Optical elements and systems are disclosed that can be incorporated into buildings to prevent beam sunlight from entering through apertures of the building while allowing diffuse skylight to enter the building through the apertures. The optical system comprises optical elements configured to admit diffuse skylight through an aperture in the building envelope, while reflecting away the beam sunlight incident on the aperture in the building envelope. The apertures can be, for example, windows in walls or skylights in roofs of the building envelope. The optical system works for both windows in the walls and skylights in the roof, with somewhat different configurations for those two parts of the building envelope.

The invention relates to a roof window comprising a frame and a laminated vacuum insulated glass (laminated VIG) unit fixed in said frame, the laminated VIG unit comprising: a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet, wherein the first and second glass sheets are separated by an evacuated gap, and wherein a plurality of support structures are distributed inside the evacuated gap between the first and second glass sheets, a lamination layer arranged between the first glass sheet and a further sheet, said lamination layer is bonding to an outer major surface of the first glass sheet facing the evacuated gap, wherein the lamination layer comprises at least a first layer and a second layer of a polymer material, wherein, when the roof window is exposed to impacts; the fluctuation in decibel (dB) over a range of 1000 Hz in the interval from 20 Hz to 13000 Hz will not exceed 10 dB.

The invention relates to a roof window comprising a frame and a laminated vacuum insulated glass (laminated VIG) unit fixed in said frame, the laminated VIG unit comprising: a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet, wherein the first and second glass sheets are separated by an evacuated gap, and wherein a plurality of support structures are distributed inside the evacuated gap between the first and second glass sheets, a lamination layer arranged between the first glass sheet and a further sheet, said lamination layer is bonding to an outer major surface of the first glass sheet facing the evacuated gap, wherein the lamination layer comprises at least a first layer and a second layer of a polymer material, wherein, when the roof window is exposed to impacts; the fluctuation in decibel (dB) over a range of 1000 Hz in the interval from 20 Hz to 13000 Hz will not exceed 10 dB.

A dimmer mechanism is movable by a motor that is powered by solar-charged supercapacitors between a first configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks little of the interior of a skylight tube to maximize light throughput into a room, and a second configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks more of the interior of a skylight tube to reduce light throughput into the room.

A tubular skylight assembly. The tubular skylight assembly may include a light tube pitch adapter that may be adjustable to alter an angle between its ends, a cylindrical light tube secured to the light tube pitch adaptor, a collar for securing to the light tube pitch adapter, a flashing surround preferably having an exterior base and a top cover, and a skylight cover having an outer frame and a glass pane. The collar and light tube pitch adapter may reside at least partially within the exterior base of the flashing surround and the skylight cover may be disposed over the top cover of the flashing surround.

A skylight includes a transparent member such as glass and a frame holding the transparent member. The frame has a rectilinear horizontal top overlapping a top of the transparent member, a rectilinear horizontal base parallel to the horizontal top and overlapping a bottom of the transparent member, and a rectilinear vertical side connecting the top to the base. The base is wider than the top to accommodate plural differently sized curbs. To provide for an operable assembly, an operable base may first be engaged with the roof and the skylight hinged to the base to open and close.

A fenestration system includes one or more of a light modulation controller or ventilation modulation controller. The light modulation controller is in communication with at least one light modulation element of a fenestration assembly having a frame and a panel. The light modulation controller includes a light prescription module configured to provide a specified light prescription for the building interior. A lighting difference module is configured to determine a prescription difference between the specified light prescription and ambient light. A dynamic light module of the light modulation controller operates the at least one light modulation element according to the prescription difference. The ventilation modulation controller is in communication with at least one operator configured to open and close the panel. A ventilation prescription module provides a specified ventilation prescription for the building interior, and a dynamic ventilation module implements panel closing and opening according to the specified ventilation prescription.

A device for utilizing a surface, such as the surface of a floor, outside wall or roof, for a variable function, including a first functional element with an active surface area the size of at least a part of the surface, at least one second functional element with an active surface area the size of at least a part of the surface, and a rotatable carrier for varying, on at least a part of the surface, the functional element with which the surface is utilized. A method for utilizing a surface for a variable function is also shown.

Disclosed in the present invention is a structure for blocking heat transfer through a thermal bridge of a curtain wall building, including a curtain wall, an indoor metal frame, an outdoor metal frame and/or metal components, wherein: an integral thermal break strip, which is installed close to an outside and made of an aerogel thermal insulation blanket, is fixed between the indoor metal frame and the curtain wall and/or the outdoor metal frame and/or the metal components. The present invention has simple structure, convenient construction technology, great structural strength, excellent fireproof performance; low comprehensive construction cost and substantially improved energy-saving effect of the curtain wall.

A connector bracket for interconnecting roof windows mounted adjacent to each other in an inclined roof structure, one roof window being located below the other roof window when seen in the direction of inclination of the roof structure, is disclosed. A first connecting section of the connector bracket extends in a first direction from a centre section of the connector bracket and is configured for being connected to the mounting bracket on the first roof window in a pivot connection. A second connecting section extends in a second direction from a centre section of the connector bracket and is configured for being connected to the mounting bracket on the second roof window in a fixed connection. The first and second directions are non-parallel. A roof window arrangement where roof windows are interconnected by such a connector bracket and a method for mounting at least two roof windows are also disclosed.