In 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 touch screen 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.

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