Comparison of dielectric and conductive oxide layers on the properties of silver based transparent de-icing multilayer-stacks for automotive application

Together with the introduction of LED technology into automotive front headlights there is the de-icing of the headlight covers required. Different materials as bottom and top layers in a silver based three layer stack have been investigated with respect to the electrical and optical properties of the transparent conductive film. The transparent conductive multilayer-stacks have been deposited by means of pulsed magnetron sputtering onto rigid plastic plates and on float glass. Results are presented from the investigation of the influence of different dielectric and conductive oxide layers onto silver based transparent conductive multilayer-stacks for automotive application

ITO thin films prepared by synchronal pulsed RF-DC sputtering

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as transparent front contact layer in thin film solar cell systems and other applications. Commonly used (pulsed) DC sputtering of ITO provides high quality transparent conductive layers and is easy to use on large area substrates. The approach of RF superimposed DC sputtering lowers the resistivity of ITO thin films in comparison to DC or pulsed-DC sputtering. Thus the film thickness required and therewith the material costs can be reduced. Furthermore the near infrared transmission of the deposited films can be enhanced. ITO was deposited using a (pulsed) RF and a (pulsed) DC plasma excitation simultaneously. With increasing RF power ratio the resistivity of ITO thin films decreases, even without additional heat exposure to the substrate. However, adding RF power to a (pulsed) DC sputtering process leads to an increase of arc events. A Pulse synchronization module (PSM), which connects the Pulse DC power generator and the RF power generator, was implemented to synchronize both pulsing patterns. The PSM can adjust the pulse-on and -off times (duty cycle) of both generators individually and optimize the sputtering process. This leads to a reduced arcing probability. The ITO films obtained are characterized by a very low resistivity and a high electron mobility. The ITO thin films were analyzed by UV-VIS and IR-spectroscopy as well as Hall-measurements

Scheinwerfer fuer ein Kraftfahrzeug und Verfahren zum Herstellen desselben

DE 102008019664 A1 UPAB: 20081121 NOVELTY - The headlamp has a layer system on the inner side of the closure discs including a metal layer between top and bottom layers, one or both of which consists of aluminum nitride or silicon nitride, or an oxide or a mixture of oxides of the following elements: silicon, titanium, aluminum, zinc, tin, indium, niobium, zirconium or tantalum. USE - For a motor vehicle. ADVANTAGE - Closure discs have high transmission in visible light waveband, and can be de-iced, even if LEDs are used as the light source