Abstract: A method is provided for changing the visible light transmittance of a coated article having a functional coating having at least one anti-reflective material and at least one infrared reflective material. The anti-reflective material includes an alloying material capable of combining or alloying with the infrared reflective material. A protective coating is deposited over the functional coating to prevent or retard the diffusion of atmospheric gas and/or vapor into the functional coating. The coated article is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause at least some of the alloying material to combine with at least some of the infrared reflective material to form a substance having a different visible light transmittance than the infrared reflective material.

Abstract: A method is provided for changing the visible light transmittance of a coated article having a functional coating having at least one anti-reflective material and at least one infrared reflective material. The anti-reflective material includes an alloying material capable of combining or alloying with the infrared reflective material. A protective coating is deposited over the functional coating to prevent or retard the diffusion of atmospheric gas and/or vapor into the functional coating. The coated article is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause at least some of the alloying material to combine with at least some of the infrared reflective material to form a substance having a different visible light transmittance than the infrared reflective material.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate, a functional coating deposited over at least a portion of the substrate, and a protective (barrier) coating deposited over at least a portion of the functional coating. The barrier coating is stable to oxygen-containing gases and limits the transmission of oxygen-containing gases to materials over which it is deposited when subjected to conditioning steps such as heating, bending, and/or tempering.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate, a functional coating deposited over the substrate, and a protective coating deposited over the functional coating. The functional coating and the protective coating define a coating stack. The protective coating provides the coating stack with an emissivity value higher than the emissivity value of the functional coating alone. The protective coating can have a thickness in the range of greater than 100 ? to less than or equal to 10 microns and a refractive index in the range of 1.4 to 2. The protective coating can include a first layer formed over the functional coating and a second layer formed over the first layer. The first layer can include 50 wt. % to 100 wt. % alumina and 50 wt. % to 0 wt. % silica, and the second layer can include 50 wt. % to 100 wt. % silica and 50 wt. % to 0 wt. % alumina. An alternating current power supply and cathode target system includes a cathode target including aluminum in the range of 5 wt. % to 100 wt. % and silicon in the range of 0 wt.

Abstract: A method of making a coated substrate includes providing a substrate having a functional coating with a first emissivity value; depositing a coating material having a second emissivity value over at least a portion of the functional coating prior to heating to provide a coating stack having an emissivity value greater than the emissivity value of the functional coating; and heating the coated substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a coated substrate includes providing a substrate having a functional coating with a first emissivity value; depositing a coating material having a second emissivity value over at least a portion of the functional coating prior to heating to provide a coating stack having an emissivity value greater than the emissivity value of the functional coating; and heating the coated substrate.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate, a functional coating deposited over at least a portion of the substrate, and a protective (barrier) coating deposited over at least a portion of the functional coating. The barrier coating is stable to oxygen-containing gases and limits the transmission of oxygen-containing gases to materials over which it is deposited when subjected to conditioning steps such as heating, bending, and/or tempering.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate, a functional coating deposited over the substrate, and a protective coating deposited over the functional coating. The functional coating and the protective coating define a coating stack. The protective coating provides the coating stack with an emissivity value higher than the emissivity value of the functional coating alone. The protective coating can have a thickness in the range of greater than 100 Å to less than or equal to 10 microns and a refractive index in the range of 1.4 to 2. The protective coating can include a first layer formed over the functional coating and a second layer formed over the first layer. The first layer can include 50 wt. % to 100 wt. % alumina and 50 wt. % to 0 wt. % silica, and the second layer can include 50 wt. % to 100 wt. % silica and 50 wt. % to 0 wt. % alumina. An alternating current power supply and cathode target system includes a cathode target including aluminum in the range of 5 wt. % to 100 wt.

Abstract: A method is provided for changing the visible light transmittance of a coated article having a functional coating having at least one anti-reflective material and at least one infrared reflective material. The anti-reflective material includes an alloying material capable of combining or alloying with the infrared reflective material. A protective coating is deposited over the functional coating to prevent or retard the diffusion of atmospheric gas and/or vapor into the functional coating. The coated article is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause at least some of the alloying material to combine with at least some of the infrared reflective material to form a substance having a different visible light transmittance than the infrared reflective material.

Abstract: A method of making a coated substrate includes providing a substrate having at least one functional coating with a first emissivity value; depositing at least one coating material having a second emissivity value over at least a portion of the at least one functional coating wherein the deposited coating has a thickness ranging from greater than 100 Å to less than 10 microns and a refractive index ranging from 1.4 to 2. The resulting coating stack has an emissivity value greater than the emissivity value of the functional coating. Optionally the coated substrate is heated whereby the coated substrate can be bent to a desired shape and/or tempered.

Abstract: The use of a telecentric system allows for minimizing the changes in the measured radiometric quantity as a result of defocus or tilt of the object under measurement or of the detector. In a preferred embodiment, a telecentric illuminating system is provided, which illuminates an object from a source. A telecentric receiving system receives reflections from the object and relays them to a detector. In another preferred embodiment, a telecentric system is also described that is appropriate for radiance or radiant intensity measurements.

Abstract: A system and process for forming optical quality, protective, relatively thick, thin film coatings on workpieces such as detectors or solar cells. The apparatus includes a rotary cylindrical sputtering system which incorporates separate deposition devices and at least one chemical reaction device for simultaneously (1) depositing materials which form tensile and compressive oxides and (2) oxidizing the deposited materials. The system also includes a stressometer system, preferably a cantilevered beam stressometer system which monitors the stress of the depositing film in-situ. The monitored stress levels are used to control the relative amounts of compressive and tensile materials which are deposited and, thus, control stress in the thin film coatings. In a preferred embodiment for forming protective covers on solar cells, the deposition devices are linear magnetron sputter cathode devices having silicon and aluminum targets, and the reaction device is a linear magnetron ion source oxidizer device.