Abstract: A fenestration unit for a dwelling is disclosed. The fenestration unit, in the form of a window unit or a door unit includes a frame supporting a movable panel. A power supply module includes a battery pack disposed in one of the frame and the moveable panel. A power outlet module is also mounted in one of the frame and the movable panel. The power outlet module has a power outlet connector electrically coupled to the battery pack and is configured to resist water penetration therein. A homeowner device may be electrically coupled to the power outlet connector such that the power supply module powers the homeowner device.

Abstract: Fenestration units and method of operation thereof are provided that allow for use of the fenestration units as nodes of a distributed ledger network. The fenestration units include a communication device configured for communication with at least one remote electronic device, a non-transitory, non-volatile memory configured to store computer readable instructions, and a processor in operable communication with the communication device and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the computer readable instructions to function, through the communication device, as a node in a distributed ledger network by storing a local copy of a distributed ledger on the memory, updating the local copy of the distributed ledger, and distributing the local copy to the at least one remote electronic device in response to updating the local copy of the distributed ledger.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing insulated glazing units. The insulated glazing unit includes a first pane including a first outer edge, a second pane that overlaps the first pane and that includes a second outer edge, an outer edge sealing spacer arrangement that seals and maintains an inter-pane space between the first pane and the second pane, the outer edge sealing spacer arrangement including: a seat that receives the first outer edge and the second outer edge and that extends along the first outer edge and the second outer edge, a shoe that receives the seat, and a coupling between the seat and the shoe configured to maintain the seat within the shoe.

Abstract: Sealants, vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) units having seals formed from the sealants, and methods for producing the VIG units using the sealants are provided. The sealants include a mixture of glass materials in powder form and a carrier medium. The glass materials have compositions including: 0 to 55 wt. % Bi2O3; 10 to 65 wt. % SiO2; 1 to 10 wt. % Al2O3; 10 to 30 wt. % R2O, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof; 0.01 to 20 wt. % of RO, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, or a combination thereof; 2 to 15 wt. % of BaO; 0 to 5 wt. % TeO2; 0.01 to 20 wt. % of Fe2O3 or FeO; 2 to 30 wt. % of B2O3; 0.1 to 2 wt. % of P2O5; 0.1 to 2 wt. % of ZnO; and 0.1 to 2 wt. % of CuO or Cu2O.

Abstract: Sealants, vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) units having seals formed from the sealants, and methods for producing the VIG units using the sealants are provided. The sealants include a mixture of glass materials in powder form, a foaming agent in powder form, and a carrier medium. The foaming agent includes carbon black, carbide(s), or a combination thereof. The glass materials have compositions including: 50 to 70 wt. % SiO2; 1 to 7 wt. % CaO; 0 to 7 wt. % MgO; 0 to 6 wt. % Al2O3; 1 to 6 wt. % Fe2O3 or FeO; 0 to 7 wt. % TiO2; 0 to 16 wt. % R2O, wherein R is chosen from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof; 0 to 1 wt. % SO3; 0 to 2 wt. % MnO; and 0 to 6 wt. % SrO+BaO.

Abstract: Methods and vacuum insulated glazing units are provided. The methods include providing a first pane, applying a primary sealant to the first pane adjacent to and along a perimeter of the first pane, positioning support pillars on the first pane, positioning an evacuation tube on the first pane, positioning a second pane on the support pillars, heating the primary sealant with a laser beam sufficient to sinter the primary sealant to form a primary seal joining the first and second pane, evacuating an intermediate space defined between the first and second pane, and the primary seal to produce a low-pressure environment in the intermediate space by drawing gas from the intermediate space through the evacuation tube, and sealing the evacuation tube and thereby hermetically sealing the intermediate space within the first and second pane, the primary seal, and the evacuation tube to maintain the low-pressure environment therein.

Abstract: Methods and vacuum pump heads are provided. The vacuum pump head includes a body having sidewalls and a rear wall, wherein interior surfaces of the sidewalls and the rear wall define a chamber therebetween and distal ends of the sidewalls define an opening to the chamber, a sealing member located at the distal ends of the sidewalls and surrounding the opening defined thereby, the sealing member configured to contact and form a vacuum-tight seal against a surface upon generation of a low-pressure environment within the chamber, a vacuum hose port configured to couple to a vacuum hose of a vacuum pump and to provide a fluidic outlet from the chamber to remove gas from the chamber and thereby generate the low-pressure environment, and an aperture in the body configured to allow a laser beam to be directed therethrough toward the surface while the low-pressure environment is maintained.

Abstract: This technology is directed to the preparation of doped-bismuth-silicate seed crystals through controlled crystallization (e.g. dimensionality of growth and nucleation mechanism) and the method of forming high purity single seed (particle size ranges from micrometers to millimeters) for various uses. These seed crystals have a nominal stoichiometry of Bi2-xAxSiO5, Bi2-xAxSi3O9, Bi4-xAxSi3O9, and Bi12-xAxSiO20, where A is a rare earth dopant selected from La, Ce, Nd, Pr, and/or Sm.

Abstract: This technology is directed to the preparation of doped-bismuth-silicate seed crystals through controlled crystallization (e.g. dimensionality of growth and nucleation mechanism) and the method of forming high purity single seed (particle size ranges from micrometers to millimeters) for various uses. These seed crystals have a nominal stoichiometry of Bi2-xAxSiO5, Bi2-xAxSi3O9, Bi4-xAxSi3O9, and Bi12-xAxSiO20, where A is a rare earth dopant selected from La, Ce, Nd, Pr, and/or Sm.