Intelligent building control systems utilize sky information from a camera or cameras to facilitate control of building systems such as lighting, motorized window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC systems, and so forth. Based on the sky information, interior lighting intensity and/or color temperature may be modified, for example in order to achieve a desired circadian effect for building occupants. In this manner, energy efficiency and occupant comfort and convenience are improved.

A roller shutter with dual operation modes includes a door frame, a roller shutter body, a driving motor, a connecting device, a rotating shaft and a connecting rod. The roller shutter body is slidably configured on the door frame, the rotating shaft is rotatably configured on the door frame, and the rotating shaft is connected with the driving motor through the connecting device. When the connecting device is in a connected state, the driving motor drives the connecting rod to retract or extend the roller shutter body; when the connecting device is a separated state, the rotating shaft is manually operated to drive the connecting rod to retract or extend the roller shutter body. The roller shutter can be opened or closed by manual operation in the absence of power supply or in case of circuit failure, which greatly improves the reliability and convenience.

An awning is disclosed. The awning comprises a case assembly comprising a housing, configured to be mounted to a dwelling, and a lead rail, a roller assembly mounted in the case assembly and including a roll tube rotatable relative to the case assembly, a lead rail assembly coupled to the lead rail, the lead rail assembly movable relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position, a canopy having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being connected to the lead rail assembly and the trailing edge being connected to the roll tube, and a spring arm assembly connecting the housing of the case assembly to the lead rail, the spring arms including a first arm and a second arm pivotable relative to one another, the spring arm assembly allowing the lead rail assembly to move between the extended position and the retracted position.

Intelligent building control systems utilize sky information from a camera or cameras to facilitate control of building systems such as lighting, motorized window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC systems, and so forth. Based on the sky information, interior lighting intensity and/or color temperature may be modified, for example in order to achieve a desired circadian effect for building occupants. In this manner, energy efficiency and occupant comfort and convenience are improved.

A dual layered balcony cover. The invention protects a balcony from heavy wind, heavy rain, mosquitos/insects, birds, and provides solar shading. The invention contains a plurality of pairs of roller tubes which allow a layer of insect screen to be released (inner layer of invention) and a layer of vinyl to be released (outer layer of invention) either individually or concurrently utilizing a control system with a remote control included with the invention. There are zippers positioned between the roller tubes which zip and unzip the segments of insect screen and segments of vinyl automatically when the invention ascends and descends. The invention contains protective casing that houses both sets of multiple roller tubes with slits. The top of the casing itself contains a slant shaped design which allows rain to drop away from the balcony. Right over that, there is a sensor which will be programmed to activate the control system affecting the inner layer and outer layer of the invention due to environmental circumstances which makes the invention a fully automated product.

A drive system for raising and lowering a window covering using a continuous cord loop that includes a motor with an associated encoder, device controller for the motor, a speed sensor, and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) layer. The device controller stores or receives a desired motor speed and generates a speed command signal to the motor. A closed-loop system applies a PID speed control algorithm to an error representing a difference between actual motor speed and desired motor speed. The PID layer uses the error to calculate a new output via PID control terms to automatically correct signals to the motor to achieve desired motor speed. A hembar alignment function automates positional control of a plurality of motor drive systems to synchronize raising or lowering of window covering shades with the shades in positional alignment. A system controller includes a time-counter indexed to a position scale to synchronize hembar alignment positional commands.

The present disclosure is directed to the autonomous positioning of motorized window coverings to provide a desired level of illumination in the interior space of a structure. Control circuitry determines a base position and/or a base angle of rotation/tilt using data representative of the geolocation and compass heading of the motorized window covering, the calendar date, and the time of day. Using a weather data API, the control circuitry receives data representative of current local weather and/or current predicted short-term local weather. The control circuitry determines a final position and/or a final angle of rotation/tilt to provide the desired level of illumination in the interior space of the structure using the geolocation and compass heading of the motorized window covering, the calendar date, the time of day, and the received weather data.