Transparent substrate comprising an antiglare coating

• US 6,924,037 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Stahlschmidt, Olaf, Huhn, Norbert, Joret, Laurent, Durandeau, Anne, Billert, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKWELL, GWENDOLYN
• Application Number:
  US10/088,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 428/411.1, 428/426, 428/432, 428/446, 428/618, 428/687, 428/697, 428/698, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/913, 359/580, 359/586, 359/588, 359/589, 359/609
• US Class Current: 428/432
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3417 all coatings being oxide coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3435 comprising a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3441 comprising carbon, a carbide or oxycarbide
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/734 comprising an alternation of high and low refractive indexes
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/10 with the aid of adhesive specially adapted for that purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/115 Multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/116 including electrically conducting layers

Abstract

A transparent substrate including an antireflection coating, made from a stack of thin layers of dielectric material having alternately high and low refractive indices. This stack includes a high-index first layer having a refractive index n, of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₁ of between 5 and 50 nm, a low-index second layer having a refractive index n₂ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₂ of between 5 and 50 nm, a high-index third layer having a refractive index n₃ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₃ of between 70 and 120 nm, and a low-index fourth layer having a refractive index n₄ of between 1.35 and 1:65 and a geometrical thickness e₄ of at least 80 nm.

Claims

1. A manufactured article, comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an antireflection coating on at least one face of the transparent substrate, said antireflection coating made of a stack of thin layers of dielectric material having alternately high and low refractive indices, wherein the stack comprises, in succession;

a high-index first layer, having a refractive index n₁ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₁ of between 5 and 50 nm;

a low-index second layer, having a refractive index n₂ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₂ of between 5 and 50 nm;

a high-index third layer, having a refractive index n₃ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₃ of between 70 and 120 nm;

a low-index fourth layer, having a refractive index n₄ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₄ of at least 80 μ

m,

wherein the antireflection stack uses, at least for its high-index third layer, silicon nitride or aluminium nitride to undergo a heat treatment of bending, toughening, or annealing.

2. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein n₁ and/or n₃ are between 1.85 and 2.15.

3. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein n₂ and/or n₄ are between 1.35 and 1.55.

4. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein e₁ is between 10 and 30 nm.

5. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein e₂ is between 10 and 35 nm.

6. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein e₃ is between 70 and 75 Nm.

7. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein e₄ is greater than or equal to 80 nm and less than or equal 120 nm.

8. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the high-index first layer and/or the high-index third layer are based on one or more metal oxides chosen from zinc oxide, tin oxide, and zirconium oxide, or based on one or more nitrides chosen from silicon nitride and aluminium nitride.

9. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the high-index first layer and/or the high-index third layer include a superposition of several high-index layers.

10. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the low-index second layer and/or the low-index fourth layer are based on at least one of a silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride and/or oxycarbide, or on a mixed silicon aluminium oxide.

11. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of clear or bulk-tinted glass.

12. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein light reflection on a side where the stack of thin layers is provided is reduced by a minimum value of 3 or 4% at an angle of incidence of between 50 and 70 degrees.

13. The manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein a calorimetric response of light reflection on a side where the stack of thin layers is provided is such that corresponding a* and b* values in the (L*, a*, b*) colorimetry system are negative at an angle of incidence of between 50 and 70 degrees.

14. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the glazing comprises the transparent substrate provided, on a second face opposed to the at least one face either with no antireflection stack or with a multilayer antireflection stack, or with another type of antireflection coating, or with a coating having another functionality of solar-protection, low-emissivity, antifouling, antifogging, anti-rain, or heating.

15. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 1, comprising:

a laminated structure in which the transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate are joined together using a sheet of thermoplastic, the second transparent substrate being provided, on the opposite side to the sheet of thermoplastic, either with no antireflection coating, or also with an antireflection stack, or with another type of antireflection coating, or with a coating having another functionality of the solar-protection, low-emissivity, antifouling, antifogging, anti-rain, or heating, the coating having another functionality possibly also being on one of the faces of the substrates which are turned towards the thermoplastic joining sheet.

16. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 1, further comprising:

a laminated structure with one or more sheets of joining polymer, wherein the antireflection coating is disposed on at least one of the faces on the opposite side to the one or more sheets of joining polymer, and a solar-protection-coating is in contact with the one or more sheets of joining polymer.

17. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 14, wherein the another type of antireflection coating is present and includes one of the following coatings:

a single low-index layer, having an index of less than 1.60;

a single layer whose refractive index varies through its thickness, including silicon oxynitride SiO_xN_y, where x and y vary through its thickness;

a two-layer stack, comprising, in succession, a layer having a high index of at least 1.8 including at least one of tin oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon nitride or aluminium nitride, and then a layer having a low index, of less than 1.65, including at least one of silicon oxide, oxynitride, or oxycarbide;

a three-layer stack comprising, in succession, a layer having a medium index of between 1.65 and 1.8 including silicon oxycarbide or oxynitride and/or aluminium oxycarbide or oxynitride, a layer having a high index of greater than 1.9 including SnO₂ or TiO₂, and a layer having a low index of less than 1.65, including mixed Si—

Al oxide or silicon oxide.

18. A method of making the glazing according to claim 14, including the steps of depositing the antireflection stack or stacks by sputtering and depositing the optional antireflection coating by a sol-gel technique, by a pyrolysis technique of CVD or plasma CVD, by sputtering, or by corona discharge.

19. A method of using the glazing according to claim 14 including using the glazing as an interior or exterior glazing for buildings, as a planar or curved shop display cabinet or counter glazing, as a glazing for a vehicle side window, as a glazing for a vehicle rear window, as a glazing for a vehicle sunroof, as a glazing for a vehicle windscreen, as a glazing for protecting a painting, as a glazing for an antidazzle computer screen, or as a glazing for glass furniture.

20. A manufactured article comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an antireflection coating on at least one face of the transparent substrate having a stack of thin layers of dielectric material, wherein the stack comprises, in succession;

a high-index first layer, having a refractive index n₁ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₁ of between 5 and 50 nm;

a low-index second layer having a refractive index n₂ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₂ of between 5 and 50 rim;

a high-index third layer having a refractive index n₃ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₃ of between 70 and 120 nm;

a low-index fourth layer having a refractive index n₄ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₄ of at least 80 nm,

wherein the stack is configured to reduce light reflection by at least 3% at an angle of incidence of between 50 and 70 degrees, and

wherein the stack is configured to produce a colorimetric response of light reflection on a side where the stack of thin layers is provided such that corresponding a* and b* values in the (L*, a*, b*) colorimetry system are negative at an angle of incidence of between 50 and 70 degrees.

21. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein n₁ and/or n₃ are between 1.85 and 2.15.

22. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein n₂ and/or n₄ are between 1.35 and 1.55.

23. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein e₁ is between 10 and 30 nm.

24. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein e₂ is between 10 and 35 nm.

25. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein e₃ is between 70 and 75 nm.

26. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein e₄ is greater than or equal to 80 nm and less than or equal to 120 nm.

27. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein the high-index first layer and/or the high-index third layer are based on one or more metal oxides chosen from zinc oxide, tin oxide, and zirconium oxide, or based on one or more nitrides chosen from silicon nitride and aluminium nitride.

28. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein the high-index first layer and/or the high-index third layer include a superposition of several high-index layers.

29. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein the low-index second layer and/or the low-index fourth layer are based on silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride and/or oxycarbide, or on a mixed silicon aluminium oxide.

30. The manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein the substrate is made of clear or bulk-tinted glass.

31. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 20, wherein the glazing comprises the transparent substrate provided on a second face opposed to the at least one face either with no antireflection stack or with a multilayer antireflection stack, or with another type of antireflection coating, or with a coating having another functionality of solar-protection, low-emissivity, antifouling, antifogging, anti-rain, or heating.

32. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 20, comprising:

a laminated structure in which the transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate are joined together using a sheet of thermoplastic, the second transparent substrate being provided on the opposite side to the sheet of thermoplastic, either with no antireflection coating, or also with an antireflection stack, or with another type of antireflection coating, or with a coating having another functionality of the solar-protection, low-emissivity, antifouling, antifogging, anti-rain, or heating, the coating having another functionality possibly also being on one of the faces of the substrates which are turned towards the thermoplastic joining sheet.

33. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 20, further comprising:

a laminated structure with one or more sheets of Joining polymer, wherein the antireflection coating is disposed on at least one of the faces on the opposite side to the one or more sheets of joining polymer, and a solar-protection-coating is in contact with the one or more sheets of joining polymer.

34. A glazing including the manufactured article according to claim 31, wherein the another type of antireflection coating is present and includes one of the following coatings:

a single low-index layer, having an index of less than 1.60;

a single layer whose refractive index varies through its thickness, silicon oxynitride SiO_xN_y, where x and y vary through its thickness;

a two-layer stack, comprising, in succession, a layer having a high index of at least 1.8 including at least one of tin oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon nitride or aluminium nitride, and then a layer having a low index, of less than 1.65, including at least one of silicon oxide, oxynitride, or oxycarbide;

a three-layer stack comprising, in succession, a layer having a medium index of between 1.65 and 1.8 including silicon oxycarbide or oxynitride and/or aluminium oxycarbide or oxynitride, a layer having a high index of greater than 1.9 including SnO₂ or TiO₂, and a layer having a low index of less than 1.65, including mixed Si—

Al oxide or silicon oxide.

35. A method of making the glazing according to claim 31;

including the steps of depositing the antireflection stack or stacks by sputtering and depositing the optional antireflection coating by a sol-gel technique, by a pyrolysis technique of CVD or plasma CVD, by sputtering, or by corona discharge.

36. A method of using the glazing according to claim 31 including using the glazing as an interior or exterior glazing for buildings, as a planar or curved shop display cabinet or counter glazing, as a glazing for a vehicle side window, as a glazing for a vehicle rear window, as a glazing for a vehicle sunroof, as a glazing for a vehicle windscreen, as a glazing for protecting a painting, as a glazing for an antidazzle computer screen, or as a glazing for glass furniture.

37. A manufactured article, comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an antireflection coating on at least one face of the transparent substrate, said antireflection coating made of a stack of thin layers of dielectric material having alternately high and low refractive indices, wherein the stack comprises, in succession;

a high-index first layer, having a refractive index n₁ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₂ of between 5 and 50 nm;

a low-index second layer, having a refractive index n₂ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₂ of between 5 and 50 nm;

a high-index third layer, having a refractive index n₃ of between 1.8 and 2.2 and a geometrical thickness e₃ of between 70 and 120 nm;

a low-index fourth layer, having a refractive index n₄ of between 1.35 and 1.65 and a geometrical thickness e₄ of at least 80 nm,

wherein the antireflection stack uses silicon nitride or aluminium nitride for at least one of the high-index layers to undergo a heat treatment of bending, toughening, or annealing.