Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to photovoltaic modules that include high contact angle coatings on one or more outermost major surfaces thereof, and/or associated methods. In certain example embodiments, the high contact angle coatings advantageously reduce the likelihood of electrical losses through parasitic leakage of the electrical current caused by moisture on surfaces of the photovoltaic modules, thereby potentially improving the efficiency of the photovoltaic devices. In certain example embodiments, the high contact angle coatings may be nitrides and/or oxides of or including Si, Ti, Ta, TaCr, NiCr, and/or Cr; hydrophobic DLC; and/or polymer-based coatings. The photovoltaic modules may be substrate-type modules or superstrate-type modules in different example embodiments.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for sputter-depositing a thin film(s) including two or more materials using targets such as rotating cylindrical sputtering targets, including a method and apparatus. Magnet bar assemblies in first and second adjacent sputtering targets are oriented differently. The different orientations of the magnet bar assemblies allows material from the second target to be sputtered onto the first target, or vice versa. The mixture of material on the first target, including sputtering material from both the first and second targets, is then sputtered onto a substrate to form a sputter-deposited thin film that includes a mixture of the sputtering materials from the targets.

Abstract: A coated article that can be used in applications such as insulating glass (IG) units, so that resulting IG units can achieve high visible transmission of at least 70% (e.g., when using clear glass substrates from 1.0 to 3.5 mm thick), combined with at least one of: (a) SHGC no greater than about 0.45, more preferably no greater than about 0.40; (b) SC no greater than about 0.49, more preferably no greater than about 0.46; (c) chemical and/or mechanical durability; (d) neutral transmissive color such that transmissive a* is from ?5.0 to 0 (more preferably from ?3.5 to ?1.5), and transmissive b* is from ?2.0 to 4.0 (more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0); and (e) neutral reflective color from the exterior of the IG unit (i.e., Rg/Rout) such that reflective a* is from ?3.0 to 2.0 (more preferably from ?2.0 to 0.5), and reflective b* is from ?5.0 to 1.0 (more preferably from ?4.0 to ?1.0).

Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) includes an EMI filter at a front portion thereof for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves. The filters has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves. In certain example embodiments, a silver based coating of the EMI filter reduces damage from EMI radiation through highly conductive Ag layers, blocks significant amounts of NIR and IR radiation from outdoor sunlight to reduce PDP panel temperature, and enhances contrast ratio through reduced reflection, while maintaining high visible transmission. In certain example embodiments, at least one layer of or including silicon nitride may be Si-rich, and/or at least one layer including an oxide of Ni and/or Cr may be a suboxide, in order to improve heat treatability of the coated article.

Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics. In certain example embodiments, a zinc oxide inclusive layer is provide over an IR reflecting layer in order to improve thermal stability. A zirconium oxide overcoat may also be provided in certain example instances.

Abstract: This application relates to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating. In certain embodiments, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2) or zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiOxNy). When a layer comprising zirconium oxide or zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided as the uppermost or overcoat layer of the coated article (e.g., over a silicon nitride based layer), this results in improved chemical and heat stability in certain example embodiments. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, or in other suitable applications such as monolithic window applications, laminated windows, and/or the like.

Abstract: Example embodiments of this invention relate to a coated article including an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like, for use in an insulating glass (IG) window unit for example. In certain example embodiments, the coating is a single-silver type coating, and includes an overcoat including an uppermost layer of or including silicon nitride and a layer of or including tin oxide immediately under and contacting the silicon nitride based overcoat. In certain example embodiments, the thicknesses of the silicon nitride based overcoat and the tin oxide based layer are balanced (e.g., substantially equal, or equal plus/minus about 10%). It has surprisingly been found that such balancing results in an improvement in thermal cycling performance and improved mechanical durability. In certain example embodiments, the coating may realize surprisingly good substantially neutral film side reflective coloration, and may achieve an improved visible transmission, SHGC ratio and low U-values.

Abstract: A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer. The IR reflecting layer may be of silver or the like. In certain example embodiments, a titanium oxide layer is provided over the IR reflecting layer, and it has been found that this surprisingly results in an IR reflecting layer with a lower specific resistivity (SR) thereby permitting thermal properties of the coated article to be improved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a coated article for use in insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, or the like. The coated article typically includes a low-E coated article, including a low-E (low emissivity) coating supported by a glass substrate. In certain example embodiments, rapid heating (not sufficient for tempering or heat bending) of the coated article is utilized in order to reduce the emissivity and/or sheet resistance of the coated article without significantly damaging the infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of the coating, thereby activating the coated article. The glass of the coated article does not become too hot during such rapid heating.

Abstract: A mirror (e.g., first surface mirror) is provided with a layer of or including chromium nitride (CrNx). In certain example embodiments, the CrNx layer may be the primary reflective layer of the mirror. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found the addition of nitrogen to the chromium to form CrNx reduces pinhole formations in the resulting layer. In certain example embodiments, the more nitrogen which is introduced into the layer, the smaller the number and/or size of pinholes in the Cr inclusive layer. In certain example embodiments, it has also been found that the addition of nitrogen to Cr may improve durability.

Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics.

Abstract: A coated article is provided with a low-emissivity (low-E) layer stack for use in a window unit or the like. The layer stack, or coating, may permit the coated article to achieve one or more of a low solar factor (SF) value, a high selectivity (Tvis/SF) value, substantially neutral color at normal and/or off-axis viewing angles, and/or low emissivity. When high selectivity values are achieved, there is provided a high ratio of visible transmission to SF, which is a desirable feature in certain example instances. In certain example embodiments, a sub-oxide layer (e.g., NiCrOx) may be used as a contact layer under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer in order to permit low SF values, high selectivity, and good coloration to be achieved.

Abstract: A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer. In certain embodiments, the coating is provided with at least one layer of zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiOxNy), for improving the coated article's ability to block of UV radiation. The oxygen content of the layer may be adjusted in order to tune the coating's visible transmission versus UV blockage.

Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. A coating of the coated article includes a zinc oxide inclusive layer located over and contacting a contact layer that is in contact with an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver. It has been found that the use of such a zinc oxide inclusive layer results in improved thermal stability upon heat treatment, increased visible transmission, and/or lower sheet resistance (Rs).

Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be used as a vehicle windshield, insulating glass (IG) window unit, or the like. An ion beam is used to treat an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of such a coated article. Advantageously, this has been found to improve sheet resistance (Rs) properties, emittance, solar control properties, and/or durability of the coated article.

Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics. In certain example embodiments, a zinc oxide inclusive layer is provide over an IR reflecting layer in order to improve thermal stability. A zirconium oxide overcoat may also be provided in certain example instances.

Abstract: A coated article is provided so as to include a solar control coating having an infrared (IR) reflecting layer sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers. The IR reflecting layer may be of or include NbZrOx, NbZr, NiCr, NiCrNx, or the like in certain embodiments of this invention. In particular, a zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiOxNy) inclusive layer is provided which unexpectedly improves blocking (reflecting and/or absorption) of UV radiation in a manner which does not significantly degrade other optical properties of a coated article. Moreover, the ZrSiOxNy also has been found to improve (lower) the ?E* value upon heat treatment, thereby permitting a coated article when heat treated (HT) to more closely match its non-HT counterpart with respect to glass side reflective color after such HT.

Abstract: A mirror (e.g., first surface mirror) is provided with a layer of or including chromium nitride (CrNx). In certain example embodiments, the CrNx layer may be the primary reflective layer of the mirror. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found the addition of nitrogen to the chromium to form CrNx reduces pinhole formations in the resulting layer. In certain example embodiments, the more nitrogen which is introduced into the layer, the smaller the number and/or size of pinholes in the Cr inclusive layer. In certain example embodiments, it has also been found that the addition of nitrogen to Cr may improve durability.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for bending and/or tempering glass substrate(s) are provided. The amount of near-IR radiation which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered is limited (e.g., via filtering or any other suitable technique). Thus, the IR radiation (used for heating the glass) which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered includes mostly mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation, and not much near-IR. In such a manner, coating(s) provided on the glass can be protected and kept at lower temperatures so as to be less likely to be damaged during the bending and/or tempering process. Heating efficiency can be improved. A ceramic (e.g., aluminosilicate) filter or baffle may be used in certain embodiments in order to reduce the amount of mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation reaching the glass to be tempered and/or bent.

Abstract: A coated article that can be used in applications such as insulating glass (IG) units, so that resulting IG units can achieve high visible transmission of at least 70% (e.g., when using clear glass substrates from 1.0 to 3.5 mm thick), combined with at least one of: (a) SHGC no greater than about 0.45, more preferably no greater than about 0.40; (b) SC no greater than about 0.49, more preferably no greater than about 0.46; (c) chemical and/or mechanical durability; (d) neutral transmissive color such that transmissive a* is from ?5.0 to 0 (more preferably from ?3.5 to ?1.5), and transmissive b* is from ?2.0 to 4.0 (more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0); and (e) neutral reflective color from the exterior of the IG unit (i.e., Rg/Rout) such that reflective a* is from ?3.0 to 2.0 (more preferably from ?2.0 to 0.5), and reflective b* is from ?5.0 to 1.0 (more preferably from ?4.0 to ?1.0).