UMU Switchable Visibility Glass
This state of the art product, which allows the same amount of light to pass through when it is clear or translucent, is achieved by laminating a liquid crystal interlayer sheet between two sheets of glass. In clear mode an electrical current is passed through the interlayer which aligns the microscopic crystals along a number of parallel axes, thus allowing vision through. When privacy is required, the current is switched off and the crystals scatter into a random formation which prevents vision through the UMU glass .
The liquid crystal interlayer is similar to the product in everyday use in calculators, digital watches, clocks, television screens and lap top computers. The main difference is the method of control. In those electronic devices the characters (or pictures) are made by controlling individual pixels within the display area. UMU works by controlling the whole panel as one giant pixel.
With the unusual characteristic of throwing the light forward through the glass, not reflecting it back as most other obscure or translucent glasses do, UMU switchable privacy glass panels are ideal for rear projection screens. The picture clarity of rear projection onto UMU is near perfect, with the added advantage of being able to switch it to a clear window.
This opens up a whole new concept with the use of display advertising, training rooms and video conference facilities. One technique is to use an UMU screen in translucent mode and project an image from behind the screen using a video or slide projector. If desired the screen can be switched to transparent mode at the same time as turning off the projector to reveal a display behind the glass screen.
The response time in switching between translucent to clear is approximately 1/100 sec. With this quick response time UMU is suited to a variety of applications particularly in security as well as architectural and display applications. As UMU is a laminated glass product, it is ideally suited for noise reduction in interior spaces subjected to noise.
Switching (and control) of the glass can be achieved in a number of ways, for example it is possible to control UMU with any electronic switching method available (eg radar, proximity sensors, passive infra red, light sensing or impedance controls).
As each panel is made as an individual custom piece of glass time allowance must be made for the manufacture of UMU. The liquid crystal film is produced to suit the precise opening size (due to the sophisticated manufacturing equipment required) and then laminated between two pieces of glass. This process will take about 6 - 8 weeks after the size of the panel opening has been determined. UMU cannot be cut or altered in any way after manufacture.
In addition to rectangular pieces,UMU can be specially ordered and
manufactured in shapes that consist of
straight lines.
UMU can not be manufactured
in bent glass or in a shape with a
curved edge.
Special shapes are subject to enquiry.
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