Electrochromic glass is similar to photochromic or thermochromic tinting, but it's important to understand the difference. Photochromic and thermochromic products tint based on light or heat. They don't require energy to change, but you can't control them. Electrochromic options use energy comparable to a single LED light bulb and make it easy to change whenever you want. Smart Window Film Glass floor and stairs on the second floor appear cloudy when walked upon, otherwise they are transparent. This unique film technology also transforms any glass into a high definition rear or front projection screen allowing you to display corporate presentations, TV images and videos or if you own a shop front your very own shop front billboard! There are two primary classifications of smart glass: active or passive. The most common active glass technologies used today are electrochromic, liquid crystal, and suspended particle devices (SPD). Thermochromic and photochromic are classified as passive technologies. [2] Goode, Lauren (January 3, 2020). "OnePlus Shows Off a Phone With a Disappearing Rear Camera". Wired . Retrieved 15 July 2022.

Please note each installation is different, based upon the overall quantity of material required and its location. For smaller, less typical projects (generally less than 10m2) the cost per m2 could increase significantly. This is perhaps one of the more complex questions we are asked by customers, especially when they do not fully understand their own requirements in context of what is offered. The difference in cost between the potential Switchable Smart Glass options are vast, with various products to choose from that fall under the ‘Smart Window’ category, so it is of critical importance that customers work with the Intelligent Glass sales team to figure out the best option for them. Smart Windows in Doors Working with some of world's biggest brands, Intelligent Glass boast a reputation of quality and care, trusted by world-class experts and blue-chip companies on ambitious Switchable Smart Glass projects of all kinds. The protective liner on the adhesive side should only be peeled away after the Smart Film® has been applied to the glass and all air bubbles have been pressed away with a squeegee.

SWITCHABLE SMART FILM FEATURES

Flexibility: Switchable film gives you the power to transform your office from bright working space to private meeting space totally secluded for sensitive issues with the press of a button May, Tiffany (19 August 2020). "Tokyo Now Has Transparent Public Toilets". The New York Times . Retrieved 15 July 2022. ICE 3 high speed trains use electrochromic glass panels between the passenger compartment and the driver's cabin. Eureka Tower in Melbourne has a glass cube which projects 3m (10ft) out from the building with visitors inside, suspended almost 300m (984ft) above the ground. When one enters, the glass is opaque as the cube moves out over the edge of the building. Once fully extended over the edge, the glass becomes clear. Bombardier to Feature Vision Systems' Nuance With SPD-SmartGlass From Research Frontiers at InnoTrans 2014 in Berlin, Germany". CNN Money. 2014-09-18. Archived from the original on 2014-09-19. This electronically dimmable window technology provides unsurpassed thermal insulation: SPD-SmartGlass substantially rejects solar heat from entering through windows. When compared to conventional automotive glass, Mercedes-Benz reported that the use of SPD-SmartGlass significantly reduced the temperature inside the vehicle by up to 18 °F/10 °C. This increases passenger comfort and reduces air conditioning loads, thereby saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions.

Recent advances in electrochromic materials pertaining to transition-metal hydride electrochromics have led to the development of reflective hydrides, which become reflective rather than absorbing, and thus switch states between transparent and mirror-like.

In polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal devices (PDLCs), liquid crystals are dissolved or dispersed into a liquid polymer followed by solidification or curing of the polymer. During the change of the polymer from a liquid to solid, the liquid crystals become incompatible with the solid polymer and form droplets throughout the solid polymer. The curing conditions affect the size of the droplets that in turn affect the final operating properties of the "smart window". Typically, the liquid mix of polymer and liquid crystals is placed between two layers of glass or plastic that include a thin layer of a transparent, conductive material followed by curing of the polymer, thereby forming the basic sandwich structure of the smart window. This structure is in effect a capacitor. The latest generation of Switchable Smart Window Film provides a simple, affordable alternative to other ‘intelligent glass’ solutions, for a wide range of applications. The following table shows an overview of the different electrically switchable smart glass technologies:

Chinese phone manufacturer OnePlus demonstrated a phone whose rear cameras are placed behind a pane of electrochromic glass. [23]In lamination, a glass fabricator cuts a sheet of PDLC or SPD film and seals it between two panes of glass. Production takes an average of about four weeks depending on supplier. Then a glazier or partition company installs the glass, and an electrician connects it to the power source. Installation time depends on project size and the installer’s schedule.

Custom shapes and sizes are available and multiple pieces can be joined together to create large switchable glazed panels or partitions. Electrodes from a power supply are attached to the transparent electrodes. With no applied voltage, the liquid crystals are randomly arranged in the droplets, resulting in scattering of light as it passes through the smart window assembly. This results in the translucent, "milky white" appearance. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the electric field formed between the two transparent electrodes on the glass causes the liquid crystals to align, allowing light to pass through the droplets with very little scattering and resulting in a transparent state. The degree of transparency can be controlled by the applied voltage. This is possible because at lower voltages, only a few of the liquid crystals align completely in the electric field, so only a small portion of the light passes through while most of the light is scattered. As the voltage is increased, fewer liquid crystals remain out of alignment, resulting in less light being scattered. It is also possible to control the amount of light and heat passing through, when tints and special inner layers are used. a b Bamfield, P. (2010). Chromic phenomena: technological applications of colour chemistry. Michael G. Hutchings (2nded.). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-1-84973-103-4. OCLC 642685904. Everything You Ever Needed to Know (and More!) About Smart Glass". Technavio. 20 Aug 2014 . Retrieved 1 Feb 2023.

Smart Windows help to open up worlds of possibilities when it comes to creative interior design that can be practical, functional and stylish. With applications ranging from incredible rear projection retail window displays to ‘smart home’ innovations that transform your living space, Switchable Smart Glass windows are a versatile and effective solution to a range of needs. How do Smart Windows work?