I am looking for a Plastic or Glass sheet material or thin film
technology.
This material/film must
-be clear but when an electrical current is passed through it must
become opaque or tinted.
-be relatively thin (1mm-6mm).
-change from clear to opaque and back again quite rapidly (1-2
seconds)
-require a relatively small energy input to initiate the change.
I would like a list of suppliers that are able to supply a
material/technology that will meet these requirements.
I am willing to pay a sizeable tip above what I am willing to pay for
this initial information for info that leads to me successfully
locating a material that meets my needs. |
Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
06 Jan 2003 19:11 PST
I have done a fair amount of research, and have come to realize that
each of the three technologies currently on the market do not
technically meet all of the specifications you have listed. The first
and second options are not clear to start with but can be made clear
when an electrical current is passed through it. (These options
require constant electricity to remain less than either opaque (first
option) or darkly tinted (second option); the third option remains in
the selected degree of tint even when the electricity is shut off.)
The second and third options cannot be made completely opaque, but
rather can block varying amounts of light, from none to most. (The
first option can only be opaque or clear, with no gradations in
between.) The third option does not respond as fast as you want.
(The second option takes 1-2 seconds to change from clear to darkly
tinted or back again, and the first option is fastest at going from
clear to opaque or back.) The first option requires about 1 watt per
square foot, which might be more electricity than you want. All three
options are thin enough.
Given all of this, do you think that any of these options would be
suitable? If so, I can provide an answer.
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Clarification of Question by
jkwool-ga
on
08 Jan 2003 00:46 PST
Thanks for your research, I have included some additional information
below that may be useful. I have also logically summarised the
features of the three materials and posed a couple of questions for
each.
Additional information:
This material will:
- be clear for approximately 95% of the time
- be used away from mains power running off 12-24 volts of DC battery
power
- Does not need to be completely opaque/tinted just enough to obscure
vision through it
- Will be used in sections approximately 10cm * 30cm (4in * 12in)
Option 1 features
Not clear with no electrical current running through it
This product is Opaque
Can only be opaque or clear
Less than 1 second from opaque to clear
About 1watt/foot^2
Questions:
Does this product go completely clear?
Is this product commercially available
Option 2 features
Not clear with no electrical current running through it
This option is darkly tinted
Can not be made completely opaque
1-2 Seconds from dark tint to clear
Questions:
Does this product go completely clear?
How much power is required to keep this product clear
Is this product commercially available
Option 3 features
Remains at the certain level of tint when the electricity is shut off
Can not be made completely opaque
Slow to respond
Questions:
Does this product go completely clear?
How do you get the product to change to the various levels of opacity
How much power is required to change this products opacity?
Is this product commercially available
Based on all of this Option 2 looks the closest to being what I
require. My biggest concern is the fact that this material needs to be
clear most of the time and this product requires power to make it
clear. What is the power requirement for this material for the size as
specified above in the additional information?
Based on the additional information that I have supplied are there any
other materials available that would meet my needs?
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Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
09 Jan 2003 19:34 PST
All three options are commercially available.
Option 1 goes to 70% transparency.
Option 2 currently comes in four light transmission ranges -- 0.5-22%,
2-35%, 4-43% and 12-57% -- which are continuously changeable by the
user. It requires 0.06 watts per square foot to remain in the
clearest state.
The clearest version of Option 3 goes to 70% transparency; the light
transmission is changeable (I believe continuously) by the user. A
house of windows with this glass requires less energy than a 75-watt
light bulb. (I haven't found the energy per square foot, and I'm not
sure if this is the figure for maintenance of the clearest state, but
that gives you an idea.)
If you think that one of these options would be a sufficient answer, I
will provide information on it (as well as mention the other two
options), and will look again to see if there are similar options.
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Request for Question Clarification by
hlabadie-ga
on
10 Jan 2003 12:34 PST
Are you looking for a liquid crystal shutter (also called a
ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter -- FLCS)? If so, then see:
FLCS
http://www.crlopto.com/technology/ferroelcdispl.htm
http://www.crlopto.com/technology/3DLCshutter.htm
Custom LCS
http://www.crlopto.com/products/datasheets/files/Custom-shutters.pdf
and
http://www.displaytech.com/downloads/Shutters.pdf
hlabadie-ga
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