An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.

An electric light and external light control system for a space with a dual-mode light sensor is proposed. The dual-mode light sensor (106) measures and computes the amount of external light and electrical light incident on its sensing surface. The individual measured light components (total light, electric light and external light) are transmitted to the window treatment controller (103) and the electric light controller (102). The controllers (102, 103) use this information to optimally control the lighting condition to meet user requirements and reduce energy consumption. Both controllers (102, 103) operate concurrently and independently, but are linked via the dual-mode sensor (106).

An electric light and external light control system for a space with a dual-mode light sensor is proposed. The dual-mode light sensor (106) measures and computes the amount of external light and electrical light incident on its sensing surface. The individual measured light components (total light, electric light and external light) are transmitted to the window treatment controller (103) and the electric light controller (102). The controllers (102, 103) use this information to optimally control the lighting condition to meet user requirements and reduce energy consumption. Both controllers (102, 103) operate concurrently and independently, but are linked via the dual-mode sensor (106).

A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

A covering for an architectural opening includes a first rail, a second rail adjustably connected to the first rail, and a magnetic retention assembly configured to removably connect the first and second rails. The magnetic retention assembly includes a magnet coupled to one of the first rail or the second rail, and a receiver coupled to the other of the second rail or the first rail, the receiver configured to form a magnetic connection with the magnet.

A covering for an architectural opening includes a first rail, a second rail adjustably connected to the first rail, and a magnetic retention assembly configured to removably connect the first and second rails. The magnetic retention assembly includes a magnet coupled to one of the first rail or the second rail, and a receiver coupled to the other of the second rail or the first rail, the receiver configured to form a magnetic connection with the magnet.

A magnetic blind device includes boards. The boards are stacked in a vertically oriented arrangement. The boards have openings through the boards. A top board is higher than a bottom board. An elevation line passes through the openings of the boards from the top board to the bottom board. The elevation line is for raising the blinds. Magnetic strips can be mounted to a left side and a right side of each board of the boards. A metal strip can be positioned to contact the plurality of magnetic strips when the plurality of magnetic strips transfers from a dormant position to an activated position. The magnetic strips attract to each other and to the metal strip. Optionally, an electromagnet can selectively magnetize the metal strip when an electromagnet switch is activated. The magnet strip is preferably rectangular.

A magnetic blind device includes boards. The boards are stacked in a vertically oriented arrangement. The boards have openings through the boards. A top board is higher than a bottom board. An elevation line passes through the openings of the boards from the top board to the bottom board. The elevation line is for raising the blinds. Magnetic strips can be mounted to a left side and a right side of each board of the boards. A metal strip can be positioned to contact the plurality of magnetic strips when the plurality of magnetic strips transfers from a dormant position to an activated position. The magnetic strips attract to each other and to the metal strip. Optionally, an electromagnet can selectively magnetize the metal strip when an electromagnet switch is activated. The magnet strip is preferably rectangular.

A sun blinds system for light conditions control in a room or space. The space or room with one or more windows may have a set of sun blinds that have a position to cover the whole or part of the window to prevent to an extent, as desired by an occupant or occupants, sunlight from entering the space. Parameters such as space light level, glare, weather conditions, time of year and day, cloud cover, space temperature and occupancy may be entered in a database. A learning supervisor may determine the position of the sun blinds in view of the parameters and previous manual sun blinds' settings by occupants, and provide the position to a sun blinds controller.