Abstract: In various arrangements, an actuator system for window shades having shade material and a beaded chain is presented, the actuator system having a cover and an actuator mechanism with a carrier, a selector, a first ratchet member, and a second ratchet member. In various arrangements, the movement of the selector facilitates engagement of one of the first ratchet member or the second ratchet member with the beaded chain so as to facilitate raising of lowering of shade material of the window shade system.

Abstract: A method that detects obstacles on a roller shade's travel that create excess torque by sensing the current draw from a motor and method by which the motor can calibrate itself to detect excess torque. During the roller shade's travel, it will record the instantaneous torque being generated at various points. For example, it will store the greatest value in the shade motor's non-volatile memory as the normal operating torque.

Abstract: Presented is a motorized roller shade system. The system includes a flexible shade material, a roller tube configured for windingly receiving the flexible shade material, a shade motor coupled to the roller tube, a motor controller in communication with the shade motor, and a sun angle sensor. The sun angle sensor is configured for determining the angle of the sun and transmitting the angle of the sun to the motor controller. The motor controller is configured for driving the shade motor to rotate the roller tube to wind or unwind the flexible shade material in response to the transmitted angle of the sun to limit sunlight penetration to a predetermined maximum distance into a room.

Abstract: A method that detects obstacles on a roller shade's travel that create excess torque by sensing the current draw from a motor and method by which the motor can calibrate itself to detect excess torque. During the roller shade's travel, it will record the instantaneous torque being generated at various points. For example, it will store the greatest value in the shade motor's non-volatile memory as the normal operating torque.

Abstract: Presented is a motorized roller shade system. The system includes a flexible shade material, a roller tube configured for windingly receiving the flexible shade material, a shade motor coupled to the roller tube, a motor controller in communication with the shade motor, and a sun angle sensor. The sun angle sensor is configured for determining the angle of the sun and transmitting the angle of the sun to the motor controller. The motor controller is configured for driving the shade motor to rotate the roller tube to wind or unwind the flexible shade material in response to the transmitted angle of the sun to limit sunlight penetration to a predetermined maximum distance into a room.

Abstract: Presented is a motorized roller shade that includes a flexible shade material, a rotatably supported roller tube that windingly receives the flexible shade material, one or more flexible photovoltaic cells disposed on the flexible shade material, and a motor operably engaging the roller tube to rotate the roller tube to move the flexible shade material, where the motor receives power from the one or more flexible photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic element, and a method of making such an element, comprising a tabular grain silver halide emulsion containing at least one green spectral sensitizing dye of formula I, and at least one green spectral sensitizing dye of formula II: wherein R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from substituted or unsubstituted C1 or C2 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1 or C2 alkoxy, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted amido, or carbamoyl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, provided that R1 and R2 are not both aryl, and the benzo back rings may optionally be further substituted; X3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C3 alkyl or alkenyl; X1 and X2 are acid or acid salt substituted C1 to C6 alkyl or alkenyl which may be further substituted or unsubstituted; M+ is a positive ion as required to balance the charge; where R3 and R4 may be the same or different and represent substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl of 1 to 4 c

Abstract: A method of sensitizing a silver halide emulsion comprises the steps of:a) forming a co-dispersion of a first sensitizing dye and a second sensitizing dye in an aqueous medium, wherein the peak absorptance of the second dye is at least 10 nm different from the peak absorptance of the first dye, and wherein the ratio of the first dye to the second dye is from about 0.1 to 20; andb) incorporating the resulting co-dispersion in a silver halide emulsion.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic element comprises a silver halide emulsion layer sensitized with a sensitizing dye of Formula I: ##STR1## wherein each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a selenium atom, with the proviso that one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is an oxygen atom and the other is a sulfur or selenium atom; V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 together or V.sub.2 and V.sub.3 together represent the atoms necessary to complete a fused benzene ring; each of V.sub.4 and V.sub.5 is independently a hydrogen or halogen atom, or an alkyl, alkoxy or aryl group; R.sub.1 is an acid substituted alkyl group; R.sub.2 is a 2-sulfoethyl group; and M is a counterion as necessary to balance the charge.