The present disclosure provides a device for generating electricity. The device comprises a panel having an area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light and having a light receiving surface. The panel comprises at least one series of solar cells, each solar cell having opposite major surfaces having opposite electrical polarities, each solar cell overlapping another one of the solar cells and being electrically connected in series. The at least one series of solar cells is positioned along and in the proximity of an edge of the panel, along the area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light and substantially parallel the light receiving surface of the panel.

The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tuneable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n.sub.∥), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n.sub.⊥). This refractive index mismatch between said microparticles and said liquid crystal is tuned by applying an external electric or magnetic field, thermally or optically.

Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.

A fluid exchanging system and method for use in exchanging fluids in insulating glass units (IGUs). The fluid exchanging system includes an articulating arm having a plurality of members and arms to allow movement about multiple axes defined by the articulating arm, an optical sensor system, coupled to the articulating arm, for identifying an opening in a spacer frame of an IGU, and a fluid exchanging apparatus releasably couplable to the articulating arm. The fluid exchanging apparatus also includes a fluid exchanging head for evacuating atmospheric air from the IGU and dispensing fluid into the IGU.

A laminated vacuum insulating assembly extending along a plane, P, defined by a longitudinal axis, X, and a vertical axis, Z, including: a first glass pane with thickness Z1, an inner pane face and an outer pane face and a second glass pane with thickness, Z2, an inner pane face and an outer pane face; wherein the thicknesses are measured in the direction normal to the plane, with a set of discrete spacers positioned between the first and second glass panes, a hermetically bonding seal sealing the distance between the first and second glass panes over a perimeter thereof; and an internal volume, V, defined by the first and second glass panes and the set of discrete spacers and closed by the hermetically bonding seal and where there is an absolute vacuum of pressure of less than 0.1 mbar; and where the inner pane faces face the internal volume, V.

A fenestration assembly includes a glazing unit includes a pane spacer between exterior and interior panes proximate glazing unit edges. A fenestration frame is coupled around the glazing unit and includes a frame core extending around the glazing unit. The frame core includes a unitary core wall including a composite material that is hollow and extends continuously from a core interior face to a core exterior face. A metal glazing cap is coupled with the frame core. The metal glazing cap having a cap end indirectly engaged with the glazing unit along the interior pane, and the cap end is remote from the pane spacer. Each of the core exterior face, the pane spacer and the metal glazing cap are thermally isolated from each other with the frame core including the unitary core wall.

An electrically dynamic window structure may include first and second panes of transparent material and an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the two panes. A driver can be electrically connected to electrode layers carried by the two panes. The driver may be configured to alternate between a drive phase in which a drive signal is applied to the electrode layers and an idle phase in which the drive signal is not applied to the electrode layers. The electrically controllable optically active material can maintain its transition state during the idle phase. As a result, the power consumption of the structure may be reduced as compared to if the driver continuously delivers the drive signal.

An insulated glazing unit includes a first laminated pane including two glass sheets, each no more than 2 mm thick, that are bonded to one another by an intermediate adhesive layer, a second structural laminated pane providing the mechanical strength required for the flight conditions of an airplane, in particular resistance to bird strike and control of glazing unit deformation under pressure difference conditions during a flight on either side of the insulated glazing unit, and a gas gap between the first and second laminated panes, the first laminated pane being provided with a heating system.

There is provided a gas trapping material and vacuum heat insulation equipment where the gas trapping material can be activated in a sealing step of the vacuum heat insulation equipment, and production efficiency can be enhanced by maintaining a high gas trapping characteristic even when a gas is released in a baking step or in a sealing step under an air atmosphere. The gas trapping material contains porous metal oxide and silver particles having an average particle size of 0.5 nm to 100 nm inclusive.

An insulating window unit for a building including adjacent glazed panels linked to each other by at least one translucent connection element having a structural function, wherein each glazed panel is a multiple glazing unit including plural sheets of glass enclosing at least one closed space between the sheets and including at least one translucent seal along a connection edge of same facing the other adjacent glazed panel.