Smart Glass Technologies

Electrochromism refers to the electrochemically-induced change in optical properties of a material brought about by the application of an electric field.

Liquid crystals can polarise light when under the action of an applied electric field, giving the ability to control the visual display of user interfaces for automotive, medical and consumer devices.

Liquid crystal thermometers change colour as a function of temperature, allowing their use as IoT temperature sensors and as thermometers for medical and industrial applications.

Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology allows for the rapid switching of light for purposes of display projection, improving on the existing liquid crystal display (LCD) and digital light processing (DLP) technologies.

A liquid crystal is a thermodynamically stable ‘mesophase’ of matter between the solid and liquid phases and reacts to changes in heat, electricity and pressure.

Photovoltaic smart glass converts ultraviolet and infrared to electricity while transmitting visible light into building interiors, enabling the sustainable use of natural daylight.

Photochromic glass promotes sustainable architecture and compliance with green building standards such as LEED and BREEAM, by allowing interiors to meet the minimum daylighting requirements of 300 lux across 50% of building space, without the accompanying increase in HVAC costs.

Thermochromic smart glass reduces solar heat gain into buildings, reducing air conditioning costs and contributing to ‘net-zero’ construction.

Translucent Concrete and Smart Glass could together offer architects and designers a creative tool for on-demand interior daylighting in net-zero buildings, thus contributing to the goals of the European Climate Law.

Suspended Particle Devices (SPD) smart glass is a technology developed and patented by Research Frontiers Inc. and allows a voltage-driven, reversible and variable change in glass transmittance, benefitting privacy, energy efficiency and security.

With no applied voltage, the liquid crystals in PDLC smart glass orient randomly and scatter light. When an electrical signal is applied, the liquid crystals orient themselves parallel to each other, allowing light through and illuminating parts of the building which would otherwise remain in darkness.

Electrochromic smart glass changes transmittance when powered by a DC voltage. This reversible change alters the state of the glass between transparent and opaque (or any state in between), with switching times in the order of minutes.

We define ‘smart glass’ as having modifications to the structure of any glazing product, or technologies which augment its behaviour. These can be surface coatings, internal lamination or electronic circuits embedded in or on the glass.