PLANAR PATTERNED TRANSPARENT CONTACT, DEVICES WITH PLANAR PATTERNED TRANSPARENT CONTACTS, AND/OR METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A method of making a coated article comprising a multi-layer thin-film coating supported by a substrate, the method comprising:
- disposing a first layer comprising Ag and O on the substrate;
disposing a sub-oxidized buffer layer on the first layer; and
selectively applying energy to one or more portions of the first layer so as to cause oxygen at the one more portions therein to migrate upward into the sub-oxidized buffer layer to increase conductivity of the first layer at the one or more portions,wherein after the selective application of energy, the multi-layer thin-film coating is substantially planar and patterned with respect to conductivity and/or resistivity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain examples relate to improved methods for making patterned substantially transparent contact films, and contact films made by such methods. In certain cases, the contact films may be patterned and substantially planar. Thus, the contact films may be patterned without intentionally removing any material from the layers and/or film, such as may be required by photolithography. In certain example embodiments, an oxygen exchanging system comprising at least two layers may be deposited on a substrate, and the layers may be selectively exposed to heat and/or energy to facilitate the transfer of oxygen ions or atoms from the layer with a higher enthalpy of formation to a layer with a lower enthalpy of formation. In certain cases, the oxygen transfer may permit the conductivity of selective portions of the film to be changed. This advantageously may result in a planar contact film that is patterned with respect to conductivity and/or resistivity.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of making a coated article comprising a multi-layer thin-film coating supported by a substrate, the method comprising:
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disposing a first layer comprising Ag and O on the substrate; disposing a sub-oxidized buffer layer on the first layer; and selectively applying energy to one or more portions of the first layer so as to cause oxygen at the one more portions therein to migrate upward into the sub-oxidized buffer layer to increase conductivity of the first layer at the one or more portions, wherein after the selective application of energy, the multi-layer thin-film coating is substantially planar and patterned with respect to conductivity and/or resistivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making an electronic device, the method comprising:
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providing a coated article including a glass substrate supporting a multi-layer thin-film coating, the multi-layer thin-film coating comprising, moving away from the substrate; a seed layer comprising Zn, a layer comprising Ag and O, and a sub-oxidized buffer layer; defining a first set of portions in the layer comprising Ag and O that are to be conductive portions and a second set of portions in the layer comprising Ag and O that are to be non-conductive and/or less conductive portions; exposing the coating, including the layer comprising Ag and O, to energy, from an energy source, in areas over the first set of portions so as to cause migration of oxygen ions or atoms from the layer comprising Ag and O into the sub-oxidized buffer layer and pattern the layer comprising Ag and O with respect to conductivity and/or resistivity; and building the coated article having the patterned layer comprising Ag into an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification