Electrochromic devices and methods may employ the addition of a defect-mitigating insulating layer which prevents electronically conducting layers and/or electrochromically active layers from contacting layers of the opposite polarity and creating a short circuit in regions where defects form. In some embodiments, an encapsulating layer is provided to encapsulate particles and prevent them from ejecting from the device stack and risking a short circuit when subsequent layers are deposited. The insulating layer may have an electronic resistivity of between about 1 and 10.sup.8 Ohm-cm. In some embodiments, the insulating layer contains one or more of the following metal oxides: aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, tungsten oxide, nickel tungsten oxide, and oxidized indium tin oxide. Carbides, nitrides, oxynitrides, and oxycarbides may also be used.

A decoration element including a color developing layer including a light reflective layer, a light absorbing layer provided on the light reflective layer, and a convex portion or concave portion having an asymmetric-structured cross-section; an electrochromic device provided on any one surface of the color developing layer; and an in-mold label layer provided on the other surface of the color developing layer.

Thin-film devices, for example electrochromic devices for windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. Particular focus is given to methods of patterning optical devices. Various edge deletion and isolation scribes are performed, for example, to ensure the optical device has appropriate isolation from any edge defects. Methods described herein apply to any thin-film device having one or more material layers sandwiched between two thin film electrical conductor layers. The described methods create novel optical device configurations.

Optically controllable windows and an associated window control system provide a building security platform. A window controller or other processing device can monitor for window breakage, cameras associated with windows can monitor for intruders, and transparent displays can provide alerts regarding detected activity within a building. A window control system can detect deviations from expected I/V characteristics of an optically controllable window during normal operation of the window (tint transitions, steady state conditions, etc.) and/or during application of a security-related perturbing event, and provide alerts upon their occurrence.

An electrochromic device, comprising a first conductive base layer, an electrochromic layer and a second conductive base layer stacked in sequence. The first conductive base layer comprises a first transparent conductive layer and a first base material layer stacked in sequence; the first transparent conductive layer is adhered to one side of the electrochromic layer; the second conductive base layer comprises a second transparent conductive layer and a second base material layer stacked in sequence; the second transparent conductive layer is adhered to the other side of the electrochromic layer; a partition groove is provided in the second transparent conductive layer for partitioning the second transparent conductive layer into a first conductive area and a second conductive area independent of each other; a conduction member is provided on the second conductive area, and the first transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to the second conductive area by the conduction member.

A free-standing polymer electrolyte for an electrochromic device includes a polymer network, a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt containing at least one of lithium or sodium ions. The free-standing polymer electrolyte may exclude tetraglyme.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for mitigating pinhole defects in optical devices such as electrochromic windows. One method mitigates a pinhole defect in an electrochromic device by identifying the site of the pinhole defect and obscuring the pinhole to make it less visually discernible. In some cases, the pinhole defect may be the result of mitigating a short-related defect.

A simplified switchable object and methods of making same are provided. The methods may include steps of applying a switchable material on a first surface of a first substrate, the switchable material having a thickness and a shape; applying a barrier material on the first substrate, circumferential to the switchable material; and applying a second substrate over top of, and in contact with, the switchable material and the barrier material, the first substrate, second substrate and barrier material defining a closed chamber encapsulating the switchable material. The methods may further include a step of applying a seal material.

This disclosure relates to a display substrate. The display substrate includes: a backplate, and a light-emitting device and a thin film encapsulation layer which are successively formed on the backplate, wherein the backplate includes a display area, the display area includes a plurality of pixel areas arranged in an array; the display substrate further includes an electrochromic unit arranged on a side, away from the backplate, of the thin film encapsulation layer, wherein the electrochromic unit includes at least a first area, and projection of the first area onto the backplate covers the pixel areas; the electrochromic unit is in a transparent state when the light-emitting device emits light, and the electrochromic unit is in a black state when the light-emitting device does not emit light. This disclosure also relates to a display apparatus and a display substrate manufacture method.

Electrochromic devices and components thereof and systems and methods for controlling electrochromic devices are disclosed. Further, electrochromic materials, electrochromic compositions and electrochromic layers useful for the devices and systems can be in the form of a gel. The present disclosure also provide methods to fabricate electrochromic devices and components thereof, electrochromic compositions, layers and gels.