Silver Dielectric Stack Absorbent Layers Neutral Color
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal insulation and solar protection glazings face challenges in achieving both good thermal performance and neutral aesthetic appearance, particularly in maintaining low light transmission and neutral reflected color while ensuring high selectivity and stability across different angles of incidence.
Innovation Solution
A bi-layer stack with two metallic functional layers based on silver, separated by dielectric layers, and incorporating absorbent layers in the dielectric coatings to control solar radiation and infrared radiation, ensuring the geometric thickness of dielectric layers separates absorbent layers from metallic layers by at least 5 nm, and using specific materials like silicon nitride and aluminum-based layers for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If absorbent layers are added to control solar radiation and achieve low light transmission, then thermal performance improves, but reflected color neutrality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning absorbent layers at specific locations within the dielectric coating stack, rather than uniformly distributing absorption properties. The absorbent layers are placed in specific dielectric coatings (Di1, Di2, or Di3) at controlled distances from the metallic functional layers, allowing selective absorption of solar radiation while preserving neutral reflected color through precise spatial arrangement of absorbing materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dielectric layers as intermediaries to separate the absorbent layers from the metallic functional layers by at least 5 nm. This intermediary spacing prevents direct interaction between absorbing materials and metallic layers, allowing the absorbent layers to control solar radiation while the dielectric spacer maintains optical neutrality in the reflected light, thus mediating between thermal performance and aesthetic appearance
2Loss of energy
If light transmission is reduced for solar control, then energy reflection improves, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to increased coloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the thickness, composition, and positioning of absorbent layers within the dielectric coating stack. By adjusting parameters such as the geometric thickness of dielectric layers (maintaining ≥5 nm separation), the optical density of absorbent materials, and their specific locations in the stack, the patent achieves low light transmission for solar control while maintaining neutral reflected color for aesthetic appearance through optimized parameter combinations
3Loss of energy
If multiple absorbent layers are used to achieve low light transmission, then solar control performance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the solar control function across multiple absorbent layers positioned in different dielectric coatings within the stack. Instead of using a single thick absorbent layer, the patent segments absorption functionality into multiple thinner layers (e.g., in Di1, Di2, or Di3), each contributing to overall solar control while maintaining manufacturability through standardized thin-film deposition processes for each segmented layer
Data Source
AI summary
A substrate coated on one of its faces with a stack of thin layers having reflection properties in the infrared and/or in solar radiation, including two metallic functional layers, in particular on the basis of silver. Each of the metallic functional layers is disposed between two dielectric coatings. The coating includes at least two absorbent layers which absorb solar radiation in the visible part of the spectrum, which is disposed at least in two different dielectric coatings.