Types of Smart Glass Electrochromic vs. PDLC

Smart Glass Technology Overview

Smart glass film is intended to have the ability to control the amount of light, and heat, passing through. With a switch of a button on a wall or smart phone app, the glass can change from transparent to completely opaque. Unlike blinds, smart windows are capable of partially blocking light while maintaining a clear view of what lies behind the window.

Smart glass technologies include electrochromic, photochromic, suspended particle, and liquid crystal device technologies (PDLC).

While the basic concept behind all smart windows is the same, they can be made in several different ways, each with a different method and properties for blocking light. Critical aspects of smart glass include material costs, installation costs, electricity costs and durability, as well as functional features such as the speed of control, possibilities for dimming, and the degree of transparency.

• Interior Glass: Control the amount of privacy, light and heat that enters a space manually or automatically

Switch instantly or dim anywhere in between

No need for blinds or curtains

Enable privacy while retaining natural light

• Exterior Glass

Privacy without the need for curtains or blinds

98% UV protection

40% solar reduction

• Rear projection

Residential home theater display

Corporate / retail display

Why Use Smart Glass?

• Corporate office buildings

• Residential

• Healthcare facilities

• Retail

• Transportation

Smart Glass Applications

Types of Smart Glass

Smart Glass

Passive Active

Photochromic Thermochromic Electrochromic

Liquid Crystal (PDLC)

Suspended Particle Device (SPD)

Passive Smart Glass: Responds to non-electrical stimuli (heat, UV). Cannot be manually controlled

Active Smart Glass: Responds to an electrical stimulus & and is controllable manually or automatically

Various Terms for Smart Glass

Electric Glass

Switchable Glass

Smart Glass

Self Tinting Windows

Dynamic Glass

LCD Glass

Dimmable Glass

Smart Windows Switch Glass

Clear to Opaque Glass

Electronic Glass

Intelligent Glass

PDLC Glass

Liquid Crystal Glass

Electrochromic PDLC

Active Smart Glass

• Electrochromic

• Suspended particle device (SPD)

• Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)

Active: Electrochromic

Active: Electrochromic • Typically used for solar control on exterior glass.

• The visible light transmission in the darkest state can be less than 3%. The resulting shading has limited privacy function as it can still be seen through.

• Consists of two glass panes with several layers sandwiched in between. • It works by passing low-voltage electrical charges across a

microscopically thin, clear conductive coating on the glass surface, which activates electrochromic layers that change color from clear to dark.

• The electric current can be activated manually or by sensors which react to light intensity. • One advantage of the electrochromic smart window is that it only

requires electricity to change its opacity, but not to maintain a particular shade.

• The switching speed of electrochromic glass is very slow and varies depending upon the size of the panel (larger panels typically take many minutes to switch). The consistency of tint changes also varies, with larger panels sometimes exhibiting tint changes that begin at the glazing’s outer edges and then move inward (known as the “iris effect”).

Active: Suspended Particle Device (SPD)

In suspended particle devices (SPDs), a thin film laminate of rod-like nano-scale particles is suspended in a liquid and placed between two pieces of glass or plastic, or attached to one layer. When no voltage is applied, the suspended particles are randomly organized, thus blocking and absorbing light. When voltage is applied, the suspended particles align and let light pass. Varying the voltage of the film varies the orientation of the suspended particles, thereby regulating the tint of the glazing and the amount of light transmitted. The visible light transmission at the darkest state of SPD glazing is around 0.5% and the process takes one to three seconds after power is applied, regardless of the size of the window. The resulting dark blue shading blocks light and provides only partial privacy.

Active: Suspended Particle Device (SPD)

Ideal for such light control applications as skylights, auto glass, sunroofs, aircraft windows, and marine windows and portholes.

Active: Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC)

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal is simply micro droplets of liquid crystals encapsulated in a polymer matrix. The liquid crystals respond to an electrical charge. In a static state, the liquid crystal molecules remain in a randomized configuration that refracts the light that enters the mixture, making it appear opaque. When electricity is applied, the molecules line up the direction of the electric field, allowing light to pass through what is now essentially a transparent surface. When electrical charge is deactivated, liquid crystal droplets again become randomly oriented, the incoming light is again heavily scattered and does not pass through in a straightforward manner, resulting in fully blocked images. Liquid crystal applications are a familiar technology for numeric and flat panel displays. Liquid crystal display, or LCD, is the most popular flat panel display technology, seen in portable computers, cell phones, calculators, digital clocks, gas pumps, and watches, etc. In LCD, applied electricity changes the shape of liquid crystals to allow light to pass through individual elements, thus forming images, figures, and numbers on the displays.

Active: Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC)

PDLC Technology

• Can be used for interior or exterior glass applications.

• Switches from opaque (milky white or gray) to clear in less than a second.

• Can run on standard 110-volt AC.

• Available in a self-adhesive switchable film that can be applied to existing window surfaces.

• Provides total privacy in its opaque state (cannot be seen through).

Electrochromic Technology

• Used for exterior glass applications, for solar control.

• Not used for interior privacy

• Long transition time from clear to opaque. Larger windows can take five to 20 minutes.

• New glass must be installed; no film option for existing glass.

• Not used for privacy as you can still see through it in its dark (tinted) state.

PDLC vs. Electrochromic Technology

Many applications including:

• Corporate Interiors

• Healthcare / Government

• Residential

• Retail

• Transportation

PDLC Switchable Glass Technology

PDLC: Corporate Interior Privacy

Switchable glass and film are the ideal electric privacy glass solution for bathrooms, kitchens, room partitions, windows and skylights. The technology provides unprecedented control over the amount of heat and light that enters a space

PDLC: Residential

PDLC: Door Application

• Hinged doors • Sliding doors

PDLC: Rear Projection

PDLC: Transportation - Yacht

Case Study – Corporate Conference Room

Case Study – Corporate Conference Room

Requirements: Promote open collaborative work environment, maintain views when privacy not required and preserve natural light into the office. Solution: PDCL smart glass installed for privacy vs. blinds to maintain natural light in the rest of the office space and sweeping views of the city.

Types of PDLC Switchable Glass

• Laminated Switchable Glass

– Typically used for new construction projects. Switchable film is sandwiched between two sheets of glass and two sheets of conductive interlayer. Glass can be made to any thickness (i.e. 10mm) and specification required (i.e. tempered, low-e, etc.)

• Adhesive Switchable Film

– Typically used for retrofit applications. Switchable film has an adhesive side that is dry applied to the surface of any glass (similar to a smart phone cover). The film is scratch resistant and easy to install in the field.

Laminated PDLC Switchable Glass

The layer containing indium tin oxide (ITO) conducts the electricity that stimulates the liquid crystals.

Adhesive Switchable Film applies to any existing or new smooth glass surface. Any wall switch, home automation or smart phone app can change the film from being clear to frosted (opaque) or dim in between.

Self-Adhesive Film Adhesive Switchable Film

• Blocks 99% of UV rays which cause damage and discoloration of interior walls, carpets, and furnishings

• In its opaque state, PDLC smart glass can reduce solar heat gain by up to 40%. The reduced heat gain in hot months helps keep the interior cooler, thus requiring less air conditioning producing increased occupant comfort, and providing cost savings.

Self-Adhesive Film Privacy, Occupant Comfort, Energy Use Reduction with

PDLC Technology

Privacy, Occupant Comfort, Energy Use Reduction with PDLC Technology

PDLC – Interior Applications

• Creates flexible use of space

• Creates privacy when needed

• Compatible with home and building automation systems

• Rear projectable /Display

PDLC – Interior Case Study

Part time guest room

While this New York City apartment had enough space to section off a 100-sq. ft. portion for a guest room, the owners did not want to lose half the light and views by adding solid walls. Their architect came up with a unique solution.

PDLC – Interior Case Study

By adding solid walls half of the light and views that flooded the living room, kitchen, and dining areas deep into the space would be blocked by any new walls. That seemed too high a price to pay.

The architect, Andrew Mikhael, came up with the idea of designing half walls of smart glass that could transform from clear to opaque as needs dictated.

PDLC – Interior Case Study

Inside the room, with the switchable glass set to opaque, enough privacy is created for a guest to feel comfortable in the space. When no guest is visiting, or if the space transforms to a nursery and the parents want to keep an eye on the baby, the windows can be switched to clear.

PDLC – Hotel Bathroom

With PDLC smart glass, sections of a bathroom can have privacy or openness as needed, without blocking all the natural light. In this hotel application, the occupant can enjoy the openness of the room and beautiful tile work of the bathroom, and switch to privacy as need.

Residential

Switchable glass installed for separated or opened space between basin and bathroom.

PDLC- Residential Bathroom

PDLC – Retail Case Study To grab the attention of passing traffic, this retailer uses smart glass that switches from clear to opaque in patterns. The attention from passersby greatly increases in-store traffic. Additionally, the panels can be used in the evening to project HD quality video, creating a video advertising experience that contributes to branding and thus greater in-store traffic.

PDLC Switchable Glass offers a privacy solution while maintaining a sterile environment in hospitals, clinical environments and healthcare facilities. * Curtains are not sterile and can harbor bacteria

PDCL – Case Study Healthcare

About Glass Apps

Glass Apps is the leading providing of Switchable Glass and Film which changes from clear and opaque states on demand and is also dimmable, therefore, providing unprecedented control over the amount of light, privacy and heat that enters a space.

Glass Apps smart glass technology has been proven in the market for over 14 years.

Website: http://www.glass-apps.com

Email: info@glass-apps.com

Phone: 323-312-5277

Product Demo Videos:

http://vimeopro.com/glassapps/switchable-glass-applications

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