A glazing unit is disclosed. The glazing unit can include a first pane and an active device. The active device can be coupled to the first pane. The glazing unit can also include a thermoelectric film layer between the active device and the first pane. In one embodiment, the active device is an electrochromic device.

A laminated glazing with at least one step-shaped functional portion comprising two stack of components, the main stack of components in which the alteration of its properties is not desirable, and a second stack of components comprising a functional layer.

An insulating glazing includes a first pane having on an inner-side surface a coating and two busbars for contacting the coating, a second pane, a spacer, which extends peripherally around the first and second panes, two pane contact surfaces, a glazing interior surface, and an outer surface, wherein the first and second pane rest, respectively, against a first and a second pane contact surface of the spacer, an interior, which is enclosed between the first and the second pane, an outer interpane space adjacent the outer surface, in which an outer seal is inserted, and an electrical connection element for electrically contacting the coating having an outer and an inner end, whose outer end protrudes from the outer seal. The inner end of the connection element and one busbar are electrically connected and are arranged between the spacer and the first pane outside the interior formed peripherally by the spacer.

The present application discloses a method for preparing an electrochromic device. The method includes placing an edge protection material on a first and second substrates, placing a first and second interlayers respectively within the edge protection material on the first and second substrates, wherein the edge protection material surrounds edges of the first and second interlayers, and interposing an electrochromic film between the first and second interlayers. The edge protection material prevents chemicals in the first and second interlayers from entering into the electrochromic film.

The present invention provides an automobile window glass on which a device that acquires electromagnetic waves is disposable. The automobile window glass includes an outer glass plate, an inner glass plate, an intermediate film disposed between the outer glass plate and the inner glass plate, and a blocking layer that is disposed on at least one of a surface on the vehicle interior side of the outer glass plate and a surface on the vehicle interior side of the inner glass plate. The intermediate film includes a functional layer having a transmission region that allows transmission so as not to affect reception of the electromagnetic waves, and an adhesion layer that is disposed on at least one surface of the functional layer and does not affect reception of the electromagnetic waves. The blocking layer has at least one opening at a position corresponding to the transmission region.

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.

An system includes an optical element including a glazing-function substrate and an electrochromic stack formed on this substrate, this electrochromic stack including a first transparent conductive layer, a working electrode arranged above the first transparent conductive layer, a counter-electrode arranged above said working electrode, a second transparent conductive layer arranged above the counter-electrode, lithium ions introduced into the electrochromic stack, and optionally a separate layer of an ionic conductor, the latter layer being intermediate between the electrode and the counter-electrode, a protective layer arranged on the electrochromic stack, the protective layer including an inorganic lubricating compound.

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 light-emitting window element includes a transparent first carrier layer, a transparent second carrier layer, a substrate with a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips arranged thereon, and an optical layer having an adjustable transparency. The substrate with the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips and the optical layer are arranged between the first and second carrier layers, and the first and second carrier layers, the substrate with the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips and the optical layer form a laminate composite.

A composite pane having electrically controllable optical properties, includes an outer pane and an inner pane, which are joined to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer, wherein an optoelectronic functional element having electrically controllable optical properties is embedded in the intermediate layer, which functional element comprises an active layer, with which transparent flat control electrodes are associated on both surfaces, between a first carrier film and a second carrier film, and wherein a capacitive contact switching element is arranged between the active layer and the thermoplastic intermediate layer.