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Research Frontiers and SPD Technology
Can you tell me more about Research Frontiers Incorporated?
Research Frontiers is a publicly held company (Nasdaq: REFR) with headquarters in Woodbury, NY. The company has more than 360 patents and patent applications worldwide covering SPD applications. Our company does not manufacture SPD products. Rather, we grant rights to use our proprietary SPD light-control technology to other companies that will produce or market SPD materials (SPD emulsion or film) or the end-products that use these materials. End-product applications for SPD technology are growing and include: architectural windows and interior partitions, window covering products, skylights, aircraft windows and cabin partitions, automotive products (e.g. sunroofs, mirrors and windows), eyewear and flat panel displays.
What are SPD-Smart™ products?
SPD-Smart™ products are products that integrate Research Frontiers’ proprietary SPD (suspended particle device) technology. This film-based technology allows users to instantly and precisely control how clear or dark glass or plastic is, and to adjust the light transmission by either turning a knob or having the device adjust itself by means of a photocell or other common sensing or control device (e.g. a rheostat). In an SPD-Smart™ product, microscopic particles within the film become aligned when a small electrical current is applied. The greater the current applied, the more aligned the particles are, and the larger the amount of light transmitted through the SPD-Smart™ product. When no electrical current is applied, the particles are randomly dispersed within the film and light is blocked from being transmitted through the glass or plastic. SPD technology is a revolutionary technology in that it offers many important benefits. For example, SPDs:
Operate off of ordinary AC voltage or battery power.
Require very little power (less than 0.06 watts per square foot).
Change tint almost instantly (1-2 seconds for complete change).
Change tint uniformly over the entire surface area, regardless of size.
Are adjustable over a wide range of light transmission levels.
Operate over a very wide temperature range.
Are highly durable (successfully tested at millions of on/off cycles).
Can be bent or rolled.
Mass-commercialization of SPD film and SPD-Smart™ products began in January 2002. Companies that produce and/or market these items develop their own production systems and marketing programs. They also make decisions regarding their SPD-Smart™ product mixes, pricing structure, distribution system and sample programs.
What advantages does film offer users of SPD technology?
At their most fundamental level, SPD-Smart™ products contain SPD film. Making light-control products using a 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 which expands the scope of potential end-products.
Minimizes concerns about leakage.
Opens up retrofit possibilities for products like architectural windows and automotive sunroofs.
Can be mass-produced on high-speed coaters and easily integrated into end-products.
What types of products can be made SPD-Smart™?
A growing number of product applications can benefit from SPD technology. These include:
Architectural windows, window coverings, skylights and interior partitions.
Automotive windows, mirrors, sunroofs, sunvisors and sunshades.
Sunglasses, prescription glasses, ski goggles, helmets and visors.
Brighter, easier-to-read display screens for laptop computers, cellular telephones, instrument panels, electronic games and devices such as personal digital assistants.
Point-of-purchase and advertising displays, billboards and road signs.
How does SPD technology work?
Suspended particle devices, more frequently described as "SPDs" or "light valves," use either a liquid suspension or a film within which droplets of liquid suspension are distributed. Light-absorbing microscopic particles are dispersed within the liquid suspension. The liquid suspension or film is then enclosed between two glass or plastic plates coated with a transparent conductive material. When an electrical voltage is applied, the particles are forced to align. This gives users a range of transparency where light transmission can be rapidly varied to any degree desired depending upon the voltage applied. Research Frontiers currently holds over 360 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications covering light-control technology.
What are some of the benefits of SPD-Smart™ products to end-users?
Products using SPD technology provide significant benefits to end-users. These benefits include:
Nearly instantaneous control of light.
Improvement in users’ comfort and privacy.
Greater security.
Energy savings.
Cost-effectiveness relative to either custom shades or other smart window technologies.
Durability.
Specific control over the exact amount of light transmitted.
Wide range of light transmission levels without the blocking of one’s view.
Protection of interior furniture and other valuable items from UV damage.
Exceptional optical qualities.
Elimination of the need for expensive window dressings like drapes, blinds and shades that are used in architectural applications
I want to stay informed about SPD technology. How can I learn more?
Research Frontiers’ website offers consumers, product manufacturers and other businesses the opportunity to obtain more information about SPD technology. Please select the product application you are interested in for more information.
How can my company get in involved in the production or distribution of SPD-Smart™ products?
If your company manufactures products that could benefit from SPD technology (e.g. window products, automotive products, display products), you may wish to explore the extraordinary business opportunities available to those who make SPD-SmartTM products. Our brochure provides a detailed overview of SPD technology plus a description of the SPD supply infrastructure and selected performance data.
I’m interested in buying SPD-Smart™ products. How can I get in contact with a dealer of SPD products in my area?
Getting in touch with an SPD product supplier is easy. The best way to get in contact with an SPD product supplier is to select the product application you are most interested in and you will be directed to the relevant supplier.
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Controlling Light with SPDs
How does a user control the tint of an SPD product?
The level of light transmission in SPD-Smart™ products can be controlled quickly, easily and precisely. This is accomplished manually with a "dimmer" switch or automatically using a rheostat, a photocell, or any other sensing or common control device. In addition, simple control switches can be used to simultaneously regulate light transmission in a group or panel of SPD-SmartTM products, such as a bank of architectural windows or the side and rear windows of an automobile.
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SPD Performance Characteristics
What is the range of changeable light transmission?
While a wide variety of light transmission ranges are possible, SPD-Smart™ products initially are being produced with the transmission ranges most desired by the marketplace (0.5-22%, 2-35%, 4-43% and 12-57%). It is likely that light additional light transmission ranges will become available in the future.
Is the light transmission of SPD-Smart™ products continuously changeable?
Yes. One major advantage of SPD technology is that the user can "tune" or adjust light transmission instantly to meet a user’s specific preferences.
Are there any unwanted colors with SPD technology?
No. The light absorbing particles currently used in SPD technology efficiently block all areas of the visible spectrum except for dark blue. Thus, when in the "off" (dark) state, the SPD-Smart™ products have a blue hue because dark blue light is the only light being transmitted. However this tint is basically color neutral so you will be able to see different colors through SPD windows and other products.
What is the largest possible size of a product using SPD technology?
Unlike electrochromic light control products, which exhibit some performance degradation as the size of a medium (a window, for example) increases, the response time of SPD technology is not affected by size. The only limiting factor to the size of an SPD-Smart™ product is the width of the coating web presses used to make SPD film. These machines typically coat 5- and 6-foot wide regular films. Thus, Research Frontiers expects that its SPD film suppliers will offer SPD film in sizes up to this width. Currently, SPD film and SPD-Smart™ glass is being produced with a maximum width of 1.2 meters (47.24 inches). Large SPD-Smart™ glass panels up to 98.4 inches tall are currently available in flat or curved glass.
What is the amount of time needed for an SPD-Smart™ product to change tint?
Typically, a complete tint change takes about one to two seconds, regardless of the size of the product (e.g. a small car window or a large commercial window).
What is the operating temperature range of SPD technology?
SPD technology has been shown to work at temperatures from -40C to +120C (-40F to +248F). At temperatures below -40C, the switching speed may slow somewhat. However, even at such an unusually cold temperature, SPD’s switching speed still is significantly faster than that of a product using electrochromic technology.
About how much power is needed to power an SPD-Smart™ product?
At line voltage, SPD-Smart™ products typically use a maximum of about 0.06 watts of power per square foot. This occurs when the SPD product is in its fully clear state. No power is used when the product is in the fully dark state. When operating at light transmission levels in between these two points, the power requirements are correspondingly lower than the maximum. SPD devices can operate at a wide range of voltages and frequencies, but have maximum efficiency in the 5 to 60 volt range. Exact voltage depends in part upon the thickness of the SPD film used for a specific application.
What is the expected lifetime of SPD film?
Based on testing by Research Frontiers, SPD film performs well even after years of continuous on and off cycling (millions of cycles). In addition, SPD film’s performance does not appear to be adversely affected by power surges or other significant electrical impacts. Conversely, electrochromic products have been shown to be adversely affected by even minor electrical surges.
What kinds of weight considerations are posed by the use of SPD-Smart™ products?
SPD film can be produced as thin as 1/1000 of an inch thick or less. Thus, the incremental weight of the film is minuscule. The film is then surrounded by conductive-coated glass or plastic that can be as thick or as thin as one would like. The only additional weight is for the small gauge wiring and switches needed to operate SPD-Smart™ products. In some cases such as window applications, the minimal incremental weight of the film, wiring and switches likely will be more than offset by the avoidance of the need for shades, blinds or curtains.
What are the properties of SPD film in terms of the risk of toxicity, fire or explosion?
The product inputs used to produce SPD film are not hazardous nor are they flammable. In fact, SPD film has passed stringent FAA flammability tests for use in aircraft.
Can you tell me more about the wiring of SPD-Smart™ windows?
The power supply for a SPD-Smart™ architectural windows is very simple. The only item that is needed is a control switch (e.g. a rheostat) with some basic circuitry to reduce the amperage coming from a household’s voltage line. This circuitry is needed because SPDs are operated using milliamps per square foot while a household’s line voltage is much greater than that which is needed to operate the SPD.
In automotive, eyewear and private jet applications where the SPD-Smart™ product is powered by a DC power source, the circuitry also includes an inverter to change the direct current to alternating current. Note: large commercial jets have 115 volts AC running through them so an inverter is not needed.
What are the voltage requirements of SPD-Smart™ products?
SPD-Smart™ products default to the dark state when no power is applied. This dark state can be tailored to the requirements of the particular product application. For example, SPD film can be produced so that the dark state is opaque (i.e. when the application stresses privacy, as in a bathroom window or conference room partition) or can be produced so that the dark state is somewhat light-transmissive. An example of the latter is for an eyewear application where one would never want one’s sunglasses to be completely opaque. The degree of tint or darkness can be varied by changing the concentration of particles used in the SPD film. In the fully transmissive state (achieved when voltage is applied and the maximum amount of light passes through the SPD Smart™ product), SPD devices consume less than 0.06 watts per square foot of surface area. If the SPD Smart™ product were set to be only semi-transparent (e.g. halfway between the darkest and lightest states), it would use proportionally less power, or about 0.03 watts per square foot or less.
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SPDs and Energy Conservation
How do SPD-Smart™ products affect the transmission of infrared (IR) light?
When used in combination with other coatings, SPD smart windows, skylights, sunshades and sunvisors can significantly reduce the transmission of IR light which causes heat. When heat is transmitted through windows, for example, this increases cooling needs in the summer and heating needs in the winter. Office buildings consume $150 billion of energy each year, and lose at least 25% of their total energy use through conventional windows. If smart windows were used, this would result in an energy savings of more than $20 billion per year (Solar Industry Association). In addition, research shows that smart windows could reduce peak electric loads by 20%-30% in commercial buildings (MIT graduate study). Additional research indicates the average residential home spends about $80 per month for energy. A home with smart windows could cut this to as little as $50 per month, a 37% total energy savings (Solar Industry Association). Further, a 2000 study of U.S. window manufacturers ranked "reduction glare and heat" and "UV protection" as being among the most important attributes to end-users (Townsend Research). Heating and cooling costs can be reduced using SPD-Smart™ architectural windows and skylights, SPD-Smart™ aircraft windows, and SPD-Smart™ automobile windows and sunroofs in automotive vehicles.
How do SPD-Smart™ products affect the transmission of visible light?
SPD-Smart™ windows, skylights, sunshades and sunvisors allow users to control the amount of visible light passing through the glass or plastic in these products. These smart products reduce solar build-up as well as reducing the the need for artificial indoor/interior lighting, thereby reducing energy consumption, and for many, increasing the level of comfort and sense of well-being. In an effort to reduce glare, for example, the windows of many commercial buildings are permanently tinted, which then requires more lighting inside the building than that which is optimally needed. Residential homes using window experience a similar limitation. Natural day lighting, which can be regulated using SPD-Smart™ products, has been shown to improve health and well-being, and thus its regulation is considered by many to have a strong influence on one’s attitude and productivity.
How do SPD-Smart™ products affect the transmission of ultra-violet (UV) light?
SPD-Smart™ windows, skylights, sunshades and sunvisors also significantly block harmful UV light. In so doing, SPD-Smart™ products:
Reduce the fading of carpets, furniture, and automotive interiors.
Protect valuable artwork.
Protect skin from damaging UV rays.
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Using SPD film with Glass or Plastic
In addition to glass products, can SPD technology be applied to plastic products as well?
Yes. This is another of the major advantages of SPD technology, particularly when one desires to use it for weight-sensitive applications (e.g. commercial buildings, aircraft) or applications where using plastic instead of glass for strength, flexibility, and durability is important.
How is SPD film incorporated into an SPD-Smart™ product?
The process by which SPD film is incorporated into SPD-Smart™ products such as a windows and skylights is relatively simple. SPD film is placed between either glass or plastic material, with the film covering the entire surface of the product. Once the film is in place, "leads" on the film are connected to standard electrical wiring systems that, for example, are found in homes, buildings or vehicles. The leads also can be easily connected to a battery. After the SPD-Smart™ product is installed, the amount of light transmitted can be controlled manually or automatically.
How are existing products made SPD-Smart™?
In addition to the market for new "smart" products (e.g. windows, skylights, automotive mirrors) there’s a substantial market for products that convert or retrofit existing products into SPD-Smart™ products. To this point, there have been no stated time frames for the availability of SPD-Smart™ products of this type. However, companies are actively studying the opportunity to service this market. Research Frontiers has developed proprietary methods for converting existing windows into SPD-Smart™ windows and will be granting rights to use these methods.
It is likely that in the future there will be two types of SPD-Smart™ products for existing windows. The first method involves 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 involves the development of SPD-Smart™ window coverings. These could be sunshade products that fit over existing windows or sunroofs. Also, due to the flexible nature of the SPD film, SPD-Smart™ "shades" can be made using this film.
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Markets for SPD-Smart™ Products
Can you tell me about the market potential for SPD-Smart™ products?
The market potential for light-control products, and SPD-Smart™ products in particular, is large and wide-ranging. A syndicated research study released in February 2001 by The Freedonia Group forecasted that the world market for flat glass will reach 42 billion square feet (approximately 3.9 billion square meters) by 2004. Linking these data to results from earlier research by this company yield a market growing at a compound annual rate of 4.1% and with these annual market sizes:
Year
Number of Square Feet
2001
37,313,304,192
2002
38,843,149,664
2003
40,435,718,800
2004
42,093,583,271
The market data from the Freedonia study pertain only to new flat glass produced. Of course, there is a significant market for the retrofitting of existing glass products like windows and sunroofs. While the availability of data in this area is sparse, it is estimated that at approximately 290 billion square feet of flat glass already exists worldwide.
Some information exists regarding the expected penetration of switchable ("smart") products in the United States. A nationwide study by the Townsend Research Group of US window manufacturers found that decision makers at these companies expect that 3.6% of all residential windows and 6.2% of all commercial windows will be "smart" by 2005. A slide presentation and technical papers with the results of this study are available. |
