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| Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section. Here you will find a wide range of helpful information. For your convenience, the FAQ section is organized into five different categories. Select a category listed at the left to take you to questions and answers related to that category. |
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| Introduction to SPD Technology |
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| What is SPD technology? |
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| Suspended particle device (SPD) technology is a patented technology developed and licensed by Research Frontiers Incorporated. It allows users to control the amount of light, glare and heat passing through glass or plastic products such as windows, skylights, doors, sunroofs, visors, eyewear and more. |
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| How does SPD technology work? |
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| SPD-Smart products are made with SPD film patented by Research Frontiers. Within this film are 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 with a simple switch or other control device, users instantly regulate the amount of light, glare and heat coming through products such as windows. |
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| Is there a more detailed description of how SPD technology works? |
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| Suspended particle devices, more commonly known as "SPDs" or "light valves," use a film within which droplets of liquid suspension are distributed. Light-absorbing microscopic particles are dispersed within the liquid suspension. The film is then enclosed between two glass or plastic plates coated with a transparent conductive material. The particles are randomly oriented due to Brownian motion and absorb light. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles align due to a field effect and light passes through. This gives users a range of transparency where light transmission can be rapidly varied depending upon the amount of voltage applied. Research Frontiers currently holds over 500 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications covering light-control technology. |
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| What does it mean to say products have been made SPD-Smart? |
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| SPD-Smart products integrate and are transformed by Research Frontiers’ patented SPD technology. This proprietary, film-based technology offers the ability to instantly and precisely control the amount of light, glare and heat passing through windows, skylights and many other products. Light can be controlled in many ways – manually using a switch, automatically using a light sensor or timer, or remotely using a centralized network that can include wireless control systems. |
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| What kinds of products can be made SPD-Smart? |
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| A number of products in various applications can be made SPD-Smart. These include:
architectural windows, doors, skylights and partitions
aerospace windows, doors and partitions
automotive sunroofs, side and rear windows, visors, mirrors
appliance windows and doors on refrigerators, ovens, microwaves
marine windows, doors, hatches and partitions
prescription and non-prescription glasses, goggles and helmet visors
advertising signage and displays, computer screens, cell phones and light filters.
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| What are the unique features of SPD-Smart products? |
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| SPD-Smart products are made with patented SPD film. This film provides an unequalled combination of performance benefits, including:
almost instantaneous control of light, glare and heat manually or automatically
wide range of light transmission from dark to clear
fast and consistent switching speed, regardless of panel size
more than 99% protection from damaging ultraviolet (UV) light
ability to be integrated into a wide variety of glass or plastic materials
ability to be produced with curves or irregular patterns
durability
low haze
extremely low power consumption
impact resistance
noise reduction. |
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| What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart products to end-users? |
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| Products using SPD technology provide significant benefits to end-users, including:
almost instantaneous control of light, glare and heat
improved aesthetics, comfort and privacy
greater security
energy savings
cost-effectiveness relative to other light-control technologies
low maintenance
wide range of light-control without loss of view
close to 100% light blockage for privacy or room darkening
protection of interior furnishings and other valuable items from UV damage.
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| SPD technology is film-based. What are the advantages? |
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| Making SPD-Smart light-control products using SPD film is inherently easier than doing so in other ways. Film-based SPD technology offers many advantages to companies interested in producing SPD-Smart products. For example, SPD film:
can be applied to curved surfaces, thus expanding the scope of potential end-products
can be laminated within glass or plastic, thus minimizing the risk of air and moisture infiltration
offers retrofit possibilities for products such as architectural windows and automotive sunroofs
can be mass-produced on high-speed coaters, yielding economies of scale.
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| How is SPD film incorporated into an SPD-Smart product? |
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| The process by which SPD film is incorporated into SPD-Smart™ end-products such as windows, skylights and sunroofs is straightforward. SPD film is laminated between either glass or plastic material, with the film covering the entire surface of the substrate. Once the film is in place, leads on the film are connected to standard electrical wiring systems that are found in homes, buildings or vehicles. The leads easily can be connected to a battery as well. After the SPD-Smart product is installed, the amount of light transmitted through the glass or plastic can be controlled manually, automatically or remotely. |
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| In addition to glass products, can SPD film be applied to plastic products as well? |
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| Yes. This is another advantage of SPD technology, particularly when one wants to use SPD light-control technology for weight-sensitive applications (e.g. aircraft, automobiles) or applications where the use of plastic is required for strength, flexibility and durability. |
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| Can existing products be converted so that they become SPD-Smart? |
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| In addition to the market for new "smart" products (e.g. windows, doors, skylights, automotive sunroofs) there is a substantial market for products that convert or retrofit existing products into SPD-Smart end-products. Research Frontiers has developed proprietary methods for converting existing windows into SPD-Smart windows.
In the future there may be two types of SPD-Smart products for existing windows. The first method may involve affixing SPD film to existing glass in a retrofit application. This likely would be ideal for many architectural and automotive light-control needs. The second application may involve the development of SPD-Smart window coverings using Research Frontiers’ patented methods. These coverings could be sunshade products that fit over existing windows or sunroofs.
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| Can you tell me more about the wiring of SPD-Smart windows? |
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| The power supply for SPD-Smart architectural windows is very simple. The only item that is needed is a control switch (e.g. a rheostat) with circuitry to reduce the amperage coming from a building’s voltage line. This circuitry is needed because SPD-Smart products are operated using milliamps per square foot while a household’s line voltage is much greater. More advanced systems also can be used that provide greater automation, wireless control and integration into a building’s master control system. In vehicle applications where the SPD-Smart end-products are powered by DC voltage, the circuitry also includes an inverter to change the direct current to alternating current. |
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