A low-power radio-frequency (RF) receiver is characterized by a decreased current consumption over prior art RF receivers, such that the RF receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The RF receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for the RF signals and then put the RF receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to thus conserve battery power and lengthen the lifetime of the batteries. The RF receiver compares detected RF energy to a detect threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the RF receiver and increase the lifetime of the batteries. After detecting that an RF signal is being transmitted, the RF receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time period that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets to further conserve battery power.

An integrated building photovoltaic apparatus for closing an opening on a building facade and generating electricity from a solar radiation which pass through the opening, includes at least two panes that are at least partially transparent and joined to each other by an interposed spacer to form an internal chamber therebetween; a blind arranged inside the internal chamber and having movable photovoltaic slats to vary the amount of the solar radiation passing through the opening; and connection elements, configured to pull or push the photovoltaic slats. Each slat has a photovoltaic sheet with interconnection grooves which define thin film solar cells monolithically connected in series.

The thin film solar cells include at least two coupling thin film solar cells, each one having a through hole and a close-pattern isolation groove surrounding the through hole to define an inactive area of the coupling single thin film solar cell surrounding the through hole.

An integrated building photovoltaic apparatus for closing an opening on a building facade and generating electricity from a solar radiation which pass through the opening, includes at least two panes that are at least partially transparent and joined to each other by an interposed spacer to form an internal chamber therebetween; a blind arranged inside the internal chamber and having movable photovoltaic slats to vary the amount of the solar radiation passing through the opening; and connection elements, configured to pull or push the photovoltaic slats. Each slat has a photovoltaic sheet with interconnection grooves which define thin film solar cells monolithically connected in series.

The thin film solar cells include at least two coupling thin film solar cells, each one having a through hole and a close-pattern isolation groove surrounding the through hole to define an inactive area of the coupling single thin film solar cell surrounding the through hole.

The invention relates to an assembly of a tilt control cord (106) and a fastening element (1) for fastening to a slat (102A) of a window covering. The fastening element has an elongate body with a length corresponding to the width of the slat. The fastening element includes second fastening means for attaching the ends of the tilt control cord.

The invention also relates to a window covering having a cord spool (104), wherein the tilt control cord (106) is wrapped around the cord spool (104) and extends to the top slat (102A) on which the fastening element (1) is attached.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling the window covering.

Certain example embodiments relate to a motor-driven dynamic shade provided in an insulating glass (IG) unit, and/or associated methods. A spacer system helps maintain first and second substrates in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and defines a gap therebetween. A shade and a motor are provided in the gap. The motor, provided close to a first peripheral edge of the IG unit, is dynamically controllable to cause the shade to extend towards a second peripheral edge of the IG unit opposite the first peripheral edge and to cause the shade to retract from the second peripheral edge towards the first peripheral edge. The shade may be electrostatically couplable to one of the first and second substrates when the shade is extended via complementary electrostatic connection areas provided to the shade and the one of the first and second substrates

Certain example embodiments relate to a motor-driven dynamic shade provided in an insulating glass (IG) unit, and/or associated methods. A spacer system helps maintain first and second substrates in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and defines a gap therebetween. A shade and a motor are provided in the gap. The motor, provided close to a first peripheral edge of the IG unit, is dynamically controllable to cause the shade to extend towards a second peripheral edge of the IG unit opposite the first peripheral edge and to cause the shade to retract from the second peripheral edge towards the first peripheral edge. The shade may be electrostatically couplable to one of the first and second substrates when the shade is extended via complementary electrostatic connection areas provided to the shade and the one of the first and second substrates

An improved bottom rail for an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The bottom rail includes one or more channels. In use, a first channel may receive a bottom edge of the covering while a weight channel receives a weighted, longitudinal rod therein. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the bottom rail may include pucks for retaining the weighted, longitudinal rod within the weight channel. In use, the pucks are rotatable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position. In the first position, the pucks are slidably positionable along an outer surface of the longitudinal rod. In the second position, the pucks contact the longitudinal rod to thereby exert an additional downward force onto the longitudinal rod so that the longitudinal rod is retained within the weight channel.

An improved bottom rail for an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The bottom rail includes one or more channels. In use, a first channel may receive a bottom edge of the covering while a weight channel receives a weighted, longitudinal rod therein. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the bottom rail may include pucks for retaining the weighted, longitudinal rod within the weight channel. In use, the pucks are rotatable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position. In the first position, the pucks are slidably positionable along an outer surface of the longitudinal rod. In the second position, the pucks contact the longitudinal rod to thereby exert an additional downward force onto the longitudinal rod so that the longitudinal rod is retained within the weight channel.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for adjusting indoor illumination intensity. In the method, a target illumination intensity value is acquired when a target electric appliance is running and the target electric appliance is susceptible to illumination intensity in a room. In the method, a first indoor illumination intensity value in the room is collected, and an indoor illumination intensity adjustment device is controlled according to the first indoor illumination intensity value and the target illumination intensity value. The indoor illumination intensity adjustment device is controlled to change the first indoor illumination intensity value to achieve a second indoor illumination intensity value where the second indoor illumination intensity value conforms to the target illumination intensity value.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for adjusting indoor illumination intensity. In the method, a target illumination intensity value is acquired when a target electric appliance is running and the target electric appliance is susceptible to illumination intensity in a room. In the method, a first indoor illumination intensity value in the room is collected, and an indoor illumination intensity adjustment device is controlled according to the first indoor illumination intensity value and the target illumination intensity value. The indoor illumination intensity adjustment device is controlled to change the first indoor illumination intensity value to achieve a second indoor illumination intensity value where the second indoor illumination intensity value conforms to the target illumination intensity value.