At the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which begins in Las Vegas on January 6, Continental will be showcasing an innovative automatic tint technology. The demo vehicle to be exhibited features “Intelligent Glass Control.” It uses special films inserted into the glass and it can change its transparency through electric control signals, at the touch of a button.
Up until now, this kind of auto-tinting film has only been feasible in the roof area for a small number of high-end cars, such as Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Sky Control system (pictured below) that is offered on the SL, SLK, S-Class Coupe and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Now, Continental says it’s ready to be used on all-around windows.
Engineers at Continental will exhibit what it calls a “suspended particle device” film. It is based on embedded particles which can arrange themselves randomly when not activated. If a voltage is applied, the particles align themselves in parallel, so as to allow light to pass through in both directions.
According to Andreas Wolf, head of Continental’s body and security business unit, the windows can automatically lighten when approaching the vehicle with a key or smartphone. In addition to that, the technology brings about several benefits, including lower CO2 emissions through a cooler interior.
“We can keep the heat out of the vehicle and significantly reduce the interior temperature,” Wolf said. He added that with the tech, it “relieves” the air conditioning unit, which can then be smaller, more efficient and lighter. Furthermore, sun visors and mechanical blinds can be omitted as well.
According to him, calculations showed reduced CO2 emissions by four grammes per km. This gives electric vehicles an increased range of 5.5%. Secondly, it provides added safety and privacy, “if the vehicle is parked, the windows darken automatically, so the inside of the vehicle cannot be seen from the outside,” Wolf said.
It comes at a price, the technology. The brand says that the the self-tinting tech is still rather expensive, but it’s anticipated that prices will drop quickly as initial applications are taking place in the mobile area. As a reference, other film technologies are based on liquid crystal polymers or electrochromism.
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Many jungle champions from mahreshia will be very angry trying to prevent this technology here from saving you from sun-burn skin cancer or heatiness, they reason that more criminals can hide behind these tint window vehicle!!!
LOL
I have mentioned this technology in my previous comment.
Well, they are not entirely wrong. Many of these criminals hide behind the dark tinted windows and are escorted wherever they go.
Badabummm!!
this technologies had long exist in the building industrial called as magic glass..you might recalled it was show in some Hollywood movies decades back, the technologies behind is all depend on the light source that able to opal the glass with illuminated the edged. it’s was almost USD 1000 per meter run during that time, now thanks to made in china the price came down to almost rm100..
if the vehicle is parked, the windows darken automatically, so the inside of the vehicle cannot be seen from the outside,
I’ll park my car right in the middle of bukit bintang and make love with my gf there…lol
it’ll be the best 30 sen spent on parking yet
Why not utilize TRANSITION technology to these glass, like how our spectacle TRANSITION lenses work? Photo chromatic particles that react to UV rays in sunlight. That will be cool
Coming out from a long tunnel will be shit. Those transition lenses don’t transition fast.
“initial applications are taking place in the mobile area”
Can you be more specific? Does Continental have a launch customer? Thanks.