Techniques for laser processing of electrochromic glass or other thin-film devices where one or more layers are sandwiched between two thin-film conductive layers include directing a laser beam onto a first position on a surface of a workpiece. The laser beam includes substantially collimated pulses of electromagnetic radiation having an energy density from about 1 J/cm.sup.2 to about 10 J/cm.sup.2 in a spot having a characteristic dimension of at least about 5 mm at the surface of the workpiece. The laser beam removes the material from the first position, then is moved to a second position on the surface of the workpiece and removes material from the second position. The laser beam is then moved to one or more additional positions on the surface of the workpiece and removes material from the one or more additional positions.

A switchable optical device including in this order a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a switchable layer, a second conductive layer and a second substrate, which device further contains one or both of the following:

i) the first conductive layer contains a first contact zone and a second contact zone, wherein the first contact zone is electrically insulated from the second contact zone and the switchable optical device contains an electrical interconnect for electrically connecting the second contact zone of the first conductive layer the second conductive layer,
ii) the switchable optical device contains at least one further sheet which is laminated to the first substrate and/or the second substrate, wherein first substrate, second substrate and the at least one further sheet have essentially the same thermal expansion coefficient.

A switchable glazing unit containing at least one glass pane and at least one switchable optical device.

A method for fabricating a liquid crystal phase modulation device is provided. The method includes detecting thicknesses of a plurality of portions of a reference liquid crystal layer of a reference liquid crystal phase modulation sample; determining a distribution according to the thicknesses of the portions of the reference liquid crystal layer; forming a plurality of spacers over a first substrate in the determined distribution; and combining the first substrate with a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer to form the liquid crystal phase modulation device.

Composite assemblies are described that can be switched from a transparent state to a non transparent state, and in some examples even switched between different colors/reflectivities in the non transparent state. Switching between these states can be initiated by application of an electrical current to Ag carbon nanotube yarns in contact with an electrochromic electrolyte. The carbon nanotube yarns increase the efficiency with which electrons are provided to an electrolyte.

Composite assemblies are described that can be switched from a transparent state to a non transparent state, and in some examples even switched between different colors/reflectivities in the non transparent state. Switching between these states can be initiated by application of an electrical current to Ag carbon nanotube yarns in contact with an electrochromic electrolyte. The carbon nanotube yarns increase the efficiency with which electrons are provided to an electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a vehicle rear-view mirror assembly, comprising an electrochromic mirror element, said element comprising: a substantially transparent first electrically conductive base material, which comprises a first surface and a second surface as well as a first edge surface; a substantially transparent second electrically conductive base material, comprising a third surface and a fourth surface as well as a second edge surface; a sealing piece, approximately circumferentially arranged between peripheral areas of the first electrically conductive base material and the second electrically conductive base material, so as to seal and combine the second surface and the third surface and define an empty cavity; an electrochromic medium, which is arranged within the empty cavity; and a substantially transparent con-cave outer casing, comprising an outer casing upper part which has an upper part outer surface and an upper part inner surface, and an outer casing side part which has a side part outer surface and a side part inner surface, a covering layer being provided along the outer casing side part and an area along the periphery of the outer casing upper part; when examining from the concave outer casing outer surface, the sealing piece is hidden behind the covering layer. The present vehicle rear-view mirror has advantageous qualities such as being aesthetically pleasing as a whole, providing a wide field of view, being safe and injury preventing, and not easily shattering.

The present invention relates to a vehicle rear-view mirror assembly, comprising an electrochromic mirror element, said element comprising: a substantially transparent first electrically conductive base material, which comprises a first surface and a second surface as well as a first edge surface; a substantially transparent second electrically conductive base material, comprising a third surface and a fourth surface as well as a second edge surface; a sealing piece, approximately circumferentially arranged between peripheral areas of the first electrically conductive base material and the second electrically conductive base material, so as to seal and combine the second surface and the third surface and define an empty cavity; an electrochromic medium, which is arranged within the empty cavity; and a substantially transparent con-cave outer casing, comprising an outer casing upper part which has an upper part outer surface and an upper part inner surface, and an outer casing side part which has a side part outer surface and a side part inner surface, a covering layer being provided along the outer casing side part and an area along the periphery of the outer casing upper part; when examining from the concave outer casing outer surface, the sealing piece is hidden behind the covering layer. The present vehicle rear-view mirror has advantageous qualities such as being aesthetically pleasing as a whole, providing a wide field of view, being safe and injury preventing, and not easily shattering.

An anti-stress liquid crystal display structure and a manufacturing method are provided. The anti-stress liquid crystal display structure includes a first substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors, a second substrate, a plurality of pillar-shaped supporting elements, and a liquid crystal layer. The plurality of thin film transistors have a protection layer and include at least one first protruding part and at least one first concave part. One end of each of the pillar-shaped supporting elements is connected to the second substrate, and other end of each of the pillar-shaped supporting elements includes at least one second protruding part and at least one second concave part and is disposed on the protection layer of each of the thin film transistors. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

An anti-stress liquid crystal display structure and a manufacturing method are provided. The anti-stress liquid crystal display structure includes a first substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors, a second substrate, a plurality of pillar-shaped supporting elements, and a liquid crystal layer. The plurality of thin film transistors have a protection layer and include at least one first protruding part and at least one first concave part. One end of each of the pillar-shaped supporting elements is connected to the second substrate, and other end of each of the pillar-shaped supporting elements includes at least one second protruding part and at least one second concave part and is disposed on the protection layer of each of the thin film transistors. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

A display framing system is disclosed. The display framing system can include a first pane and a framing system to support the first pane. The framing system can include a first side. The display framing system can also include a transparent electroactive device and a support system coupled to the transparent electroactive device and coupled to the first side of the framing system. The support system can include a body that is orthogonal to the first side of the framing system. In one embodiment, the first pane can include an electrochromic device.