Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to speech privacy systems and/or associated methods. The techniques described herein disrupt the intelligibility of the perceived speech by, for example, superimposing onto an original speech signal a masking replica of the original speech signal in which portions of it are smeared by a time delay and/or amplitude adjustment, with the time delays and/or amplitude adjustments oscillating over time. In certain example embodiments, smearing of the original signal may be generated in frequency ranges corresponding to formants, consonant sounds, phonemes, and/or other related or non-related information-carrying building blocks of speech. Additionally, or in the alternative, annoying reverberations particular to a room or area in low frequency ranges may be “cut out” of the replica signal, without increasing or substantially increasing perceived loudness.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating via at least one substantially two-dimensional array of heat sources is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers.

Abstract: A projection screen including a capacitive touch panel, such as a projected capacitive touch panel. The touch panel includes first and second glass substrates, one of which is patterned (e.g., etched with acid or the like) to form a diffuser. A conductive coating is formed on the patterned surface of the diffuser glass substrate, and is patterned into a plurality of electrodes for the touch panel. The system, including an optional projector, may be used as an interactive transparent display for augmented reality applications such as storefronts. The touch panel may also be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like.

Abstract: Racks for shipping loose or packaged glass sheets. A rack includes spaced-apart upright members that taper in thickness such that they are thicker at their lower ends compared to their upper ends. Base members extends outwardly and generally perpendicularly from respective upright members. The base members also taper such that they become thicker moving outwardly from the upright members. An acute or right angle is formed between innermost surfaces of the upright members and uppermost surfaces of the base members. The rack, when used alone, is self-standing as if an L-frame like rack and is arrangeable back-to-back with another rack of the same type to form a mutually-supporting A-frame like rack. The racks are easily loadable onto/removable from rail cars, trucks, and/or the like. Racks include features accommodating forks of a forklift/fork truck, further facilitating their movement.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating (e.g., from one or more substantially linear focused IR heat sources) is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers.

Abstract: A coated article includes a low emissivity (low-E) coating supported by a glass substrate. The low-E coating includes at least one silver (Ag) based infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) that is provided adjacent to and contacting at least one protective metallic or substantially metallic doped silver layer in order to improve chemical durability characteristics of the low-E coating. The silver based IR reflecting layer and adjacent protective doped silver layer are part of a low emissivity (low-E) coating, and may be sandwiched between at least transparent dielectric layers. A barrier layer including Ni and/or Cr may be provided over and directly contacting the protective doped silver layer in order to further improve durability of the low-E coating.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to vacuum insulating glass units having edge seals formed in connection with solder alloys that, when reactively reflowed, wet metallic coatings pre-coated on the glass substrates' perimeters, and/or associated methods. The alloys may be based on materials that form seals at temperatures that will not de-temper glass and/or decompose a laminate, and/or remain hermetic and lack porous structures in their bulks. Example alloys may be based on inter-metallics of Sn and one or more materials selected from post-transition metals or metalloids; Zintl anions (e.g., In, Bi, etc.) from Group 13, 14, 15, or 16; and transition metals (e.g., Cu, Ag, Ni, etc.); and excludes Pb. Thin film coatings in certain example embodiments work with the solder material to form robust and durable hermetic interfaces. Because low temperatures are used, certain example embodiments can use compliant and visco-elastic spacer technology based on lamellar structures and/or the like.

Abstract: A low-emissivity (low-E) coating on a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) includes at least first and second infrared (IR) reflecting layers (e.g., silver based layers) that are spaced apart by contact layers (e.g., NiCr based layers), a layer comprising silicon nitride, and an absorber layer of or including a material such as niobium zirconium which may be oxided and/or nitrided. The absorber layer is designed to allow the coated article to realize glass side reflective (equivalent to exterior reflective in an IG window unit when the coating is provided on surface #2 of an IG window unit) silver color. In certain example embodiments, the coated article (monolithic form and/or in IG window unit form) has a low visible transmission (e.g., from 15-45%, more preferably from 22-39%, and most preferably from 24-35%). In certain example embodiments, the coated article may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered and/or heat bent).

Abstract: Coated articles include two or more functional infrared (IR) reflecting layers sandwiched between at least dielectric layers. The dielectric layers may be of or including silicon nitride or the like. At least one of the IR reflecting layers is of or including titanium nitride (e.g., TiN) and at least another of the IR reflecting layers is of or including NiCr (e.g., NiCr, NiCrNx, NiCrMo, and/or NiCrMoNx).

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: There are provided coated articles that include two or more infrared (IR) reflecting layers (e.g., of or including NbZr, Nb, NiCr, NiCrMo, and/or a nitride thereof) sandwiched between at least dielectric layers, and/or a method of making the same. The coating may be designed so that the coated articles realize blue glass side reflective coloration in combination with a low glass side visible reflectance, acceptable film side coloration, and low solar factor (SF) and/or a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). Such coated articles may be used in the context of monolithic windows, insulating glass (IG) window units, laminated windows, and/or other suitable applications, and may optionally be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances.

Abstract: There are provided coated articles that include two or more infrared (IR) reflecting layers (e.g., of or including NbZr, Nb, NiCr, NiCrMo, and/or a nitride thereof) sandwiched between at least dielectric layers, and/or a method of making the same. The coating may be designed so that the coated articles realize grey (including black) glass side reflective coloration in combination with a low solar factor (SF) and/or a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). Such coated articles may be used in the context of monolithic windows, insulating glass (IG) window units, laminated windows, and/or other suitable applications, and may optionally be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances.

Abstract: There are provided coated articles that include two or more infrared (IR) reflecting layers (e.g., of or including NbZr, Nb, NiCr, NiCrMo, and/or a nitride thereof) sandwiched between at least dielectric layers, and/or a method of making the same. The coating may be designed so that the coated articles realize green glass side reflective coloration in combination with a low solar factor (SF) and/or a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). Such coated articles may be used in the context of monolithic windows, insulating glass (IG) window units, laminated windows, and/or other suitable applications, and may optionally be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances.

Abstract: A multi-layer conductive coating is substantially transparent to visible light, contains at least one conductive layer comprising silver that is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers, and may be used as an electrode and/or conductive trace in a capacitive touch panel. The multi-layer conductive coating may contain a dielectric layer(s), and may be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like. In certain example embodiments, different electrodes of the touch panel may be formed by different silver based layers of the same or different multi-layer coatings. In patterning the electrodes, different laser scribing wavelengths may be used to pattern different respective silver based layers, of the same or different multi-layer coating(s), in certain example embodiments.

Abstract: An insulating glass (IG) window unit including first and second glass substrates that are spaced apart from each other. At least one of the glass substrate has a triple silver low-emissivity (low-E) coating on one major side thereof, and a dielectric coating for improving angular stability on the other major side thereof.

Abstract: A low-E coating has good color stability (a low ?E* value) upon heat treatment (HT). Thermal stability may be improved by the provision of an as-deposited crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of or including zinc oxide, doped with at least one dopant (e.g., Sn), immediately under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver; and/or by the provision of at least one dielectric layer of or including at least one of: (a) an oxide of silicon and zirconium, (b) an oxide of zirconium, and (c) an oxide of silicon. These have the effect of significantly improving the coating's thermal stability (i.e., lowering the ?E* value). An absorber film may be designed to adjust visible transmission and provide desirable coloration, while maintaining durability and/or thermal stability.

Abstract: A low-E coating has good color stability (a low ?E* value) upon heat treatment (HT). Thermal stability may be improved by the provision of an as-deposited crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of or including zinc oxide, doped with at least one dopant (e.g., Sn), immediately under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver; and/or by the provision of at least one dielectric layer of or including an oxide of zirconium. These have the effect of significantly improving the coating's thermal stability (i.e., lowering the ?E* value). An absorber film may be designed to adjust visible transmission and provide desirable coloration, while maintaining durability and/or thermal stability. The dielectric layer (e.g., of or including an oxide of Zr) may be sputter-deposited so as to have a monoclinic phase in order to improve thermal stability.

Abstract: A multi-layer conductive coating is substantially transparent to visible light, contains at least one conductive layer comprising silver that is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers, and may be used as an electrode and/or conductive trace in a capacitive touch panel. The multi-layer conductive coating may contain a dielectric layer of or including zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2) and/or silicon nitride, and may be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like. The coating may have increased resistivity, and thus reduced conductivity, compared to pure silver layers of certain coatings, in order to allow the silver-based coating to be more suitable for use as touch panel electrode(s).

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles including noble metal (e.g., Ag) and polymeric hydrogenated diamond like carbon (DLC) (e.g., a-C:H, a-C:H:O) composite material having antibacterial and photocatalytic properties, and/or methods of making the same. A glass substrate supports a buffer layer, a matrix comprising the noble metal and DLC, a proton-conducting layer that may comprising zirconium oxide in certain example embodiments, and a layer comprising titanium oxide. The layer comprising titanium oxide may be photocatalytic and optionally may further include carbon and/or nitrogen. The proton-conducting layer may facilitate the creation of electron-hole pairs and, in turn, promote the antibacterial properties of the coated article. The morphology of the layer comprising titanium oxide and/or channels formed therein may enable Ag ions produced from matrix to migrate therethrough.

Abstract: In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a carbon-doped zirconium based layer before heat treatment (HT). The coated article is heat treated sufficiently to cause the carbon-doped zirconium oxide and/or nitride based layer to result in a carbon-doped zirconium oxide based layer that is scratch resistant and/or chemically durable. The doping of the layer with carbon (C) has been found to improve wear resistance.