A method for making a photovoltaic slat for a photovoltaic blind, including the steps of: providing a photovoltaic sheet including at least one photovoltaic strip, said photovoltaic strip including at least one string of thin film solar cells monolithically connected to each other in series; cutting out a portion of the photovoltaic sheet having a shape of a slat suitable for a blind, said portion including at least one of said strings; and providing in said portion of the photovoltaic sheet at least two through holes suitable for being passed through by connection elements for connecting a plurality of slats in a blind.

A solar powered smart window includes a light diffuser configured to convert an incident direct solar radiation to a diffusive light toward interior direction, a light diffuser positioner, a driving mechanism, a solar panel, and a control unit. The control unit moved the light diffuser from a predetermined opened position to a closed position and to hold the light diffuser at the closed position with latch mechanism, when the output power of the solar panel exceeds a threshold for over a duration time. The controller releases the latch mechanism and to cause the light diffuser to return to the predetermined opened position when the output power lowers below threshold for over the duration time. A method includes storing a predetermined condition, monitoring the output power, comparing the output power with the predetermined conditions, making decision whether a positional transition is necessary, and causing the transitional transition or maintaining current position.

The window treatment includes a top member, a shade unit, and an outdoor temperature indication arrangement. The top member is adapted for mounting at a ceiling of the window frame. The shade unit is downwardly suspended from the top member and being moved between a closed position and an opened position, wherein at the closed position, the shade unit is moved for covering the window glass to control an amount of light in a space, and at the opened position, the shade unit is moved for uncovering the window glass. The outdoor temperature indication arrangement is formed with the shade unit for indicating an outdoor temperature when the shade unit is moved at the closed position.

Systems and methods of use of movable shading devices configured to conserve energy usage associated with the building or house as described herein. An example shade system includes at least one moveable shade that is moveable in position about one or more of a lateral axis, vertical axis, and rotational axis with respect to a window of the building or house, where the at least one moveable shade is external to or internal to the window, and a programmable controller configured to selectively control movement of the at least one moveable shade about the lateral axis, vertical axis, and/or rotational axis, where the at least one moveable shade is selectively moveable to regulate conditions of the building or house based at least on one or more of incoming radiation, temperature, season, and time of day.

A solar blind (100) is provided. The solar blind (100) comprises a plurality of slats, the plurality of slats including a first slat (102) and a second slat (104). The solar blind (100) also comprises a solar panel (106). The solar panel (106) is coupled to the first slat (102) and extends over at least a portion of the first slat (102) and over at least a portion of the second slat (104). A method of assembling a solar blind and a kit of parts for assembling into a solar blind are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to devices that include a perovskite, where, when a first condition is met, at least a portion of the perovskite is in a first phase that substantially transmits light, when a second condition is met, at least a portion of the perovskite is in a second phase that substantially absorbs light, and the perovskite is reversibly switchable between the first phase and the second phase by reversibly switching between the first condition and the second condition.

A frameless supplemental window for fenestration incorporating infiltration blockers suitable for use with existing windows. The supplemental window, in one embodiment, comprises plastic sheet material with bullnose edging around it. Corner braces add rigidity and strength to corners in several embodiments. An attachment mechanism secured either to the sheet material or the bullnose edge functions to fasten and/or seal the supplemental window to an existing window. Infiltration blockers fastened to the sheet or bullnose prevent or minimize air leakage around various window elements. The bullnose edging and infiltration blockers function to substantially enclose (i.e. trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material. The supplemental window is configured such that the layer of air enclosed is of an optimum thickness within a preferred range of 0.15 to 0.75 inches to maximize thermal insulation properties of the supplemental window.

The present disclosure provides a device for window of a building or structure. The device comprises a panel having an area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light and having opposite first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is a light receiving surface of the panel. The device further comprises at least one series of solar cells, each solar cell having a light receiving surface which faces the second major surface of the panel and is the directly or indirectly bonded to the panel at the second major surface in a manner such that light can be received by the light receiving surfaces of the solar cells without propagating through a gap between the panel and the light receiving surfaces of the solar cells. The at least one series of solar cells is positioned at and along an edge of the panel and between the edge and the area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light. Solar cells are only positioned at and along one or more edges of the panel and not in the area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light.

A system can comprise a first window pane configured at a first position in a semitransparent and uniform structure. The system can also include a first substrate configured with a first transparent conductive oxide (TCO) contact layer, a hole transport (HTL) layer and a first perovskite layer, wherein the first TCO contact layer, the HTL layer, and first perovskite layer are positioned at a set distance away from the first window pane in the semitransparent and uniform structure. The HTL layer includes oxides, or iodides, or organic materials. Further, the system can include a second substrate directly opposite to the first substrate, and configured with a second TCO contact layer, an electron transport (ETL) layer, and a second perovskite layer, wherein the first perovskite layer and the second perovskite layer are fused together in the semitransparent and uniform structure. The ETL layer includes oxides or organic materials. In addition, the system can include a second window pane configured at a second position, wherein the second window pane is configured directly opposite to the first window pane, and around the first and second substrate in the semitransparent and uniform structure.

The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a switchable photovoltaic (PV) device that includes a first active material and a static PV device that includes a second active material, where the switchable PV device and the static PV device are positioned substantially parallel to one another, the switchable PV device has a first state that is substantially transparent to a first wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the switchable PV device has a second state this is substantially opaque to a second wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the switchable PV device can be reversibly switched between the first state and the second state, the static PV device is substantially transparent to the visible spectrum of light, and both the switchable PV device and static PV device are capable of generating power.