Abstract: Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method, system, and/or computer program product is described for generating a graphical user interface for providing information and controlling optically switchable windows connected by a network. Windows are graphically represented using interactive smart objects that are placed within views of the graphical user interface in a manner corresponding to their physical location. In another aspect, a method, system, and/or computer program product is described for associating network IDs of optically switchable windows with the locations at which the windows are installed. Window locations are determined by analyzing received wireless transmissions that are sent from transmitters associated with each of the optically switchable windows. The determined locations are then compared with a representation of the building that provides the window locations.

Abstract: A system comprising: a user device, comprising: sensors configured to sense data related to a physical environment of the user device, displays; hardware processors; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by the hardware processors to: place a virtual object in a 3D scene displayed by the second user device, determine a pose of the user device with respect to the physical location in the physical environment of the user device, and generate an image of virtual content based on the pose of the user device with respect to the placed virtual object, wherein the image of the virtual content is projected by the one or more displays of the user device in a predetermined location relative to the physical location in the physical environment of the user device.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage.

Abstract: A site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure associated with optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to optically-switchable devices, and more particularly, to systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling optically-switchable devices. In some implementations, the apparatus includes an interface for communicating with window controllers, and the apparatus includes one or more processors. A processor can be configured to cause status information received from a window controller to be processed. The status information can indicate at least a tint status of one or more optically-switchable devices controlled by the window controller. In response to receiving the status information, one or more tint commands can be sent via the interface to the window controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling tintable windows based on cloud detection.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 108 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for preventing and mitigating the ingress of moisture into an interior region of an IGU. Various techniques are disclosed including, for example, the use of a strain relief structure around wires passing through a secondary seal, improved materials for coating the wires, and additional/improved layers for bonding the secondary seal to tape provided around a spacer.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides configurations, methods of use, and methods of fabrication for a bus bar of an optically switchable device. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and an optically switchable device disposed on a surface of the substrate. The optically switchable device has a perimeter with at least one corner including a first side, a second side, and a first vertex joining the first side and the second side. A first bus bar and a second bus bar are affixed to the optically switchable device and configured to deliver current and/or voltage for driving switching of the device. The first bus bar is proximate to the corner and includes a first arm and a second arm having a configuration that substantially follows the shape of the first side, the first vertex, and the second side of the corner.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to networks of electrochromic windows. The networks may be configured in particular ways to minimize the likelihood that the windows on the network draw more power than can be provided. The network may include particular hardware components that provide additional power to windows as needed. The network may also be configured to adjust how the windows therein transition to prevent overloading the network. The techniques described herein can be used to design networks of electrochromic windows that are undersized when considering the amount of power that would be needed to simultaneously transition all the windows on the network using normal transition parameters, while still allowing simultaneous transitions to occur.

Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer, which are in direct contact with one another. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. In addition to the improved electrochromic devices and methods for fabrication, integrated deposition systems for forming such improved devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.