Sensor Applique With Ultra Violet Curable Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

Abstract

An applique for covering a clear substrate through which light is at least one of transmitted and received includes: a transparent sheet having: a first surface; and a second surface that is opposite the first surface; and a ultraviolet (UV) curable pressure sensitive adhesive that is disposed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, that is curable using UV light, and that is configured to adhere the transparent sheet to a third surface of the clear substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An applique for covering a clear substrate through which light is at least one of transmitted and received, the applique comprising:
 a transparent sheet having:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface that is opposite the first surface; and 
   a ultraviolet (UV) curable pressure sensitive adhesive that is disposed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, that is curable using UV light, and that is configured to adhere the transparent sheet to a third surface of the clear substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive includes adhesive 8148 by 3M corporation. 
     
     
         3 . The applique of  claim 2  wherein a thickness of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is 2 mils. 
     
     
         4 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the transparent sheet is a fluoropolymer sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the transparent sheet is fluorinated ethylene propylene. 
     
     
         6 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is a dry adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive includes a sheet of UV curable adhesive that is cured using the UV light after application of the applique to the clear substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein, prior to application of the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive to the transparent sheet, the first surface of the transparent sheet is treated by at least one of an ozone treatment process, a corona treating process, a chemical etching process, and a plasma treating process. 
     
     
         9 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is configured to adhere better to the first surface of the transparent sheet than to the third surface of the clear substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein:
 the clear substrate exhibits a first index of refraction; 
 the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive exhibits a second index of refraction after being UV cured; 
 the transparent sheet exhibits a third index of refraction; 
 with the third index of refraction of the transparent sheet is less than the second index of refraction; and 
 the second index of refraction is less than the first index of refraction of the clear substrate. 
 
     
     
         11 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the third surface of the clear substrate is a planar surface. 
     
     
         12 . The applique of  claim 1  wherein the third surface of the clear substrate is a convex surface. 
     
     
         13 . The applique of  claim 1  further comprising a release liner that covers the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The applique of  claim 13  wherein the UV curable pressure sensitive adhesive is configured to adhere better to the first surface of the transparent sheet than to the release liner. 
     
     
         15 . The applique of  claim 1  further comprising a coating on the second surface of the transparent sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The applique of  claim 15  wherein the coating includes at least one of:
 an anti-icing coating; 
 an anti fouling coating; 
 an anti-scratch coating; 
 an anti-reflective coating; 
 a tint; 
 a reflective coating; and 
 a hydrophilic coating. 
 
     
     
         17 . A sensor comprising:
 a clear substrate having a first surface;   a sensor module configured to receive light through the clear substrate; and   an applique that is adhered to the first surface of the clear substrate and that includes:
 a transparent sheet having:
 a second surface; and 
 a third surface that is opposite the second surface; and 
 
 a ultraviolet (UV) cured pressure sensitive adhesive that is sandwiched between the second surface of the transparent sheet and the first surface of the clear substrate and that adheres the transparent sheet to the clear substrate. 
   
     
     
         18 . The sensor of  claim 17  wherein the sensor module is further configured to transmit light through the clear substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 17  wherein:
 the transparent sheet is fluorinated ethylene propylene; and 
 the UV cured pressure sensitive adhesive is adhesive 8148 by 3M corporation that is cured using UV light. 
 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 17  wherein the applique further includes, on the third surface of the transparent sheet, at least one of:
 an anti-icing coating; 
 an anti fouling coating; 
 an anti-scratch coating; 
 an anti-reflective coating; 
 a tint; 
 a reflective coating; and 
 a hydrophilic coating.