Smart glass is a type of glazing that can switch between opaque and transparent (or dimmed) states in response to an electrical signal, enabling on-demand privacy, light control, and solar shading. The core idea is that a thin switchable film or coating inside the glass reconfigures its internal structure when voltage is applied, altering how light passes through. Key technologies

• PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal): Tiny liquid crystal droplets are dispersed in a polymer layer. When no voltage is applied, the crystals scatter light and the panel looks opaque. When voltage is applied, the crystals align, the layer becomes transparent, and light passes through. The level of transparency can be tuned by adjusting the applied voltage.
• SPD (Suspended Particle Device): Microscopic pigmented particles are suspended in a film. Without voltage, the particles orient randomly and block light (opacity). With voltage, an electric field aligns the particles to allow light to pass, producing varying degrees of dimming or transparency.
• Electrochromic (EC) glass: A different mechanism where electrochemical reactions within an electrochromic layer change the color or tint of the glass gradually as voltage is applied, and it can revert when the voltage is removed or reversed. Unlike PDLC/SPD, EC glass typically never becomes fully opaque and tends to tint rather than completely block all light.

How the control works

• A power source or controller supplies a precise voltage to the conductive layers (often ITO-coated glass) adjacent to the switchable film or electrochromic layer.
• For PDLC and SPD, applying voltage reorients molecules or particles to permit light transmission; removing voltage returns the material to a light-scattering or blocking state.
• For electrochromic glass, ions move into or out of the electrochromic layer under applied voltage, changing the tint level in a reversible, gradual manner.

installation and form factors

• Smart glass can be a retrofit film applied to existing glazing or built directly into the glass during manufacturing.
• It can be integrated with wall-mounted switches, remote controls, mobile apps, or building automation systems for automated shading, privacy on demand, or energy management.
• Solutions vary in speed (how quickly they switch), contrast (opacity vs translucency vs tint), and power requirements (some systems are constantly powered to maintain a state, others require power only to change states).

practical considerations

• Privacy and light control: PDLC offers quick transitions and strong opacity, good for meeting rooms and partitions. SPD provides smoother dimming for glare control. Electrochromic glass offers steady tinting with typically slower switching.
• Energy use: Some systems consume power only during state changes, while EC variants may require continuous power to maintain a tint.
• Durability and maintenance: Laminated configurations protect the switchable films; retrofits should be professionally installed to ensure longevity and to preserve insulation performance.

If you’d like, provide a project context (e.g., office partition, storefront, coastal climate, retrofit or new build, desired opacity level, and budget), and a tailored explanation of which smart-glass technology would best fit the scenario.