Abstract: An ion source is provided wherein depositing gas and/or maintenance gas is/are introduced into the ion source via the vacuum/depositing chamber, thereby reducing the amount(s) of undesirable insulative build-ups on the anode and/or cathode of the source in an area proximate the electric gap between the anode and cathode. In certain embodiments, an insulative and/or dielectric insert(s) and/or layer(s) is/are provided in at least part of an area between the anode and cathode so as to help reduce undesirable insulative build-ups on the anode and/or cathode. More efficient ion source operations is thus achievable.

Abstract: A cold-cathode closed-drift ion source includes an anode, a cathode and a power supply. In certain example embodiments, neither the positive nor negative terminals of the power supply are connected to ground, and the anode and cathode are also not connected to ground. Thus, the ion source operates in a floating mode. As a result, the likelihood of formation of a problematic secondary circuit from the source to the power supply through the walls can be reduced and/or eliminated (or suppressed). Therefore, the chance of drawing a net positive charge from the ion source which induces a positive charge on dielectric or other surfaces proximate the wall(s) can be suppressed and/or reduced.

Abstract: An ion source includes an anode and/or cathode which is/are coated with a conductive coating. The coating has a sputtering yield less than that of an uncoated anode and/or cathode, so that erosion of the resulting anode and/or cathode in the source is reduced during source operation. Example coating materials for the anode and/or cathode of the ion beam source include metal borides including but not limited to TiB2 and ZrB2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a window (e.g., vehicle windshield, architectural window, etc.), and the resulting window product. At least one glass substrate of the window is ion beam treated and/or milled prior to application of a coating (e.g., sputter coated coating) over the treated/milled substrate surface and/or prior to heat treatment. As a result, defects in the resulting window and/or haze may be reduced. The ion beam used in certain embodiments may be diffused. In certain embodiments, the ion beam treating and/or milling is carried out using a fluorine (F) inclusive gas(es) and/or argon/oxygen gas(es) at the ion source(s). In certain optional embodiments, F may be subimplanted into to treated/milled glass surface for the purpose of reducing Na migration to the glass surface during heat treatment or thereafter, thereby enabling corrosion and/or stains to be reduced for long periods of time.

Abstract: A coated article is provided which includes a layer including titanium oxycarbide. In order to form the coated article, a layer of titanium oxide is deposited on a substrate by sputtering or the like. After sputtering of the layer including titanium oxide, an ion beam source(s) is used to implant at least carbon ions into the titanium oxide. When implanting, the carbon ions have sufficient ion energy so as to knock off oxygen (O) from TiOx molecules so as to enable a substantially continuous layer comprising titanium oxycarbide to form near a surface of the previously sputtered layer.

Abstract: A glass substrate is ion beam milled in order to smoothen the same and/or reduce or remove nano-cracks in the substrate surface before a coating system (e.g., diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive coating system) is deposited thereon. It has been found that such ion beam milling of the substrate prior to deposition of the coating system improves adherence of the coating system to the underlying milled substrate. Moreover, it has surprisingly been found that such ion beam milling of the substrate results in a more scratch resistant coated article when a DLC inclusive coating system is thereafter ion beam deposited on the milled substrate. Amounts sodium (Na) may also be reduced at the surface of the substrate by such milling.

Abstract: A substrate is coated with a solar management coating system including at least one infrared (IR) reflective layer. A diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive protective coating system (e.g., including at least one highly tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) inclusive layer having sp3 carbon—carbon bonds) is provided on the substrate over at least the IR reflective layer in order to make the coating system scratch resistant, abrasion resistant, and generally mechanically durable. The DLC inclusive protective coating system may be hydrophobic, hydrophillic, or neutral in different embodiments of the invention. Optionally, at least one fluoro-alkyl silane (FAS) compound inclusive layer may be provided on the substrate over at least one of the DLC inclusive layer(s) in hydrophobic embodiments in order to increase contact angle &thgr; of the coated article.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a laminated window such as a vehicle windshield. At least one of the two glass substrates of the window is ion beam milled prior to heat treatment and lamination. As a result, defects in the resulting window and/or haze may be reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a laminated window such as a vehicle windshield. At least one of the two glass substrates of the window is ion beam milled prior to heat treatment and lamination. As a result, defects in the resulting window and/or haze may be reduced.

Abstract: An ion source is provided wherein depositing gas and/or maintenance gas is/are introduced into the ion source via the vacuum/depositing chamber, thereby reducing the amount(s) of undesirable insulative build-ups on the anode and/or cathode of the source in an area proximate the electric gap between the anode and cathode. In certain embodiments, an insulative and/or dielectric insert(s) and/or layer(s) is/are provided in at least part of an area between the anode and cathode so as to help reduce undesirable insulative build-ups on the anode and/or cathode. More efficient ion source operations is thus achievable.

Abstract: A hydrophobic coating is provided. The coating has a high contact angle &thgr; which does not significantly decrease or degrade upon lengthy exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain embodiments, the coating has a contact angle &thgr; of at least 70 degrees both before and after significant exposure to UV radiation.

Abstract: An ion source includes an anode and/or cathode which is/are coated with a conductive coating. The coating has a sputtering yield less than that of an uncoated anode and/or cathode, so that erosion of the resulting anode and/or cathode in the source is reduced during source operation. Example coating materials for the anode and/or cathode of the ion beam source include metal borides including but not limited to TiB2 and ZrB2.

Abstract: A substrate is coated with a low-E coating system including at least one infrared (IR) reflective layer. A diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive protective coating system (e.g., including at least one highly tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) inclusive layer having sp3 carbon—carbon bonds) is provided on the substrate over at least the IR reflective layer in order to make the low-E coating system scratch resistant, abrasion resistant, and generally mechanically durable. The DLC inclusive protective coating system may be hydrophobic, hydrophillic, or neutral in different embodiments of the invention. Optionally, at least one fluoro-alkyl silane (FAS) compound inclusive layer may be provided on the substrate over at least one of the DLC inclusive layer(s) in hydrophobic embodiments in order to increase contact angle &thgr; of the coated article.

Abstract: Scratch resistance (SR) of a coated article is improved by buffing the coated article after deposition of the layer(s) of the coating. For example, in certain embodiments a diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive layer(s) is deposited on a substrate (directly or indirectly), and thereafter buffed in order to improve its scratch resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a laminated window such as a vehicle windshield. At least one of the two glass substrates of the window is ion beam milled prior to heat treatment and lamination. As a result, defects in the resulting window and/or haze may be reduced.

Abstract: Scratch resistance (SR) of a coated article is improved by buffing the coated article after deposition of the layer(s) of the coating. For example, in certain embodiments a diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive layer(s) is deposited on a substrate (directly or indirectly), and thereafter buffed in order to improve its scratch resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a window (e.g., vehicle windshield, architectural window, etc.), and the resulting window product. At least one glass substrate of the window is ion beam treated and/or milled prior to application of a coating (e.g., sputter coated coating) over the treated/milled substrate surface and/or prior to heat treatment. As a result, defects in the resulting window and/or haze may be reduced. The ion beam used in certain embodiments may be diffused. In certain embodiments, the ion beam treating and/or milling is carried out using a fluorine (F) inclusive gas(es) and/or argon/oxygen gas(es) at the ion source(s). In certain optional embodiments, F may be subimplanted into to treated/milled glass surface for the purpose of reducing Na migration to the glass surface during heat treatment or thereafter, thereby enabling corrosion and/or stains to be reduced for long periods of time.

Abstract: Detailed are highly durable and abrasion-resistant composite diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings with controllable color ideally, but not exclusively, suitable as decorative coatings for metal substrates, for example. The composite DLC coatings typically include at least a layer of Si-DLC which comprises the elements C, H, and Si, and color choices include light yellow, bronze, copper-gold, burgundy, bluish-black, and black.

Abstract: A substrate is coated with a coating system including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and at least one fluoro-alkyl silane (FAS) compound. In certain embodiments, a method of making a coated article includes providing a substrate; and forming a coating system on said substrate in a manner such that the coating system includes each of diamond-like carbon (DLC) and at least one fluoro-alkyl silane (FAS) compound.

Abstract: A cold cathode closed drift ion source is provided with segregated gas flow. A first gas may be caused to flow through or along a path around a peripheral portion of an anode so as to pass through the electric gap between the anode and cathode. A second gas (different from the first gas) may be caused to flow toward the ion emitting slit, without much of the second gas having to pass through the electric gap(s). If it is desired to utilize a gas which produces insulative material (e.g., an organosilicon gas), this gas may be used as the second gas. Accordingly, insulative material buildup in the electric gap between the anode and cathode may be reduced, and changes in beam chemistry can be achieved without unduly altering ion beam characteristics.