Motorized Window Covering With Air-Pocket Insulation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window solutions fail to efficiently manage sunlight and heat flow, limiting adjustability and requiring costly window replacements for improved insulation, while also not allowing for advantageous heat transmission in certain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A motorized window covering with adjustable slats and a flexible material layer that creates temporary air pockets, allowing for selective insulation adjustment without permanent changes, and incorporating photovoltaic elements and optical facets for energy harvesting and light control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If high insulation windows are used to reduce heat transfer, then heat loss through windows is reduced, but solar heat gain and conductive loss reduction are limited and require costly window replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The window treatment is divided into multiple adjustable slats that can be independently positioned to create varying degrees of insulation and light transmission, allowing the system to adapt to different thermal requirements without replacing the entire window
Solution Approach 2:
The slats are made movable and adjustable, enabling dynamic control over the insulation factor and heat transmission characteristics of the window covering, transforming a static window into a dynamically adjustable thermal barrier
2Loss of energy
If highly reflective solar blinds are used to reject sunlight, then heat rejection is improved, but adjustability of heat transmission is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The slats can be tilted and positioned at various angles to dynamically adjust the amount of heat transmission and sunlight rejection, providing versatility in thermal management rather than a fixed reflective state
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the window covering (slat angle, position, spacing) to modulate heat transmission characteristics, allowing continuous adjustment between maximum rejection and maximum transmission states
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic glass is used to change transmission characteristics, then heat transmission control is improved, but adjustability is limited and requires electric charge
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical adjustment system uses manual or automated mechanical forces to reposition the slats, eliminating the need for continuous electrical power to maintain the desired transmission state, unlike electrochromic glass that requires constant electrical charge
4Illumination intensity
If light diffusing films are used to scatter sunlight, then natural lighting is maintained, but control over heat flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented slat structure allows selective positioning where some slats can be angled to diffuse light while others are positioned to block heat, providing independent control over illumination and thermal characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the window covering can be configured with different slat angles and positions to create local variations in light diffusion and heat blocking, allowing simultaneous natural lighting in some areas while blocking heat in others
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces energy consumption and operating costs by adjusting insulation, maintaining natural illumination, and generating electricity, while providing control over sunlight and heat flow.
Implementation Method 1
By selectively creating the temporary air pockets using movable slats, the insulation factor of the window can be adjusted
Implementation Method 2
the slats could further include one or more photovoltaic elements to be used to produce electricity using sunlight that may have otherwise been reflected away
Implementation Method 3
the slats could include optical facets which scatter and/or reflect incident light in a predetermined angular region, depending on the angle of incidence
Implementation Method 4
the optical facets can direct light into the interior space in order to provide additional ambient lighting
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized covering for a window, including a selectively positionable plurality of slats; a flexible material layer connected to the plurality of slats, the flexible material layer extending generally parallel to the window when the plurality of slats is in the extended position, a plurality of temporary air cells being formed between the plurality of slats, the flexible material layer, and the window when the slats are in the extended position; and a motor system operatively connected to the plurality of slats and the flexible material layer to selectively lower and raise the slats and the flexible material layer, the motor system being configured to lower and raise the plurality of slats and the flexible material layer in response to at least one control signal, the at least one control signal being based on a determination to change an insulation factor for the window.