Abstract: An optical coating on a transparent substrate is provided with a temporary layer of carbon as protection during manufacturing against scratches and corrosive environments. When the optical coating and/or substrate are tempered in an atmosphere reactive to carbon, such as air, the layer of carbon is removed as a carbon-containing gas. For an optical coating with a brittle, glassy, outermost layer furthest from the substrate, additional protection is provided by a scratch propagation blocker layer between the outermost layer and the carbon protective layer.

Abstract: An oxidizable metal silicide or metal aluminide is used as one of the outer layers of an optical coating to provide a corrosion and scratch resistant barrier. This layer is initially deposited in an unoxidized or partially oxidized state. In this chemical state it provides corrosion protection to the layers underneath. The metal compound or intermetallic layer has hardness properties greater than most metals and therefore provides significant scratch protection.

Abstract: A sub-stoichiometric oxide, nitride or oxynitride layer in an optical stack, alone or in direct contact with one or two stabilizing layers, stabilizes the optical properties of the stack. The stabilizing layer(s) can stabilize the chemistry and optical properties of the sub-stoichiometric layer during heating. The change in optical characteristics of the sub-stoichiometric layer upon heating can counter the change in optical characteristics of the rest of the optical stack.

Abstract: A method is provided for making transparent articles utilizing protective layers for optical coatings. An optical coating on a transparent substrate is provided with a temporary layer of carbon as protection during manufacturing against scratches and corrosive environments. When the optical coating and/or substrate are tempered in an atmosphere reactive to carbon, such as air, the layer of carbon is removed as a carbon-containing gas. For an optical coating with a brittle, glassy, outermost layer furthest from the substrate, additional protection is provided by a scratch propagation blocker layer between the outermost layer and the carbon protective layer.

Abstract: An optical filter in the form of a film which can be used in a window to control the amount of absorbed light, reflected light, transmitted light and solar energy rejection. The optical filter contains a unique combination of an interfering Fabry-Perot stack and a massive Fabry-Perot stack.

Abstract: A thin film composite material is disclosed which includes an antireflection layer (6) interposed between a metal layer (2) and a transparent layer (1). The antireflection layer (6) reduces reflection of light by the metal layer (2) when light reaches the metal layer (2) after passing through the transparent layer (1) and the antireflection layer (6). The antireflection layer (6) has an index of refraction greater than 2.5 and an extinction coefficient which is less than 0.5 at 600-1200 nm wavelengths. Suitable materials for the antireflection layer (6) include oxides of copper (especially cuprous oxide), Iran II oxide and SiC. The antireflection layer (6) is advantageously applied so that it has an optical thickness of one quarter wavelength with respect to the wavelength of the light which is to be antireflected. The metal layer (2) is made from a gray low reflectance type metal such as Ti, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mo, W, Ni, Pd, or Pt or alloys of these metals.

Abstract: An optical coating on a transparent substrate is provided with a temporary layer of carbon as protection during manufacturing against scratches and corrosive environments. When the optical coating and/or substrate are tempered in an atmosphere reactive to carbon, such as air, the layer of carbon is removed as a carbon-containing gas. For an optical coating with a brittle, glassy, outermost layer furthest from the substrate, additional protection is provided by a scratch propagation blocker layer between the outermost layer and the carbon protective layer.

Abstract: A plasma source includes a structure made up of two hollow cathode shapes connected to a bipolar AC power supply. The bipolar power supply alternately drives one hollow cathode to a negative voltage while the opposite hollow cathode is driven to a positive voltage. As one of the two hollow cathode shapes is driven negative, the hollow cathode discharge forms within the corresponding cavity. The other cathode then forms an anode, causing electrons to escape the plasma and travel to the other side, completing the electric circuit. The plasma generator thus formed may be used as a heat source for an effusion cell to form a plasma from a reactant gas, or to increase the reactivity of gas situated between a vacuum deposition source and a substrate to be coated.

Abstract: The invention is a heat reflecting transparent window cover having three layers. The composite has a substrate and a unique heat reflective stack disposed upon the substrate. The heat reflective stack has, in series, a first interference layer, an infrared reflecting metal layer, a second interference layer and a first non-infrared reflective layer. The first interference layer has an index of refraction which differs from the index of refraction of the substrate by at least about 0.1. The first non-infrared reflective layer is composed of the material from one of the following groups of materials: (i) metals having an index of refraction greater than about 1.0 and an extinction coefficient greater than about 2.0, and (ii) non-metals having an index of refraction greater than about 0.5 and an extinction coefficient greater than about 0.5.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an array of constricted glow discharge chambers are disclosed. More particularly a linear array of constricted glow plasma sources whose polarity and geometry are set so that the contamination and energy of the ions discharged from the sources are minimized. The several sources can be mounted in parallel and in series to provide a sustained ultra low source of ions in a plasma with contamination below practical detection limits. The quality of film along deposition "tracks" opposite the plasma sources can be measured and compared to desired absolute or relative values by optical and/or electrical sensors. Plasma quality can then be adjusted by adjusting the power current values, gas feed pressure/flow, gas mixtures or a combination of some or all of these to improve the match between the measured values and the desired values.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for making a solar control sheet having one or more metal layers. In the prior art solar control sheets, each metal layer would normally be non-porous so that water vapor would not be readily transmitted therethrough. However, in this invention the metal layer is rendered porous because it is deposited on a porosity inducing surface. The porosity inducing surface may be the surface of a porous primer layer or a surface which has been roughened. Consequently when the solar control film of this invention is mounted on a window with a water based mounting media, the water can quickly evaporate through the film without causing undesirable cloudiness which is normally associated with water which becomes trapped between the film and the window.

Abstract: A heat reflecting fenestration composite is provided which includes in sequence: (a) a substantially transparent substrate; (b) a first outer dielectric layer; (c) an infrared reflecting metal layer; (d) a color correcting metal layer comprising a metal different from the infrared reflecting metal layer; (e) a protective metal layer comprising a metal different from the infrared reflecting metal layer and different from the color correcting layer; and (f) a second outer dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are typically indium oxide, indium zinc oxide, indium tin oxide or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the composite also includes additional layers of infrared reflecting metal layer, color correcting metal, protective metal and dielectric. Also preferably, the composite comprises a top layer of glass or transparent polymeric plastic. The infrared reflecting metal layer is typically silver, gold, copper or alloys thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for making a solar control sheet having one or more metal layers. In the prior art solar control sheets, each metal layer would normally be non-porous so that water vapor would not be readily transmitted therethrough. However, in this invention the metal layer is rendered porous because it is deposited on a porosity inducing surface. The porosity inducing surface may be the surface of a porous primer layer or a surface which has been roughened. Consequently when the solar control film of this invention is mounted on a window with a water based mounting media, the water can quickly evaporate through the film without causing undesirable cloudiness which is normally associated with water which becomes trapped between the film and the window.