Disclosed is an electronically-controlled automatic light-shading device, comprising a first glass substrate, a light-shading coating, a polarizing element and a second glass substrate. An image module and a photosensitive element adjacent thereto are embedded in the first glass substrate. The first glass substrate has a first surface on the opposite side to an external light source. The light-shielding coating is applied on the first surface. The polarizing element is disposed on the light-shielding coating. The second glass substrate has a second surface facing the first surface. A plurality of spacers in contact with the polarizing element are disposed on the second surface, and an optical fiber element is disposed in each spacer.

A mobile modular dwelling system comprising a floor; a front semicircular sub-assembly secured to the floor, the front semicircular sub-assembly including a pane arrangement; and a rear polygonal sub-assembly also secured to the floor and to the front semicircular sub-assembly. In combination, the front and rear sub-assemblies provide a shelter in the face of prevailing wind and rain, regardless of the direction from which weather may originate, while offering an interior designer a wider latitude of furniture choices than does a semicircular footprint alone.

A mobile modular dwelling system comprising a floor; a front semicircular sub-assembly secured to the floor, the front semicircular sub-assembly including a pane arrangement; and a rear polygonal sub-assembly also secured to the floor and to the front semicircular sub-assembly. In combination, the front and rear sub-assemblies provide a shelter in the face of prevailing wind and rain, regardless of the direction from which weather may originate, while offering an interior designer a wider latitude of furniture choices than does a semicircular footprint alone.

A frame splining system for fitting substrate to a frame comprises a splining head that translates in three dimensions and rotates around a vertical axis. The splining head comprises a positioning wheel that translates ahead of a pressing wheel along a track of the frame to seat a spline in the track. A substrate cutting wheel runs ahead of the pressing wheel on an outer edge of the frame.

A method for electrically controlling at least one functional element having electrically controllable optical properties, wherein the optical properties are controlled by a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least two transparent flat electrodes of the functional element, and an electrical voltage is applied between the flat electrodes by the control unit, wherein the electrical voltage has a periodic signal profile with a first, variably adjustable frequency and the glazing unit is surrounded by light beams of a second frequency, and wherein the light beams are sensed by a sensor unit and the first frequency is changed as a function of the second frequency, wherein the first frequency is synchronized with the second frequency.

A method for electrically controlling at least one functional element having electrically controllable optical properties, wherein the optical properties are controlled by a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least two transparent flat electrodes of the functional element, and an electrical voltage is applied between the flat electrodes by the control unit, wherein the electrical voltage has a periodic signal profile with a first, variably adjustable frequency and the glazing unit is surrounded by light beams of a second frequency, and wherein the light beams are sensed by a sensor unit and the first frequency is changed as a function of the second frequency, wherein the first frequency is synchronized with the second frequency.

Disclosed are liquid crystal devices comprising multiple interdigitated electrodes and at least one liquid crystal layer. Also disclosed are liquid crystal devices comprising at least three interdigitated electrodes.

Optical elements and systems are disclosed that can be incorporated into buildings to prevent beam sunlight from entering through apertures of the building while allowing diffuse skylight to enter the building through the apertures. The optical system comprises optical elements configured to admit diffuse skylight through an aperture in the building envelope, while reflecting away the beam sunlight incident on the aperture in the building envelope. The apertures can be, for example, windows in walls or skylights in roofs of the building envelope. The optical system works for both windows in the walls and skylights in the roof, with somewhat different configurations for those two parts of the building envelope.

Optical elements and systems are disclosed that can be incorporated into buildings to prevent beam sunlight from entering through apertures of the building while allowing diffuse skylight to enter the building through the apertures. The optical system comprises optical elements configured to admit diffuse skylight through an aperture in the building envelope, while reflecting away the beam sunlight incident on the aperture in the building envelope. The apertures can be, for example, windows in walls or skylights in roofs of the building envelope. The optical system works for both windows in the walls and skylights in the roof, with somewhat different configurations for those two parts of the building envelope.

An insulating glazing includes a first pane, a second pane, an inner spacer frame arranged between the panes, which, together with the panes, delimits an inner interpane space, a surrounding outer spacer frame arranged between the panes, which is arranged on the outward facing side of the inner spacer frame, wherein the inner spacer frame consists substantially of a first hollow profile spacer and the outer spacer frame consists substantially of a second hollow profile spacer, the inner spacer frame and the outer spacer frame are in each case connected together to the first pane and the second pane via a primary sealant, an outer interpane space between the outer side of the outer spacer frame and the first pane and the second pane is filled with a secondary sealant.