| | | Three key takeaways from the Gentex article:
1. Timing still an issue
Though slower to dim than suspended particle display (SPD) technology, Gentex windows offer reliability, with mean time between failures “in the tens of millions of flight hours,” and complete black-out capability, said Behm, citing a total opaque dimming time of “under 30 seconds.”
2. Windows still clear when airliner parked on ramp
Behm noted his dimmable windows do require electricity to darken, so when the aircraft is parked on a ramp with engines shut down, the windows are transparent, allowing light, heat, and perhaps unwanted eyes inside the aircraft. But Gentex recently entered a technical agreement with ATG to produce electromechanical shades for Gentex, incorporating a design change that creates a combo electronic/electromechanical dimming system. Gentex can now offer high-end products for both the dimmable and pleated fabric shade markets, Behm noted, the latter allowing for a “harmonized interior experience.”
3. PPG:
Gentex’s windows formerly had been marketed by PPG as the Alteos Interactive Window, but Gentex is handling marketing in-house now. “We felt we could manage our product ourselves,” said Behm. PPG has since signed a marketing agreement with Gentex competitor Vision Systems of France. |
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