Diversified Control Switchable Smart Glass For Office Partition Screens

Diversified Control Switchable Smart Glass For Office Partition Screens​

Switchable Smart Glass Introduction

Switchable Smart Glass or switchable glass (also smart windows or switchable windows in those applications) is a glass or glazing whose light transmission properties are altered when voltage, light or heat is applied. Generally, the glass changes from translucent to transparent, changing from blocking some (or all) wavelengths of light to letting light pass through.

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.

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.

Smart Glass is such a versatile solution. It can be used in partition screens, windows, roof-lights and doors, security & teller screens and even serve as an excellent HD projection screen. Such is the beauty and flexibility of the product, architects and designers continue to find new and innovative uses for it.

Switchable privacy glass products can be used in residential and commercial buildings alike. As architects and designers explore the boundaries of switchable privacy glass and turn conventional perspectives of glass on their head, it is expected that the market will continue to grow and expand into new and innovative uses of privacy glass.

Switchable Smart Glass Application:

• Hospitality – Hotel room privacy screen, bathroom or bedroom privacy screen, external windows, doors, conference center windows and roof-lights, Bar & Restaurant screens, Toilet cubicles, balustrades and balconies.
• Commercial – Office partition screens, doors and windows, roof-lights.
• Healthcare – Sheer easily cleaned surfaces that allow patient privacy and dignity at the flick of a switch. Fire rated hospital doors, Moveable privacy screens, and X-ray protection screens.
• Security – Cell doors and windows, vision panels, entrance foyer, teller and cash counting screens.
• Industrial – Machinery screening, roof-lights, doors, components.
• Rail – Driver privacy and security screens.
• Showroom – Projection windows, vanity screens, feature screens.
• Projection – Internal or external high resolution rear projection screens

Switchable Smart Glass Description:

How does switchable privacy glass work?

Through the application of an electrical current the properties of the glass change turning it from opaque to clear in less than 0.01 seconds. This transformation to opaque and back again can be triggered from a range of wall switches, remote controls, movement sensors, light sensors or timers, depending on each customer’s individual needs. Numerous variations of privacy switchable glass can be supplied including colour tinted, fire rated, double glazed, curved and shaped privacy glass.

The original ON/OFF switchable smart glass is a laminated glass panel with a polymer dispersed liquid crystal interlayer film (PDLC). It offers instant privacy at the flick of a switch by changing its state from transparent to opaque and vice versa through a small electrical current.

Once activated, Electric Glass turns transparent for as long as the transformer is running. When the electrical current stops, the electric smart glass instantly returns to an opaque state.