Variable length screen, system comprising the same and method for manufacturing

A variable length screen system comprising:

• a screen comprising:
• a structured foil with a front surface and a back surface defining a plane with a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction;
• and
• a first elongated guidance element and a second elongate guidance element extending in the first direction;
• wherein the foil is structured into mutually integral foil portions in that the foil is cut through along section lines that include:
• a central section line portion, that generally extends in the second direction, and
• end section line portions at both ends of the central section line portion that generally extend in the first direction;
• wherein the mutually integral foil portions include:
• at least a first slat shaped foil portion and a second slat shaped foil portion extending in the second direction at mutually opposite sides of a central section line portion;
• and
• at least a first connection foil portion and a second connection foil portion,
• wherein the first connection foil portion and the second connection foil portion are each bounded laterally by an outer boundary of the foil and an end portion of a section,
• wherein the first connection foil portion and the second connection foil portion each bridge the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion at a respective position in the second direction,
• wherein the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion are provided with photovoltaic elements that are connectable to external terminals for supply of electric energy,
• wherein the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion are slidably coupled with the first elongate guidance element and the second elongate guidance element to allow the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion to slide in the first direction along the first elongate guidance element and the second elongate guidance element, and
• wherein the first connection foil portion and the second connection foil portion are configured to flex in a direction transverse to the first direction and the second direction, so as to allow the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion to shift relative to each other in the first direction;
• wherein the screen is at least configurable to be in an extended state and in a contracted state,
• wherein in the contracted state, the screen has a first length, and wherein the slat shaped foil portions are subsequently alternately rotated clockwise and anticlockwise along an axis parallel to the second direction, therewith curving the connection foil portions, and
• wherein in the extended state, the screen has a second length greater than the first length, and wherein the slat shaped foil portions and the connection foil portions are substantially arranged in the plane defined by the first and the second direction;
• and
• an actuator device for exerting a force on the screen according to the first direction to change a configuration of the screen from an extended state to a contracted state and/or from a contracted state to an extended state.

A method of manufacturing a variable screen comprising:

• providing a foil of a flexible material, the foil having a front surface and a back surface and defining a plane with a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction;
• providing the foil with a plurality of photovoltaic elements, by deposition of a first electrode layer, a photovoltaic layer and a second electrode layer on the foil;
• providing the foil with a plurality of electric conductors connected with the plurality of photovoltaic elements, thereby enabling connection of the plurality of photovoltaic elements to external terminals for supply of electric energy;
• structuring the foil into mutually integral foil portions by cutting through the foil along section lines that include:
• a central section line portion, that generally extends in the second direction, and
• end section line portions at both ends of the central section line portion that generally extend in the first direction;
• wherein the mutually integral foil portions include:
• at least a first slat shaped foil portion and a second slat shaped foil portion extending in the second direction at mutually opposite sides of a central section line portion;
• and
• at least a first connection foil portion and a second connection foil portion,
• wherein the first connection foil portion and the second connection foil portion are each bounded laterally by an outer boundary of the foil and an end portion of a section,
• wherein the first connection foil portion and the second connection foil portion each bridge the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion at a respective position in the second direction,
• wherein the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion are provided with the plurality of photovoltaic elements, and
• slidingly coupling the first slat shaped foil portion and the second slat shaped foil portion with a first elongate guidance element and a second elongate guidance element that extend in the first direction, to allow the slat shaped foil portions to slide in the first direction along the guidance elements.