Improved high transmittance, low emissivity coatings for substrates

THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES A COATING FOR A TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE THAT EXHIBITS A NEUTRAL COLOR THROUGH A WIDE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE OF LIGHT. THE COATING EMPLOYS A COATING BASE (20) ADJACENT TO THE TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE (10) WITH A THICKNESS LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 275 ANGSTROMS AND MAY INCLUDE TWO REFLECTIVE METAL LAYERS (350) THAT HAVE AN INTERMEDIATE LAYER OF METAL OXIDE (40) A LAYER OF EXTERIOR ANTI-REFLECTIVE METAL OXIDE (60) ON THE SECOND LAYER OF REFLECTIVE METAL (50). IF DESIRED, THE COATING OF THE INVENTION MAY INCLUDE AN ABRASIVE-RESISTANT OVERLAY AS ITS OUTER LAYER (70). THIS OVERLAY IS DESEABLY FORMED OF AN ABRASIVE-RESISTANT METAL OXIDE, SUCH AS A ZINC OXIDE, APPLIED WITH A THICKNESS THAT DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF SUCH COATED SUBSTRATE.