Techniques for laser ablation/scribing of coatings in pre- and post-assembled insulated glass units, and/or associated methods

A method of modifying an insulated glass window unit (IG unit), wherein:

• the IG unit includes first and second spaced apart glass substrates that are spaced apart from each other via at least a peripheral edge spacer, a gap being defined between the first and second glass substrates, the first glass substrate having thereon a multilayer coating, the multilayer coating including at least one metal-inclusive layer susceptible to corrosion,
• the multilayer coating comprises a bottom dielectric layer directly on the first glass substrate, the metal-inclusive layer being provided over at least the bottom dielectric layer on the first glass substrate, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• laser-scribing a line in the multilayer coating using a laser source, the line having a width sufficient to create at least a partial barrier to electron transport between first and second portions of the at least one metal-inclusive layer that are provided on opposing sides of the line to at least retard corrosion of the at least one metal-inclusive layer in the first portion, the first portion being closer than the second portion to a center of the at least one metal-inclusive layer;
• and
• performing the laser-scribing to dissolve a portion of the coating including the at least one metal-inclusive layer so that after said laser scribing the line is provided in the metal-inclusive layer but not necessarily through all of the bottom dielectric layer of the multilayer coating where the line is provided.