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.

A component having a first, optically transparent pane and a second optically transparent pane, the first pane and the second pane being spaced apart from one another at least in some areas by means of a space. The component further comprises a separating device which divides the space into a first space area and a second space area; an introduction device for introducing fog, e.g., a colored gas, or a colored liquid that changes the passage of light at least through the first space area, at least in the first space area; and a means for removing the fog, the liquid or the gas at least from the first space area. In addition, the component further comprises an illuminating device for illuminating at least the interior of the first space area and/or the separating device is movable.

A self-locking balance weight-type insulated glass assembly has two panes of glass with an inner cavity and a blinds assembly therein. The blinds assembly comprises a head rail, a slat assembly hung on the head rail, a bottom rail, a privacy fascia and a hollow side rail. The head rail has a hollow inner cavity with a rotary rod assembly and a rotary rod locking device therein. The slat assembly, the bottom rail and the rotary rod assembly are connected through a pull cord for controlling slats to rise or fall and a ladder cord for controlling the slats to turn. The rotary rod locking device has an end connected to the rotary rod assembly and an end connected to a gear box. An external magnetic operator is magnetically coupled to an internal magnetic operator arranged outside the inner cavity formed by the panes of glass.

Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage. In some cases, feedback may be used to monitor an optical transition. In these or other cases, a group of optically switchable devices may transition together over a particular duration to achieve approximately uniform tint states over time during the transition.

An integrated building photovoltaic apparatus for closing an opening on a building facade and generating electricity from a solar radiation which pass through the opening, includes at least two panes that are at least partially transparent and joined to each other by an interposed spacer to form an internal chamber therebetween; a blind arranged inside the internal chamber and having movable photovoltaic slats to vary the amount of the solar radiation passing through the opening; and connection elements, configured to pull or push the photovoltaic slats. Each slat has a photovoltaic sheet with interconnection grooves which define thin film solar cells monolithically connected in series. The solar cells include at least two coupling thin film solar cells (40′), each one having a through hole and a close-pattern isolation groove surrounding the through hole to define an inactive area of the coupling single thin film solar cell surrounding the through hole.

A glazing includes at least one transparent substrate comprising a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, wherein said first major surface is coated with an electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive layer is absent in one or more regions of the first major surface. At least a portion of the one or more regions of the first major surface, and/or corresponding regions of the opposing second major surface, bears a low-emissivity material, and the one or more regions permit the passage of electromagnetic radiation through the glazing.

Window controllers and methods for controlling tinting and other functions of tinting zones of multi-zone tintable windows and multiple tinting zones of a group of tintable windows.

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.

The present disclosure provides a smart window including a first base layer and a second base layer positioned to face each other; a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer respectively positioned at inner surfaces of the first base layer and the second base layer; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first nanostructures, and the second conductive layer includes a plurality of second nanostructures having a different average length from the plurality of first nanostructures.

An electrical control system for controlling a variable transmittance window is disclosed. The system comprises a driver circuit in communication with an electro-optic element. A controller is in communication with the driver circuit. The controller is configured to identify a temperature condition of the electro-optic element and adjust an output voltage supplied to the electro-optic element in response to the temperature condition.