A system of blinds comprising louvers that are inclined in such a way as to maximize the direct solar illumination received during the winter months and to minimize same during the summer months is described. The inclinations are determined according to the terrestrial latitude of the building supporting these blinds, and the orientation of the surface of the building that is to be protected. The longitudinal slope of the louvers is determined such that the longitudinal direction of the louvers is substantially parallel to the straight line of intersection of the plane of the surface and the equatorial plane seen from the building. The transverse tilt of the louvers is determined such that these louvers face in a direction comprised between 12° and 24° below the direction of the equatorial plane.

A door assembly includes a doorframe, an insulated glazing unit (IGU), door skins, and a gas passageway. The IGU includes a substantially sealed IGU cavity and a hole communicating with the IGU cavity. The door skins are secured to opposite sides of the doorframe and have openings between which the IGU is provided. The gas passageway provides gas communication between the IGU cavity and the atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway contains a gas passage conduit that includes a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the hole and a second end communicating with atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway may contain a gas passage conduit having a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the first hole and a second end communicating with an air pocket, and a channel connects the air pocket with atmosphere outside of the door assembly.

Certain example embodiments relate to electric, potentially-driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes a resilient polymer, a conductor, and optional ink. The on-glass transparent conductor may be patterned into different areas. If shutter coil skew is detected, voltage(s) may be applied one or more areas of the on-glass transparent conductor to compensate for or otherwise attempt to correct the detected coil skew.

A door assembly includes a doorframe, an insulated glazing unit (IGU), door skins, and a gas passageway. The IGU includes a substantially sealed IGU cavity and a hole communicating with the IGU cavity. The door skins are secured to opposite sides of the doorframe and have openings between which the IGU is provided. The gas passageway provides gas communication between the IGU cavity and the atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway contains a gas passage conduit that includes a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the hole and a second end communicating with atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway may contain a gas passage conduit having a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the first hole and a second end communicating with an air pocket, and a channel connects the air pocket with atmosphere outside of the door assembly.

A door assembly includes a doorframe, an insulated glazing unit (IGU), door skins, and a gas passageway. The IGU includes a substantially sealed IGU cavity and a hole communicating with the IGU cavity. The door skins are secured to opposite sides of the doorframe and have openings between which the IGU is provided. The gas passageway provides gas communication between the IGU cavity and the atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway contains a gas passage conduit that includes a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the hole and a second end communicating with atmosphere outside of the door assembly. The gas passageway may contain a gas passage conduit having a first end communicating with the IGU cavity through the first hole and a second end communicating with an air pocket, and a channel connects the air pocket with atmosphere outside of the door assembly.

A smart window including a motorized shade is provided, particularly where the smart window includes a frame portion having a first subframe and a second subframe for mounting the smart window and routing the motor wirings. In a described embodiment, the smart window comprises: a frame portion including a wiring chase positioned internal to the frame portion and a glass portion. The glass portion may comprise a motorized shade, the motorized shade including a motor, a motor wiring, and a shade roll; a first pane of glass attached to the frame portion on an exterior side of the smart window; and a second pane of glass attached to the frame portion on an interior side of the smart window; wherein the frame portion surrounds the glass portion, wherein the motorized shade is attached to the frame portion between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass by a hanging system, and wherein the motor wiring is positioned internal to the frame portion and the wiring chase.

A follower arrangement, operatively coupled to a plurality of slats of a blind assembly via a flexible cord, for raising and lowering the plurality of slats via the flexible cord, may include a housing defining a first opening therethrough, a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic counterweight to act against a weight of the plurality of slats of the blind assembly to reduce forces required to be applied to the follower arrangement to raise or lower the slats, and at least one magnet received within the first opening defined through the housing and magnetically attached to the counterweight to magnetically secure the housing to the counterweight.

Certain example embodiments relate to an insulating glass (IG) unit. A spacer system is interposed between first and second substrates. The spacer system helps to maintain the first and second substrates in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another, and to define a cavity between the first and second substrates. A desiccant material is located in a body of the spacer system, with the desiccant material comprising a desiccant matrix and a molecular sieve replacement material formed for adsorption at a relative humidity of 10-20%. The molecular sieve replacement material may be a salt or other material (such as, for example, MgCl.sub.2, CaCl.sub.2, CaO, MgSO.sub.4, and/or the like). The cavity may be primarily filled with an inert gas (such as Ar, Kr, Xe, or the like) or a reactive gas (such as CO.sub.2). An electrostatically-driven dynamic shade may be provided in the cavity.

Disclosed is a window assembly with slats, including a first window, defining a surface; a first layer, conductive and adhered to a first side of the first window; an added window, connected to the first window at the first side, extending parallel to the first window; wherein a second layer is adhered to the added window, the second layer being conductive and adhered to a first side of the added window; and wherein the first layer or the second layer includes slats which are conductive and movable between a first position in which the slats extend substantially parallel to the surface, and a second position in which the slats are oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface; and wherein the first layer and the second layer are connectable to a voltage source for applying a voltage difference between the first layer and the second layer, so the slats are movable.

A box for a system for opening and closing a communication route between two separate areas, the system including separation means suitable for allowing and preventing, respectively, at least partially, crossing of the route by light, may include: a box body configured to accommodate a movement unit of the system; and support elements for the movement unit. The box body may have a major extension direction. The box body may be defined by support and closing profiles, both extending along the direction. The support profile may define at least one upper, lower, and connecting wall. The closing profile may define a closing wall. The closing profile may be removably fixable to the support profile for closing the box body. When the closing profile is fixed to the support profile, a distance between the closing wall and the connecting wall may be less than or equal to 20 millimeters.