Folks -
I am posting the answers to my earlier technical questions that have been forwarded to me by the company. I make no representations about the accuracy of these answers and am only repeating what was in an email.
1. If no electric current is applied to the window, will it be light or dark?
With no voltage applied, an SPD film reverts to its darkest state. This is not necessarily opaque since one can tailor chemically how dark the film gets in its off state.
2A. How much power is consumed per square foot when the window is dark?
No power
2B Light?
About 60 watts (ie power for one dim light bulb) would be needed to make 100 square feet (about 10 windows) fully transparent. This negligible power consumption should be more than offset by energy savings.
3. What voltage levels are required? Current? AC/DC?
5-7 volts for SPD displays. We use line voltage (110 volts) for windows because that's what's running through most people's homes. Current is miniscule (see answer to question 2B). We use AC current (just like liquid crystal displays). Because of low current and fact that it is easy and cheap to invert battery powered dc to ac, and step up voltage, we actually have Hankuk's casement window running off of a 9 VOLT RADIO BATTERY with the dc voltage converted to ac and stepped up to line voltage.
4. What is the cost per square foot of glass? What is the cost per square foot for the glass alone on some of the office buildings that are being targeted? What percentage of this cost is materials, what percentage is labor?
The selling price is up to our licensees. Their raw materials cost should be dirt cheap, enabling them eventually (as more licensees enter into the market and cause competition) to drive the selling price way down. Graeme Fairlie from MSC is quoted in the Wall Street Journal article as saying that the SPD feature should add about $15 per square foot to the consumer's cost of a window. Not bad when one considers energy savings and the money avoided on expensive window shades, blinds, curtains, etc.
They also mentioned that although I had pointed out that 2 of the patents had expired, the core technology was covered by patents dating from 1991 to 1995 and would not expire for some time.
I am not making comments on these answers, only sharing them - you'll have to confirm with the company if you want to make an investment decision. Send me private email if you want to discuss.
Thanks,
Jon |
