A stretchable transparency-adjusting film includes an inner elastic part having a three-dimensional network shape and including a first elastomer, an inorganic thin film surrounding the inner elastic part, and an outer elastic part surrounding the inorganic thin film and including a second elastomer. A scattering unit defined by the inner elastic part, the inorganic thin film and the outer elastic part in a cross-section is orientated in an inclined direction to a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.

A film, in which a phase transition material is not applied on an entire surface thereof and a pattern form is provided so that the aesthetically superior film of which a color is not cloudy but bright may be obtained and which has a high visible light transmittance as well as superior thermochromic properties, and a smart window including the same.

A window covering apparatus is disclosed, along with a method of using the same. The apparatus may include an upper board component and a lower board component, which are releasably held by central mounts. The upper board and lower board components can be arranged in a fully open shutter state, a half open shutter state, or a fully closed shutter state. The central mounts are positioned near flush to one or more outside or surrounding window surfaces in order to block light transmission. In one embodiment, the upper board and/or the lower board component may incorporate decorative elements and a gapless seam between the upper board and lower board components.

An architectural covering with an operable vane having a fabric backing is provided. The vane may include a vane fabric and a backing material connected to the vane fabric by a layer of adhesive. The backing material may increase a machine-direction stiffness of the vane while slightly affecting a cross-direction stiffness of the vane. As such, the vane may have increased stiffness in its machine direction while simultaneously remaining flexible in its cross direction.

Thin-film devices, for example, multi-zone electrochromic windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. In certain cases, a multi-zone electrochromic window comprises a monolithic EC device on a transparent substrate and two or more tinting zones, wherein the tinting zones are configured for independent operation.

A light attenuator that provides transparent light states and absorbing dark states for use in selectively controlling light, especially for smart glass applications. The light attenuator includes abutting areas of attenuation and transparency that form a repeat pattern or a quasi-repeat pattern. The attenuating areas are visible when the light attenuator is in the light state, but the repeat pattern is sufficiently large that a viewer looks through the attenuator and sees no haze.

A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.

The invention relates to a fabric (10), in particular for use as a privacy and/or anti-glare protection, which is based on a lattice fabric framework produced by means of a leno loom, wherein the fabric (10) has, preferably alternately, shading sections (20) and translucent sections (30), wherein the fabric (10) has, in at least one translucent section (30) first weft threads (31) which are associated with the translucent section (30) and are arranged parallel to one another at a lattice spacing, and a number of standing threads (34) extending at right angles to the first weft threads (31), and a number of leno threads (39), which interlink the first weft threads (31) and the standing threads (35) in the manner of a leno fabric, wherein the fabric (10) has, in at least one shading section (20), a number of standing threads (35) and a number of leno threads (39), wherein the leno threads (39) in the shading section (20) run substantially parallel to the standing threads (35) and are predominantly not interlinked with the standing threads (35), and second weft threads (22), which are associated with the shading section (20) and consist of a different material from the first weft threads (31).

A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.

A window covering is described. The window covering has a first tube and a second tube rotatably coupled to the first tube. The first tube and the second tube are disposed along parallel axes. A fabric is fastened at a first end to the first tube and at a second end to the second tube. A tensioning bar is slidably disposed along the fabric in between the first end and the second end. A bracket suspends the first tube and the second tube above the tensioning bar. The described window covering can be made to provide varying levels of privacy along an upper portion or lower portion of a window to be covered.