When transitioning an electrochromic (EC) device between two tint levels, a control unit may repeatedly adjust an applied voltage based on a stack voltage of the EC device. The stack voltage of the EC device may be measured and compared to a reference or target stack voltage. The stack voltage may be measured in any of various methods, such as by measuring it directly, via a measured equivalent series resistance, or via an open circuit voltage measurement. The applied voltage may then be changed or adjusted based on the measured stack voltage and the comparison of the stack voltage to the reference value. This process may be repeated multiple times and may essentially be performed continually until the stack voltage attains the desired level or at least attains a level within a predetermine threshold of the desired level.

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.

Prior electrochromic devices frequently suffer from high levels of defectivity. The defects may be manifest as pin holes or spots where the electrochromic transition is impaired. This is unacceptable for many applications such as electrochromic architectural glass. Improved electrochromic devices with low defectivity can be fabricated by depositing certain layered components of the electrochromic device in a single integrated deposition system. While these layers are being deposited and/or treated on a substrate, for example a glass window, the substrate never leaves a controlled ambient environment, for example a low pressure controlled atmosphere having very low levels of particles. These layers may be deposited using physical vapor deposition. In certain embodiments, the device includes a counter electrode having an anodically coloring electrochromic material in combination with an additive.

Prior electrochromic devices frequently suffer from high levels of defectivity. The defects may be manifest as pin holes or spots where the electrochromic transition is impaired. This is unacceptable for many applications such as electrochromic architectural glass. Improved electrochromic devices with low defectivity can be fabricated by depositing certain layered components of the electrochromic device in a single integrated deposition system. While these layers are being deposited and/or treated on a substrate, for example a glass window, the substrate never leaves a controlled ambient environment, for example a low pressure controlled atmosphere having very low levels of particles. These layers may be deposited using physical vapor deposition. In certain embodiments, the device includes a counter electrode having an anodically coloring electrochromic material in combination with an additive.

Certain embodiments relate to optical devices and methods of fabricating optical devices that pre-treat a sub-layer to enable selective removal of the pre-treated sub-layer and overlying layers. Other embodiments pertain to methods of fabricating an optical device that apply a sacrificial material layer.

The present invention is an electrochromic device which is provided with a first electrode; an electrochromic layer which is disposed on the first electrode, while containing an organic/metal hybrid polymer that contains at least an organic ligand and a metal ion to which the organic ligand is coordinated; an electrolyte layer which is disposed on the electrochromic layer; a counter electrode material layer which is disposed on the electrolyte layer and contains a conductive polymer; and a second electrode which is disposed on the counter electrode material layer. The conductive polymer may be at least one polymer that is selected from the group consisting of polypyrroles, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(p-phenylene)s, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate)s (PEDOT:PSS), polyfluorenes, poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s, polythienylenevinylenes and organic/metal hybrid polymers.

A light transmitting panel assembly includes a first panel, a second panel, a frame, a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and a first active component located between the first panel and the second panel.

A light transmitting panel assembly includes a first panel, a second panel, a frame, a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and a first active component located between the first panel and the second panel.

A method for aligning molecular orientations of liquid crystals and/or polymeric materials into spatially variant patterns uses metamasks. When non-polarized or circularly polarized light is transmitted through or reflected by the metamasks, spatially varied polarization direction and intensity patterns of light can be generated. By projecting the optical patterns of the metamasks onto substrates coated with photoalignment materials, spatially variant molecular orientations encoded in the polarization and intensity patterns are induced in the photoalignment materials, and transfer into the liquid crystals. Possible designs for the metamask use nanostructures of metallic materials (e.g., rectangular nanocuboids of metallic materials arrayed on a transparent substrate).

A phase transformation electronic device comprises: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer opposite to and spaced from the first conductive layer; a phase transformation material layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the phase transformation material layer is formed by a hydrogen-containing transition metal oxide having a structural formula of ABO.sub.xH.sub.y, wherein A is one or more of alkaline earth metal elements and rare-earth metal elements, B is one or more of transition metal elements, x is a numeric value in a range of 1 to 3, and y is a numeric value in a range of 0 to 2.5; and an ionic liquid layer disposed between the phase transformation material layer and the first conductive layer, wherein the ionic liquid layer is capable of providing hydrogen ions and oxygen ions.