Patent ID: 7771571

Claim:
A method of making a coated article including a coating supported by a substrate, the method comprising: sputtering a first dielectric layer on the substrate; sputtering a first contact layer over at least the first dielectric layer; sputtering a target comprising Ag in an atmosphere including at least oxygen gas in order to form an infrared (IR) reflecting layer which is located over and contacts the first contact layer; sputtering a second contact layer over and contacting the IR reflecting layer; wherein said sputtering of at least one of the first and second contact layers comprises sputtering at least one target comprising a metal or metal alloy in an atmosphere including at least oxygen gas in order to form the contact layer(s) so as to comprise a metal oxide, and wherein more oxygen gas is introduced into said atmosphere in which the target for sputtering the contact layer(s) is located than is introduced into an atmosphere in which the target comprising Ag used in sputtering the IR reflecting layer is located; and wherein a ratio of (a) oxygen gas introduced into said atmosphere in which the target comprising Ag used in sputtering the IR reflecting layer is located, to (b) oxygen gas introduced into the atmosphere in which the target for sputtering the contact layer(s) is located, is from about 1:1.3 to 1:10.