Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising a counter electrode layer comprised of lithium metal oxide which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long-term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising such a counter electrode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stack of layers can be formed adjacent to a substrate before any layer within the stack is patterned. In an embodiment, combinations of substrates and stacks can be made and stored for an extended period, such as more than a week or a month, or shipped to a remote location before further manufacturing occurs. By delaying irreversible patterning until the closer to the date final product will be shipped to a customer, the likelihood of having too much inventory of a particular size or having to scrap windows for a custom order that was cancelled after manufacturing started can be substantially reduced. Further, particles between layers of the stack can be avoided. The process flows described are flexible, and many of the patterning operations in forming holes, openings, or the high resistance region can be performed in many different orders.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a control device configured to select a scene from a collection of scenes for a window including electrochromic devices in response to receiving an input corresponding to state information. In another aspect, a method of operating an apparatus can include receiving an input corresponding to state information; and at a control device, in response to receiving the input, selecting a scene from a collection of scenes. The collection of scenes may be validated before using the scenes. The scenes may be validated based on physical configuration of the controlled space, preferences of the occupant, or the like. Still further, scenes can be changed to allow for the passage of time or an illusion of changing sky conditions when sky conditions are not changing. The apparatus and method can be simpler to understand and implement as compared to complex control strategies.

Abstract: An electrochromic device can include a substrate; an electrochromic layer or a counter electrode layer over the substrate and including a mobile ion; a first transparent conductive layer over the substrate and including Ag. In one embodiment, the electrochromic device can include a barrier layer disposed between first transparent conductive layer and the electrochromic or counter electrode layer. In another embodiment, the electrochromic device can include means for preventing (1) the mobile ion from migrating into the first transparent conductive layer, (2) Ag from migrating into the electrochromic layer or counter electrode layer, or both (1) and (2). A process of forming an electrochromic device can include forming an electrochromic layer or a counter electrode layer over a substrate; forming a barrier layer; and forming a first transparent conductive layer over the substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention is a substrate comprising multiple, independently controllable electrochromic zones, wherein each of the electrochromic zones share a common, continuous bus bar. In one embodiment, of the electrochromic zones are not completely isolated from each other. In another embodiment, each of the electrochromic zones have the same surface area. In another embodiment, each of the electrochromic zones have a different surface area.

Abstract: An insulated glazing unit can include a spacer frame disposed between a first substrate from a second substrate and forming a portion of a sealed boundary and a flexible circuit extending through the sealed boundary. In an embodiment, the flexible circuit includes a flexible ribbon having a total length, LA, and an effective length, LE, and wherein LE is less than LA. In another embodiment, the flexible circuit includes an expandable portion adapted to expand a length of the flexible circuit to accommodate: relative movement between two or more portions of the insulated glazing unit, resizing of one or more portions of the insulated glazing unit, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An electrochromic device can include a substrate, a transparent conductive oxide layer over the substrate, and a bus bar over the substrate. The bus bar can include silver and has a resistivity of at most 6.7×10?6 ?*cm, an average adhesion strength to SiO2 of at least 3N based on 20 measurements, as determined by Method A of ASTM B905-00 (Reapproved 2010), or a classification of at least 4, as determined by Method B of ASTM B905-00 (Reapproved 2010). In another aspect a process of forming an electrochromic device can include forming a transparent conductive oxide layer over a substrate; forming a bus bar precursor over the substrate, wherein the precursor includes silver; and firing the precursor to form a bus bar. Firing can be performed such that the first bus bar is at a temperature of at least 390° C.

Abstract: A process for encapsulating an apparatus to restrict environmental element permeation between the apparatus and an external environment includes applying multiple barrier layers to the apparatus and preceding each layer application with a separate cleaning of the presently-exposed apparatus surface, resulting in an apparatus which includes an encapsulation stack, where the encapsulation stack includes a multi-layer stack of barrier layers. Each separate cleaning removes particles from the presently-exposed apparatus surface, exposing gaps in the barrier layer formed by the particles, and the subsequently-applied barrier layer at least partially fills the gaps, so that a permeation pathway through the encapsulation stack via gap spaces is restricted. The quantity of barrier layers applied to form the stack can be based on a determined probability that a stack of the particular quantity of barrier layers is independent of at least a certain quantity of continuous permeation pathways through the stack.

Abstract: A window transmissivity control assembly having a power source with scalable size and power capacity is provided. The assembly includes an insulated glazing unit including a variably transmissive glazing, a photovoltaic module attached to the insulated glazing unit and electrically coupled to the variably transmissive glazing, and a control module having a control circuit for controlling transmissivity of the glazing and a battery for providing power to the glazing. The photovoltaic assembly is attached to an exterior face portion of the insulated glazing unit, and a control module is attached to an interior face portion of the insulated glazing unit. Each module may extend from a first end of the insulated glazing unit to an opposing second end of the insulated glazing unit, wherein the length of the module being substantially the same as the distance between the first and second ends of the insulated glazing unit.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to restrict moisture permeation between an electrochromic stack in the device and an external environment. The electrochromic device includes conductive layers and one or more encapsulation layers, where the encapsulation layers and conductive layers collectively isolate the electrochromic stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layers resist moisture permeation, and at least the outer portions of the conductive layers resist moisture permeation. The moisture-resistant electrochromic device can be fabricated based at least in part upon selective removal of one or more outer portions of at least the EC stack, so that at least the encapsulation layer extends over one or more edge portions of the EC stack to isolate the edge portions of the EC stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layer can include one or more of an anti-reflective layer, infrared cut-off filter, etc.

Abstract: A process for encapsulating an apparatus to restrict environmental element permeation between the apparatus and an external environment includes applying multiple barrier layers to the apparatus and preceding each layer application with a separate cleaning of the presently-exposed apparatus surface, resulting in an apparatus which includes an encapsulation stack, where the encapsulation stack includes a multi-layer stack of barrier layers. Each separate cleaning removes particles from the presently-exposed apparatus surface, exposing gaps in the barrier layer formed by the particles, and the subsequently-applied barrier layer at least partially fills the gaps, so that a permeation pathway through the encapsulation stack via gap spaces is restricted. The quantity of barrier layers applied to form the stack can be based on a determined probability that a stack of the particular quantity of barrier layers is independent of at least a certain quantity of continuous permeation pathways through the stack.

Abstract: A heat treated electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode layer comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide and lithium, which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising an anodic complementary counter electrode comprised of a mixed tungsten-nickel oxide are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to selectively switch separate regions to separate transmission levels, based at least in part upon different respective sheet resistances of separate conductive layer regions. Sheet resistance of a conductive layer region can be associated with a transmission level to which a corresponding EC stack region can be switched, and a conductive layer with separate regions having separate sheet resistances causes corresponding EC stack regions to switch to different transmission levels. Sheet resistance in a conductive layer region can be adjusted via various processes, including introducing various chemical species into the conductive layer region to adjust a chemical species distribution in the region, where the chemical species distribution is associated with the sheet resistance of the region, heating conductive layer regions to induce oxidation of the region, adjusting the thickness of a conductive layer region, etc.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to selectively switch separate regions to separate transmission levels, based at least in part upon different respective sheet resistances of separate conductive layer regions. Sheet resistance of a conductive layer region can be associated with a transmission level to which a corresponding EC stack region can be switched, and a conductive layer with separate regions having separate sheet resistances causes corresponding EC stack regions to switch to different transmission levels. Sheet resistance in a conductive layer region can be adjusted via various processes, including introducing various chemical species into the conductive layer region to adjust a chemical species distribution in the region, where the chemical species distribution is associated with the sheet resistance of the region, heating conductive layer regions to induce oxidation of the region, adjusting the thickness of a conductive layer region, etc.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to selectively switch separate regions to separate transmission levels, based at least in part upon different transport rates of different charged electrolyte species in the separate regions. Charged electrolyte species can be introduced in various regions of one or more electrochromic stack layers, including a counter-electrode layer, ion-conducting layer, and electrochromic layer. The charged electrolyte species can have different transport rates, so that a distribution of one species introduced in some regions move between layers and different rates relative another distribution of another species introduced in some regions. A species can be introduced, in one or more regions, in one or more particular distributions associated with a particular transmission pattern to structure the electrochromic device to selectively switch to the particular transmission pattern. Species can be introduced via various processes, including ion implantation, chemical diffusion, etc.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to restrict moisture permeation between an electrochromic stack in the device and an external environment. The electrochromic device includes conductive layers and one or more encapsulation layers, where the encapsulation layers and conductive layers collectively isolate the electrochromic stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layers resist moisture permeation, and at least the outer portions of the conductive layers resist moisture permeation. The moisture-resistant electrochromic device can be fabricated based at least in part upon selective removal of one or more outer portions of at least the EC stack, so that at least the encapsulation layer extends over one or more edge portions of the EC stack to isolate the edge portions of the EC stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layer can include one or more of an anti-reflective layer, infrared cut-off filter, etc.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to include multiple independently controllable electrochromic regions which can be independently controlled to switch to different transmission levels. One of the electrochromic regions is isolated from any direct electrical connection with any electrodes, and one or more other electrochromic regions interpose an indirect electrical connection between one or more electrodes and the isolated electrochromic region. The electrochromic device can be structured to include multiple independently controllable electrochromic regions, based at least in part upon segmentation of the conductive layers into separate segments to establish the various electrochromic regions.

Abstract: A window assembly can include an insulated glass unit, a mounting assembly moveably coupled to the insulated glass unit, and an electrical component secured to the mounting assembly. A method can include securing an electrical component to a mounting assembly, coupling the mounting assembly to an insulated glass unit, and installing the insulating glass unit in a frame. In an embodiment, after the window assembly is installed within the frame, the mounting assembly can be moved in a final position and securely fastened into position. In an embodiment, the pre-assembly can help to keep all components of a window assembly together during shipping and at the installation site to reduce the likelihood that components are separated or lost during shipping or at the installation site.

Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising a counter electrode layer comprised of lithium metal oxide which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long-term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising such a counter electrode are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochromic device is structured to selectively heat one or more particular regions of a conductive layer of the electrochromic device. An electrical potential difference can be induced across the conductive layer to heat one or more layer regions. The conductive layer can be one of at least two conductive layers on opposite sides of an electrochromic film stack, and an electrical potential difference can be induced between the conductive layers to cause at least some of the electrochromic film stack to change transmission levels. The conductive layer can include regions with different sheet resistances, so that one or more regions are structured to generate more heat than other regions of the conductive layer when an electrical potential difference is induced across the conductive layer. Separate layer regions can include separate chemical species. The conductive layer can be geometrically structured so that some layer regions have a greater sheet resistance than other regions.