A power generating blind assembly for harnessing solar energy passing through a window includes a set of window blinds for mounting in a window. The set of window blinds includes an upper housing, a lower member and a plurality of slats. A plurality of solar cells is each positioned on a respective one of the slats to be exposed to sunlight passing through the window. An adjustment unit is integrated into the set of window blinds and the adjustment unit adjusts an angle of the plurality of slats. In this way the adjustment unit facilitates the plurality of solar cells to capture the maximum amount of solar energy.

A power generating blind assembly for harnessing solar energy passing through a window includes a set of window blinds for mounting in a window. The set of window blinds includes an upper housing, a lower member and a plurality of slats. A plurality of solar cells is each positioned on a respective one of the slats to be exposed to sunlight passing through the window. An adjustment unit is integrated into the set of window blinds and the adjustment unit adjusts an angle of the plurality of slats. In this way the adjustment unit facilitates the plurality of solar cells to capture the maximum amount of solar energy.

A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.

A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.

A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.

A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.

A handle assembly for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a shade member, a movable rail attached to the shade member, and a handle secured to the movable rail. The handle may be secured to the rail in a manner that results in a smooth, relatively uninterrupted appearance.

A handle assembly for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a shade member, a movable rail attached to the shade member, and a handle secured to the movable rail. The handle may be secured to the rail in a manner that results in a smooth, relatively uninterrupted appearance.

A smart window controller includes circuitry configured to establish a representative model of one or more building zones based on occupancy, construction, lighting, or cooling properties of a building. A lighting control strategy is implemented for the one or more building zones based on the representative model or one or more user preferences input at a first user interface screen of an external device. Automatic operations of one or more smart windows, cooling systems, or artificial lighting systems are controlled based on trigger points associated with the lighting control strategy, and a performance level of the lighting control strategy for the one or more building zones is determined based on one or more predetermined financial metrics.

A control device of a cordless blinds assembly includes a bottom box and a rod unit which is received in the bottom box. The rod unit is cooperated with the operation unit in the bottom box. The operation unit is cooperated with a pawl which is engaged with or disengaged from a gear of the coil spring plate seat so as to control the operation of the blinds assembly without using any operation cord.