A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.

Various embodiments of systems and methods for remote authorization and controlling of electrochromic glass units (“EGUs”) are described. In some embodiments, a device monitoring and control system can provide a first authorization code to a communication gateway for an installation site for EGUs to authorize mobile applications to control at least some of the EGUs of the installation site. The device monitoring and control system can receive, via a control interface, a second authorization code from a mobile application, and compare the provided first authorization code to the received second authorization code. If the authorization codes compare, the mobile application can be authorized to control the EGUs of the installation site. The device monitoring and control system can also receive control instructions from the authorized mobile application to control the EGUs, and transmit control messages based on the control instructions to the installation site to implement the control instructions.

An immersive digital experience for video conferencing simulates common presence of a virtual participant in a local environment. Such simulation may include (i) using a transparent media display having a portion of its pixels projecting the virtual participant's body image while keeping at least a portion of the background transparent (e.g., to visible light), (ii) disposing sensor(s) (e.g., camera) behind the transparent media display at the gaze of the participant, and/or (iii) using added virtual overlays (e.g., of plants, memorabilia, and/or furniture) to the virtual image (e.g., that are consistent with the local environment), e.g., to provide a sense of depth ranging from the overlays to the virtual participant projection and to the background showing through the transparent media display.

Certain example embodiments relate to electric-potential driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes a resilient polymer, a conductor, and optional ink. If shutter coil skew is detected, voltage(s) may be applied one or more areas of the on-glass transparent conductor to compensate for or otherwise attempt to correct the detected coil skew.

Certain example embodiments relate to electric-potential driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes a resilient polymer, a conductor, and optional ink. If shutter coil skew is detected, voltage(s) may be applied one or more areas of the on-glass transparent conductor to compensate for or otherwise attempt to correct the detected coil skew.

A system and method for reducing bird collisions with glazing utilizes a UV light source and a perforated opaque object. The UV light source is located adjacent an edge of a glass panel and is configured to project UV light rays onto a planar surface of the glass panel. The perforated opaque object is located between the UV light source and the planar surface of the glass panel, such that UV light rays passing through the perforated object cast onto the planar surface of the glass panel a UV shadow visible to birds and substantially invisible to humans.

Disclosed are novel forms of operable and fixed windows capable of at least one or more of: producing an electrical current utilizing a transparent or semi-transparent solar collecting coating or film on a pane, and selectively changing one or more of opacity and tint of one or more electrochromatic layers in the window. Some embodiments also disclose a robust scaffold assembly utilized to enclose the perimeter of the substrate and one or more transparent solar cells or electrochromatic layers, or transparent solar cells and electrochromatic layers. Various structural and electrical configurations are disclosed to satisfy the kinematic demands of operable windows. Wired and wireless configurations of the windows are contemplated as are self-powered versions whereby the transparent solar collector or wireless power powers the electrochromatic function. Also disclosed are self-powered and self-contained glaze units with wireless control or control from user interface controls on an indoor facing pane.

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.

In one aspect, window inserts are described herein, which can modulate transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a window and can be self-powered. In some embodiments, a window insert comprises a photovoltaic device, the photovoltaic device including a photosensitive layer having peak absorption between 250 nm and 450 nm and an average transmittance of at least 50 percent in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.