is not excluded).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the assembly further comprises a further panel 9 made of a transparent material (e.g. glass), said further panel 9 being positioned on top of the panel 1. The panel 1 and the further panel 9 are encapsulated (at least at some, and preferably at all, side edge surfaces) in an encapsulation 10, said encapsulation 10 partially overlapping at least one main surface 3 of the panel 1 (and which in the embodiment shown also defines a support for the light device 2).

Between the panel 1 and the further panel 9 (on the main surface 4) a first reflective layer 11 is positioned, said first reflective layer 11 being intended to reflect light travelling inside the panel 1, said first reflective layer 11 simultaneously acting as a bonding agent for bonding the further panel 9 to the panel 1. Typically, said first reflective layer 11 will extend substantially over the entire overlap area between the panel 1 and the further panel 9 (and preferably over the entire main surface 4).

At least the areas of the two main surfaces 3 and 4 of the panel 1 adjacent to the at least one side edge surface 5 where the light means 2 are located are provided with a reflective layer for reflecting light travelling inside the panel 1. This means that in said area, in addition to the first reflective layer 11 (which also extends beyond said area), a second reflective layer 12 for reflecting light travelling inside the panel is provided on the main surface 3. In the embodiment shown, the second reflective layer 12 extends over the overlapping area between the main surface 3 and the package 10 (but in other embodiments not shown it may extend over a smaller or larger area).

Between the package 10 and the panel 1, a layer 13 made of black primer or black ceramic is typically provided, and in such a case, the second reflective layer 12 will be positioned between such a layer 13 and the panel 1.

The reflective layers 11 and 12 may be positioned on/attached to the major surfaces 3 and 4 in any convenient manner and may include at least one of: a mirror coating or a metal foil (or a similar reflective layer that reflects itself) or a layer of material having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the material of the panel 1 (which causes total internal reflection in said panel). The reflective layers 11 and 12 on both major surfaces 3 and 4 of the panel 1 may or may not be made of the same material. It is also possible to provide different reflecting means on the main surface.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, no further panel 9 is provided, but in such a case there will also be a first reflective layer, although the first reflective layer 11 may therefore not extend over the entire main surface 4.

In fig. 2, an embodiment is shown wherein an array of LEDs 14 is arranged at the respective side edge surface 5, said array of LEDs 14 acting as light means 2 for emitting light into the panel 1. In this embodiment, the individual LEDs 14 of the array are positioned equidistantly and emit light in parallel directions (schematically indicated by dashed lines).

However, to cope with and compensate for any uneven light appearance in the panel 1, the LEDs may be arranged in different configurations along such side edge surfaces 5, as shown in fig. 3 and 4. In the embodiment according to fig. 3, the LEDs are equally equidistantly positioned but emit light in varying directions (not all dashed lines extend parallel to each other). In the embodiment according to fig. 4, the LEDs emit light in parallel directions, but the LEDs are positioned at varying pitches. Any combination of these features is also possible. Additionally, it is also contemplated that the LEDs 14 are configured such that at least some of the LEDs in the array of LEDs emit light having different intensities.

In fig. 5, the panel 1 is shown, wherein the LEDs 14 are only positioned adjacent to some of the side edge surfaces of the panel (here, for example, the opposite lateral side edge surfaces 8), and wherein the remaining side edge surfaces of the panel 1 (here, the forward and backward side edge surfaces 6 and 7) around which the LEDs 14 are not arranged are provided with a reflective layer 15 (except for the first and second reflective layers 11, 12 which are arranged but not visible in fig. 2-5).

Referring to fig. 6, an embodiment is shown wherein the panel 1 is provided at least one of its side edge surfaces 5 with a cover 16, said cover 16 being attached to the main surface 3 of the panel (e.g. using a pressure sensitive adhesive tape 17) and at least partially overlapping the panel 1. The second reflective layer 12 at said main surface 3 extends at least over the overlap area between said main surface 3 and the cover 16 and is positioned between said main surface and the cover.

Although in the above the light arrangement 2 is embodied as an array of LEDs 14 emitting light into the panel 1, it is also conceivable that the light arrangement 2 comprises at least one solar cell, preferably an array of solar cells (which in the figures may also be denoted by reference numeral 14), for receiving light from the panel, and wherein the panel may comprise fluorophores, preferably quantum dots, for converting incident sunlight into light travelling through the panel towards the at least one solar cell for generating electrical energy.

Finally, fig. 7 schematically shows a part of a vehicle 20, which vehicle 20 has a roof opening 18 in a fixed roof part 19 and a panel 1 for closing the roof opening, wherein the panel is part of an assembly according to the invention. The panel 1 may have a fixed position, but may also be movable to open the roof opening 18, as known per se.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may be varied widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.