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 present disclosure provides a panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity. The panel structure comprises a panel material that has a light receiving surface. The panel material is at least partially transmissive for light having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range. The panel structure further comprises a photovoltaic material being positioned in or at the panel material. The photovoltaic material is distributed between transmissive areas that are void of the photovoltaic material such that features of the photovoltaic material are sufficiently narrow to be at least largely invisible to the naked eye.

The present disclosure provides a device for generating electricity. The device comprises first and third panels that are each at least partially transmissive for visible light and are spaced apart from each other. The first panel defines a light receiving surface. The device further comprises first and second photovoltaic elements. The first photovoltaic element is arranged in a first orientation with respect to the light receiving surface and the second photovoltaic element being arranged in a second orientation that is different to both the orientation of the first photovoltaic element and the orientation of the light receiving surface. The first photovoltaic element and the second photovoltaic element are located within a projection of the circumference of the first panel in a direction along a surface normal of the first panel. The device further comprises a support for supporting portions of the device. The support has a channel that is outwardly open at an edge portion of the device. The third panel, the first photovoltaic element and the second photovoltaic element are located within the projection of the circumference of the first panel in a direction along a surface normal of the first panel.

Solar photovoltaic window blind slats for power generation from internal and external light sources are provided are provided. A plurality of solar cells are attached to at least two sides of a slat core. Distributed maximum power point tracking optimizer components are associated with each solar cell. The solar cells and corresponding distributed maximum power point tracking optimizer components on each slat side are connected in electrical series.

A screen (1) is provided comprising at least a first and a second elongate guidance element (27, 28) extending in a first direction (D1) and a structured foil (10) with a front surface and a back surface, having a variable length (L) in a first direction (D1) carried by the elongate guidance elements. The screen has slat shaped portions (11a1+11a2, 11b1+11b2) and connection portions (12ab, 2ab′) bridging the slat shaped portions. The slat shaped portions, which extend in a second direction (D2) transverse to the first direction are provided with photovoltaic elements (20) that are connectable to external terminals for supply of electric energy. The slate shaped portions are slidably coupled with the guidance elements, to allow them to slide in said first direction along said guidance elements. The connection portions are configured to flex in a direction transverse to the first and the second direction, so as to allow the at least a first and a second slat shaped portion to shift relative to each other in said first direction.

Variable transmission covering systems that can be used, for example, to control the amount of light passing through a window in a building. Using transmissive electrophoretic media that can switch between a first and second optical state, the invention can be used to change the color and/or transmissivity of a structure (or structures) that is placed in front of an object. In some embodiments, the variable transmission system can change transmission and color on command.

A window shade system includes a mounting bracket configured to couple to a structure, a shade tube bracket configured to rotatably couple with the mounting bracket, and a shade coupled to the shade tube bracket and having a solar panel. The solar panel is electrically coupled with an external system via the shade tube bracket and the mounting bracket. The solar panel is configured to receive solar energy, transform the solar energy into electricity, and provide the electricity to the external system.

The present disclosure provides a system for generating electricity. The system comprises at least two photovoltaic modules each having at least one photovoltaic element. Each photovoltaic module has ends and each end has an electrical coupling portion that is electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell. Each photovoltaic module is configured to be positioned in use near a perimeter of a panel that is at least partially transmissive for visible light. The system further comprises an electrical connector configured to electrically couple to the electrical coupling portions of adjacent photovoltaic modules.

The present invention is a window pane assembly system and method utilizing locking a locking system for easy insertion of a second window pane and an electro kinetic strip or film on these window panes. These electrokinetic strips and films have the capability to do many things on the window panes like changing the opacity of the windows and allowing certain levels of light through the window. The use of this technology can create more opportunities for creating advertisements on window surfaces, storing energy or repelling solar energy for building temperature management and energy savings. The electrokinetic film can be used with a remodel of window panes or the electrokinetic strips and films can be built into new window panes. With the ability of the electrokinetic devices to allow certain levels of light in, there is the opportunity for many more technological advancements on the window panes. The electrokinetic film may incorporate a matrix of densely packed apertures with scalable shutters, to attenuate light transmission through the window pane assembly.

The smart window for the smart home and smart grid can harvest energy and supply power to the home, grid and window itself. The smart window for the smart home and smart grid has all the Electrochromic panel, Solar panel and Multimedia panel been the same full window wide view and aligned with each other in IGU. To be a home automation system, the smart window has local/remote access/control capabilities. There are several types of smart windows working as master device or slave device. The operation of smart window automation system has three modes, normal/open mode, shut/tint mode and smart phone mode. The tube of air circulation system is hidden inside the frame surrounding IGU. Most of the electronic components are integrated to be FPSOC Field Programmable System On Chip that all the electronic component is hidden in the frame surrounding IGU, too. Therefore, the smart window doesn't have any blockage of window view with the Solar panel, Electrochromic panel, Multimedia panel and air circulation system. The smart window has the clean outlook as the conventional dual panel IGU does. The master device of the smart window system is similar to the huge screen working as a smart phone. In normal/open mode, the smart window is similar to the conventional dual panel window having the full-panel clean and clear view. For the different architectures of the smart homes, the smart window must have versatile alignments and system control that the smart window has to be implemented with the Field Programmable System On Chips of Anlinx, Milinx and Zilinx made of the W5RS advanced FPSOC chip technologies.