Press Release
Continental Creates Intelligent Car Windows
 The latest film technology enables targeted shading of car windows
 At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, automotive supplier Continental
is presenting intelligent car windows
 “Intelligent Glass Control" offers new opportunities for increased comfort, safety and
lower emissions
Regensburg, December 10, 2015. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from
January 6–9, 2016, automotive supplier Continental is presenting a demo vehicle in which all
windows can be darkened at the touch of a button. “Intelligent Glass Control” uses special films
which are inserted into the glass and which change their transparency through electric control
signals.
“The selective, incremental darkening of the side and rear windows, as well as parts of the
windshield, not only offers considerably increased comfort for passengers, but also makes driving
safer,” explains Andreas Wolf, head of Continental’s Body & Security business unit. A typical
example is a low sun on the horizon. The driver's hand instinctively goes from the steering wheel to
the sun visor. Wolf: “This results in both impaired visibility and a brief decrease in control of the
vehicle." In the future such situations can be detected in advance, and the windows could darken
automatically before the event even occurs.
Darkening saves energy
By using these films, the solar radiation can be reduced more effectively than with other
technologies. “This means that we can keep the heat out of the vehicle and significantly reduce the
interior temperature," explains Wolf. This relieves the air conditioning unit, which can then be
smaller, more energy efficient, and therefore much lighter in weight. Furthermore, the added weight
of the sun visors and mechanical blinds is removed, with positive effects on the environment. “Our
calculations have shown that the CO2 emissions are reduced by a good four grams per kilometer
thanks to these measures, thus increasing the range of electric vehicles by around 5.5%."
Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, phone: +49 6196 87-2515
-2In addition to the reduced heat in the interior, the darkening also effectively enhances privacy. “If
the vehicle is parked, the windows darken automatically, so the inside of the vehicle cannot be
seen from the outside." Intelligent Glass Control also gives designers new options. According to
Wolf, the glass surfaces could be extended further, without having to cover certain areas
mechanically. The available film still has a slightly blue shimmer, but in the future Continental is
expecting a broader range of colors, opening up additional design possibilities. Other effects, from
coupling light effects through energy recovery to touchscreen functionalities, may also be possible.
Particles align under current
Films in which embedded particles can be aligned when a voltage is applied, and which can be
used for targeted darkening of the window, have been available for a long time already. Up to now,
however, this technology has only been feasible in the roof area for a small number of high-end
cars. Engineers at Continental are demonstrating the intelligent activation of the “Suspended
Particle Device” film technology also for side and rear windows and the windshield for the first time
in a test vehicle. Due to legal requirements, however, it is initially only shown here in the permitted
area of the sun visors.
This production-ready film technology is based on embedded particles, which arrange themselves
randomly when unpowered and darken the window from outside, while retaining transparency from
the inside to the outside. If a voltage is applied, the particles systematically align themselves in
parallel, so that the window becomes permeable to light in both directions. The connection to the
vehicle system enables the windows to lighten automatically when you approach the vehicle with a
key or smartphone," says Wolf.
This film is still rather cost-intensive for mid-range vehicles with large glazed areas. However, due
to further promising developments with initial applications in the mobile area, it is anticipated that
the prices will quickly drop. Other alternatives to film technology are based for instance on liquid
crystal polymers or electrochromism. The latter uses the ability of molecules and crystals to
change their optical properties under the influence of an electric field or a current flow. This
technology is already deployed in the car in order to darken the interior and exterior mirror and thus
prevent glare effects. The disadvantage of larger surfaces is the high energy requirement needed
to achieve short switching times.
Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, phone: +49 6196 87-2515
-3Control is what counts most
Which technology finally prevails is not crucial, as they all need to be controlled electronically. The
essential know-how is in the software and the intelligent connection to the vehicle system. Andreas
Wolf: “Today it is just a question of when intelligent glass is coming. At Continental we use our
know-how for the entire system and can therefore integrate the desired functions into our electronic
control units. Here we adjust the algorithms so that the behavior of the windows offers maximum
safety and comfort for the driver while improving emission values. The appearance of all windows
is optimized with an intelligent reaction to the changing lighting situations as well as automatic
compensation of temperature and aging effects."
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the
international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable,
individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately €34.5 billion with its five
divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs more than 208,000
people in 53 countries.
In the Interior division, everything revolves around information management in the vehicle and beyond. The range of
products for various vehicle categories includes instruments, multifunction displays, head-up displays, control devices,
access and tire information systems, radios, infotainment and operating systems, climate control units, software and
cockpits, telematics solutions and services, and intelligent transport systems. Interior employs over 36,000 employees
worldwide and generated sales of approximately €7.0 billion in 2014.
Press Contact
Ilona Tzudnowski
Continental
External Communication Interior Division
Sodener Strasse 9
65824 Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany
Phone: +49 6196 87-2515
ilona.tzudnowski@continental-corporation.com
This press release is available in the following languages: German, English.
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Homepage: www.continental-corporation.com
Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, phone: +49 6196 87-2515