Automotive
ENHANCE YOUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE
- Reduce heat build up inside the vehicle even when parked
- Create an “open air” feeling
- Expand design freedom and creativity
- Enhance your view
- Improve connection to the environment
- Reduce heating and air conditioning requirements
- Reduce your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
- Increase driving range of electric vehicles
- Reduce hazardous glare
- Protect interiors
- Increase privacy, security and acoustics
- Eliminate shades and visors
| Visible Light Transmittance: | As low as 99.96% light blockage As high as 80% light transmission |
| UV rejection: | As high as 99.9% (full-time), protection up to 400 nm |
| Solar Control: | Dark state: As high as 95% heat blockage Clear state: As high as 57% heat transmission |
| Intermediate States: | Infinitely tunable |
| Switching Speed: | 1-3 seconds |
| Switching Uniformity: | Completely uniform – no blotchiness or iris effects |
| Maximum Power Draw: | As low as 0.06 watts/sq.ft |
| Size: | Length: No limitation Width: Up to 1.8 meters |
| Shapes: | Any |
| Substrates: | Chemically strengthened glass Acrylic Polycarbonate Composite glass Bullet and hurricane resistant composites also available |
Is there a more technical description of how SPD-Smart automotive windows control light?
The SPD film layer in SPD-Smart automotive windows could be called a “light valve.” In the film, droplets of liquid suspension are distributed. Light-absorbing microscopic particles are dispersed within the liquid suspension. The SPD emulsion is enclosed between two plastic substrates coated with a transparent conductive material. The particles are randomly oriented due to Brownian motion and absorb 99% – 99.9% of visible light hitting window. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align due to a field effect and light passes through the window. This gives users a range of transparency where light transmission can be rapidly varied depending upon the amount of voltage applied.
What types of SPD-Smart automotive products are offered today?
SPD-Smart Automotive products include roofs, visors, side glass and rear glass for cars, buses, trains, coaches, RVs and bullet resistant vehicles.
What do SPD-Smart automotive windows do?
SPD-Smart automotive windows allow you to instantly regulate light, glare and heat entering your vehicle. You can control your dimmable windows from fully clear to dark, and to any level of tint in between. You simply push a button to electrically tune the tint of your window.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart automotive products?
Automotive products using SPD technology provide significant benefits to passengers and operators, including:
- 95% heat rejection
- Over 99% UV blockage
- 50-60 times darker than a typical sunroof to about twice as clear as an ordinary sunroof
- Switching speed – instant – regardless of size
- Uses very little energy to operate
- Infinite number of intermediate light-control states
- Design flexibility makes SPD available in glass, plastic, or a combination of both
- Automatically switches to its most energy-efficient state when vehicle is parked
- Reduces temperature inside the vehicle by up to 18ºF/10ºC
- Reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
- Available in standard and bullet resistant laminated glass
What makes SPD-Smart automotive products unique?
SPD-Smart automotive products are unique, because of their superior performance over anything else being offered in the marketplace today. With an infinite number of states in between dark and clear, SPD technology offers the fastest switching speed of any variable glazing technology out there. We can also block 99.5% of the light coming into a vehicle, also making SPD the darkest variable glazing technology. Furthermore, most other technologies are in their “dark state” when the power is on. In the case of SPD, we are in our “dark state” when there is no power applied, therefore when your vehicle is off/parked you are still benefiting from SPD.
How do SPD-Smart dimmable automotive windows work?
SPD-Smart automotive windows use SPD film enclosed between thin layers of glass or plastic. Within this film are microscopic particles. When no electrical voltage is present, the particles absorb light and block it from passing through the film. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align so that light can pass through. Adjusting the voltage to the film provides a range of transparencies (i.e. very dark to fully clear) where light transmission can be rapidly varied to any degree desired depending upon preference or pre-programmed requirements.
Can SPD-Smart automotive products be offered for any applications other than the roof?
Yes, SPD-SmartGlass is offered for all window applications including side, rear and visors.
Are SPD-Smart automotive products offered on any substrates besides glass?
Design flexibility makes SPD available in glass, plastic or a combination of both.
Can I tune the level of tint for SPD-Smart automotive products? Or is it simply an on/off state?
Yes, SPD-Smart automotive products can be tuned to any level of tint in between “dark” and “clear” states.
How much do SPD-Smart automotive products cost?
Research Frontiers does not sell any SPD-Smart automotive products, we are the developers and licensors of this technology. Our licensees, who ultimately fabricate and sell the finished product, set Pricing.
Can a vehicle be retrofitted with SPD-Smart automotive products?
Yes, any vehicle can be retrofitted with SPD-SmartGlass. Just complete the “Project Inquiry Form” found in the main menu “Contact” section, to learn more about how SPD-Smart automotive products can make your vehicle more comfortable and energy efficient. Be sure to indicate your interest in an aftermarket installation.
Aircraft
ENHANCE YOUR FLYING EXPERIENCE
- Daylighting control
- Enjoy view with variable tint
- Control glare instantly
- Cooler and quieter cabin
- Privacy on demand
- Eliminate shades
- Control by passengers or crew
- Programmable automated light-control
- Modern design options
- Low maintenance
- Save weight and increase cabin space
- Protect interiors
| Visible Light Transmittance: | As low as 99.96% light blockage As high as 80% light transmission |
| UV rejection: | As high as 99.9% (full-time), protection up to 400 nm |
| Solar Control: | Dark state: As high as 95% heat blockage Clear state: As high as 57% heat transmission |
| Intermediate States: | Infinitely tunable |
| Switching Speed: | 1-3 seconds |
| Switching Uniformity: | Completely uniform – no blotchiness or iris effects |
| Maximum Power Draw: | As low as 0.06 watts/sq.ft |
| Size: | Length: No limitation Width: Up to 1.8 meters |
| Shapes: | Any |
| Substrates: | Chemically strengthened glass Acrylic Polycarbonate Composite glass Bullet and hurricane resistant composites also available |
Can SPD-Smart aircraft windows be installed on aircraft currently in-service, as an aftermarket upgrade?
Yes, any aircraft can be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows. Just complete the “Project Inquiry Form” found in the main menu “Contact” section, to learn more about SPD-Smart aircraft products. Be sure to indicate your interest is in aftermarket installations.
On which windows can SPD-Smart aircraft windows be installed?
SPD-Smart dimmable windows can be installed on all cabin windows, including the Emergency Exit Window. Interior partitions, such as those dividing the cockpit and the cabin, also can be equipped with larger SPD-Smart aircraft window panels.
Will the use of SPD-Smart dimmable aircraft windows affect the aircraft electronics?
No. Contact Research Frontiers licensees for details.
Will SPD-Smart aircraft windows be dark as people enter or leave the aircraft, if power is not on?
No. Research Frontiers licensees offer systems that enable the SPD-Smart dimmable windows to be clear upon boarding, and remain clear upon disembarking.
Can the pilot override the SPD-Smart aircraft window’s settings?
Yes.
Can I “tune” the SPD-Smart aircraft window’s tint to any level?
Yes. Using a switch similar to a light bulb “dimmer switch,” the tint of the SPD-Smart aircraft window can be precisely and infinitely tuned to any level. This is done instantly, which is in stark contrast to another type of smart window (“electrochromic” or “electrochromatic”), where the user is forced to choose among several pre-set levels.
Will SPD-Smart aircraft windows discolor from exposure to the sun?
No. The products offered by Research Frontiers licensees include optical interlayers that block more than 99.9% of UV light. This protects the SPD-Smart dimmable windows from discoloring – and also protects aircraft interiors’ materials from fading.
Can SPD-Smart aircraft windows provide complete privacy?
Yes. Research Frontiers licensees are currently offering products capable of providing complete privacy on-demand with the push of a button.
How fast do SPD-Smart aircraft windows switch from clear to dark and back?
A complete switching cycle of the SPD-Smart aircraft window, from fully clear to fully dark, and then back to fully dark, occurs in just a few seconds. This is in stark contrast to another type of smart window (“electrochromic” or “electrochromatic”), where a switching cycle can take several minutes.
How dark, and how clear, do SPD-Smart dimmable aircraft windows get?
SPD-Smart aircraft windows can achieve over 99.9% light blockage – almost all incoming visible light is blocked. The same window can be optically transparent – clearer than the average aircraft window. Adjustment of the voltage to an SPD-Smart aircraft window allows users to choose an infinite number of tinting levels between these points.
How do SPD-Smart dimmable aircraft cabin windows work?
SPD-Smart aircraft windows use SPD film enclosed between thin plastic layers. Within this film are microscopic particles. When no electrical voltage is present, the particles absorb light and block it from passing through the film. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align so that light can pass through. Adjusting the voltage to the film provides a range of transparencies (i.e. very dark to fully clear) where light transmission can be rapidly varied to any degree desired depending upon preference or pre-programmed requirements.
Why are SPD-Smart aircraft windows better than other types of window shades?
SPD-Smart cabin windows have no moving parts, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. They block more than 99.9% of harmful UV light, protecting the interior from fading. They default to their darkest possible state when the aircraft is on the ground, maximizing heat rejection and keeping interiors cooler. Operators have total light-control in their cabin, which increases passenger comfort and satisfaction. SPD-Smart products are fabricated by laminating film between substrates, which act as noise barriers, keeping cabins quieter.
What makes SPD-Smart aircraft products unique?
SPD-Smart dimmable window products offered by Research Frontiers licensees are the only “smart windows” to offer instant switching, an extremely dark state, and unlimited “tuning” between clear and dark. In 2001, they became the world’s first dimmable aircraft windows. These windows are still in service, validating the superior durability of SPD-Smart aviation products over any other shading system. To this day, they remain the only dimmable window to receive certification under FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). In 2008, they became the first dimmable windows to fly on a commercial airline – and are now on all Qantas Airlines Airbus A380s.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart aircraft products?
Aircraft products using SPD technology provide significant benefits to passengers and operators, including:
- Variable shading from clear to over 99.9% light blockage
- Instant response time
- Heat rejection maximized when aircraft parked on ramp
- Control at each window, or cabin-wide master control for crew
- 99.9% UV blockage to protect interiors
- No moving parts
- Lightweight substrates
What do SPD-Smart aircraft windows do?
SPD-Smart dimmable windows allow you to instantly regulate light, glare and heat entering your aircraft windows. You can control your dimmable windows from fully clear to very dark, and to any level of tint in between. You simply push a button to electrically tune the tint of your window.
What types of SPD-Smart aircraft products are offered today?
SPD-Smart aircraft products include cabin windows, partitions and cockpit visors.
Is there a more technical description of how SPD-Smart aircraft windows control light?
The SPD film layer in SPD-Smart aircraft windows could be called a “light valve.” In the film, droplets of liquid suspension are distributed. Light-absorbing microscopic particles are dispersed within the liquid suspension. The SPD emulsion is enclosed between two plastic substrates coated with a transparent conductive material. The particles are randomly oriented due to Brownian motion and absorb 99% – 99.9% of visible light hitting window. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align due to a field effect and light passes through the window. This gives users a range of transparency where light transmission can be rapidly varied depending upon the amount of voltage applied.
Architectural
ENHANCE YOUR HOME OR OFFICE EXPERIENCE
- Eliminate blinds and shades
- Preserve daytime and nighttime views
- Enjoy shading on-demand
- Facilitates better healthcare environments by replacing curtains, drapes and window blinds which contain pathogens
- Reduce heating and cooling requirements
- Maximize daylighting and minimize glare
- Protect interior furnishings and artwork from fading
- Operate your windows using a home or building automation system, or even with an iPhone or iPad
| Visible Light Transmittance: | As low as 99.96% light blockage As high as 80% light transmission |
| UV rejection: | As high as 99.9% (full-time), protection up to 400 nm |
| Solar Control: | Dark state: As high as 95% heat blockage Clear state: As high as 57% heat transmission |
| Intermediate States: | Infinitely tunable |
| Switching Speed: | 1-3 seconds |
| Switching Uniformity: | Completely uniform – no blotchiness or iris effects |
| Maximum Power Draw: | As low as 0.06 watts/sq.ft |
| Size: | Length: No limitation Width: Up to 1.8 meters |
| Shapes: | Any |
| Substrates: | Chemically strengthened glass Acrylic Polycarbonate Composite glass Bullet and hurricane resistant composites also available |
Can SPD-Smart architectural windows be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows?
Yes, any architectural window can be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows. Just complete the “Project Inquiry Form” found in the main menu “Contact” section, to learn more about SPD-Smart architectural products. Be sure to indicate your interest is in retrofit installations.
What kinds of maintenance do SPD-Smart architectural products require?
SPD-Smart architectural products require very little maintenance. Their smooth glass or plastic surface accumulates very little dust and is easily cleaned. In addition, they have no moving parts which helps ensure reliable operation.
How do SPD-Smart architectural products help protect interiors and artwork from fading and degradation?
Interior furnishings and artwork can be highly susceptible to damage from excessive light-exposure. This damage is irreversible. SPD-Smart architectural products offer extraordinary protection in a number of ways. First, they block 99% of harmful UV light at all times. Fading and degradation also is caused by visible light, and SPD-Smart windows can block up to 99.5% of visible light in an instant. In addition, solar heat also causes fading and degradation. The variable tint property of SPD-Smart glazings allows for optimal protection of furnishings and artwork from visible light, and it also effectively manages the heat transferred through windows, offering even more protection.
What type of power is required to control SPD-Smart architectural products, and how much power do they consume?
SPD-Smart architectural products are controlled using AC voltage. Alternatively, DC power can be used to with conventional inverter (CHECK) integrated just before the SPD glazing. The power consumption of SPD-Smart products is nominal, and typically is just 0.06 watts per square foot when fully powered.
What types of fabrications are offered for SPD-Smart architectural products?
SPD-Smart single-panel laminates are ideal for interior partitions and doors such as those used in conference rooms and media centers. These laminates also are used for retrofits of existing windows in situations where advanced light-control is desired. For exterior glazing products, SPD-Smart architectural products also are offered in double- and triple-glazed fabrications for thermal efficiency.
How are SPD-Smart architectural products controlled?
There are many ways to control SPD-Smart architectural products. Most control systems involve a simple switch (similar to a dimmer switch for a light) or an on/off pushbutton. You can easily integrate these products with a home automation or building management system that uses occupancy sensors, photo sensors, and time-of-day controls.
Are SPD-Smart architectural products available in custom sizes, shapes and fabrications?
Indeed they are. SPD-Smart architectural products are available in sizes up to 1 meter wide and wider if pieces of SPD film as laminated side by side (i.e. “seamed”) within the laminate. Virtually any shape is available including circles, trapezoids and curves. Various fabrications are offered too. Laminates are ideal for interior partitions, while high-efficiency double- and triple-glazed insulating glass units are the energy efficiency choice for exterior windows, skylights and doors. In addition, these products are offered in conventional shapes and custom ones too, including curves.
Is there a more technical description of how SPD-Smart architectural windows control light?
The SPD film layer in SPD-Smart architectural products is called a “light valve.” Within the film are millions of microscopic particles. The particles are randomly oriented due to Brownian motion and absorb over 99% of visible light hitting the window. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align and light passes through the window. Adjusting the voltage adjusts the orientation of the particles, which regulates the tint of the glazing and the amount of light transmitted.
How do SPD-Smart architectural windows work?
SPD-Smart architectural products and needs to refer to marine/rail products.
Why are SPD-Smart architectural windows better than other types of window shades?
Conventional window shades are space-consuming, view-blocking, dust-collecting, prone to malfunction and do not adapt well to changing environmental conditions and user needs. SPD-Smart architectural windows, however, offer an unparalleled combination of form and function. As sleek as a standard window and just as easy to keep clean, these dynamic glazings provide shading and privacy, reduce glare, preserve views on-demand, block 99% of harmful UV light at all times, and can be controlled manually or automatically. Best of all, they are instantly responsive and infinitely tunable.
What makes SPD-Smart architectural products unique?
SPD-Smart architectural products are the fastest-switching variable tint products available today. You can change the tint of your SPD-Smart products in three seconds or less. SPD-Smart architectural products can block more light than other architectural smart window product – over 99.5%. SPD-Smart architectural products also offer more control than any other smart window. With a simple switch or automatically using sensors or timing devices, you can enjoy an infinite number of shading levels – instantly. And they block 99% of harmful UV light at all times, which helps protect interior furnishings and artwork.These features combine to offer superior control over incoming light, glare and heat.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart architectural products?
Variable tint SPD-Smart architectural products enable you to:
- Eliminate blinds and shades
- Preserve daytime and nighttime views
- Enjoy shading on-demand
- Minimize glare
- Reduce heating and cooling requirements
- Maximize daylighting
- Protect interior furnishings and artwork from fading
- Operate your windows using a home or building automation system, or even with an iPhone or iPad
What do SPD-Smart architectural products do?
They transform homes and buildings into more comfortable, productive and energy efficient places to live and work. They do this by giving users the power to control the amount of light, glare and heat passing through windows and other glazings products found in homes and buildings.
What types of SPD-Smart architectural products are offered today?
SPD-Smart architectural products include windows, skylights, doors and partitions.
Marine-Rail
ENHANCE YOUR YACHT EXPERIENCE
- Eliminate blinds and shades
- Enjoy sleek and luxurious interior designs
- Preserve daytime and nighttime views
- Reduce glare
- Block unwanted heat, light and glare
- Control by passengers or crew
- Enjoy greater privacy and increased security
- Protect interior furnishings and artwork from fading
- Responds quickly and automatically to varying operating conditions
| Visible Light Transmittance: | As low as 99.96% light blockage As high as 80% light transmission |
| UV rejection: | As high as 99.9% (full-time), protection up to 400 nm |
| Solar Control: | Dark state: As high as 95% heat blockage Clear state: As high as 57% heat transmission |
| Intermediate States: | Infinitely tunable |
| Switching Speed: | 1-3 seconds |
| Switching Uniformity: | Completely uniform – no blotchiness or iris effects |
| Maximum Power Draw: | As low as 0.06 watts/sq.ft |
| Size: | Length: No limitation Width: Up to 1.8 meters |
| Shapes: | Any |
| Substrates: | Chemically strengthened glass Acrylic Polycarbonate Composite glass Bullet and hurricane resistant composites also available |
Can SPD-Smart marine/rail windows be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows?
Yes, any marine/rail window can be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows. Just complete the “Project Inquiry Form” found in the main menu “Contact” section, to learn more about SPD-Smart marine/rail products. Be sure to indicate your interest is in retrofit installations.
Do SPD-Smart products block harmful light?
Yes. SPD-Smart products block 99% of UV light at all times. This helps protect furnishings and artwork from fading and degradation.
What type of power source do SPD-Smart marine/rail products require, and how much power do they use?
SPD-Smart marine/rail products are powered using AC voltage. In DC-powered environments, a simple converter (CHECK) is typically installed just before the glazings. All SPD-Smart products require very little energy to operate and typically draw about 0.06 watts of power per square foot.
How do SPD-Smart marine/rail products help protect interiors and artwork from fading and degradation?
Interior furnishings and artwork can be highly susceptible to damage from excessive light-exposure. This damage is irreversible. SPD-Smart marine/rail products offer extraordinary protection in a number of ways. First, they block 99% of harmful UV light at all times. Fading and degradation also is caused by visible light, and SPD-Smart windows can block up to 99.5% of visible light in an instant. In addition, solar heat also causes fading and degradation. The variable tint property of SPD-Smart glazings allows for optimal protection of furnishings and artwork from visible light, and it also effectively manages the heat transferred through windows, offering even more protection.
How many light-control levels are offered by SPD-Smart marine/rail products?
Infinite. Similar to how a dimmer switch regulates the brightness of a light, by simply adjusting the voltage to the SPD-Smart product, you quickly and precisely “tune” the tint to any level you want.
How quickly can SPD-Smart marine/rail products change their light-control properties?
SPD-Smart products change their light-transmission properties in 1-3 seconds and they do this for glazings of any size. Thus, in just a few seconds, you can adjust the tint of your SPD-Smart window to any level you want.
Is there a more technical description of how SPD-Smart marine/rail windows control light?
The SPD film layer in SPD-Smart marine/rail products is called a “light valve.” Within the film are millions of microscopic particles. The particles are randomly oriented due to Brownian motion and absorb over 99% of visible light hitting the window. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align and light passes through the window. Adjusting the voltage adjusts the orientation of the particles, which regulates the tint of the glazing and the amount of light transmitted.
How do SPD-Smart marine/rail windows work?
SPD-Smart products are made with SPD film patented by Research Frontiers. Within this film are millions of randomly oriented microscopic particles. When no electrical voltage is present, the particles absorb light and block it from passing through the film. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align so that light can pass through. By regulating the voltage, users instantly regulate the amount of light, glare and heat coming through products such as windows.
Why are SPD-Smart marine/rail windows better than other types of window shades?
Conventional window shades are space-consuming, view-blocking, dust-collecting, prone to malfunction and do not adapt well to changing environmental conditions and user needs. SPD-Smart marine/rail windows, portholes, partitions and other products offer an unparalleled combination of form and function. As sleek as a standard window and just as easy to clean, these dynamic glazings provide shading and privacy, reduce glare, preserve views on-demand, block 99% of harmful UV light at all times, and can be controlled manually or automatically. Best of all, they are instantly responsive to changing operating conditions and user preferences.
What makes SPD-Smart marine/rail products unique?
Many features of SPD-Smart marine/rail products that make them unique. They are fast-switching and provide levels of shading and privacy. In addition to regulating the amount of visible light entering a boat or yacht, these products also block 99% of harmful UV light at all times and help minimize onboard heat build-up. This provides more comfortable boating and sailing experiences, and it also can improve operating efficiency. Compared to conventional window treatments, SPD-Smart marine/rail glazings are sleek, aesthetically inspired, and require very little maintenance.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart marine/rail products?
Products using SPD technology provide significant benefits to end-users, including:
- Eliminate blinds and shades
- Enjoy sleek and luxurious interior designs
- Reduce daytime and nighttime views
- Preserve Views
- Block unwanted heat, light and glare
- Enjoy greater privacy and increased security
- Protect interior furnishings and artwork from fading
- Responds quickly and automatically to varying operating conditions
- Reduce the need for multiple types of glass
What do SPD-Smart marine/rail products do?
The make boating and sailing more enjoyable experiences. Because SPD-Smart marine/rail products are able to quickly and precisely adapt to changing operating conditions and user needs, it now is possible to have a single glazing offer many benefits – shading, privacy, view preservation, glare control, UV rejection and control over solar heat gain.
What types of SPD-Smart marine/rail products are offered today?
SPD-Smart marine/rail products include windows, skylights, portholes, doors and partitions.
MUSEUM & OTHER
SPD-SmartGlass display panels optimally protect artifacts by limiting their light-exposure only to those times when people are viewing them. Protecting Light Sensitive collectibles and artifacts in the following applications:
- Freestanding, wall and table top display cases
- Picture frames
- Partitions
- Shadowbox frames
SPD-SmartGlass technology provides the best protection for your light-sensitive artifacts. More information on such applications can be found on the website of SPD-SmartGlass.
SPD-SmartGlass also offers benefits in appliances and eyewear applications such as ski goggles, sunglasses and visors.
Applications:
- Freestanding, wall and table top display cases
- Picture frames
- Partitions
- Shadowbox frames
Available with high performance anti-reflection and IR-rejection properties.
SPD-SmartGlass – the best protection for your light-sensitive artifacts.
| Visible Light Transmittance: | As low as 99.96% light blockage As high as 80% light transmission |
| UV rejection: | As high as 99.9% (full-time), protection up to 400 nm |
| Solar Control: | Dark state: As high as 95% heat blockage Clear state: As high as 57% heat transmission |
| Intermediate States: | Infinitely tunable |
| Switching Speed: | 1-3 seconds |
| Switching Uniformity: | Completely uniform – no blotchiness or iris effects |
| Maximum Power Draw: | As low as 0.06 watts/sq.ft |
| Size: | Length: No limitation Width: Up to 1.8 meters |
| Shapes: | Any |
| Substrates: | Chemically strengthened glass Acrylic Polycarbonate Composite glass Bullet and hurricane resistant composites also available |
What are some of the benefits of SPD-SmartGlass appliances?
- Improved energy efficiency by allowing users to view the contents of the appliance without having to open its door
- Aesthetically appealing design possibilities for OEMs and their customers.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-SmartGlass eyewear products?
- They are instantly and precisely adaptable to a wide range of user preferences and environmental conditions
- Can provide glare reduction without the loss of view
- Can be integrated with prescription and non-prescription eyewear products
- Require very low amounts of power to operate
What are some of the benefits of SPD-SmartGlass for artifact protection?
- Protects artifacts that already are on display.
- Showcases artifacts once considered too light-sensitive to exhibit.
- Extends the duration of exhibits of light-sensitive artifacts.
- Provides more exciting visitor experiences.
- Is easily integrated with automated control systems such as motion detectors.
- Reduces risk of theft.
Does SPD-SmartGlass also block harmful ultraviolet light?
Yes – SPD-SmartGlass blocks 99%+ of harmful UV light at all times, thus providing an additional level of artifact protection. Fabrications of SPD-SmartGlass that block UV light up to 400 nm are available. Please contact us for more information.
What are the primary features of SPD-SmartGlass for artifact protection?
SPD-SmartGlass allows visible light to reach artifacts only when people want to view them. At all other times SPD-SmartGlass blocks visible light and protects artifacts.
Is SPD-SmartGlass only available in new display cases, frames and partitions?
The light-protecting benefits of SPD-SmartGlass can be enjoyed for new cases, frames and partitions. In addition, any existing museum products can be retrofitted with SPD-Smart windows. Just complete the “Project Inquiry Form” found in the main menu “Contact” section, to learn more about SPD-Smart museum products. Be sure to indicate your interest is in retrofit installations.
In what types of museum applications can SPD-SmartGlass be used?
Museum conservators, curators and private collectors can use SPD-SmartGlass for a variety of artifact-protecting solutions including freestanding, wall and tabletop display cases, picture frames and partitions.
How does SPD-SmartGlass work?
Based on patented SPD technology developed by Research Frontiers, SPD-SmartGlass optimally protects artifacts by limiting their light-exposure only to those times when people want to view them.
SPD-SmartGlass’s ability to control an artifact’s light exposure begins with a thin light-control film that is laminated between glass or plastic substrates. This film contains millions of nano-scale particles. When no electrical voltage is present, the particles randomly orient and block visible light, thus protecting the artifact. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align and allow light to pass through the glazing, which enables the artifact to be seen and enjoyed. If needed, an unlimited number of intermediate light-control states are available simply by regulating the voltage to the film.