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.

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 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.

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.

A sunlight redirector has a first mirror array formed of a first plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal outward mirror segments; and a second mirror array formed of a second plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal inward mirror segments. Each mirror segment has a normal vector. The outward mirror segments are adjustably positionable, such that their normal vectors remain parallel. The first mirror array is rotatable about a normal vector of the sunlight redirector. The inward mirror segments may remain fixed in position at all times; or they may be moved, twice per day, between first and second fixed positions.

In a roof window system, the roof window (1) has a frame with a frame top member (21), and a sash with a sash top member (31), and further a ventilation device (40) for connection to a ventilation assembly by means of transition means provided between the ventilation assembly and the frame top member (21) and the sash top member (31) of the roof window (1) to accommodate a set of flow paths for air to and from the ventilation assembly. The transition means comprise a plurality of apertures (2102) extending through the frame top member (21).

A smoke vent including a curb and door assembly utilizing a continuous hinge assembly that extends an entire length of a door. Hinge members of the door assembly and curb define continuous, extruded hinge members such that the door is supported across the entire length of the hinge members, whereby localized deflection of the curb is avoided. By supporting the door across the entire length of the hinge member, a door seal can be evenly compressed against the curb so as to prevent moisture/water intrusion when the door is in a closed disposition. The door assembly can further include a dome member that substantially defines an upper and lower surface of the door(s). Each door can comprise a plurality of retainer clips that positively couple the dome member to extruded members that define a door frame while providing a moisture resistant seal between the dome member and the door frame.

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.