This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g, channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device.

A spacer for an insulating glazing, includes a main body, which is a main body A including a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface, a glazing interior surface, and an outer surface, or which is a main body B including a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface, a first glazing interior surface, a second glazing interior surface, a first inner lateral surface, a second inner lateral surface, and an outer surface, wherein the two inner lateral surfaces, together with the two glazing interior surfaces and the outer surface, form a groove for receiving a pane. The spacer has a screen panel made of an opaque material arranged on the glazing interior surface of the main body A or a screen panel arranged on one of the two glazing interior surfaces of the main body B and extending parallel to the two pane contact surfaces.

An insulating glass unit (10) is formed from a plurality of transparent layers (16, 18, 20), in which at least one illuminable panel (20) is arranged between at least two mineral glass panels (16, 18). The mineral glass panels (16, 18) are held at a defined distance from one another by at least one spacer element (14). The illuminable panel (20) is held at least on one longitudinal marginal edge (24) by the spacer element (14). The spacer element (14) is formed by at least one hollow profile (15), which preferably comprises a plurality of adjoining hollow chambers (26, 28). The outer mineral glass panels (16, 18) each adjoins at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile (15). The illuminable panel (20) rests on or against the intermediate hollow chamber (28). An illumination element (32) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber (28).

A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate.

A spacer construction for insulating glass for windows comprised of thin sheets of metal, such as stainless steel, formed with a first bottom side panel wherein the first bottom side panel joins first and second spaced, typically diverging, lateral side walls or panels. A second inside wall of the spacer assembly is spaced from the bottom side of the first section or channel and joins, typically by welding, to the lateral side walls of the first section thereby forming a tube or chamber into which desiccant may be placed. A cushion material layer is positioned over and on the bottom side panel and is covered by a polymeric sheet affixed or bonded to the lateral sides to form an internal chamber filled with desiccant. The desiccant is positioned to impact against the film or sheet bonded to the bottom side panel and at least a portion of the lateral side walls of the channel enabling the assembly to effectively accommodate bending forces and stress upon bending of the spacer.

A spacer for a multi-pane insulating glazing unit includes a spacer body made from a first material with first and second hollow desiccant chambers extending in a longitudinal direction and a longitudinal groove between the first and second chambers open to a first side of the spacer for holding an intermediate pane of the glazing unit, the groove being delimited in a width direction by first and second side walls and having a bottom wall, and the spacer body having a gas barrier on a second side opposite the first side. The first side wall and/or the second side wall and/or the bottom wall of the groove include at least two electrically conductive portions electrically isolated from each other and configured to make electrical contact with at least one electrical contact of the intermediate pane.

A spacer frame for use in fabricating a window and a method of fabrication thereof is disclosed. The spacer frame for separating first and second glass lites from each other in window. The spacer frame includes a frame forming a multi-sided form comprising a first outwardly facing surface for supporting a first glass lite that is contiguous with a first intermediate wall portion and a second outwardly facing surface for supporting a second glass lite that is contiguous with a second intermediate wall portion. The first and second intermediate wall portions comprise a first material and are linked to each other and spaced from each other by a thermal interruption strip. The first and second intermediate wall portions and the thermal interruption strip comprise an intermediate wall that bridges the first and second outwardly facing surfaces. The spacer frame further includes a film overlaying the intermediate wall portion.

A fenestration unit comprising a frame having a center, a sash coupled to the frame, an interior pane coupled to the sash, a spacer coupled to the interior pane, an exterior pane coupled to the sash and the spacer, the exterior pane including an inward-facing surface, and a peripheral shield disposed on the inward-facing surface of the exterior pane such that, when viewed at direct angle, the peripheral shield hides the spacer, the sash, and at least part of the frame.

A spacer frame for use in fabricating a window and a method of fabrication thereof is disclosed. The spacer frame for separating first and second glass lites from each other in window. The spacer frame includes a frame forming a multi-sided form comprising a first outwardly facing surface for supporting a first glass lite that is contiguous with a first intermediate wall portion and a second outwardly facing surface for supporting a second glass lite that is contiguous with a second intermediate wall portion. The first and second intermediate wall portions comprise a first material and are linked to each other and spaced from each other by a thermal interruption strip. The first and second intermediate wall portions and the thermal interruption strip comprise an intermediate wall that bridges the first and second outwardly facing surfaces. The spacer frame further includes a film overlaying the intermediate wall portion.

This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g, channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device.