CN117250681A - System with infrared reflective coating - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system having an infrared reflective coating. The "transparent structure" may have structural layers, such as an inner layer and an outer layer, which may be formed of glass. The transparent structure may be curved. At least one of the inner and outer layers may be coated with an infrared reflective coating. The infrared reflective coating may be formed from a plurality of optical vibrators. Each resonator may comprise two half mirrors separated by a dielectric layer. The half mirror may comprise an infrared reflective material, such as silver. At least some of the resonators may additionally include a getter layer. The getter layer may be formed of amorphous material, nanoparticles in a dielectric material, or other desired material, and may protect the infrared reflective material when the infrared reflective coating is deposited. Additionally, the getter layer may reduce the color shift exhibited by high angle light as it passes through the transparent structure.

Description

System with infrared reflective coating

The present application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/193,507, filed on 3 months at 2023, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/353,387, filed on 6 months at 2022, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to structures that pass light, and more particularly to transparent structures.

Background

The window typically includes a transparent layer, such as a glass layer. If careless, the glass layer may pass an undesirable amount of infrared light.

Disclosure of Invention

A system such as a vehicle, building, or electronic device may have a window. The window may separate an interior region from an exterior region, such as an interior region and an exterior region of a vehicle. The window may have structural window layers, such as an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner and outer glass layers may be separated by an air gap.

One or more infrared reflective coatings can be applied to the inner glass layer and/or outer glass layer. The infrared reflective coating can include a plurality of optical resonators. Each of the optical resonators may include two half mirrors sandwiching a lossless dielectric. The half mirror may include an infrared reflective layer, such as a thin silver layer.

To protect the silver layer in the half mirror when depositing other layers and to reduce the color shift of high viewing angle light through the window, at least some of the optical resonators may include a getter layer adjacent to and on top of each metal layer. The getter layer may be formed of a lossy dielectric material, such as an amorphous material, nanoparticles in a dielectric, or ink.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary window having an infrared reflective coating in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary infrared reflective coating in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a graph of exemplary transmission spectra for windows having different infrared reflective coatings, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary window portion having an infrared reflective coating with a repeating layer, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a curved window with an infrared reflective coating in accordance with one embodiment.

Detailed Description

The present invention provides a system that may have a window. The window may include a structure for blocking infrared light. Optionally, additional coatings (such as anti-reflective layers) or photo-electrically adjustable components may also be incorporated into the window. The system may be an electronic device, a building, a vehicle, or other suitable system. An exemplary configuration in which the system with the window is a vehicle may sometimes be described herein as an example. This is merely illustrative. The window structure may be formed in any suitable system.

An electrically adjustable component in the window can be used to adjust the optical properties of the window. For example, the electrically adjustable window may be adjusted to change the absorption of light and thus the light transmission of the window. The adjustable light modulator layer may be used, for example, as an electrically adjustable awning for a roof window, or may be used to implement an electrically adjustable window shade for a side window, front window, or rear window. In an exemplary configuration, a liquid crystal light modulator (such as a guest-host liquid crystal light modulator) may be used to modulate the transparency of the window. The adjustable optical component layer may also be used to display images, provide illumination, and/or otherwise adjust the appearance and behavior of the window.

The window for the system may include multiple glass layers. For example, the window may include an inner transparent structural layer (sometimes referred to as an inner glass layer) and an outer transparent structural layer (sometimes referred to as an outer glass layer). The inner and outer layers of the window may be separated by a gap. The gap may be filled with air or may be filled with a polymer, liquid or other functional dielectric. Exemplary configurations in which the inner and outer glass layers are separated by air are sometimes described herein as examples.

The glass layer of the window may be a single glass layer (e.g., a single layer of heat strengthened or tempered glass), or in some configurations, may be a multi-layer structure formed, for example, from a first glass layer and a second glass layer laminated together. The laminated glass layers can have a polymer, such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB), that bonds the first and second glass layers to form a laminated glass sheet. The multiple layer glass structure (laminated glass layer formed from two or more laminated glass layers with interposed PVB) and the single layer glass layer can include optional tints (e.g., dyes, pigments, etc.). The polymer layer (e.g., PVB layer) in the laminated glass layer can also optionally be passively colored.

As an alternative to glass, a polymer layer may be used to form the window. For example, the window may include one or more polymer layers, such as polycarbonate or acrylic layers. The laminated window structure may be formed from multiple polymer layers having interlayers, such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) interlayers. Generally, any desired interlayer may be used.

In some cases, it may be desirable to reduce the amount of infrared light that passes through the window. For example, reducing the amount of infrared light passing through a window may reduce the amount of heat entering a system (such as an electronic device, vehicle, or building). To reduce the amount of infrared light passing through the window, an infrared light reflecting coating may be incorporated on one or more layers in the window, such as a glass or polymer layer. Examples are sometimes described herein in which an infrared light reflecting coating is coupled to the glazing layer, but the infrared light reflecting coating may be applied to any desired layer.

The infrared light reflecting coating can include one or more infrared reflecting layers (such as silver layers) that reduce the amount of infrared light that passes through the window. Additional layers, such as a base layer, a seed layer, and a barrier layer, may be incorporated into the window for depositing the infrared reflective layer and preventing the infrared reflective layer from reacting with external compounds during deposition, which may result in an infrared reflective layer having a low refractive index (e.g., n <0.1 at 550 nm) and a low sheet resistance of between 1.1 and 3.5 ohms/square. The getter layer may be bonded between the infrared reflecting layer and the next dielectric layer. The getter layer may also protect the infrared reflecting layer during the deposition process and may reduce color shift in the glass at high incidence angles.

An exemplary system of the type that may include a window having one or more infrared light reflecting coatings is shown in fig. 1. The system 10 may be an electronic device, a vehicle, a building, or any other desired system. For example, the system 10 may be an electronic device such as a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a television, or any other desired electronic device. The electronic device may include a device housing, a display located on a front face of the device housing, and electronic components within the device housing. In other examples, the system 10 is a vehicle having a body with wheels, propulsion and steering systems, and chassis to which other vehicle systems are mounted. The vehicle body may include doors, trunk structures, hoods, side body panels, roofs, and/or other body structures. The interior of the vehicle body may form a seat. However, these examples are merely illustrative. In general, the system 10 may be any desired system.

Regardless of the particular system, system 10 may include a window, such as window 16. Window 16 may separate the interior of system 10 from the external environment surrounding system 10. For example, window 16 may include windows located at the following positions: on the front and/or rear of the electronic device; on the front, rear and sides of the vehicle; or for example on the side of a building.

The input-output device 21 may include sensors, audio components, displays, and other components. For example, the input-output device 21 may provide an output to an occupant of the vehicle, may measure an environment surrounding the vehicle, and may collect an input from the occupant of the vehicle. Some input-output devices may operate through window 16 if desired. In some examples, input-output device 21 may include a communication device, such as a radio, that receives and/or transmits radio waves through window 16.

The control circuit 23 may include storage and processing circuits such as volatile and non-volatile memory, microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, and other circuits for controlling the operation of a system such as a vehicle. During operation, the control circuit 23 may control components of the vehicle based on input from the input-output device 21.

An exemplary configuration of a window, such as one of the windows 16 of FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in fig. 2, window 16 may separate an interior region 14 (e.g., a region inside system 10, such as a region inside a vehicle) from an exterior region 18 (e.g., a region outside system 10, such as a region outside a vehicle). Window 16 may include an inner layer 20 and an outer layer 22. Layers 20 and 22 may be glass layers, ceramic layers, sapphire layers, polymer layers (such as polycarbonate or acrylic layers), or any other desired layers, and may be transparent or partially transparent (e.g., may be colored to reduce the transmission of some visible light). Layers 20 and 22 may also be referred to herein as substrates (e.g., when a coating is applied to the layers).

Layers 20 and 22 may be formed from a single layer glass structure and/or a multiple layer glass structure. These layers may be strengthened (e.g., by annealing, tempering, and/or chemical strengthening). In general, the inner layer 20 may be a single layer glass structure (e.g., a single layer of tempered glass) or a laminated glass layer, and the outer layer 22 may be a single layer glass structure (e.g., a single layer of tempered glass) or a laminated glass layer. In embodiments where layer 20 and/or layer 22 are laminated glass layers, they may include multiple glass layers laminated together using one or more polymer layers. In embodiments in which layer 20 and/or layer 22 are laminated polymer layers, they may include multiple polymer layers laminated together using one or more additional polymer layers. The polymer layer may be a polyvinyl butyral layer, a thermoplastic polyurethane layer, or other suitable polymer layer for attaching a glass layer.

Layers 20 and 22 may be separated by a gap 25. The gap 25 may be an air gap or the gap 25 may be filled with any desired substance. For example, the gap 25 may be filled with a polymer, liquid, or other dielectric. In some cases, the gap 25 may be omitted, if desired.

Light, such as light 27, may be incident on window 16. As shown in fig. 2, light 27 may be incident on outer layer 22 to reach window 16 from outer region 18. Light 27 may include visible, infrared, ultraviolet, and other wavelengths. To reduce transmission of infrared light through window 16, inner layer 20 may be coated with an infrared reflective coating 24, which infrared reflective coating 24 may reflect infrared light (e.g., the infrared wavelength of light 27) to prevent it from reaching inner region 14.

Although light 27 is shown in outer region 18, light having an undesirable infrared component may also be in inner region 14 and incident on inner layer 20.

Although the infrared reflective coating 24 is shown on the outer surface of the inner layer 20 in fig. 2, this is merely illustrative. As shown in fig. 2, the infrared-reflective coating 24 may be located at a location 24' on the inner surface of the outer layer 22, instead of on the inner layer 20, or in addition to being located on the inner layer 20. Alternatively or additionally, the infrared-reflective coating 24 may be formed on the outside of the window 16 (i.e., on the outer surface of the outer layer 22 or on the inner surface of the inner layer 20), or may be formed on an additional layer formed between the inner layer 20 and the outer layer 22. In general, the infrared-reflective coating 24 can be formed anywhere within the window 16 to reduce the amount of infrared light passing through the window 16.

If infrared-reflective coating 24 is formed on a polymer layer (e.g., a polycarbonate layer), it may be desirable to include an additional coating between infrared-reflective coating 24 and the polymer layer. For example, a coating (e.g., by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)) may be applied over the polymer layer prior to applying the infrared reflective coating 24. The coating reduces stress on the polymer when depositing the infrared reflective coating 24 and may be formed of any desired material. In some examples, the coating may be a hybrid coating, such as SiOCH or any SiOxCy: H material. For example, the hybrid coating may be formed from Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). However, these materials are merely exemplary. Generally, the hybrid layer can be formed of any desired material, such as ZrOC: H or TiOC: H. The coating may also be an anti-reflective layer, as it may have the same or a slightly higher refractive index than the underlying polymer. The refractive index of the coating may be graded, if desired.

Wherever one or more infrared reflective coatings (e.g., infrared reflective coating 24) are formed, the infrared reflective coating may include multiple layers to reflect infrared light. An exemplary stack of infrared reflective coatings is shown in fig. 3.

As shown in fig. 3, an infrared reflective coating, such as infrared reflective coating 24, may include two optical resonators, resonator 29 and resonator 31. The resonator 29 may include a half mirror 26, a dielectric layer 28, and a half mirror 30. The half mirror 26 may be formed on a layer in the window 16, such as the inner layer 20 or the outer layer 22 of fig. 2. In some examples, the half mirror 26 may be formed directly on the window layer. The half mirror 26 may include a metal layer, such as a silver layer, to reflect light incident on the half mirror.

A dielectric layer 28 may be formed on the half mirror 26. Dielectric layer 28 may comprise any desired dielectric material, such as a polymer material or an oxide material. The dielectric layer 28 may separate the half mirror 26 from the half mirror 30. The half mirror 30 may include an infrared reflecting layer, which may be a metal layer such as a silver layer, to reflect light incident on the half mirror, and may have the same structure as the half mirror 26 if necessary.

The resonator 29 may include a getter layer 32 on the half mirror 30. Getter layer 32 may include a lossy dielectric material. For example, getter layer 32 may include an amorphous material, such as amorphous Si, amorphous silicon rich silicon nitride (SiNx, where x < 1.33), or amorphous germanium, may include ink, and/or may include metal nanoparticles. The nanoparticle may be a metal nanoparticle, such as a silver or aluminum nanoparticle.

The getter layer 32 may have a thickness of 2nm or less, 5nm or less, between 1nm and 2nm, or any desired thickness. In general, the getter layer 32 may protect the infrared reflective layers (e.g., silver layers) in the half mirrors 30 and 26 when the resonator 31 is deposited over the resonator 29. The getter can preferentially react with the radical oxide and prevent other reactive species in the plasma from reaching the surface of the underlying silver film.

The resonator 31 may include a half mirror 34, a dielectric layer 36, and a half mirror 38, which may be similar or identical to the half mirror 26, the dielectric layer 28, and the half mirror 30, respectively, if desired.

In contrast to having two resonators with two half mirrors and an intermediate dielectric layer (as may be the case for a normal window with an infrared reflective coating), the inclusion of getter layer 32 in resonator 29 can protect the half mirrors when the half mirrors are deposited on window 16 and can also reduce the color shift of light when it passes through infrared reflective coating 24, particularly at high angles of incidence on window 16. An example of an exemplary transmission spectrum through window 16 is shown in fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 4, a window, such as window 16, may have a transmission spectrum 40 that corresponds to light entering window 16 at 0 °. In other words, light entering the window 16 on-axis (parallel to an axis perpendicular to the outer surface of the window 16) is transmitted according to the transmission spectrum 40.

In a normal window without a getter layer 32 (e.g. a window with a resonator with only half mirror and an intermediate dielectric layer without getter layer), there may be a high color shift for light entering the window at high angles of incidence. For example, the transmission spectrum 42 corresponds to light entering a normal window without a getter layer at 60 °. Light entering the ordinary window at a high angle will be color shifted (e.g., more light of a higher wavelength will enter the window), resulting in reflection of a low visible wavelength (e.g., blue or green wavelength).

Conversely, a window having a getter layer 32 (such as window 16 of fig. 3) may exhibit less color shift for light entering window 16 at high angles of incidence. For example, the transmission spectrum 44 corresponds to light that enters the window 16 (with the getter layer 32) at 60 °. As shown, light entering window 16 at a high angle will be less color shifted than light entering a normal window (i.e., transmission spectrum 44 is less shifted than transmission spectrum 42). In other words, a window 16 having an infrared reflective coating 24 that includes a getter layer 32 will have more color neutral transmission at high angles of incidence than a conventional window having an infrared reflective coating without a getter layer. In this way, including the getter layer 32 in the resonator 29 can reduce the color shift of light incident on the window 16 at a high angle, and can protect the half mirror layer within the resonator when the half mirror layer is deposited on the window 16.

Generally, the window can be formed in any desired manner with an infrared reflective coating having a plurality of stacked resonators with an interposed getter layer. An example of an infrared-reflective coating stack is shown in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 5, an infrared-reflective coating, such as infrared-reflective coating 24, may be formed on substrate 46. Substrate 46 may be an inner window layer or an outer window layer, such as layer 20 or layer 22 of fig. 2. The substrate 46 may be formed of glass (such as soda lime glass), may be formed of ceramic, may be formed of sapphire, may be formed of a polymer (such as polycarbonate, acrylic or other desired polymer), or may be formed of any other desired material. The substrate 46 may be formed of a single-layer glass structure and/or a multiple-layer glass structure. If desired, the substrate 46 may be strengthened (e.g., by annealing, tempering, and/or chemical strengthening). In general, the substrate 46 may be a single layer, such as a single layer glass structure (e.g., a single layer of tempered glass), or have multiple layers, such as laminated glass layers. In embodiments where the substrate 46 is a laminated glass layer, the substrate 46 may include multiple glass layers laminated together using one or more polymer layers. The polymer layer may be a polyvinyl butyral layer or other suitable polymer layer for attaching a glass layer.

A barrier layer 48 may be formed on the substrate 48. The barrier layer 48 may be an amorphous layer and may be dense to protect the substrate 46 and to protect the layer above the barrier layer 48 when deposited. In general, the blocking layer 48 may have a refractive index that is close to the refractive index of the substrate 46 to reduce reflection of light incident on the substrate 46. For example, the barrier layer 48 may have a refractive index between 1.2 and 1.7, between 1.2 and 1.5, between 1.5 and 1.7, between 1.7 and 2, or any other desired value. In this way, barrier layer 48 may form an anti-reflective coating on substrate 46.

In some examples, the barrier layer 48 may be zinc oxide. For example, znSnOx, SNOx may be used to form the barrier layer 48. Alternatively, the barrier layer 48 may include TiO _x Bismuth oxide or any other desired material.

If substrate 46 is formed of a polymer, such as polycarbonate, it may be desirable to include an additional coating between substrate 46 and barrier layer 48. For example, a coating (e.g., by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)) may be applied to the substrate 46 prior to applying the barrier layer 48. The coating may reduce stress on the polymer of the substrate 46 when the remainder of the stack is deposited, and may be formed of any desired material. In some examples, the coating may be a hybrid coating such as SiOCH, any SiOxCy: H material (such as HMDSO), zrOC: H, tiOC: H, or other desired hybrid material. The coating may also be an anti-reflective layer, as it may have the same or a slightly higher refractive index than the underlying polymer. The refractive index of the coating may be graded, if desired.

A seed layer 50 may be formed over barrier layer 48. Seed layer 50 may be a doped zinc oxide layer, such as Al doped znx, or may be any other desired layer that will promote the growth of highly textured Ag. In some examples, seed layer 50 may be a crystalline layer. However, any desired material may be used to form seed layer 50. Generally, seed layer 50 may facilitate deposition of high quality (Real (n) <0.1, preferably Real (n) less than 0.07 at 550 nm) infrared reflective layer 52.

An infrared reflecting layer 52 may be formed on seed layer 50. The infrared reflective layer 52 can be silver or can be another desired infrared reflective material. In some examples, infrared reflecting layer 52 may be a polycrystalline silver layer. The infrared reflective layer 52 can have any desired thickness, such as less than 30nm, greater than 8nm, between 15nm and 30nm, or other desired thickness. In one exemplary embodiment, infrared reflecting layer 52 may have a thickness equal to the grain size of the polycrystalline silver forming infrared reflecting layer 52. For example, the grain size may be 15nm to 30nm, and the thickness of the infrared reflection layer 52 may be 15nm to 30nm. In other words, the infrared reflecting layer 52 may be a polycrystalline silver layer that is grain-thick.

The infrared reflective layer 52 can be patterned, if desired. For example, a material (such as silver) within infrared reflective layer 52 may interfere with the transmission of waves (such as radio waves). If it is desired to pass radio waves through window 16 (e.g., if system 10 is a vehicle, building, or electronic device), infrared reflective layer 52 may be patterned to have openings. As a result, waves such as radio waves may pass through the opening unimpeded, while the remainder of the infrared reflective layer 52 blocks infrared light from passing through the window 16.

Getter layer 54 may be formed on infrared reflecting layer 52. Getter layer 54 may include a lossy dielectric material. For example, getter layer 54 may include an amorphous material, such as amorphous silicon or amorphous germanium, may include ink, and/or may include nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be metal nanoparticles, such as silver nanoparticles. Alternatively or additionally, the getter layer 54 may comprise Zn, al, alZn or Al-rich AlN layers.

The getter layer 54 may have a thickness of 2nm or less, 5nm or less, between 1nm and 2nm, or any desired thickness. Regardless of the thickness and material of getter layer 54, the getter layer may protect infrared reflective layer 52 (e.g., a silver layer) from oxidation when other layers are deposited on infrared reflective layer 52. For example, oxygen may be used during deposition of layers on infrared-reflective layer 52, which would otherwise oxidize silver (or other material) within infrared-reflective layer 52. In this manner, getter layer 54 may help prevent oxygen from reaching infrared reflective layer 52 and oxidizing the material forming infrared reflective layer 52.

Seed layer 50 may be formed on getter layer 54 and may be formed of zinc oxide. The seed layer 50 may be the same material as the underlying seed layer 50 if desired, although this is not required. Seed layer 50 may be a doped zinc oxide layer, such as Al doped znx, or may be any other desired layer. In some examples, seed layer 50 may be a crystalline layer. However, any desired material may be used to form seed layer 50.

Barrier layer 48 may be formed on seed layer 50. The barrier layer 48 may be the same material as the underlying barrier layer 48 if desired, but this is not required. Similar to the underlying barrier layer 48, the barrier layer 48 on the seed layer 50 may be an amorphous layer and may be dense to protect the underlying layer that has been deposited as well as to protect the overlying layer when it is deposited. The barrier layer 48 may have a refractive index between 1.2 and 1.7, between 1.2 and 1.5, between 1.5 and 1.7, between 1.7 and 2.1 (at 550 nm), or any other desired value.

In some examples, the barrier layer 48 may be zinc oxide. For example, znSnOx may be used to form the barrier layer 48. Alternatively, the barrier layer 48 may include TiO ₂ Bismuth or any other desired material.

Another seed layer 50 may be formed on barrier layer 48 and may be formed of zinc oxide. The seed layer 50 may be the same material as the underlying seed layer 50 if desired, although this is not required. The seed layer 50 may be a doped zinc oxide layer, such as AlZnOx, or may be any other desired layer. In some examples, seed layer 50 may be a crystalline layer. However, any desired material may be used to form seed layer 50. Generally, seed layer 50 may be formed from a material that facilitates deposition of overlying infrared reflective layer 52.

An infrared reflecting layer 52 may be formed on seed layer 50. If desired, infrared-reflective layer 52 can be the same material as the underlying infrared-reflective layer 52, although this is not required. The infrared reflective layer 52 can be silver or can be another desired infrared reflective material. In some examples, infrared reflecting layer 52 may be a polycrystalline silver layer. The infrared reflective layer 52 can have any desired thickness, such as less than 30nm, greater than 10nm, between 15nm-30nm, or any other desired thickness. In one exemplary embodiment, infrared reflecting layer 52 may have a thickness equal to the grain size of the polycrystalline silver forming infrared reflecting layer 52. In other words, the infrared reflecting layer 52 may be a polycrystalline silver layer that is grain-thick.

The infrared reflective layer 52 can be patterned, if desired. For example, a material (such as silver) within infrared reflective layer 52 may interfere with the transmission of waves (such as radio waves). If it is desired to pass radio waves through window 16 (e.g., if system 10 is a vehicle, building, or electronic device), infrared reflective layer 52 may be patterned to have openings. As a result, waves such as radio waves may pass through the opening unimpeded, while the remainder of the infrared reflective layer 52 blocks infrared light from passing through the window 16. In some examples, each infrared reflective layer 52 can have a matching pattern to allow waves to pass through the overlapping openings unimpeded.

The stack may be repeated any desired number of times to ensure adequate infrared reflectivity. For example, the infrared reflective coating can include at least three infrared reflective layers, at least four infrared reflective layers, or any other desired number of infrared reflective layers.

A protective layer 56 can be formed on top of the infrared-reflective coating stack. The protective layer 56 may be formed of any desired material, such as a polymeric material, a dielectric material, or an oxide material. In some examples, protective layer 56 may include a ZrSiOx, alSiOx or SiO2 layer.

An infrared reflective coating, such as infrared reflective coating 24, may be formed over any desired window, such as window 16. In some examples, an infrared reflective coating may be formed on the curved window. An example of such an arrangement is shown in fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 6, window 16 may include a curved layer 58. Curved layer 58 may be an inner window layer or an outer window layer, such as layer 20 or layer 22 of fig. 2. The flex layer 58 may be formed of glass, ceramic, sapphire, or any other desired material. The flex layer 58 may be formed from a single glass structure and/or a multiple glass structure. If desired, flex layer 58 may be reinforced (e.g., by annealing, tempering, and/or chemical strengthening). In general, the curved layer 58 may be a single layer glass structure (e.g., a single layer of tempered glass) or a laminated glass layer. In embodiments where flex layer 58 is a laminated glass layer, flex layer 58 may include multiple glass layers laminated together using one or more polymer layers. The polymer layer may be a polyvinyl butyral layer or other suitable polymer layer for attaching a glass layer.

Although the side view of window 16 shows only curved layer 58 curved in one direction, this is merely illustrative. If desired, the flex layer 58 may flex in two different directions or three different directions. In other words, if desired, the curved layer 58 may exhibit a compound curvature.

An infrared reflective coating 60 can be formed on the flex layer 58. The infrared reflective coating 60 can have the same composition as the infrared reflective coating 24 of fig. 3 and/or the exemplary infrared reflective coating stack of fig. 5. Regardless of the composition of infrared reflective coating 60, infrared reflective coating 60 can have a curvature that matches the curvature of curved layer 58. In this way, an infrared reflective coating can be formed on the curved window.

According to one embodiment, a window configured to separate an interior region from an exterior region is provided, the window comprising a window layer, an infrared reflective layer overlying the window layer, a getter layer overlying the infrared reflective layer, a barrier layer overlying the getter layer, and a seed layer overlying the barrier layer.

According to another embodiment, the window layer is a glass layer, the infrared reflecting layer comprises silver, the getter layer comprises amorphous silicon rich silicon nitride, and the seed layer comprises doped zinc oxide, the window further comprising an additional barrier layer interposed between the glass layer and the infrared reflecting layer, an additional seed layer interposed between the additional barrier layer and the infrared reflecting layer, an additional infrared reflecting layer on the seed layer, and a protective layer overlapping the additional infrared reflecting layer.

According to another embodiment, the getter layer has a thickness of 1nm-2nm and comprises metal nanoparticles in the amorphous silicon rich silicon nitride.

According to another embodiment, the metal nanoparticles comprise silver nanoparticles.

According to another embodiment, the silver in the infrared reflecting layer is polycrystalline silver having a grain size of 15nm to 30nm, and the doped zinc oxide is doped with aluminum.

According to another embodiment, the thickness of the infrared reflecting layer is equal to the grain size of the polycrystalline silver.

According to another embodiment, the barrier layer and the additional barrier layer are ZnSNOx layers.

According to another embodiment, the infrared reflecting layer comprises silver and the getter layer comprises an amorphous material.

According to another embodiment, the amorphous material is selected from the group of materials consisting of: amorphous silicon, amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride, and amorphous germanium.

According to another embodiment, the infrared reflective layer comprises silver and the getter layer comprises ink.

According to another embodiment, the infrared reflecting layer comprises silver and the getter layer comprises metal nanoparticles in a dielectric layer.

According to another embodiment, the metal nanoparticles comprise silver nanoparticles.

According to another embodiment, the window is a curved glass layer having a first curvature and the infrared reflective layer has a second curvature that matches the first curvature.

According to another embodiment, the window includes a hybrid coating interposed between the window layer and the infrared-reflective layer.

According to one embodiment, a window is provided that includes a glass layer, a first resonator positioned on the glass layer, a second resonator overlapping the first resonator, and a getter layer interposed between the first resonator and the second resonator.

According to another embodiment, the getter layer comprises an amorphous material, and the first resonator and the second resonator each comprise two half mirrors separated by a dielectric layer.

According to another embodiment, the two half mirrors in the first resonator and the second resonator each include a silver layer.

According to another embodiment, the getter layer has a thickness of 1nm-2nm and the amorphous material is selected from the group consisting of: amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride, amorphous silicon, and amorphous germanium.

According to another embodiment, the getter layer comprises metal nanoparticles in the dielectric layer.

According to another embodiment, the getter layer comprises an ink layer.

According to one embodiment, a window is provided that includes a glass layer, a first barrier layer (the first barrier layer comprising zinc oxide) on the glass layer, a first seed layer (the first seed layer comprising doped zinc oxide) on the first barrier layer, a first silver layer (the getter layer comprising an amorphous material) on the first seed layer, a second seed layer (the second seed layer comprising doped zinc oxide) on the getter layer, a second barrier layer (the second barrier layer comprising zinc oxide) on the second barrier layer, a third seed layer (the third seed layer comprising doped zinc oxide) on the second barrier layer, and a second silver layer on the third seed layer.

The foregoing is merely exemplary and various modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or may be implemented in any combination.

Claims (20)

1. A window configured to separate an inner region from an outer region, the window comprising:

a window layer;

an infrared reflecting layer overlapping the window layer;

a getter layer on the reflective layer;

a barrier layer on the getter layer; and

a seed layer on the barrier layer.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein the window layer is a glass layer, the infrared reflective layer comprises silver, the getter layer comprises amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride, and the seed layer comprises doped zinc oxide, the window further comprising:

an additional barrier layer interposed between the glass layer and the infrared reflecting layer;

an additional seed layer interposed between the additional barrier layer and the infrared reflective layer;

an additional infrared reflective layer on the seed layer; and

and a protective layer overlapping the additional infrared reflecting layer.

3. The window of claim 2, wherein the getter layer has a thickness of 1nm-2nm, and wherein the getter layer comprises metal nanoparticles in the amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride.

4. A window according to claim 3, wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise silver nanoparticles.

5. The window of claim 2, wherein the silver in the infrared reflective layer is polycrystalline silver having a grain size of 15nm-30nm, and wherein the doped zinc oxide is doped with aluminum.

6. The window of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the infrared reflective layer is equal to the grain size of the polycrystalline silver.

7. The window of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer and the additional barrier layer are ZnSnOx layers.

8. The window of claim 1, wherein the infrared reflective layer comprises silver, and wherein the getter layer comprises an amorphous material.

9. The window of claim 8, wherein the amorphous material is selected from the group of materials consisting of: amorphous silicon, amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride, and amorphous germanium.

10. The window of claim 1, wherein the infrared reflective layer comprises silver, and wherein the getter layer comprises ink.

11. The window of claim 1, wherein the infrared reflective layer comprises silver, and wherein the getter layer comprises metal nanoparticles in a dielectric layer.

12. The window of claim 11, wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise silver nanoparticles.

13. The window of claim 1, wherein the window is a curved glass layer having a first curvature, and wherein the infrared reflective layer has a second curvature that matches the first curvature.

14. The window of claim 1, further comprising a hybrid coating interposed between the window layer and the infrared-reflective layer.

15. A window, comprising:

a glass layer;

a first resonator located on the glass layer;

a second resonator overlapping the first resonator; and

a getter layer interposed between the first resonator and the second resonator.

16. The window of claim 15, wherein the getter layer comprises an amorphous material, and wherein the first resonator and the second resonator each comprise two half mirrors separated by a dielectric layer.

17. The window of claim 16, wherein the two half mirrors in the first resonator and the second resonator each comprise a silver layer, wherein the getter layer has a thickness of 1nm-2nm, and wherein the amorphous material is selected from the group consisting of: amorphous silicon-rich silicon nitride, amorphous silicon, and amorphous germanium.

18. The window of claim 15, wherein the getter layer comprises metal nanoparticles in a dielectric layer.

19. The window of claim 15, wherein the getter layer comprises an ink layer.

20. A window, comprising:

a glass layer;

a first barrier layer on the glass layer, wherein the first barrier layer comprises zinc oxide;

a first seed layer on the first barrier layer, wherein the first seed layer comprises doped zinc oxide;

a first silver layer on the first seed layer;

a getter layer on the first silver layer, wherein the getter layer comprises an amorphous material;

a second seed layer on the getter layer, wherein the second seed layer comprises the doped zinc oxide;

a second barrier layer on the second seed layer, wherein the second barrier layer comprises zinc oxide;

a third seed layer on the second barrier layer, wherein the third seed layer comprises the doped zinc oxide; and

and a second silver layer on the third seed layer.