Robust optical filter utilizing pairs of dielectric and metallic layers

US7824777B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Southwall Technologies Inc. · US

Inventors

• Chris H. Stoessel · Santa Rosa, US
• Andrew C. F. Wahl · Seattle, US
• Roland Thielsch · Dresden, DE
• Matthew Coda · Menlo Park, US
• Julius G. Kozak · Antioch, US
• Richard T. Wipfler · Menlo Park, US
• Lee Campbell Boman · Belmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2010
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/12896
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

“Corrosion” performance of an optical filter is enhanced when a relatively thick zinc-based film functions as a seed layer for a subsequently formed silver-based film. At least two pairs of dielectric and metallic layers are included within the optical filter, where the zinc-based film is a second film of the dielectric layer and where the silver-based film is the metallic layer. The zinc-based film has a zinc content of at least 80 percent and has a thickness of at least 15 nm. In order to further improve the corrosion performance, gold may be incorporated into the silver-based film.