Various embodiments herein relate to networks of electrochromic windows. The networks may be configured in particular ways to minimize the likelihood that the windows on the network draw more power than can be provided. The network may include particular hardware components that provide additional power to windows as needed. The network may also be configured to adjust how the windows therein transition to prevent overloading the network. The techniques described herein can be used to design networks of electrochromic windows that are undersized when considering the amount of power that would be needed to simultaneously transition all the windows on the network using normal transition parameters, while still allowing simultaneous transitions to occur.

A light control unit including a light control sheet including a first transparent electrode layer, a second transparent electrode layer, and a light control layer formed between the first and second transparent electrode layers and including a liquid crystal composition, and at least one first connection member that connects the first transparent electrode layer and a power supply. The light control sheet includes a light control region where the light control layer is located and at least one first region contiguous to the light control region in a plan view of the light control sheet. The first connection member includes a first wiring member connected to a first conductive adhesive layer formed on the light control sheet in the first region. The first wiring member includes a wiring layer that has a conductive patterned end portion where the wiring layer makes contact with the first conductive adhesive layer.

Methods relating to and an apparatus including: a smart device and an integrated heating module are provided. The apparatus includes: a smart device having an electrically switchable material, a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer, wherein the electrically switchable material is retained between a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer; and an integrated heating module configured between the electrically switchable material and one of: the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer, wherein the integrated heating module is configured to provide resistant heating along at least a portion of the electrically switchable material.

Some embodiments are directed to a light modulator comprising transparent or reflective substrates, multiple electrodes being applied to the substrates in a pattern across the substrate. A controller may apply an electric potential to the electrodes to obtain an electro-magnetic field between the electrodes providing electrophoretic movement of the particles towards or from an electrode.

A power transfer assembly includes a window balance assembly, a pivot bar, and an electrically conductive pathway. The window balance assembly includes a first portion configured to be fixed in place and a second portion configured to be movable relative to the first portion. The pivot bar is conductively coupled to the second portion of the window balance assembly. And, the electrically conductive pathway extends between the window balance assembly and the pivot bar.

A method of controlling smart windows with dynamic tenancy, performed by a control system is provided. The method includes coupling a control system having a plurality of smart windows each having one or more electrochromic devices, to a plurality of remote devices, and managing, in the control system, configurable smart window groups each having in membership one or more of the plurality of smart windows. The method includes managing, in the control system, configurable user groups each having in membership one or more of a plurality of users in association with the smart window groups, and controlling transmissivity of the electrochromic devices of the plurality of smart windows in accordance with the configurable smart window groups, the configurable user groups and the plurality of remote devices.

Disclosed herein are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a host, such as a supramolecular host, and the use of the composition to form a composition comprising the host in complex with one or more guests. The deep eutectic solvent provides an alternative medium to the aqueous-based media that have been used in the art to date. Also disclosed are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a redox-active compound, such as a viologen compound, and the use of the composition, for example, in a smart window or for agricultural use, such as in an agricultural product.

A smart window configured to transition between a substantially transparent state and a dimmed state. The smart window includes a first substantially transparent conductive layer; an ion storage layer on the first substantially transparent conductive layer; an electrolyte layer on a side of the ion storage layer away from the first substantially transparent conductive layer; an electrochromic layer on a side of the electrolyte layer away from the ion storage layer; a second substantially transparent conductive layer on a side of the electrochromic layer away from the electrolyte layer; and an antenna layer configured to receive wireless power transmissions to provide energy for the smart window to transition between the substantially transparent state and the dimmed state. An orthographic projection of the electrochromic layer on the first substantially transparent conductive layer substantially covers an orthographic projection of the antenna layer on the first substantially transparent conductive layer.

A temperature control system and a driving method thereof, and a liquid crystal apparatus are provided. In the temperature control system, an input voltage adjustment circuit is respectively coupled to a control signal output end of a control circuit, a power signal output end, and an input end of a signal amplification circuit, and is configured to control the signal strength of a basic electrical signal transmitted to the input end of the signal amplification circuit under the control of a control signal output from the control signal output end; the signal amplification circuit is configured to output a corresponding target electrical signal to a heating element according to the basic electrical signal, and the heating element is configured to adjust the heating temperature according to the target electrical signal; a temperature sensing circuit is respectively coupled to the heating element and the control circuit, and is configured to convert a sensed sensing signal into a feedback signal and transmit the feedback signal to the control circuit; and the control circuit is configured to control the control signal output from the control signal output end according to the received feedback signal.

A virtual visor system is disclosed that includes a visor having a plurality of independently operable pixels that are selectively operated with a variable opacity. A camera captures images of the face of a driver or other passenger and, based on the captured images, a controller operates the visor to automatically and selectively darken a limited portion thereof to block the sun or other illumination source from striking the eyes of the driver, while leaving the remainder of the visor transparent. The virtual visor system advantageously adopts a gradient blocking mode for the optical state of the visor that includes a blocker and a transition gradient, which has the effect of making updates to optical state of the visor less distracting. Additionally, the transition gradient in the optical state of the visor makes the virtual visor system more robust against errors in positioning the blocker on the visor.