Energy transfer hinge for privacy glazing structure

Abstract

A hinge assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, a rotary pin coupling, and an energy transfer conduit. The rotary pin coupling rotatably engages the second arm with the first arm. The first arm defines a first portion of a channel, the second arm defines a second portion of the channel, and the rotary pin coupling defines a third portion of the channel. The energy transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel in the first arm, the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel in the second arm.

Description

Energy transfer hinge for privacy glazing structure Related subjects This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application no. 63 / 058,826, filed on July 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical field This description relates to hinge assemblies that can accommodate one or more power transfer components and, more particularly, hinge assemblies for carrying electrical power between an electrical source and a privacy glazing structure. Background Windows, doors, partitions, and other structures with controllable light modulation have been gaining popularity in the market. These structures are commonly called smart structures or privacy structures because of their ability to transform from a transparent state, where a user can see through the structure, to a private state where visibility is inhibited. For example, smart windows are used in high-end cars and homes, and smart partitions are used as walls in office spaces to provide controlled privacy and visual obscuration. A variety of different technologies can be used to provide controlled optical transmission for a smart structure. For example, electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic, suspended particle, and liquid crystal technologies are all used in different smart structure applications to provide controllable privacy. These technologies typically use a power source, such as electricity, to transform from a transparent state to a private state, or vice versa. In practice, an electrically controllable, optically active privacy structure can be installed and connected to a power source to provide energy for controlling the structure. Certain structures, such as doors and windows, are designed with one or more movable panels relative to a surrounding fixed frame. Providing energy to these structures can be challenging because the portion of the structure to which energy is supplied is not fixed but moves between various positions as the structure opens and closes. Summary Generally, the embodiments described herein pertain to hinge assemblies that can move a window assembly attached to them and house one or more power transfer components for transmitting power to the window assembly. The various embodiments described herein include hinge assemblies that house one or more electrical wires such that these hinge assemblies can serve (e.g., via the one or more electrical wires) to transmit electrical potential between an electrical source and an electrical receiving device, such as a window assembly movably attached to the hinge assembly. The hinge assemblies described herein can be useful for facilitating the transfer of energy between an electrical power source and an object that receives electrical energy and moves along the hinge assembly. For example, the hinge assembly can be configured to move a privacy glazing structure that, for instance, is movably attached to the hinge assembly, and the hinge assembly can be configured to transfer energy to and / or from the privacy glazing structure. As a specific example, the hinge assembly can be configured to rotate the privacy glazing structure relative to a frame adjacent to the privacy glazing structure. The movable privacy glazing structure can be implemented in the form of a window (e.g., a window).A movable privacy glazing structure can be a pivoting window, door, skylight, interior partition, or other structure where controllable visible transmittance is desired. Supplying power from a power source to a movable privacy glazing structure may involve additional considerations, including, for example, how to power the movable privacy glazing structure at each of its possible positions, as well as how to power it as it actively moves (e.g., pivots) from one position to another. Furthermore, the configuration used to power the movable privacy glazing structure must not prevent it from moving (e.g., rotating) between its various positions. The hinge assembly configurations described herein can be configured to carry electrical power between a power source (e.g., external to the hinge assembly) and the movable privacy glazing structure, enabling the privacy glazing structure to be electrically powered by the electrical energy carried from the power source through the hinge assembly. For example, various hinge assembly configurations described herein may utilize one or more hinge assembly components configured to facilitate, at least in part, the movement of the movable privacy glazing structure, also carrying power between the power source and the movable privacy glazing structure.Thus, the hinge assembly configurations described herein can be configured to move the movable privacy glazing structure between two or more positions and supply power to and / or from the movable privacy glazing structure, which can facilitate controlled optical transmission to the movable privacy glazing structure. As such, the hinge assemblies described herein can provide an efficient energy transport mechanism by facilitating the dual functions of energy transport and privacy glazing structure movement. One embodiment includes a hinge assembly. This hinge assembly embodiment includes a first arm, a second arm, a rotary pin coupling, and an energy transfer conduit. The rotary pin coupling rotatably engages the second arm with the first arm. The first arm defines a first portion of a channel, the second arm defines a second portion of the channel, and the rotary pin coupling defines a third portion of the channel. The energy transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel in the first arm, the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel in the second arm. In a further embodiment of this hinge assembly, the pivot pin coupling is configured to allow rotation of the second arm relative to the first arm around a rotation axis defined in the pivot pin coupling. The energy transfer conduit can extend along the rotation axis as it extends through the third portion of the channel in the pivot pin coupling. The energy transfer conduit can change its elevation relative to the rotation axis as it extends along the rotation axis.The rotary pin coupling may include a first pin and a second pin that engages with the first pin, and the energy transfer conduit may extend within each of the first pin and the second pin when the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation. The energy transfer conduit may extend through the first arm in a first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, extend through and within the rotary pin coupling in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, and extend through the second arm in the first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.The energy transfer conduit can exit the first portion of the channel in the first arm and enter the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling in a first angular orientation, relative to the axis of rotation, and the energy transfer conduit can exit the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling and enter the second portion of the channel in the second arm in a second angular orientation, relative to the axis of rotation, which is different from the first angular orientation. In a further embodiment of this hinge assembly, the first arm includes a first arm length, a first arm height, and a first arm width. The first arm length may be at least twice as large as each of the first arm height and the first arm width. The second arm includes a second arm length, a second arm height, and a second arm width. The second arm length may be at least twice as large as each of the second arm height and the second arm width. In a further embodiment of this hinge assembly, the first portion of the channel defined in the first arm may include a first channel opening and a first portion of the first arm end channel extending in a first direction, a portion of the first arm middle channel extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a first directional change portion of the first arm channel interconnecting the first arm middle channel portion to the first portion of the first arm end channel.The second portion of the channel defined in the second arm may include a second channel opening and a second end channel portion of the second arm extending in the first direction, a second middle channel portion of the second arm extending in the second direction that differs from the first direction, and a second directional change portion of the second arm channel interconnecting the middle channel portion of the second arm to the second end channel portion of the second arm. The first channel opening and the first end channel portion of the first arm may be oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the middle channel portion of the first arm, and the second channel opening and the second end channel portion of the second arm may be oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the middle channel portion of the second arm. In an additional embodiment of this hinge assembly, the power transfer conduit may include at least two independently insulated electrical wires. In another embodiment of this hinge assembly, the first arm may further include a channel opening and a mating opening in an end portion of the first arm opposite the rotary pin coupling. The channel opening may form at least part of the first channel portion and be configured to receive the power transfer conduit. The mating opening may be configured to receive a mating element of the first arm to secure the hinge assembly to a support structure. Another embodiment includes an electrically dynamic system. This system comprises a first transparent panel, a second transparent panel, an electrically controllable optically active material, and a hinge assembly. The electrically controllable optically active material is positioned between the first and second transparent panels, and between a first and a second electrode layer. The hinge assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, a rotary pin coupling, and an energy transfer conduit. The rotary pin coupling rotatably connects the second arm to the first arm. The first arm defines a first portion of a channel, the second arm defines a second portion of the channel, and the rotary pin coupling defines a third portion of the channel.The energy transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel in the first arm, the third portion of the channel in the rotating pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel in the second arm. The energy transfer conduit is electrically coupled to the electrically controllable optically active material. In a further embodiment of this system, the first transparent material panel, the second transparent material panel, and the electrically controllable optically active material are coupled to the second arm. The rotary pin coupling can be configured to allow rotation of the second arm relative to the first arm around a rotation axis defined within the rotary pin coupling. The energy transfer conduit can extend along the rotation axis as it passes through the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling. The energy transfer conduit can change its elevation relative to the rotation axis as it extends along the rotation axis.The energy transfer conduit can extend through the first arm in a first orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation, extend through and into the rotary pin coupling in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation, and extend through the second arm in the first orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The energy transfer conduit can exit the first channel portion in the first arm and enter the third channel portion in the rotary pin coupling in a first angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the energy transfer conduit can exit the third channel portion in the rotary pin coupling and enter the second channel portion in the second arm in a second angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation, which differs from the first angular orientation. In a further embodiment of this system, the first arm includes a first arm length, a first arm height, and a first arm width. The first arm length may be at least twice as great as each of the first arm height and the first arm width. The second arm includes a second arm length, a second arm height, and a second arm width. The second arm length may be at least twice as great as each of the second arm height and the second arm width. Details of one or more examples are described in the accompanying figures and in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be evident from the description and figures, and from the claims. Brief description of the figures Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one type of privacy glazing structure. Figure 2 is a side elevation view of another type of privacy glazing structure. Figure 3 is a block diagram of an illustrative impeller configuration that can be used to condition the electricity supplied to a privacy glazing structure, such as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one type of privacy structure illustrating illustrative impeller mounting configurations. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one type of hinge assembly. Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one modality of a first arm of the hinge assembly of Figure 5 with the energy transfer conduits removed to show one modality of a defined channel in the first arm. Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modality of a second arm of the hinge assembly of Figure 5 with the energy transfer conduits removed to show a modality of the channel defined in the second arm. Figure 8 is a perspective view of one modality of a pin at one end of the first arm of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a perspective view of one modality of a rotary pin coupling of the hinge assembly of Figure 5 with the first and second arms removed to show the rotary pin coupling and pass through the energy transfer conduits, in isolation. Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of one modality of the other end of the first arm of Figure 6. Figure 11 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a second arm of the hinge assembly of Figure 5 with one embodiment of a carrier pin. ινΐΛ / a / zuzó / uu i ¿..o Figure 12 is a side elevation view of the transport pin in Figure 11 passing through the power transfer conduits. Figure 13 is a perspective view of one type of privacy glazing structure coupled to a hinge assembly. Detailed description In general, this description addresses hinge assembly configurations and related structures that include a component, such as a privacy glazing structure, movably coupled to the hinge assembly, which can house one or more energy transfer components. For example, the configurations described herein include hinge assemblies that house one or more energy transfer conduits (e.g., a pair of electrical wires) such that these hinge assemblies can serve (e.g., via one or more energy transfer conduits) to transport electrical potential between an electrical source and an electrical receiving device (e.g., the privacy glazing structure movably coupled to the hinge assembly). In certain embodiments, one or more power transfer conduits can be guided through the hinge assembly and electrically coupled to a moving component attached to the hinge assembly to provide electrical power to the component in a movable (e.g., rotatable) manner. For example, a cable can be guided from a power source and / or an electric drive through the hinge assembly and to an optical structure in a window or door assembly, such as an electrically controllable optically active material that provides a controlled transition between a privacy or diffusion state and a visible or transmittance state. The electric drive can be powered by a power source, such as a rechargeable and / or replaceable battery and / or a wall outlet or electrical supply.The electrical drive can condition the electricity received from the power source, for example, by changing its frequency, amplitude, waveform, and / or other characteristics. The electrical drive can then supply this conditioned electrical signal to electrodes that are electrically coupled to the optically active material. Furthermore, in response to user input or other control information, the electrical drive can change the conditioned electrical signal supplied to the electrodes and / or stop supplying electricity to them. Therefore, the electrical drive can control the electrical signal supplied to the optically active material, thereby controlling the material to maintain a specific optical state or to transition from one state (e.g., a transparent or dispersive state) to another. When using a hinge assembly as described in IVIA / a / ¿U¿ó / UU I In the present description, one or more of (e.g., each of) the power source, the electric drive, and the optical structure need not be physically located within the window or door assembly itself. Instead, for example, the power source and / or the electric drive can be located in alternative locations. This can result in decreased weight, cost, and complexity of the window and / or door assembly, while also increasing the versatility of the overall system. For example, instead of including a battery-operated power source or electric drive within the window / door assembly itself, the optical structure can receive power, via the hinge assembly, from a source located elsewhere in a building.As such, the hinge assembly methods described herein can eliminate the need to monitor and replace batteries in the system and increase the system's convenience and footprint efficiency. Furthermore, the hinge assembly methods described herein can enable the use of electrical transfer hinges with very large gauge wires, which require a discreet yet efficient solution. In some examples, the hinge assembly includes a two-arm rotating structure with multiple pivot points through which the power transfer conduit(s) pass. For example, one end point of each of the two arms of the hinge assembly may include a mating feature to engage with an adjacent component while still housing the power transfer conduit(s). Each arm of the hinge assembly may define an internal channel configured to receive one or more power transfer conduits. In some examples, the hinge assembly may act as a dielectric cover for uninsulated conductors. In some additional examples, sealing material may be used throughout the system to achieve an IP (Ingress Protection) rating for the entire system. A hinge assembly according to this description can be used in any desired application where a component is to be movably connected to the hinge assembly and where power and / or electrical signals are to be transmitted to that component. An illustrative application is a door or window assembly where a leaf surrounding one or more panes of glass (e.g., an insulating privacy glazing unit) moves relative to a frame installed in an opening formed in a building wall. The sash can be hinged to the frame using hinge assemblies as described herein to allow the sash to move relative to the frame (e.g., to open and close the door or window) while also providing electrical connectivity to the window assembly through the hinge assembly. Providing electrical connectivity through the hinge assembly can be useful for supplying electrical power to the window assembly regardless of the sash's open or closed position relative to the frame. Illustrative features of a window or door that can be powered through a hinge assembly according to the description include, but are not limited to, moving components (e.g.,, movable blinds within the insulating glazing unit surrounding the sash), energy to drive a motor that moves the sash relative to the frame, and / or energy to drive electrochemical transitions to control privacy and visibility through the door or window. While a hinge assembly according to the description can be used in a variety of different applications, Figure 1 illustrates an illustrative privacy glazing structure that can be movably coupled to any modality of a hinge assembly described herein. In particular, Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a modality of a privacy glazing structure 12 that includes a first panel of transparent material 14 and a second panel of transparent material 16 with a layer of optically active material 18 sandwiched between the two transparent panels. The privacy glazing structure 12 also includes a first electrode layer 20 and a second electrode layer 22.The first electrode layer 20 is carried by the first transparent material panel 14, while the second electrode layer 22 is carried by the second transparent material panel. In operation, the electricity supplied through the first and second electrode layers 20 and 22 can control the optically active material 18 to regulate visibility through the glazing structure for privacy. As described in more detail below, a driver can be electrically connected to the first electrode layer 20 and the second electrode layer 22, e.g., via wiring or another electrically conductive member extending between the driver and the respective electrode layer. In operation, the driver can condition the energy received from a power source to control the optically active material layer 18, e.g., to maintain a specific optical state or to transition from one optical state to another. The driver can have a variety of different arrangements and configurations relative to a privacy structure, as described in more detail herein. According to the techniques described herein, the hinge assembly modalities described herein, such as those illustrated in Figures 5-12, can be movably coupled to the overall window assembly to transport energy between a power source and / or electric drive and the privacy glazing structure 12. For example, the hinge assembly can be configured to accommodate one or more energy transfer conduits that can transport energy to the privacy glazing structure 12, for example to drive the selective optical transparency element in the privacy glazing structure 12. The privacy glazing structure 12 can use any suitable privacy material for the optically active material layer 18. Furthermore, although the optically active material 18 is generally illustrated and described as a single layer, it should be appreciated that a structure according to the description may have one or more layers of optically active material with the same or different thicknesses. In general, the optically active material 18 is configured to provide controllable and reversible optical darkening and lightening. The optically active material 18 may be an electrically controllable optically active material that changes its direct visible transmittance in response to changes in the electrical energy applied to the material. In one example, optically active material 18 is composed of an electrochromic material that changes its opacity, or color hue, and therefore its light transmission properties, in response to changes in applied voltage. Typical examples of electrochromic materials are WO3 and MOO3, which are usually colorless when applied to a substrate in thin layers. An electrochromic layer can change its optical properties through oxidation or reduction processes. For example, in the case of tungsten oxide, protons can move within the electrochromic layer in response to a change in voltage, reducing the tungsten oxide to blue tungsten bronze. The intensity of the coloration varies with the magnitude of the charge applied to the layer. In another example, optically active material 18 is formed from a liquid crystal material. Different types of liquid crystal materials that can be used as optically active material 18 include polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials (PDLCs) and polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture materials (PSCTs). The crystals Polymer-dispersed liquids generally involve the phase separation of the nematic liquid crystal from a homogeneous liquid crystal containing a quantity of polymer sandwiched between electrode layers 20 and 22. When the electric field is off, the liquid crystals can orient themselves randomly. This scatters light entering the liquid crystal and dissipates light transmitted through the material. When a certain voltage is applied between the two electrode layers, the liquid crystals can align homeotropically, and their optical transparency increases, allowing light to be transmitted through the liquid crystal material layer. In the case of polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) materials, the material can be either a normal-mode or inverse-mode polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture material. In a normal-mode polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture material, light is scattered when no electric field is applied. If an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal, it returns to a homeotropic state, causing the liquid crystals to reorient themselves parallel to the direction of the electric field. This increases the liquid crystals' optical transparency and allows light to pass through the liquid crystal layer. In an inverse-mode polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture material, the liquid crystals are transparent in the absence of an electric field (e.g., zero electric field) but become opaque and scattered upon the application of an electric field. In an example where the optically active material 18 layer is implemented using liquid crystals, the optically active material includes liquid crystals and a dichroic dye to provide a host-liquid crystal mode of operation. When configured in this way, the dichroic dye can function as a guest compound within the liquid crystal host. The dichroic dye can be selected so that the orientation of the dye molecules follows the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. In some examples, when an electric field is applied to the optically active material 18, there is little or no absorption along the short axis of the dye molecule, and when the electric field is removed from the optically active material, the dye molecules absorb along the long axis.As a result, the dichroic dye molecules can absorb light when the optically active material transitions to a dispersed state. When configured in this way, the optically active material can absorb the light striking it, preventing an observer on one side of the privacy glazing structure 12 from clearly seeing the activity occurring on the opposite side. When the optically active material 18 is implemented using liquid crystals, the optically active material may include liquid crystal molecules within a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may or may not be cured, resulting in a solid or liquid polymer medium surrounding the liquid crystal molecules. Furthermore, in some examples, the optically active material 18 may contain spacing spheres (e.g., microspheres), for example, having an average diameter ranging from 3 micrometers to 40 micrometers, to maintain the separation between the first panel of transparent material 14 and the second panel of transparent material 16. In another example where the optically active material layer 18 is implemented using a liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material becomes opaque when transitioning to the privacy state. Such a material can scatter the light that strikes it, preventing an observer on one side of the privacy glazing structure 12 from clearly seeing the activity occurring on the opposite side. This material can significantly reduce the regular visible transmittance through the material (also referred to as direct visible transmittance) while only minimally reducing the total visible transmittance when in the privacy state, compared to when in the light-transmitting state.When these materials are used, the amount of scattered visible light transmitted through the material can increase in the privacy state compared to the light transmission state, thus compensating for the reduction in regular visible transmittance through the material. Regular or direct visible transmittance can be considered the transmitted visible light that is neither scattered nor redirected through the optically active material.18 Another type of material that can be used as the layer of the optically active material 18 is a suspended particle material. Suspended particle materials are typically dark or opaque in an unactivated state but become transparent when a voltage is applied. Other types of electrically controllable optically active materials can be used as optically active material 18, and the description is not limited to these. Regardless of the specific type of material(s) used for the optically active material 18 coating, the material can change from a light-transmitting state, in which the privacy glazing structure 12 is intended to be transparent, to a privacy state, in which visibility through the insulating glazing unit is intended to be blocked. The optically active material 18 may exhibit a progressive decrease in direct visible transmittance when transitioning from a state of maximum light transmission to a state of maximum privacy. Similarly, the optically active material 18 may exhibit a progressive increase in direct visible transmittance when transitioning from a state of maximum privacy to a state of maximum transmission.The speed at which the optically active material 18 transitions from a generally transparent transmission state to a generally opaque privacy state can be determined by various factors, including the specific type of material selected for the optically active material 18, the temperature of the material, the electrical voltage applied to the material, and the like. To electrically control the optically active material 18, the privacy glazing structure 12 in the example in Figure 1 includes the first electrode layer 20 and the second electrode layer 22. Each electrode layer can be in the form of an electrically conductive coating deposited on or over the surface of each respective panel facing the optically active material 18. For example, the first panel of transparent material 14 can define an inner surface 24A and an outer surface 24B on an opposite side of the panel. Similarly, the second panel of transparent material 16 can define an inner surface 26A and an outer surface 26B on an opposite side of the panel. The first electrode layer 20 can be deposited on the inner surface 24A of the first panel, while the second electrode layer 22 can be deposited on the inner surface 26A of the second panel.The first and second electrode layers 20, 22 can be deposited directed onto the inner surface of a respective panel or one or more intermediate layers, such as a blocking layer, and deposited between the inner surface of the panel and the electrode layer. Each electrode layer 20, 22 can be an electrically conductive coating, which is a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coating, such as aluminum-doped zinc oxide and / or tin-doped indium oxide. The transparent conductive oxide coatings can be electrically connected to a driver as described in more detail below. In some examples, the transparent conductive coatings forming the electrode layers 20, 22 define the wall surfaces of a cavity between the first transparent material panel 14 and the second transparent material panel 16, where the optically active material 18 makes contact. In other examples, one or more coatings can overlap the first and / or second electrode layers 20, 22, such as a dielectric coating (e.g., silicon oxynitride).In any case, the first transparent material panel 14 and the second transparent material panel 16, as well as any coating on the inner faces 24A, 26A of the panels, can form a cavity or chamber containing optically active material 18. The transparent material panels form the privacy glazing structure 12, which includes the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, and can be made of any suitable material. Each transparent material panel can be made of the same material, or at least one of the transparent material panels can be made of a different material than at least one other transparent material panel. In some examples, at least one (and optionally all) of the panels in the privacy glazing structure 12 is made of glass. In other examples, at least one (and optionally all) of the privacy glazing structures 12 is made of plastic such as, for example, a fluorocarbon plastic, polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyester. When glass is used, the glass can be aluminum borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass (e.g., sodium-lime silicate), or another type of glass.Furthermore, glass can be transparent or colored, depending on the application. Although glass can be manufactured using different techniques, in some examples glass is manufactured on a float bath line in which molten glass is deposited into a bath of molten tin to form glass. ML / a / ZUZÓ / UU I solidify the glass. Such illustrative glass may be referred to as float glass. In some examples, the first panel 14 and / or the second panel 16 may be formed from multiple different types of materials. For example, the substrates may be formed from laminated glass, which may include two glass panels bonded together with a polymer such as polyvinyl butyral. Additional details regarding the privacy glazing substrate arrangements that may be used in this description can be found in U.S. Patent No. 10,866,480, entitled HIGH PERFORMANCE PRIVACY GLAZING STRUCTURES, granted December 15, 2020, the full contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The privacy glazing structure 12 can be used in any desired application, including in a door, window, wall (e.g., a partition wall), skylight in a residential or commercial building, or other applications. To facilitate installation of the privacy glazing structure 12, the structure may include a frame 30 that surrounds the outer perimeter of the structure (which may also be referred to as a sash). In different examples, the frame 30 may be made of wood, metal, or a plastic material such as vinyl. The frame 30 may define a channel 32 that receives and supports the outer perimeter edge of the structure 12. Visibility through the privacy glazing structure 12 is generally established as the location where the frame 30 ends and visibility through the privacy glazing structure 12 begins. In the example in Figure 1, the privacy glazing structure 12 is illustrated as a privacy cell formed by two panels of transparent material that enclose the optically active material 18. In other configurations, the privacy glazing structure 12 can be incorporated into a multi-panel glazing structure that includes a privacy cell having one or more additional panels separated by one or more gaps between panels. Figure 2 is a side view of an illustrative configuration in which the privacy glazing structure 12 of Figure 1 is incorporated into a multi-panel insulating glazing unit that has a gap between panels. As shown in the illustrated example in Figure 2, a multi-panel privacy glazing structure 50 may include a privacy glazing structure 12 separated from an additional (e.g., the third) transparent panel 52 by a gap between the panels 54 and a spacer 56. The spacer 56 may extend around the entire perimeter of the multi-panel privacy glazing structure 50 to hermetically seal the gap between the panels 54 from gas exchange with the surrounding environment. To minimize heat exchange through the multi-panel privacy glazing structure 50, the gap between the panels 54 may be filled with an insulating gas or even evacuated. For example, the gap between the panels 54 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon, krypton, or xenon.In such applications, the insulating gas can be mixed with dry air to provide a desired air-to-insulating gas ratio, such as 10 percent air and 90 percent insulating gas. In other examples, the space between panels 54 can be evacuated so that the space between panels is at a vacuum pressure relative to the pressure of the environment surrounding the multi-panel privacy glazing structure 50. Spacer 56 can be any structure that maintains opposing substrates in a spaced relationship throughout the service life of the multi-panel privacy glazing structure 50 and seals the interpane space 54 between opposing material panels, e.g., to inhibit or eliminate gas exchange between the interpane space and the environment surrounding the unit. An example of a spacer that can be used as spacer 56 is a tubular spacer positioned between the first transparent material panel 14 and the third transparent material panel 52. The tubular spacer can define a lumen or hollow tube, which, in some examples, is filled with desiccant.The tubular spacer may have a first lateral surface bonded (by means of a first sealant bead) to the outer surface 24B of the first transparent material panel 14 and a second lateral surface bonded (by means of a second sealant bead) to the third transparent material panel 52. A top surface of the tubular spacer may be exposed to the interpane space 54 and, in some examples, includes openings that allow gas within the interpane space to communicate with the desiccant material within the spacer. Such a spacer may be manufactured from aluminum, stainless steel, a thermoplastic, or any other suitable material. Useful glazing spacers are commercially available from Allmetal, Inc. of Itasca, IL, USA. Another example of a spacer that can be used as a spacer 56 is a spacer formed from a corrugated metal reinforcing sheet surrounded by a sealing compound. The corrugated metal reinforcing sheet can be a rigid structural component that keeps the first panel of transparent material 14 separated from the third panel of transparent material 52. Such a spacer is frequently referred to in trade settings as a rotating spacer. In yet another example, spacer 56 can be formed from a foam material surrounded on all sides except one, facing a gap between panels, by a metal foil. Such a spacer is commercially available from Edgetech under the trade name Super Spacer®. As another example, spacer 56 can be a thermoplastic spacer (TES) formed by placing a primary sealant (e.g., adhesive) between the first transparent material panel 14 and the third transparent material panel 52, followed, optionally, by a secondary sealant applied around the defined perimeter between the substrates and the primary sealant. Spacer 56 can have other configurations, as those skilled in the art will appreciate. Depending on the application, the first transparent material panel 14, the second transparent material panel 16, and / or the third transparent material panel 52 (when included) can be coated with one or more functional coatings to modify the privacy structure's performance. Illustrative functional coatings include, but are not limited to, low-emissivity coatings, solar control coatings, and photocatalytic coatings. In general, a low-emissivity coating is designed to allow visible and near-infrared light to pass through a panel while substantially preventing far-infrared and mid-infrared radiation from passing through. A low-emissivity coating may include one or more layers of infrared-reflective film sandwiched between two or more layers of transparent dielectric film.The infrared reflective film may include a conductive metal such as silver, gold, or copper. Useful low-emissivity coatings include the commercially available LoE-180™, LoE-272™, and LoE-366™ coatings from Cardinal CG Company of Spring Green, Wisconsin, USA. A photocatalytic coating, on the other hand, may be a coating that includes a photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide. In use, the photocatalyst may exhibit photoactivity, which can aid in self-cleaning or provide less maintenance for the panels. Advantageous photocatalytic coatings include the NEAT® coatings available through Cardinal CG Company. According to the techniques described herein, a hinge assembly, such as the hinge assemblies of any of Figures 5-12, can be movably coupled to the overall window assembly to carry electricity from the power source and / or electric drive to the multi-panel privacy glazing structure. One or more power transfer conduits can extend from the power source or electric drive and through a channel defined by the hinge assembly to the window assembly to provide electricity to perform the optically selective transmissibility function described herein. As briefly mentioned earlier, the transparent material panels forming the privacy glazing structure 12, whether implemented individually or as a multi-panel structure with a gap between panels, can carry a first electrode layer 20 and a second electrode layer 22 to control the optically active material 18. The first electrode layer 20 and the second electrode layer 22 can be electrically coupled to a driver that conditions the energy received from a power source to control the optically active material 18. Figure 3 is a block diagram of an illustrative driver configuration that can be used to condition the electricity supplied to the privacy glazing structure 12. As shown in the example in Figure 3, a drive 80 can be electrically coupled to the privacy glazing structure 12 via an electrical link 82. The drive 80 may include a controller 84, a communication module 86, an output circuit 88, and a power source 90. Some or all of the drive 80 components may be contained in a housing 92. The controller 84 can communicate with the other drive 80 components to manage the overall operation of the drive. In some examples, the controller 84 may receive input from a user interface and / or sensor to control the conditioning of the electrical signal received from the power source 90. The controller 84 may include a processor and memory. The processor can execute software stored in memory to perform the functions assigned to the controller 84.The memory can provide non-transient storage of the software used and data used or generated by the controller 84. The communication module 86 can be implemented using a wired and / or wireless interface to communicate between the controller 84 and the external environment. The communication module 86 can be used to send status information from the drive 80 to an external computing device and / or to receive information about how the drive 80 should be controlled. For example, the drive 80 can be communicatively coupled via the communication module 86 to a smart home computing system and / or a wireless module, allowing remote control of the smart device. Illustrative communication protocols that the communication module 86 can support include, but are not limited to, Ethernet (e.g., TCP / IP), RS232, RS485, and common bus protocols (e.g., CAN). The output circuit 88, which may also be referred to as the driver circuit, can take the control signals from the controller 84 and the electrical signals from the power source 90 and generate a conditioned electrical signal supplied to the privacy glazing structure 12. For example, the control signals received from the controller 84 can dictate the frequency, amplitude, waveform, and / or other signal properties of the conditioned electrical signal to be supplied to the privacy glazing structure 12 to control the optically active material 18. The output circuit 88 can condition the power signal received from the power source 90 using the control signal information received from the controller 84. In some instances, the output circuit 88 can generate feedback signals returned to the controller 84 that provide information for maintenance and / or status monitoring. The power source 90 can be implemented using any source or combination of electrical power sources to control the privacy glazing structure 12. The power source 90 can be a battery source with a finite capacity and / or a continuous source with an infinite capacity (e.g., wall power or electrical supply, a direct current power source such as Power over Ethernet (PoE)). When configured with one or more batteries, the batteries can be rechargeable and / or replaceable. Examples of power sources 90 include, but are not limited to, 115 Vac or 240 Vac, 12 Vdc, 24 Vdc, and combinations thereof. The power source 90 may or may not be located within the drive housing 92, as illustrated in Figure 3, depending on how the power source is implemented in the system. To control the drive 80, the privacy system may include a user interface 94. The user interface 94 may be wired or wirelessly connected to the controller 84. The user interface 94 may include a switch, buttons, a touchscreen, and / or other features with which a user can interact to control the privacy glazing structure 12. In operation, a user can interact with the user interface 94 to change the degree of privacy provided by the privacy glazing structure 12. For example, the user can interact with the user interface 94 to change the privacy glazing structure 12 from a diffused or private state to a transparent or visible state, or vice versa, and / or the user can change the degree of privacy provided along a continuously variable spectrum.The information received from the user interface 94 can be used by the controller 84, e.g., with reference to the information stored in memory, to control the electrical signal supplied to the privacy glazing structure 12 by the drive 80. In operation, the driver 80 can condition the energy received from the power source 90 to supply alternating current to the privacy glazing structure (e.g., the electrode layers of the privacy glazing structure) or, in other examples, direct current. The electricity can be transported from the power source 90 (optionally conditioned by the driver 80) to the privacy glazing structure via wiring (e.g., two or more individual wires, including a positive and a negative wire). Each feature described as a wire may include an electrical conductor (e.g., copper), which may be surrounded by an insulating sheath. According to the techniques described herein, a hinge assembly, such as the hinge assemblies of any of Figures 5-12, can be movably coupled to the overall window assembly to provide electricity from the power source 90 and / or electric drive 80 to the privacy glazing structure 12. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative privacy door 200 that can use an illustrative hinge assembly as described. The privacy door 200 can be constructed using the arrangement and configuration of the components described above with respect to the privacy glazing structure 12 (Figures 1 and 2). For example, the privacy door 200 can include a first panel of transparent material 14, a second panel of transparent material 16, and an electrically controllable optically active material 18 positioned between the first and second transparent material panels. The first transparent material panel 14 can carry a first layer of electrodes, and the second transparent material panel 16 can carry a second layer of electrodes, as described with respect to the privacy glazing structure 12.The privacy door 200 can be visually transparent, or translucent, when the electrically controllable optically active material 18 is in a transparent state, but it becomes optically obscured when the optically active material is in a darkened or privacy state. To provide a location for the discretely positioned drive 80, which is electrically coupled to the electrode layers carried by the transparent material panels, the privacy door 200 may include an optically opaque panel covering an access opening to an interior space formed within the door. For example, the privacy door 200 in the example in Figure 4 is illustrated as including a protective plate 202 positioned across the lower quadrant of the door. The privacy door 200 is also shown with a hinge plate 204, which, in the illustrated example, is represented as an upper hinge plate 204A and a lower hinge plate 204B. The hinge plates can define the mating surfaces where the privacy door 200 is attached via the hinge(s) to a door frame. In some implementations, a hinge assembly, such as the hinge assemblies of any of Figures 5-12, may be installed to provide electrical communication a and / or through the hinge plate 204, allowing electricity to travel from the power source and / or electric drive to the privacy door 200. In the example in Figure 4, a cavity can be formed in the first transparent material panel 14 and / or privacy door 200, which is covered by and / or accessible through a corresponding optically opaque panel. The drive 80 can be located within the cavity and electrically connected to the electrode layers carried by the transparent panels, e.g., using electrical conductors extending from the drive to each respective electrode layer. The cavity formed within MA / a / ZUZ J / UUl The privacy door 200 can form the impeller housing 92 into which the various components defining the impeller are inserted and housed. Alternatively, the impeller 80 can include a separate impeller housing 92 that can be inserted into the cavity. In either case, an optically opaque panel can be covered over the opening to discreetly conceal the impeller within the opening. The optically opaque panel can be made of a material that is not visually transparent, such as non-transparent glass (e.g., frosted glass), plastic, non-transparent plastic, or other suitable material. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a 500 hinge assembly. While the 500 hinge assembly is described in the illustrated embodiment as a coupling of a fixed object (e.g., a frame) and a movable object (e.g., a movable window assembly (e.g., one that can rotate) relative to the frame), the 500 hinge assembly can also be a hinge assembly connecting two movable objects. The illustrated embodiment of the hinge assembly 500 includes a first arm 505 and a second arm 510. The first arm 505 may include a first end of the first arm 506 and a second end of the first arm 507, and the second arm 510 may include a first end of the second arm 511 and a second end of the second arm 512. The first arm 505 and the second arm 510 may be movable relative to each other. For example, the hinge assembly 500 may include a swivel pin coupling 515 that movably connects the first and second arms 505, 510. In an illustrative application, the first end of the first arm 506 may be coupled to a fixed object, such as a frame, through a coupling element of the first arm 508, and the first arm 505 may be rotated about an axis 509 defined by the coupling element of the first arm 508.The second end of the first arm 507 and the first end of the second arm 511 may include the swivel pin coupling 515. The second end of the first arm 507 may be movably coupled to the first end of the second arm 511 via the swivel pin coupling 515. The swivel pin coupling 515 may be configured to permit rotation of the second arm 510 relative to the first arm 505 about an axis 516 defined by the swivel pin coupling 515. Therefore, the hinge assembly 500 may be configured to facilitate rotation of the first arm 505 about axis 509 and rotation of the second arm 510, relative to the first arm 505, about axis 516. The second end of the second arm 512 may be coupled to an object, such as a window assembly (e.g., a window frame)., the privacy glazing structure described herein) and, as such, the object attached to the second arm 512 can be moved with the second arm between various positions. To facilitate energy transfer, a body 501 of the hinge assembly 500 may define a channel 520 configured to receive one or more energy transfer conduits 525. For example, the channel 520 may have a channel opening 521 at the first end of the first arm 506 and another channel opening 522 at the second end of the second arm 512. The channel opening 522, in the illustrated embodiment, may be defined in a carrier pin 513 included in the second arm 510. The channel 520 may extend within the body 501 from the channel opening 521 in the first arm 505 to the channel opening 522 in the second arm 510. The one or more energy transfer conduits 525 may be positioned within the channel 520 and thus also extend from the channel opening 521 at the first end of the first arm 506, to the opening of channel 522, at the second end of the second arm 512.In this way, one or more energy transfer conduits 525 can be configured to carry energy from an energy source (e.g., electrically connected to one or more energy transfer conduits 525 adjacent to the first end of the first arm 506), through the body 501 of the hinge assembly 500, and out of the body 501 to a privacy glazing structure that attaches to the second arm 510. Figure 6 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the first arm 505 of the hinge assembly 500. In Figure 6, the energy transfer conduits have been removed to facilitate visualization of the channel 520 defined in the first arm 505. As illustrated in Figure 6, in the first arm 505, the channel 520 extends from the channel opening 521, at the first end of the first arm 506, to the second end of the first arm 507. More specifically, at the second end of the first arm 507, the channel 520 extends through a first pin 515A of the rotary pin coupling 515, to a pin opening 517 in the first pin 515A. Therefore, in the first arm 505, the channel 520 extends within the body 501 from the channel opening 521 to the pin opening 517. In the illustrated configuration, channel 520 has multiple channel regions. That is, in the first arm 505, channel 520 can have a first portion of the first arm 530 end channel, a first directional change portion of the first arm 531 channel, a portion of the first arm 532 middle channel, a second directional change portion of the first arm 533 channel, and a second portion of the first arm 534 end channel. Channel opening 521 can be located in the first portion of the first arm 530 end channel, and the first pin 515A and pin opening 517 can be in the second portion of the first arm 534 end channel.The first portion of the end channel of the first arm 530 can extend in a first direction from the channel opening 521 into the middle channel portion of the first arm 532, and the middle channel portion of the first arm 532 can extend in a second direction that is different from the first direction of the first portion of the end channel of the first arm 530. As such, the first directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 531 can define a change in the direction of channel 520 from the first direction to the second direction and thereby interconnect the first portion of the end channel of the first arm 530 and the middle channel portion of the first arm 532. Likewise, the second portion of the end channel of the first arm 534 can extend in the first direction (e.g., the same direction in which the first portion of the first arm's end channel 530 extends) from the second directional change portion of the first arm's channel 533 to the pin opening 517. As such, the second directional change portion of the first arm's channel 533 can define a change in the direction of channel 520 from the second direction of the first arm's middle channel portion 532 to the first direction of the second end channel portion of the first arm 534 and thereby interconnect the first arm's middle channel portion 532 and the second end channel portion of the first arm 534. Each of the first end channel portion of the first arm 530 and the second end channel portion of the first arm 534 extend from the middle channel portion of the first arm 532 at an angle α. In the illustrated embodiment, angle α is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees (i.e., an obtuse angle). As a result, the pin opening 517 may be offset and not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the middle channel portion of the first arm 532, and the channel opening 521 may be offset and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the middle channel portion of the first arm 532.The angle α, as an obtuse angle, can be useful to facilitate a change in direction, through the respective first directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 531 and the second directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 533, from the first direction, along which the first end portion of the channel of the first arm 530 and the second end portion of the channel of the first arm 534 extend, to the second direction, along which the middle portion of the channel of the first arm 532 extends. That is, the obtuse angle α can provide a relatively more gradual bend in the respective first directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 531 and the second directional change portion of the channel 533 of the first arm, which can help to decrease the forces imparted by the walls of the body 501, defining the channel 520, on one or more energy transfer conduits received within the channel 520.And, the obtuse angle a can make it easier to place one or more power transfer conduits inside the 520 channel. In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm 505 can define a first arm length 535, a first arm height 536, and a first arm width 537. The first arm length 535 can be greater than the first arm height 536 and the first arm width 537. For example, the first arm length 535 can be two, three, four, five, or ten times greater than the first arm height 536, and the first arm length 535 can be two, three, four, five, or ten times greater than the first arm width 537.The second direction, along which the middle channel portion 532 of the first arm extends, may be in the direction of the first arm length 535, and the first direction, along which the first end channel portion of the first arm 530 and the second end channel portion of the first arm 534 generally extend in the direction of the first arm height 536 (and may deviate partially from the direction of the first arm height). 536 when angle a is the obtuse angle. As shown in Figure 6, the location of each of the first directional change portion of the first arm channel 531 and the second directional change portion of the first arm channel 533 can be at a common elevation of the first arm height 536. Figure 7 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second arm 510 of the hinge assembly 500. As in Figure 6, in Figure 7 the energy transfer conduits have been removed to facilitate visualization of the channel 520 defined in the second arm 510. As illustrated in Figure 7, in the second arm 510, the channel 520 extends from the first end of the second arm 511 to the channel opening 522 at the second end of the second arm 512. More specifically, at the first end of the second arm 511, the channel 520 extends through a pin opening 538 in a second pin 515B of the rotary pin coupling 515 to the channel opening 522 at the second end of the second arm 512. Therefore, in the second arm 510, the channel 520 extends into the body 501 from the pin opening 538 to the channel opening 522. Channel 520 can be defined in the second arm 510 in the same, or similar, way that channel 520 is shown and described for the first arm 505, although channel 520 as defined in the second arm 510 can have such characteristics in a generally inverse manner since the second arm 510 can thus define channel 520 as an exact image of channel 520 as defined in the first arm 505. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, channel 520 has multiple channel regions. That is, in the second arm 510, channel 520 can have a first portion of the end channel of the second arm 540, a first directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 541, a portion of the middle channel of the second arm 542, a second directional change portion of the channel of the second arm 543, and a second portion of the end channel of the second arm 544. The second pin 515B and the pin opening 538 can be located in the second end portion of the second arm 540, and the channel opening 522 can be located in the second portion of the end channel of the second arm 544.The first portion of the end channel of the second arm 540 can extend in the first direction from the pin opening 538 into the middle channel portion of the second arm 542, and the middle channel portion of the second arm 542 can extend in a second direction that is different from the first direction in which the first portion of the end channel of the second arm 540 extends. As such, the first directional change portion of the channel of the second arm 541 can define a change in the direction of the channel 520 from the first direction to the second direction and thereby interconnect the first portion of the end channel of the second arm 540 and the middle channel portion of the second arm 542. Similarly, the second portion of the end channel of the second arm 544 can extend in the first direction (e.g.(the same direction in which the first end channel portion of the second arm 540 extends) from the second directional change portion of the second arm 543 channel to the channel opening 522. As such, the second directional change portion of the second arm 543 channel can define a change in the direction of channel 520 from the second direction of the middle channel portion of the second arm 542 to the first direction of the second end channel portion of the second arm 544 and thereby interconnect the middle channel portion of the second arm 542 and the second end channel portion of the second arm 544. Each of the first portion of the end channel of the second arm 540 and the second portion of the end channel of the second arm 544 can extend from the middle channel portion of the second arm 542 at the angle α as described above with respect to the first arm 505. And, the second arm 510 can define a second arm length 545, a second arm height 546, and a second arm width 547. The second arm length 545, the second arm height 546, and the second arm width 547 can be equal to those described ινΐΛ / a / zuzó / uu i ¿¿o for, respectively, the first arm length 535, the first arm height 536, and the first arm width 537.In some examples, channel 520 may have a channel height 523, in each of the middle channel portion of the first arm 532 and the middle channel portion of the second arm 542, which is greater than 75%, greater than 80%, greater than 85%, greater than 90%, or greater than 95% of the arm height in the respective middle channel portions of the first and second arms 532, 542. In one example, the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510 may be formed by a casting, molding, or similar integrated manufacturing process with the energy transfer conduit(s) 525. For example, in a first stage of the process, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 may be positioned relative to a casting or mold corresponding to the body of the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510. As a specific example, the case or mold may include an inner channel wall defining the channel 520 through the casting or mold corresponding to the body of the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510, and the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 may be positioned within the inner channel wall of the casting or mold.In a second stage of the process, the liquid material can be placed in the casting or mold and around the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 previously positioned in the casting or mold. Then, in a third stage of the process, the first formed arm 505 and / or the second arm 510 can be removed from the casting or mold with the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 located within the channel 520 of the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510. In this way, the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510 can be manufactured with the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 located in the channel 520 through the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 that are cast or molded into the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510 and, therefore, cast or molded into the channel 520. In other examples, the first arm 505 and / or the second arm 510 can be formed by pressing, welding, forming, or another similar manufacturing process.Figure 8 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the first pin 515A at the second end of the first arm 507. The second pin 515B at the first end of the second arm 511 may be the same as or similar to that shown and described here for the first pin 515A. The first and second pins 515A and 515B may be configured to rotatably engage with each other to create the rotary pin coupling, as will be shown further as described with reference to Figure 9. In one embodiment, the first and second pins 515A and 515B may be integral to the respective first and second arms 505 and 510. In another embodiment, the first and second pins 515A and 515B may be press-fitted together to form the rotary coupling. In yet another embodiment, the first and second pins 515A and 515B may be press-locked together to form the rotary coupling.To facilitate a snap-fit ​​connection to form the rotary coupling between the first and second pins 515A, 515B, the first pin 515A may include a snap-fit ​​slot 518 configured to receive a complementary snap-fit ​​on the second pin 515B. Receiving the complementary snap-fit ​​in the snap-fit ​​slot 518 allows the first and second pins 515A, 515B to be rotatably coupled to each other, such that the second arm 510 can rotate about the axis 516 independently of the first arm 505. Figure 8 also shows the pin opening 517 in the first pin 515A. In some embodiments, the pin opening 517 may define a cross-sectional area (e.g., at the end of the first pin 515A) that is greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 75%, greater than 80%, greater than 85%, or greater than 90% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first pin 515A. As also noted here, to facilitate angle α, the pin opening 517 may extend from the end of the first pin 515A in a direction toward the middle channel portion 532 of the first arm. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the rotary pin coupling 515 of the hinge assembly 500, with the first and second arms 505, 510 removed to show, in isolation, the rotary pin coupling 515 passing through energy transfer conduits 525. The first and second pins 515A, 515B are rotatably coupled to each other to form the rotary pin coupling 515. In operation, the rotary pin coupling 515 is configured to allow the second arm 510 to rotate about axis 516 independently of the first arm 505. More specifically, in the illustrated configuration, each of the first pin 515A and the second pin 515B can rotate together about axis 516 with the second arm 510 and independently of the first arm 505. Pin opening 517 in the first pin 515A interacts with pin opening 538 of the second pin 515B in such a way that channel 520 extends through the first pin 515A and the second pin 515B. In this way, channel 520 is configured to allow the power transfer conduits 525 to extend along the middle channel portion of the first arm 532 to the second directional change portion of the first arm 533, extend through the first pin 515A and into the second pin 515B through pin opening 517 and pin opening 538, extend through the second pin 515B and out through the first directional change portion of the channel of the second arm 541, and extend along the middle channel portion of the second arm 542. As shown in Figure 9, a second directional change portion of the channel in the first arm 533, which defines the entry point of the energy transfer conduit into the first pin 515A, can be angularly offset from the first directional change portion of the channel in the second arm 541, which defines the exit point of the energy transfer conduit from the second pin 515B. For example, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can enter the first pin 515A in an orientation that is generally horizontal and therefore perpendicular to the rotation axis 516, at a first angular location (e.g., zero degrees) with respect to the rotation axis 516 of the rotary pin coupling 515.Once the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 are inside the first pin 515A, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can cross the rotation axis 516 and change orientation to be generally vertical and extend along the rotation axis 516 as the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 extend through the first pin 515A and the second pin 515B. Then, once the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 are inside the second pin 515B, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can again change orientation to be generally horizontal and thus perpendicular to the rotation axis 516, and diverge from the rotation axis 516 into, and out of, the second pin 515B, in the first directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 541.The power transfer conduit(s) 525 may exit the second pin 515B at a second angular location (e.g., approximately thirty, forty-five, sixty, seventy-five, or ninety degrees), different from the first angular location, relative to the rotation axis 516. In addition to the described angular displacement of the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can change the elevation at the rotary pin coupling 515. That is, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can enter the first pin 515A at a first elevation and exit the second pin 515B at a second elevation different from the first. The energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can change the elevation from the first elevation to the second elevation where the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 extend along the axis of rotation 516 of the rotary pin coupling 515.This may be the case because no pin is present on the rotation axis 516 of the rotary pin coupling 515 and, therefore, the power transfer conduit(s) 525 can extend along the rotation axis 516 to change the elevation and / or angular location with respect to the rotation axis 516. The second directional change portion of the channel in the first arm 533, which defines the entry point of the energy transfer conduit at the first pin 515A, may have a different cross-sectional area than the first directional change portion of the channel in the second arm 541, which defines the exit point of the energy transfer conduit at the second pin 515B. For example, the second directional change portion of the channel in the first arm 533, which defines the entry point of the energy transfer conduit at the first pin 515A, may have a larger cross-sectional area than the first directional change portion of the channel in the second arm 541, which defines the exit point of the energy transfer conduit at the second pin 515B.This larger cross-sectional area of ​​the second directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 533, which defines the entry point of the power transfer conduit at the first pin 515A, may be useful to facilitate the relative rotation of the second arm 510 with respect to the first arm 505 in the rotary pin coupling 515.In particular, with the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 passing through the rotary pin coupling 515, the relatively larger cross-sectional area of ​​the second directional change portion of the channel of the first arm 533 can provide additional space for the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 at the point of entry of the energy transfer conduit into the first pin 515A and thus help reduce instances where the presence of the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 prevents rotation of the rotary pin coupling 515 around the axis of rotation 516. For example, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, in some instances, may have a wire gauge size between 16 US wire gauge and 24 US wire gauge. These described features can help to effectively route the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 through the hinge assembly 500. In this way, the hinge assembly 500 can be used to facilitate energy transport between a power source and a power-consuming device, such as an electrically controllable, optically active privacy structure attached to the hinge assembly 500 (e.g., attached to the second arm 510). This ability to accommodate the energy transfer conduit(s) 515 can allow the power source to be located away from both the hinge assembly 500 and the power-consuming device (e.g., the electrically controllable, optically active privacy structure) attached to the hinge assembly 500. Figure 10 shows a bottom perspective view of the first end of the first arm 506 of the first arm 505. In this illustrated embodiment, the first end of the first arm 506 includes the channel opening 521 and a coupling opening 550. The channel opening 521 and the coupling opening 550 can be on a side of the first arm 505 that is opposite the side of the first arm 505 that has the pin opening 517. The channel opening 521 can be configured to receive the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 and, as described above, form a portion of the channel 520. As such, the channel opening 521, as well as the channel 520, can have a cross-sectional area greater than one diameter of the energy transfer conduit(s) 525. For example, the channel opening 521, as well as the channel 520, can have a cross-sectional area greater than one diameter of two energy transfer conduits. energy 525 (e.g.(a potential electrical supply conduit and a potential electrical return conduit), as shown for the illustrated embodiment where the energy transfer conduit 525 includes two independently insulated electrical wires. The coupling opening 550 can be configured to receive the coupling element of the first arm 508 to secure the hinge assembly 500 to a support structure (e.g., a fixed support structure, such as a window frame). IVIA / a / ¿U¿ó / UU I ¿¿3 Figures 11 and 12 show the protractor pin 513 at the second end of the second arm 512 of the second arm 512. Specifically, Figure 11 shows a side perspective view of the second end of the second arm 512 with the protractor pin 513, and Figure 12 shows a side elevation view of the protractor pin 513 with the second arm 510 removed for ease of illustration. The carrier pin 513 can be configured to receive and emit the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 from the hinge assembly 500. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier pin 513 defines the second directional change portion of the channel of the second arm 543, at least in part, as well as the second portion of the end channel of the second arm 544 and the channel opening 522. The energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can change the elevation at the conveyor pin 513. That is, the conveyor pin 513 can be configured to receive the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, in the second directional change portion of the channel of the second arm 543, at a first elevation. And, the conveyor pin 513 can be configured to deliver the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 from the conveyor pin 513 to a second elevation that is different from the first elevation. The energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can change the elevation from the first elevation to the second elevation where the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 extend along a longitudinal axis 560 of the conveyor pin 513. Furthermore, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can change orientation on the conveyor pin 513. That is, the conveyor pin 513 can be configured to receive the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, in the second directional change portion of the channel on the second arm 543, in a first orientation (e.g., a horizontal orientation perpendicular to axis 560). And, the conveyor pin 513 can be configured to emit the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 from the conveyor pin 513 in a second orientation (e.g., a vertical orientation parallel to, or extending along, axis 560) that is different from the first orientation.In some of such examples, the carrier pin 513 can be configured to orient the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 to make the change in orientation, and elevation, of the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 where the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 cross the shaft 560. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the privacy glazing structure 12 coupled to the hinge assembly 500. As described above, the MA / a / ZUZ J / UUl ¿zo or the energy transfer conduits 525 of the hinge assembly 500 can be electrically coupled to the electrically controllable optically active material 18 of the privacy glazing structure 12 to form, at least in part, an electrically dynamic system. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13, the privacy glazing structure 12 and the hinge assembly 500 form a waterfall window that can be included as part of the electrically dynamic system. However, in other embodiments within the scope of this description, the privacy glazing structure 12 and the hinge assembly 500 can form other types of movable windows or doors, including a shading window, hopper window, or other movable window or door, any of which can be included as part of the electrically dynamic system. In operation, in addition to the hinge assembly 500 being configured to carry energy to and / or from the privacy glazing structure 12, via the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, the hinge assembly 500 can be configured to move the privacy glazing structure 12. As shown in the example in Figure 13, the second arm 510 can be coupled to the privacy glazing structure 12 (e.g., in frame 30) and the first arm 505 can be coupled to a support structure 601 (e.g., a frame or other structure in a wall). More specifically, in the cascade window configuration illustrated here, the first arm 505 is coupled to the support structure 601 by means of a carrier 600. In some such configurations, the first arm 505 can be rotatably coupled to the support structure 601 (e.g., a frame or other structure in a wall)., by means of a rotary coupling of the first arm 505 to the carrier 600) in such a way that the first arm 505 can rotate with respect to the support structure 601 (e.g., rotate with respect to the carrier 600). For the illustrated waterfall window configuration, the hinge assembly 500 can be configured to move the privacy glazing structure 12 in a direction 605 such that the privacy glazing structure 12 can rotate between a first position on, or adjacent to, the support structure 601 and a second position, such as that shown in Figure 13, away from the support structure 601. As the privacy glazing structure 12 moves from the first position to the second position, the carrier 600 can slide, relative to the support structure 601, in a direction 610 and thereby move the first arm 505 that engages with the carrier 600.As the carrier 600 slides in direction 610, the resulting movement of the first arm 505 can cause the second arm 510 to rotate relative to the first arm 505 through the rotary pin coupling 515. In particular, as described elsewhere in this description, the hinge assembly 500 can be configured to move the privacy glazing structure 12 while also transporting energy to and / or from the privacy glazing structure 12 through the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 in the hinge assembly 500. That is, the energy transfer conduit(s) 525 can be received in the hinge assembly 500 and coupled to the privacy glazing structure 12 at the second arm 510. Therefore, as the privacy glazing structure 12 moves between the first and second positions in direction 605, the hinge assembly 500 can be configured to transport energy to and / or from the privacy glazing structure 12, through the energy transfer conduit(s) 525, at each of the positions. Several examples have been described. These and other examples fall within the scope of the following ML / a / ZUZÓ / UU I claims.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising: a first arm defining a first portion of a channel; a second arm defining a second portion of the channel; a rotary pin coupling rotatably coupling the second arm to the first arm, the rotary pin coupling defining a third portion of the channel; and a power transfer conduit extending through the first portion of the channel in the first arm, the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel in the second arm.

2. The assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the rotary pin coupling is configured to permit rotation of the second arm relative to the first arm about an axis of rotation defined in the rotary pin coupling.

3. The assembly of claim 2, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation as the energy transfer conduit extends through the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling.

4. The assembly of claim 3, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit changes elevation relative to the axis of rotation as the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation.

5. The assembly of claim 4, characterized in that the rotary pin coupling comprises a first pin and a second pin that engages with the first pin, and wherein the energy transfer conduit extends within each of the first pin and the second pin as the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit extends through the first arm in a first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, extends through and into the rotary pin coupling in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, and extends through the second arm in the first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

7. The assembly of any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit exits the first channel portion in the first arm and enters the third channel portion in the rotary pin coupling in a first angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation, and wherein the energy transfer conduit exits the third channel portion in the rotary pin coupling and enters the second channel portion in the second arm in a second angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation, which is different from the first angular orientation.

8. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first arm includes a first arm length, a first arm height, and a first arm width, wherein the first arm length is at least twice as long as each of the first arm height and the first arm width, and wherein the second arm includes a second arm length, a second arm height, and a second arm width, wherein the second arm length is at least twice as long as each of the second arm height and the second arm width.

9. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first portion of the channel defined in the first arm includes a first channel opening and a first end channel portion of the first arm extending in a first direction, a middle channel portion of the first arm extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and a first directional change portion of the first arm channel interconnecting the middle channel portion of the first arm to the first end channel portion of the first arm, and wherein the second portion of the channel defined in the second arm includes a second channel opening and a second end channel portion of the second arm extending in the first direction, a middle channel portion of the second arm extending in the second direction different from the first direction,and a second portion of the second arm channel change direction that interconnects the middle portion of the second arm channel to the second end portion of the second arm channel.

10. The assembly of claim 9, characterized in that the first channel opening and the first end channel portion of the first arm are oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the middle channel portion of the first arm, and wherein the second channel opening and the second end channel portion of the second arm are oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the middle channel portion of the second arm.

11. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power transfer conduit comprises at least two independently insulated electrical wires.

12. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first arm further comprises a channel opening and a coupling opening in an end portion of the first arm opposite the rotary pin coupling, wherein the channel opening forms at least a part of the first channel portion and is configured to receive the energy transfer conduit, and wherein the coupling opening is configured to receive a coupling element of the first arm for securing the hinge assembly to a support structure.

13. An electrically dynamic system comprising: a first panel of transparent material; a second panel of transparent material; an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first panel of transparent material and the second panel of transparent material, the electrically controllable optically active material being positioned between a first layer of electrodes and a second layer of electrodes; and a hinge assembly comprising: a first arm defining a first portion of a channel; a second arm defining a second portion of the channel; a rotary pin coupling rotatably coupling the second arm to the first arm, the rotary pin coupling defining a third portion of the channel;and an energy transfer conduit extends through the first portion of the channel in the first arm, the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling, and the second portion of the channel in the second arm, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit is electrically coupled to the electrically controllable optically active material.

14. The system of claim 13, characterized in that the first transparent material panel, the second transparent material panel, and the electrically controllable optically active material are coupled to the second arm.

15. The system of claim 14, characterized in that the rotary pin coupling is configured to permit rotation of the second arm relative to the first arm about an axis of rotation defined in the rotary pin coupling.

16. The system of claim 15, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation as the energy transfer conduit extends through the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling.

17. The system of claim 16, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit changes elevation relative to the axis of rotation as the energy transfer conduit extends along the axis of rotation.

18. The system of any of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit extends through the first arm in a first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, extends through and into the rotary pin coupling in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, and extends through the second arm in the first orientation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

19. The system of any one of claims 16-18, characterized in that the energy transfer conduit exits the first portion of the channel in the first arm and enters the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling in a first angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation, and wherein the energy transfer conduit exits the third portion of the channel in the rotary pin coupling and enters the second portion of the channel in the second arm in a second angular orientation relative to the axis of rotation, which is different from the first angular orientation.

20. The system of any one of claims 13-19, characterized in that the first arm includes a first arm length, a first arm height, and a first arm width, wherein the first arm length is at least twice as long as each of the first arm height and the first arm width, and wherein the second arm includes a second arm length, a second arm height, and a second arm width, wherein the second arm length is at least twice as long as each of the second arm height and the second arm width.

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