A variable light transmittance sheet comprises a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and between the electrodes an electrophoretic cell containing an electrophoretic ink and one or more non-planar solid polymer elements. In an embodiment, the electrophoretic ink includes charged particles in a suspending fluid, and 75% or more by mass of the suspending fluid is an organosilicone or an aliphatic hydrocarbon and the solid polymer is a fluorinated elastomeric polymer.

Provided is a black partition wall pattern film that comprises: a transparent substrate; an electrode layer provided on the transparent substrate; a black partition wall pattern provided on the electrode layer; and a black UV-curable resin layer provided in a region of the electrode layer where no black partition wall pattern is provided.

This disclosure relates generally to optically-switchable devices, and more particularly, to systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling optically-switchable devices. In some implementations, an apparatus for controlling one or more optically-switchable devices includes a processing unit, a voltage regulator and a polarity switch. The processing unit can generate: a command voltage signal based on a target optical state of an optically-switchable device, and a polarity control signal. The voltage regulator can receive power at a first voltage and increase or decrease a magnitude of the first voltage based on the command voltage signal to provide a DC voltage signal at a regulated voltage. A polarity switch can receive the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage to maintain or reverse a polarity of the DC voltage signal based on the polarity control signal. The polarity switch can output the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage and at the polarity based on the polarity control signal to power the optically-switchable device. In some other implementations, the apparatus includes a processing unit, an energy storage device, and first and second voltage regulators.

Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.

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.

The present invention relates to a window (2) or a door, comprising: ⋅(a) a frame or casing; ⋅(b) at least one sash (3) formed of portions of a hollow-chamber profiled element (4); ⋅(c) a planar element (11), which is accommodated in the sash (3), the planar element comprising a functional element (13), the light transmission properties of which can be varied at least in some regions when a voltage is applied; and ⋅(d) a control element (12; 12′), which is designed to control the functional element (11); wherein according to the invention the window or the door is characterized in that the control element (12; 12′) is of a multi-part design and at least one constituent part (12) of the control element (12; 12′) is at least partly accommodated in a hollow chamber (5) of the sash (3). The present invention also relates to a building wall (100) having at least one opening in which a window (2) or door of this type is accommodated.

Disclosed are methods for manufacturing liquid crystal devices including at least two liquid crystal layers and at least one interstitial substrate separating the liquid crystal layers. Methods for processing, assembling, and singulating liquid crystal devices are also disclosed.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling transitions in an optically switchable device. In one aspect, a controller for a tintable window may include a processor, an input for receiving output signals from sensors, and instructions for causing the processor to determine a level of tint of the tintable window, and an output for controlling the level of tint in the tintable window. The instructions may include a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, with the relationship employing output signals from an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor. In some instances, the controller may receive output signals over a network and/or be interfaced with a network, and in some instances, the controller may be a standalone controller that is not interfaced with a network.

Various embodiments herein relate to power distribution networks for optically switchable windows. A number of different topologies are provided. In many embodiments, a control panel may be connected with a trunk line, which is connected to a plurality of optically switchable windows. The plurality of optically switchable windows may be powered by the shared trunk line. This topology provides substantial improvements over topologies in which each optically switchable window is connected to the control panel via separate, individual lines. Further, certain embodiments herein relate to installation kits for installing power distribution networks for optically switchable windows.

The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tunable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n.sub.∥), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n.sub.⊥). This refractive index mismatch between said microparticles and said liquid crystal is tuned by applying an external electric or magnetic field, thermally or optically.