A position-fixing system includes a pole, a guiding member adjacent to the pole, and a movable member fitting around the pole. The pole is immovable relative to a window covering. The guiding member includes a principal axis parallel to an extension axis of the pole, and includes a retaining face substantially extending in the direction of the principal axis, but non-coplanar with it. The movable member corresponds to the retaining face. The movements of the movable member and the guiding member are related to that of a shaft of the window covering. When the window covering is being operated, the movable member is driven to rotate around the pole, and moves along the pole and the guiding member. Due to the retaining face, the movable member keeps contacting the pole to create a friction therebetween. Therefore, the position of a covering material of the window covering can be precisely fixed.

A position-fixing system includes a pole, a guiding member adjacent to the pole, and a movable member fitting around the pole. The pole is immovable relative to a window covering. The guiding member includes a principal axis parallel to an extension axis of the pole, and includes a retaining face substantially extending in the direction of the principal axis, but non-coplanar with it. The movable member corresponds to the retaining face. The movements of the movable member and the guiding member are related to that of a shaft of the window covering. When the window covering is being operated, the movable member is driven to rotate around the pole, and moves along the pole and the guiding member. Due to the retaining face, the movable member keeps contacting the pole to create a friction therebetween. Therefore, the position of a covering material of the window covering can be precisely fixed.

A room protection mechanism for protecting access through a window or doorway includes a flexible barrier sheet adjustable between a collapsed, storage configuration, and a deployed configuration. The protection mechanism includes a housing storing the flexible barrier sheet in the collapsed configuration. Sheet magnetic elements are attached to the flexible barrier sheet, and structured to magnetically couple to frame magnetic elements mounted to a frame of the doorway or window. The protection mechanism can be deployed, such as in a school or other institutional setting, to position the flexible barrier sheet to block access through the doorway or window. The flexible barrier sheet may be formed of or include a ballistic material.

Examples herein describe systems and methods for securing an opening and disorienting an active shooter. A command device can send a deployment command to a zone in a building. In response, canopies in the zone can deploy a roll-up door made of Kevlar that electromagnetically locks shut. The canopies can include blindingly bright lights and deafening sirens that disorient the shooter. The doors can block off rooms or other areas of a school where children can huddle safely until the shooter is apprehended. Canopies without doors can also be used at some openings to disorient the shooter.

Examples herein describe systems and methods for securing an opening and disorienting an active shooter. A command device can send a deployment command to a zone in a building. In response, canopies in the zone can deploy a roll-up door made of Kevlar that electromagnetically locks shut. The canopies can include blindingly bright lights and deafening sirens that disorient the shooter. The doors can block off rooms or other areas of a school where children can huddle safely until the shooter is apprehended. Canopies without doors can also be used at some openings to disorient the shooter.

An integrated-optics MEMS-actuated beam-steering system is disclosed, wherein the beam-steering system includes a lens and a programmable vertical coupler array having a switching network and an array of vertical couplers, where the switching network can energize of the vertical couplers such that it efficiently emits the light into free-space. The lens collimates the light received from the energized vertical coupler and directs the output beam along a propagation direction determined by the position of the energized vertical coupler within the vertical-coupler array. In some embodiments, the vertical coupler is configured to correct an aberration of the lens. In some embodiments, more than one vertical coupler can be energized to enable steering of multiple output beams. In some embodiments, the switching network is non-blocking.

An integrated-optics MEMS-actuated beam-steering system is disclosed, wherein the beam-steering system includes a lens and a programmable vertical coupler array having a switching network and an array of vertical couplers, where the switching network can energize of the vertical couplers such that it efficiently emits the light into free-space. The lens collimates the light received from the energized vertical coupler and directs the output beam along a propagation direction determined by the position of the energized vertical coupler within the vertical-coupler array. In some embodiments, the vertical coupler is configured to correct an aberration of the lens. In some embodiments, more than one vertical coupler can be energized to enable steering of multiple output beams. In some embodiments, the switching network is non-blocking.

A tension corded, top down/bottom up shade assembly has a fabric shade mounted between two siderails. The siderails have endcaps at each end. The shade is suspended from two of the endcaps. The shade has a top rail and a bottom rail with laterally protruding extended cord slides. The siderails have a sidewall with a front wall portion and a rear wall portion. Integral interior walls extend from the front and rear walls, forming a gap to a longitudinal cord passage. The cord passages face each other. Each endcap has a flat surface with a mounting base having lateral protrusions, end slides that fit snugly within the cord passage, and a mounting shoe stop. Mounting shoes attached to the shade each have a grooved body mounted to the mounting base. The cord slides extend through the gaps and keep cords plumb inside each cord passage and out of children's reach.

A tension corded, top down/bottom up shade assembly has a fabric shade mounted between two siderails. The siderails have endcaps at each end. The shade is suspended from two of the endcaps. The shade has a top rail and a bottom rail with laterally protruding extended cord slides. The siderails have a sidewall with a front wall portion and a rear wall portion. Integral interior walls extend from the front and rear walls, forming a gap to a longitudinal cord passage. The cord passages face each other. Each endcap has a flat surface with a mounting base having lateral protrusions, end slides that fit snugly within the cord passage, and a mounting shoe stop. Mounting shoes attached to the shade each have a grooved body mounted to the mounting base. The cord slides extend through the gaps and keep cords plumb inside each cord passage and out of children's reach.

A tension corded, top down/bottom up shade assembly has a fabric shade mounted between two siderails. The siderails have endcaps at each end. The shade is suspended from two of the endcaps. The shade has a top rail and a bottom rail with laterally protruding extended cord slides. The siderails have a sidewall with a front wall portion and a rear wall portion. Integral interior walls extend from the front and rear walls, forming a gap to a longitudinal cord passage. The cord passages face each other. Each endcap has a flat surface with a mounting base having lateral protrusions, end slides that fit snugly within the cord passage, and a mounting shoe stop. Mounting shoes attached to the shade each have a grooved body mounted to the mounting base. The cord slides extend through the gaps and keep cords plumb inside each cord passage and out of children's reach.