Abstract: The invention provides an IG unit that includes two glass sheets and an aerogel sheet located between the two glass sheets. The aerogel sheet is adhered to an interior surface of one of the two glass sheets by an adhesive, such that a face of the aerogel sheet is carried alongside the interior surface and has a portion that is devoid of the adhesive. In some cases, the adhesive is outside a vision area of the unit. In some cases, the adhesive securing the aerogel sheet to the interior surface is in contact with the first face of the aerogel sheet, and the adhesive contacts less than 10% of the first face of the aerogel sheet. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a glazing assembly that includes a frame and an IG unit mounted in the frame such that a vision area of the glazing assembly is located inwardly of the frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing glass that involves forming a flexible gel layer on a flexible glass sheet to create a glass-gel sheet; rolling-up the glass-gel sheet into the form of a roll; placing the roll in a dryer; and drying the flexible gel layer so as to form a flexible aerogel layer. Some embodiments provide a glazing unit that includes a glass-aerogel sheet located between first and second panes of the glazing unit, where the glass-aerogel sheet includes a flexible glass sheet and a flexible aerogel layer on the flexible glass sheet. In such embodiments, the first and second panes each have thicknesses that are greater than a thickness of the flexible glass sheet. Other embodiments provide a glass assembly having a flexible aerogel layer on a flexible glass sheet, with the flexible glass sheet being laminated to a glass pane.

Abstract: The invention provides an IG unit comprising two panes and a between-pane space located between the two panes. A desired surface of a selected one of the two panes bears a coating comprising both a transparent conductive oxide film, and an overcoat film located over the transparent conductive oxide film. The IG unit further comprises a bus bar and a transparent conductor bridge each located over the desired surface. The bus bar is spaced apart from the coating and is connected electrically to the transparent conductive oxide film by virtue of the transparent conductor bridge extending from the bus bar to a top surface of the overcoat film. In some embodiments, the IG unit further comprises a frit located over the desired surface and extending around a perimeter thereof. The bus bar is located over the frit. Certain embodiments provide a refrigerator having a door comprising such an IG unit.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastomeric optical device having a first optical state and a second optical state. The device is transparent when in the first optical state and translucent or opaque when in the second optical state. The device comprises, in sequence, a first transparent electrode, a dielectric layer, an elastomer layer, and a second transparent electrode. The elastomer layer preferably has certain mechanical properties, such as a Shore OOO hardness of less than 15, and/or certain chemical properties, such as being substantially devoid of unreacted sites. The second transparent electrode is configured to compress the elastomer layer in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrodes, such that when the elastomeric optical device is in the second optical state, the elastomer layer is compressed between the first and second transparent electrodes. Methods of operating an elastomeric optical device are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a glass sheet or another transparent substrate on which there is provided a static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating includes a film comprising titania. The film comprising titania preferably is exposed so as to define an outermost face of the static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating is characterized by an indoor dust collection factor of less than 0.145.

Abstract: The invention provides a double-pane insulating glazing unit having a single between-pane space. The single between-pane space is located between the two glass panes. Preferably, the double-pane insulating glazing unit is devoid of a third glass pane. The double-pane insulating glazing unit has an aerogel layer located in the between-pane space.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device comprising a glass assembly unit. The glass assembly unit comprises two glass sheets and a plurality of aerogel sheets. The aerogel sheets are arranged in a tiled configuration between the two glass sheets so as to cover a majority of a unit area of the glass assembly unit. In some embodiments, the tiled configuration is characterized by each of the aerogel sheets being spaced from an adjacent one of the aerogel sheets by a gap distance of no greater than 5 mm. In other embodiments, the tiled configuration is characterized by each of the aerogel sheets being in edge-to-edge contact with at least one adjacent aerogel sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides transparent conductive coatings based on indium tin oxide. The coating has an oxide overcoat, such as an alloy oxide overcoat. In some embodiments, the coating further includes one or more overcoat films comprising silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide, or titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The invention provides an IG unit comprising two panes and a between-pane space located between the two panes. A desired surface of a selected one of the two panes bears a coating comprising both a transparent conductive oxide film, and an overcoat film located over the transparent conductive oxide film. The IG unit further comprises a bus bar and a transparent conductor bridge each located over the desired surface. The bus bar is spaced apart from the coating and is connected electrically to the transparent conductive oxide film by virtue of the transparent conductor bridge extending from the bus bar to a top surface of the overcoat film. In some embodiments, the IG unit further comprises a frit located over the desired surface and extending around a perimeter thereof. The bus bar is located over the frit. Certain embodiments provide a refrigerator having a door comprising such an IG unit.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastomeric optical device having a first optical state and a second optical state. The device is transparent when in the first optical state and is translucent or opaque when in the second optical state. The device comprises, in sequence, an optional substrate, a first transparent electrode, an optional dielectric layer, an elastomer layer, and a second transparent electrode. In some embodiments, the second transparent electrode comprises an electrically-conductive polymer, transparent electrically-conductive nanoparticles, or both. In such embodiments, the second transparent electrode is configured to compress the elastomer layer in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrodes, such that when the elastomeric optical device is in the second optical state the elastomer layer is compressed between the first and second transparent electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastomeric optical device having a first optical state and a second optical state. The device is transparent when in the first optical state and translucent or opaque when in the second optical state. The device comprises, in sequence, a first transparent electrode, a dielectric layer, an elastomer layer, and a second transparent electrode. The elastomer layer preferably has certain mechanical properties, such as a Shore OOO hardness of less than 15, and/or certain chemical properties, such as being substantially devoid of unreacted sites. The second transparent electrode is configured to compress the elastomer layer in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrodes, such that when the elastomeric optical device is in the second optical state, the elastomer layer is compressed between the first and second transparent electrodes. Methods of operating an elastomeric optical device are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a glass sheet or another transparent substrate on which there is provided a static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating includes a film comprising titania. The film comprising titania preferably is exposed so as to define an outermost face of the static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating is characterized by an indoor dust collection factor of less than 0.145.

Abstract: The invention provides transparent conductive coatings based on indium tin oxide. The coating has an oxide overcoat, such as an alloy oxide overcoat. In some embodiments, the coating further includes one or more overcoat films comprising silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide, or titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a glass sheet or another transparent substrate on which there is provided a static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating includes a film comprising titania. The film comprising titania preferably is exposed so as to define an outermost face of the static-dissipative coating. The static-dissipative coating is characterized by an indoor dust collection factor of less than 0.145.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastomeric optical device having a first optical state and a second optical state. The device is transparent when in the first optical state and is translucent or opaque when in the second optical state. The device comprises, in sequence, an optional substrate, a first transparent electrode, an optional dielectric layer, an elastomer layer, and a second transparent electrode. In some embodiments, the second transparent electrode comprises an electrically-conductive polymer, transparent electrically-conductive nanoparticles, or both. In such embodiments, the second transparent electrode is configured to compress the elastomer layer in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrodes, such that when the elastomeric optical device is in the second optical state the elastomer layer is compressed between the first and second transparent electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum insulating glass unit with two panes assembled in a spaced-apart configuration so as to have a between-pane space located between them. The between-pane space has a high vacuum. The vacuum insulating glass unit also includes a bleed chamber filled with an insulative gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and configured such that over time insulative gas from the bleed chamber diffuses into the between-pane space.

Abstract: A method of depositing coating onto both sides of a substrate is provided, which includes steps of upwardly sputtering one or more lower targets to deposit a sacrificial coating onto a second surface and downwardly sputtering one or more upper targets to deposit a first functional coating onto a first surface, washing the substrate with one or more washers to remove the sacrificial coating from the second surface while leaving intact the first functional coating on the first surface, and downwardly sputtering the one or more upper targets to deposit a second functional coating onto the second surface.

Abstract: A switchable hydride smart window solid thin film coating having variable opacity and the methods for producing the same is described. The coating includes the following layers deposited on substrate such as glass: a switchable layer, an optional barrier layer, a catalyst layer, an optional barrier layer, a solid electrode, an ion storage layer, an optional insulating layer and a transparent conductor layer. The switchable layer is preferably formed of a magnesium alloy and ore preferable, a ternary alloy of magnesium along with two additional rare earth metals such as yttrium (Y) and Titanium (Ti), i.e., MgYTi.

Abstract: The invention provides flash-treated transparent conductive coatings based on indium tin oxide. Some embodiments provide a method that involves depositing a substoichiometric indium tin oxide film on a glass pane, and thereafter flash treating the substoichiometric indium tin oxide film to produce a flash-treated indium tin oxide film. Other embodiments provide a multiple-pane insulating glass unit having a flash-treated indium tin oxide film on an internal surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum insulating glass unit with two panes assembled in a spaced-apart configuration so as to have a between-pane space located between them. The between-pane space has a high vacuum. The vacuum insulating glass unit also includes a bleed chamber filled with an insulative gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and configured such that over time insulative gas from the bleed chamber diffuses into the between-pane space.