Optical Properties of Automotive Glazing - Design and Feasibility Limitations?

Manfred-Andreas Beeck and Bernhard Schittek

Car drivers should see the real world as if there were no glazing – independent of the complex geometrical shape of modern car glazing design. However, the physics behind an ideal bent parallel glass pane shows up the difficulty, limitation or even the impossibility of such performance.

We report on the dependence of optical properties of automotive glazing such as light transmittance, colour of glass or coating, secondary image angle separation and distortion with respect to design demands and technical realisation. The gap between existing regulations and standards on the one hand and the increasing quality requirements on the other hand is pinpointed. Both, the challenging car design and the demanding needs of the driver (our customer) must be implemented.

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