3008results about "Light protection screens" patented technology

A rechargeable, stackable, thin film, solid-state lithium electrochemical cell, thin film lithium battery and method for making the same is disclosed. The cell and battery provide for a variety configurations, voltage and current capacities. An innovative low temperature ion beam assisted deposition method for fabricating thin film, solid-state anodes, cathodes and electrolytes is disclosed wherein a source of energetic ions and evaporants combine to form thin film cell components having preferred crystallinity, structure and orientation. The disclosed batteries are particularly useful as power sources for portable electronic devices and electric vehicle applications where high energy density, high reversible charge capacity, high discharge current and long battery lifetimes are required.

A chromogenic window panel assembly, and a chromogenic skylight each includes an outer panel and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic light pipe includes a light harvesting member and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic vehicle sunroof, a chromogenic aircraft window assembly, and a chromogenic window assembly each includes a panel having a particular panel contour corresponding to a surface contour and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic block includes two panels and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal.

An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a portion of the space, at least one window treatment for at least one opening for allowing daylight into the space, the window treatment selectively altering the amount of daylight entering the space, a plurality of electric lamps providing artificial light to supplement the daylight illumination of the space; the electric lamps being dimmable, a control system controlling the at least one window treatment and the plurality of electric lamps to maintain the desired illumination profile in the space, the control system controlling the plurality of electric lamps so that the dimming level of each lamp is adjusted to achieve the desired lighting profile and compensate for the daylight illumination in the space throughout at least the portion of the day; and the control system further operating to adjust the window treatment in the event of sun glare through the opening to reduce the sun glare and such that when the desired illumination profile within a defined tolerance is achieved, the control system stops varying the dimming levels of the lamps and the adjustment of the at least one window treatment.

This invention generally relates to automated shade systems that employ one or more algorithms to provide appropriate solar protection from direct solar penetration; reduce solar heat gain; reduce radiant surface temperatures; control penetration of the solar ray, optimize the interior natural daylighting of a structure and optimize the efficiency of interior lighting systems. The invention additionally comprises a motorized window covering, radiometers, and a central control system that uses algorithms to optimize the interior lighting of a structure. These algorithms include information such as: geodesic coordinates of a building; solar position; solar angle solar radiation; solar penetration angles; solar intensity; the measured brightness and veiling glare across a surface; time, solar altitude, solar azimuth, detected sky conditions, ASHRAE sky models, sunrise and sunset times, surface orientations of windows, incidence angles of the sun striking windows, window covering positions, minimum BTU load and solar heat gain.

An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system comprises a master control circuit and user input circuits for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of slave window control circuits coupled to the master control circuit, user input circuits and the variable transmittance windows. Each slave window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit and/or user input circuits. Also disclosed are novel methods for the manufacture of an electrochromic device used in variable transmittance windows. Novel structural features for improving heat transfer away from the windows, shielding the window from external loads, and improving the electrical performance of the windows are also disclosed.

The flight guiding blinds of this invention are characterized in that the tooth sides showing towards sun incidence have an angle of inclination β essentially smaller in the area of the irradiation portion and larger at a larger distance from the irradiation portion, and the angles of inclination β increase following a concave curve path increasingly ascending from the irradiation area towards the reflection area, and at the upper side of light guiding blinds retro-reflected reaction is concentrated and a concentration zone is formed near irradiation portion and the concentration zone is disposed either in front of blind in the irradiation portion and/or on the underside of upper blind behind the irradiation portion, and on the upper side of a light guiding blind light radiation may be reflected at the individual teeth at and angle α_R<α_S.

A control system for a vertically moveable covering for an architectural opening includes a uni-directional drive assembly that is operated with a single pull element such that upon pulling of the pull element, the covering can be raised in increments. A clutch/brake assembly selectively prevents the covering from dropping by gravity between pulling strokes on the pulling element, but a release of the brake allows the shade to drop by gravity from its retracted position to any degree of extension. A governor is further provided to regulate the rate at which the covering drops by gravity. A cord lift system which is operated by the main drive assembly and the clutch/brake assembly includes a rotatable and axially slidable spool about which a lift cord can be wound. The lift cord has one end anchored to the spool and its opposite end extended through a supporting bracket for the spool and downwardly through the covering where the opposite end is anchored to a bottom rail such that a wrapping of the lift cord about the spool lifts the bottom rail thereby causing the covering to be raised adjacent to the lift spool. The lift cord is tangentially fed to the lift spool and forced into an angular wrap on the spool while an outer shell spaced a small distance from the spool prevents multiple wraps so that the lift cord does not become tangled. A return spring biases the spool in one direction to facilitate a controlled movement of the covering from a retracted to an extended position.

An electronically-controlled roll-up window shade that can easily be installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The motorized shade includes an internal power source, a motor, and a communication system to allow for remote control of the motorized shade. One or more motorized shades can be controlled singly or as a group. In one embodiment, the motorized shades are used in connection with a zoned or non-zoned HVAC system to reduce energy usage. In one embodiment, the motorized shade is configured to have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled motorized shade. In one embodiment, a group controller is configured to provide thermostat information to the motorized shade. In one embodiment, the group controller communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of one or more motorized shades. In one embodiment, the internal power source of the motorized shade is recharged by a solar cell.

An adjustably opaque window including an external pane, an internal pane, a light transmission control layer and a shock-absorbing layer is provided. The external pane and the internal pane provide a cavity between them, and the light transmission control layer and the shock-absorbing layer are positioned in the cavity. The shock-absorbing layer is a flexible sheet that supports and protects the light transmission control layer. The light transmission layer consists of liquid crystal cells. The transmission ratio of the cells can be controlled variably.

A parallel logging and recovery scheme for highly available main-memory database systems is presented. A preferred embodiment called parallel redo-only logging (“PROL”) combines physical logging and selective replay of redo-only log records. During physical logging, log records are generated with an update sequence number representing the sequence of database update. The log records are replayed selectively during recovery based on the update sequence number. Since the order of replaying log records doesn't matter in physical logging, PROL makes parallel operations possible. Since the physical logging does not depend on the state of the object to which the log records are applied, the present invention also makes it easy to construct a log-based hot standby system.

A smart window comprising a regenerative photolectrochomic (RPEC) photovoltaic element (108) juxtaposed with an electrochromic (EC) element (110). Microprocessor-based control mechanism (200) connecting the RPEC element to the EC element for controlling the current delivered to and from the EC element. The controller (200) including look-up tables (204 and 206) for determining the safe current to or from the EC element having regard to the amount of charge to be delivered or removed and the charge status of the EC element, the determination of charge status, charge still required and current to be delivered being made frequently to ensure that the current is kept within safe limits while minimizing switching times. New smart windows are also disclosed.

An electrochromic element comprises a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship to the first substrate and having a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and an electrochromic medium located between the first and second substrates, wherein the electrochromic medium has a light transmittance that is variable upon application of an electric field thereto. The electrochromic element further comprises a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises an insulator/metal/insulator stack. The materials utilized to construct the insulator/metal/insulator stack are selected to optimize optical and physical properties of the electrochromic element such as reflectivity, color, electrical switch stability, and environmental durability.

A method of manufacturing electrically tintable window glass with a variety of sizes and functionalities is described. The method comprises: (a) providing a large format glass substrate; (b) fabricating a plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices on the large format glass substrate; (c) cutting the large format glass substrate into a plurality of electrically tintable pieces, each electrically tintable piece including one of the plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices; (d) providing a plurality of window glass pieces; (e) matching each one of the plurality of electrically tintable pieces with a corresponding one of the plurality of window glass pieces; and (f) laminating each of the matched electrically tintable pieces and window glass pieces. The lamination may result in the electrically tintable device either being sandwiched between the glass substrate and the window glass piece or on the surface of the laminated pieces. The electrically tintable device is an electrochromic device.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to electrochromic (EC) devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to improved EC materials, EC device stacks, high-volume manufacturing (HVM) compatible process integration schemes, and/or high-throughput low cost deposition sources, equipment, and factories.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to electrochromic (EC) devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to improved EC materials, EC device stacks, high-volume manufacturing (HVM) compatible process integration schemes, and/or high-throughput low cost deposition sources, equipment, and factories.

A cordless blind comprising a headrail, a bottom rail suspended from the headrail by a first cord and a second cord. A window covering disposed between the headrail and the bottom rail, a drive actuator including a spring motor and a spool for accumulating the cords is coupled to the spring motor. A one-way tensioning mechanism is mounted and coupled to the drive actuator and the bottom rail wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to provide a resistant force on movement of one of the first and second cords in one direction. Another embodiment of the cordless blind provides the one-way tensioning mechanism comprising a mechanism bracket with the mechanism bracket having a base and a first upright and second upright coupled to the base. Each upright defines an aperture proximate a distal end of each upright and further each upright including a pawl with one pawl aligned in facing relationship with the other pawl. A pulley is mounted between the two uprights. The pulley has a cylinder with a sidewall at each end of the cylinder with each sidewall having an interface and an outerface. Each outerface has a plurality of ratchet teeth configured to selectively engage the pawl on each upright. The pulley is configured to move within the apertures to one of a free-wheeling position and a stopped position.

A covering for window or doors includes a plurality of vanes mounted horizontally or vertically, the vanes being light in weight and longitudinally rigid. The vanes may be foam filled or may include a vane shell made from a polymer matrix, and in either case may optionally include a decorative fabric covering. In the hollow vane embodiment, the vane shell preferably includes a polymer matrix at least partially enveloping fibers, and in the most preferred embodiment is prepared from a fibrous batt including two different thermoplastic resin fibers, one having a lower melting point than the other. The vane shell is formed by thermally treating the batt to at least partially melt the lower melt fibers to at least partially envelope the higher melt fibers. Alternative embodiments of the invention described herein include the horizontal or vertical mounting of the foam core or hollow vanes, the attachment of sheer fabrics thereto, the use of ribbon or cord tilt control systems for the vanes, and other features which create door or window coverings providing light control, insulation, stacking to the side or top, and the capability for cordless operation when the vanes are used in a horizontal orientation.

The invention concerns a window including a window pane with one or more glass panes, a window frame in which the window pane is provided, at least one temperature sensor arranged in or at the periphery of the window pane, and an electric circuit connected to the temperature sensor mounted on or in the window frame. The electric circuit is configured to be connected to an operation unit which is configured to regulate the incident light through the window pane. The invention furthermore concerns a method for controlling a window wherein the electric circuit controls the means configured to regulate the incident light through the window pane based on a set of parameters. The parameters are determined on the basis of the orientation and geographical position of the window whereby the supply of free energy is optimised and the amount of energy supplied from energy sources in the room is reduced. In an embodiment the window can be controlled by means of an application configured to run on a mobile communication unit.

A method for individualized control of means for closing off at least one window, by: determining coordinates of a dazzle cone associated with a window and with a dazzle-sensitive zone, the dazzle cone defined by a vertex positioned at the dazzle-sensitive zone and a directrix curve superimposed on the perimeter of the window; determining the orientation of direct rays of sunlight, and defined by a solar azimuth and a solar elevation; periodically checking whether the orientation falls within a predetermined dazzle cone; the directions of the rays of sunlight being parallel to one of the directions within the dazzle cone and passing through the vertex of the cone; and acting on closing-off means associated with the window for which orientation of rays of sunlight falls within a dazzle cone.

A storm protector (20) to be attachable over a window (21) or other opening of a building (22) includes a header (26), a bottom sill (25) and side frames (23, 24) extending between the ends of the header (26) and the sill (25). The header (26) carries a tube (53) which has one end of a curtain assembly (27) attached thereto. The curtain assembly (27)is biased by a spring (54) to be normally coiled on the tube (53), but the curtain assembly (27) may be manually moved along the frames (23, 24) to the sill (25) to cover the window opening (21). A bar (31) is formed at the other end of the curtain assembly (27), and the bar (31) carries a guide and lock assembly (110) which rides in and can engage at least one of the side frames (23, 24) to guide and selectively hold the curtain assembly (27) at any selected position along the side frames (23, 24). A tensioning assembly (32) is positioned in the header (26) and, without disassembling the protector (20), it may be accessed to adjust the tension of the spring (54). The header (26) includes a sealing surface (50), the sill (25) includes a sealing surface (105) and each side frame (23, 24) includes a sealing surface (89). A force upon the curtain assembly (27) causes it to engage the sealing surfaces (50, 89, 105) to provide a full perimeter seal around the window opening (21).

An electrode for an electro-optic device according to an embodiment of this invention has a network of carbon nanotubes. The electrode has an electrical conductivity of at least 600 S/cm and a transmittance for 550 nm light of at least 80%. An average thickness of the network of carbon nanotubes is at least 2 nm. A method of producing a device according to an embodiment of this invention includes forming a film of carbon nanotubes on a filter surface by vacuum filtration, pressing a stamp against at least a portion of the film of carbon nanotubes to cause a portion of the film of carbon nanotubes to adhere to the stamp, and pressing the stamp having the portion of carbon nanotubes adhered thereto against a substructure of the device to cause the network of carbon nanotubes to be transferred to a surface of the substructure upon removal of the stamp.

PCT No. PCT/BE95/00038 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 3, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 3, 1997 PCT Filed Apr. 20, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/30064 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 9, 1995According to the invention, the lateral edges of the screen are substantially incompressible or rendered incompressible in their lengthwise direction. A driving device is provided making it possible to apply a thrust force to these edges in the longitudinal direction of the edges in their guide channels in order to move the screen towards its closed position and towards its open position. The screen is provided, near or on the lateral edges mentioned above, with a series of members which are substantially rigid in the longitudinal direction of these edges. These members are able to bear against one another in the direction of the lateral edges, and are preferably able to be articulated with respect to each other such as to allow the rolling up or flexion of the screen in its open position.

Electro-optical glazing structures having total-scattering and total-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.

The present disclosure relates generally to a wiring system for controlling one or more smart windows located within a building, and methods for installing such systems and/or replacing higher wattage systems with such systems.

The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.

A covering for an architectural opening includes a head rail, a bottom rail with a take-up roller therein and an intermediate rail with both the intermediate rail and bottom rail suspended from the head rail, a fabric material interconnecting the intermediate rail with the bottom rail and being adapted to be wrapped around the roller in the bottom rail, said fabric including a pair of vertically oriented sheets that are horizontally spaced by a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal vanes with the vanes being movable between open and closed positions by opposite vertical movement of the sheets of material. In a first embodiment a first control system is provided for raising and lowering the bottom rail and a second control system for raising and lowering the intermediate rail as well as tilting the intermediate rail to effect an opening or closing of the vanes. In alternative embodiment, the bottom rail is controlled with a spring balanced system so that it remains in any position in which it is normally set.

The invention provides multiple cavity low-emissivity coatings. The coating includes three infrared-reflection film regions, which may each comprise silver.

A roll-up shade with cord capture has a headrail, a bottomrail, a panel of window covering material between the headrail and the bottomrail and a plurality of looped cords extending from the headrail down one side of the panel of window covering material, around the bottom edge, up an opposite side of the panel of window covering material and into the headrail such that movement of the looped cords into the headrail will cause the panel of window covering material to roll up and movement of the cords out of the headrail will cause the window covering material to unroll. A rod extends across one side of the panel of window covering material and captures the looped cords between the rod and the surface of the window covering material or in apertures through the rod or in apertures formed by clips or eyelets attached to the rod.

Methods and equipment for depositing coatings on glass and other substrates. In some embodiments, methods and equipment are provided for depositing reflective thin film coatings, such as low-emissivity coatings that are particularly reflective of infrared radiation, optionally by a downward coating operation. In some embodiments, such a downward coating operation is coupled with an upward coating operation used to deposit another coating.

A cord winding device for a Venetian blind includes a receiving unit, a resilient driving unit mounted in the receiving unit, a braking unit mounted in the receiving unit and adjacent to the resilient driving unit, and a unidirectional damping unit mounted in the receiving unit. Through cooperation between the braking unit and the resilient driving unit, during winding and unwinding of pull cords, a bottom rail can be descended slowly and stopped conveniently at any desired height.