Abstract: The invention provides a sealant applicator machine for dispensing sealant onto an insulating glazing unit. The insulating glazing unit may include two panes separated by a spacer having a spacer width. The sealant may be dispensed around a periphery of the insulating glazing unit. In certain embodiments, the sealant applicator machine includes both a fixed width sealant-dispensing head comprising a fixed width dispensing nozzle, and an adjustable sealant-dispensing head having a plurality of adjustable dispensing nozzles. The fixed width sealant-dispensing head and the adjustable sealant-dispensing head may be operably coupled to one or more sealant supplies.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal multiple glazing can have a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet held by a gasket referred to as the contact gasket. In some examples, the multiple glazing includes first and second electrodes with first and second electricity supply zones and a liquid-crystal layer with spacers having a thickness of between 5 and 15 ?m. Additionally, the first glass sheet may protrude by a first protruding side and include the first electricity supply zone. Further, the glazing may have electrical cabling with a first cabling input with a first electrically insulating polymer material.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal multiple glazing including a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet that is sealed by a sealing gasket, first and second electrodes with first and second electricity supply zones, a liquid-crystal layer, between 15 and 60 ?m, with spacers, the first glass sheet protruding by a first protruding side and including the first electricity supply zone, electrical cabling with a first cabling input with a first electrically insulating polymer material, a third glass sheet laminated with the second glass sheet, the third glass sheet protruding from the second glass sheet by a side covering the first electrically insulating material, referred to as the first covering side.

Abstract: The invention provides masking machines for applying masking to glazing panels. Also provided are methods of applying masking to glazing panels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glazing unit comprising a substrate coated with a variable light scattering system switching between a transparent state and a translucent state comprising a scattering layer able to scatter the incident light along scattering angles greater than the critical total internal reflection angle at the interface between the substrate and the air and at least one pair of elements absorbing visible light separated from one another at least by the scattering layer. The invention also relates to the use of said glazing unit as a projection or back-projection screen.

Abstract: An electrically-controlled liquid crystal glazing unit can include a substrate carrying a liquid crystal element disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode connected to an electrical power supply. The liquid crystal element can transform from a diffusing state at zero voltage to a transparent and/or colored state at a sinusoidal AC voltage having an operating amplitude (V0). In some examples, the electrical power supply is configured to apply a start-up voltage whose amplitude progressively increases from zero up to the operating amplitude (V0) and/or a shut-down voltage (Vs(t)) whose amplitude decreases progressively from the operating amplitude (V0) down to zero.

Abstract: A multiple glazing with variable scattering by liquid crystals includes first and second flat float glass sheets sealed on the edge of their internal faces by a sealing joint, in particular made of a given sealing material, in particular essentially organic, first and second electrodes, and a layer of liquid crystals with an average thickness E between 15 and 60 ?m inclusive of these values and incorporating spacers. The thickness A of each of the first and second glass sheets is less than or equal to 5.5 mm, and each of the internal faces coated with the first and second electrodes has a dioptric defect score, expressed in millidioptres, of less than 12E/15 where the thickness E of the liquid crystals is in ?m.

Abstract: An insulating glass unit may be fabricated by filling the space between opposed panes of glass with multiple types of gases and then sealing the gases in the space. A spacer containing a gas adsorption material may be positioned between the panes of glass to seal the gases in the space. In some examples, the gas adsorption material is configured to selectively adsorb one of the gases introduced into the space but substantially none of another of the gases introduced into the space. As a result, the gas pressure in the insulating glass unit may reduce below the initial filling pressure after fabrication of the unit due to adsorption. Such gas pressure reduction may be useful, for example, if the insulating glass unit is going to be used at a higher elevation location where the air pressure is lower.

Abstract: The invention provides a spacer having an engineered wall with multiple corrugation fields including first and second corrugation fields having differently configured corrugations. Also provided are multi-pane glazing units that incorporate such a spacer.

Abstract: The invention provides a spacer having an engineered wall with multiple corrugation fields including first and second corrugation fields having differently configured corrugations. Also provided are multi-pane glazing units that incorporate such a spacer.

Abstract: An insulating glass unit may include at least three panes of transparent material and at least two spacers positioned between different panes of the unit. For example, a first spacer may hold a first pane of transparent material a first separation distance from a second pane of transparent material and a second spacer may hold the second pane of transparent material a second separation distance from a third pane of transparent material. In some examples, the insulating glass unit is configured so that the first separation distance is greater than the second separation distance. In such examples, the insulating glass unit may have a comparatively larger first between-pane space and a comparatively smaller second between-pane space. In some applications, the insulating glass unit may exhibit thermal and sound insulating properties approximately equal to a triple-pane insulating glass unit while having size characteristics approximately equal to a double-pane insulating glass unit.

Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a thin film coated glass having a light source, a spectrometer, at least one pair of probes, a first optical fiber switch and a second optical fiber switch. The pair of probes includes a first probe located on one side of a glass sheet and a second probe located on the opposite side of the glass sheet, directly across from the first probe. The first and second optical fiber switches are adapted to couple either probe to the light source and/or the spectrometer. Because the design of the system is optically symmetrical, calibration may be performed without the use of a reference material such as a tile or mirror.

Abstract: An insulating glass unit may include at least three panes of transparent material and at least two spacers positioned between different panes of the unit. For example, a first spacer may hold a first pane of transparent material a first separation distance from a second pane of transparent material and a second spacer may hold the second pane of transparent material a second separation distance from a third pane of transparent material. In some examples, the insulating glass unit is configured so that the first separation distance is greater than the second separation distance. In such examples, the insulating glass unit may have a comparatively larger first between-pane space and a comparatively smaller second between-pane space. In some applications, the insulating glass unit may exhibit thermal and sound insulating properties approximately equal to a triple-pane insulating glass unit while having size characteristics approximately equal to a double-pane insulating glass unit.

Abstract: An insulating glass unit may include a spacer positioned between opposing panes of material to define a between-pane space. The spacer may seal the between-pane space from gas exchange with a surrounding environment and hold the opposing panes in a spaced-apart relationship. In some examples, the spacer includes a primary sealant layer, a secondary sealant layer, and a gas diffusion barrier layer positioned between the primary sealant layer and the secondary sealant layer. The gas diffusion barrier layer may define a first side and a second side opposite the first side. Depending on the application, the first side of the gas diffusion barrier layer may be positioned in contact with the primary sealant layer while the second side of the gas diffusion barrier layer is positioned in contact with the secondary sealant layer.

Abstract: An insulating glass unit may include at least three panes of transparent material and at least two spacers positioned between different panes of the unit. For example, a first spacer may hold a first pane of transparent material a first separation distance from a second pane of transparent material and a second spacer may hold the second pane of transparent material a second separation distance from a third pane of transparent material. In some examples, the insulating glass unit is configured so that the first separation distance is greater than the second separation distance. In such examples, the insulating glass unit may have a comparatively larger first between-pane space and a comparatively smaller second between-pane space. In some applications, the insulating glass unit may exhibit thermal and sound insulating properties approximately equal to a triple-pane insulating glass unit while having size characteristics approximately equal to a double-pane insulating glass unit.

Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a thin film coated glass having a light source, a spectrometer, at least one pair of probes, a first optical fiber switch and a second optical fiber switch. The pair of probes includes a first probe located on one side of a glass sheet and a second probe located on the opposite side of the glass sheet, directly across from the first probe. The first and second optical fiber switches are adapted to couple either probe to the light source and/or the spectrometer. Because the design of the system is optically symmetrical, calibration may be performed without the use of a reference material such as a tile or mirror.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and equipment for automatically assembling three panes of glass and corresponding spacers so that air or other gas can be injected into the two between-pane spaces. The equipment can receive two glass panes that each have spacers coupled to one of their major surfaces, along with a third glass pane having no spacer coupled to its major surfaces, and can assemble the three glass panes into a “teepee” configuration in which the two spacers each contact two of the glass panes along a common edge of the glass panes. Preferred equipment can receive a glass pane in a first orientation and rotate the glass pane 180° to a second orientation in which the glass pane's two major surfaces face opposite directions from the first orientation. Such preferred equipment can then receive a two-pane teepee from a previous piece of equipment and can add the “flipped” single glass pane to the teepee to create a three-pane teepee.

Abstract: Some methods, and corresponding apparatus, for manufacturing photovoltaic subassemblies cause a plurality of desiccant beads to be adhered to an adhesive surface of sheet-like material; the sheet-like material is then, preferably, adhered to an exposed surface of a flexible and electrically non-conductive film, that covers a photovoltaic coating of a first substrate of the subassembly, such that the desiccant beads are held between the sheet-like material and the exposed surface. Some other methods, either alternatively or in addition to the above, include steps for applying the film, that covers the photovoltaic coating, wherein an opening, through the film, is cut, and then aligned, with lead wires of the photovoltaic coating, in the midst of applying the film.