Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of diffraction gratings disposed on an external surface of a building; filters the ambient light to produce filtered ambient light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the building, the primary-source light and the filtered ambient light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light improves the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.

Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of diffraction gratings disposed on an external surface of a building; filters the ambient light to produce filtered ambient light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the building, the primary-source light and the filtered ambient light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light improves the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.

A screen device (I), comprising a covering which comprises a beam (2, 3, 4) as a structural part (2, 3, 4) of the covering and which is attachable to at least one adjacent structural part (2, 3, 4, 5) of the screen device (I), and comprises a end cap (6, 6) which is attachable to one end of the beam (2, 3, 4) in order to attach the beam (2, 3, 4) to the adjacent structural part (2, 3, 4, 5) of the screen device (I).

A screen device (I), comprising a covering which comprises a beam (2, 3, 4) as a structural part (2, 3, 4) of the covering and which is attachable to at least one adjacent structural part (2, 3, 4, 5) of the screen device (I), and comprises a end cap (6, 6) which is attachable to one end of the beam (2, 3, 4) in order to attach the beam (2, 3, 4) to the adjacent structural part (2, 3, 4, 5) of the screen device (I).

An apparatus provides protection to a computing device housing. The computing device housing comprises one or more microphones, the one or more microphones to capture audio sounds; one or more processors; one or more memory modules; and computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. The apparatus includes a support assembly connected to a top surface of the computing device housing and a shading assembly connected to an end of the support assembly, the shading assembly to provide shade from environmental conditions to the computing device housing. The computer-readable instructions are executed by the one or more processors to convert the captured audio sounds from the one or more microphones to one or more audio files and to communicate the one or more audio files, via the one or more wireless transceivers, to an external computing device, for voice recognition and conversion into command files.

An intelligent umbrella comprises shading elements, a support assembly, coupled to the one or more shading elements, to provide support for the one or more shading elements, the support assembly comprising one or more microphones to capture audio commands. The intelligent umbrella further includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules and a cellular telecommunications transceiver, and a base assembly, coupled to the support assembly, to provide contact with a surface. Computer-readable instructions stored in the memory modules are executed by a processor to convert the captured audio commands into one or more audio files, generate one or more analog and/or digital phone transmission files based at least in part on the converted one or more audio files, and communicate the one or more analog and/or digital phone transmission files via the cellular transceiver to a base station to initiate transmission of a telephone call.

An awning includes an electronic display panel frame that has a front end and a rear end. The rear end is pivotally attached to a fixed surface at a pivot location. The awning includes at least one lift mechanism that is pivotally connected to the electronic display panel frame and to a fixed mount surface. The at least one left mechanism selectively pivots the electronic display panel frame about the pivot location between a raised position and a lowered position. When in the raised position, the front end of the electronic display panel frame is positioned at a greater distance from a ground surface than the front end of the electronic display panel frame when positioned in the lowered position.

A system and method for fabricating canopies featuring extruded members coupled together with fasteners that are hidden and are retained by multiple tracks located in the extruded members. Prefabricated corners of extruded members allow fabricators to build the canopy on site by attaching straight members to form a canopy from the four prefabricated corners.

A system and method for fabricating canopies featuring extruded members coupled together with fasteners that are hidden and are retained by multiple tracks located in the extruded members. Prefabricated corners of extruded members allow fabricators to build the canopy on site by attaching straight members to form a canopy from the four prefabricated corners.

A building-mounted awning. The awning includes a support frame, and a covering provided over the support frame to act as shelter from precipitation, or act as a shade from the sun. The support frame is attached to the building at only one location along a width of the support frame by a single bracket attached to the building.