System and/or method for heat treating conductive coatings using wavelength-tuned infrared radiation

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to systems and/or methods for preferentially and selectively heat treating conductive coatings such as ITO using specifically tuned near infrared-short wave infrared (NIR-SWIR) radiation. In certain example embodiments, the coating is preferentially heated, thereby improving its properties while at the underlying substrate is kept at low temperatures. Such techniques are advantageous for applications on glass and/or other substrates, e.g., where elevated substrate temperatures can lead to stress changes that adversely effect downstream processing (such as, for example, cutting, grinding, etc.) and may sometimes even result in substrate breakage or deformation. Selective heating of the coating may in certain example embodiments be obtained by using IR emitters with peak outputs over spectral wavelengths where the conductive coating (or the conductive layer(s) in the conductive coating) is significantly absorbing but where the substrate has reduced or minimal absorption.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An infrared heat treatment system comprising:
 an infrared hearing element comprising a laser configured to heat a coated article including on a glass substrate a layer comprising indium tin oxide located between and directly contacting first and second layers each comprising silicon nitride; and   wherein the infrared heating element comprising the laser is configured to irradiate infrared radiation at a peak emission of 1-2 μm at the coated article for a predetermined amount of time so as to cause preferential heating of the coating, or a portion of the coating, so that the glass substrate can remain at a temperature below 425 degrees C. without any additional cooling elements.