Smart Glass: Technologies and Global Markets

Publication Date	January 2009
Publisher	BCC Research
Product Type	Report
Pages	139
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	BCC00295

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Summary

Study Goals and Objectives

Smart glass represents a category of technologically advanced products that, in recent years, has been gaining increasing interest for use in various applications, particularly in the housing and automotive sectors.

The main goal of this report is to provide insight into smart glass technology by outlining technological trends and supplying a market analysis of various smart glass-based products.

The Major Objectives of This Study Are to:

Provide a detailed review of smart glasses, including descriptions of their types and fabrication technologies.
Highlight new technological developments in smart glass manufacturing and outline technical issues.
Review current fields of application for smart glass and investigate emerging applications.
Estimate current global markets for smart glass-based products by type, application, and region, and provide growth forecasts through 2013 for each market segment.
Identify important technological and market trends within each market segment.
Supply an updated review of current producers of smart glass.
Provide a description of current worldwide research activities and evaluate their impact on industry growth.
Determine trends in recently issued U.S. patents.

Reasons for Doing This Study

The term smart glass indicates a group of chromogenic materials that change their light transmission properties when a voltage is applied. The origins of smart glass can be traced back to the year 1704, when the first electrochromic material was discovered. The first scientific studies related to these materials were initiated in the second half of the 1800s, and the first practical applications were commercialized during the 1930s.

Starting in the early 1970s, the number of research activities resulting in patent applications and issued patents increased rapidly, leading to the development of improved fabrication processes, advanced properties, and an increased number of applications spanning many industrial sectors. The ability of these materials to change opacity and/or color under an electrical charge has been exploited in numerous applications, including architecture, residential and commercial construction, interior design, museum artwork expositions, high-end appliances, advanced displays, automotive mirrors and privacy glass, just to name a few.

The market for smart glass-based products has reached $1.0 billion and continues to grow at a healthy rate.

The principal reason for doing this study is to establish a detailed market overview of the smart glass industry by quantifying sales of products containing smart glass, based on their types and fields of application. There is also a need to evaluate the current status and future trends of the smart glass industry from a global standpoint. as use of this technology expands, information on regional production, sales, and type of suppliers becomes more valuable.

An equally important reason for performing this study is to provide technical insights into smart glass manufacturing by:

Supplying a review of fabrication methods
Identifying current technical issues
Providing an overview of global research and development (R&D) activities related to smart glasses within both public and private organizations
Illustrating the latest technological developments

This information can assist companies in finding opportunities for process and productivity improvements, resulting in a positive impact on future market growth.

Intended Audience

This Study Will Be of Primary Interest to All Companies That:

Manufacture, sell, and distribute smart glass and smart glass based products
Fabricate advanced glass products
Offer coating and lamination services for the glass industry
Supply electrochromic materials, liquid crystals, emulsions, films, and coloring chemicals
Provide solar and heat-control devices and related instrumentation
Offer technical and/or marketing services for architectural, residential, and commercial window installation
Provide exterior and interior design for light vehicles

Overall, this study applies to industry segments such as construction, transportation, aerospace, electronics, energy, and consumer products.

The study is mainly directed toward executives, directors, operations managers, sales and marketing managers, and strategic planners working within the above industries. Universities and research facilities may also find this study to be a good source of technical information regarding smart glass technology, materials, and applications, which can be used as a baseline for new or expanded R&D activities.

Scope of Report

This study provides a current review of smart glass technology, including materials and fabrication processes, and identifies current and potential applications for this technology.

BCC Research determines the current market status of smart glass, defines trends, and presents forecasts of growth over the next 5 years. Technological issues, including the latest process developments, are also discussed.

BCC Research analyzes the smart glass industry on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption. in addition, this study examines commercial and public research activities currently underway in major regions of the world. Research objectives and areas of interest related to materials, fabrication processes, and applications of smart glass are also outlined.

More specifically, BCC's market analysis is divided into five parts.

in the first part, a historical review of smart glass is provided, including an outline of recent events. in addition, the report supplies a detailed description of smart glass types and their fabrication processes. in this section, current and emerging applications for these products are also identified and divided by sector (e.g., construction, transportation, and electronics).

The second part of the report entails a global market analysis for smart glass. Current technical issues are described, followed by a review of related, recent technological developments and patent abstracts. Global revenues (I.e., sales data in million of dollars) for smart glass are presented by product type, application, and region, with actual data referring to the years 2006 and 2007, and estimated data for the year 2008.
This section is completed by a presentation of market growth trends based on industry growth, technological trends, price trends, and regional trends. Projected revenues for smart glass are reported, with forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for the period 2008 through 2013.

in the third part, covering global industry structure, the report provides a complete list of suppliers of smart glass with a description of their products. The analysis includes a description of the geographical distribution of these firms and an evaluation of production versus consumption for smart glass, always from a geographical standpoint. Detailed company profiles of the top industry players and relative market share for the five leading companies are also provided.

in the fourth part of this study, an analysis of industry competitiveness is performed. This analysis encompasses a review of global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players divided by region, and an outline of the most critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.

The fifth and final section includes an extensive analysis of U.S. patents, with a summary of patents related to smart glass materials, fabrication processes, and applications, issued during the period 2006 through 2008. Patent analysis is performed by region, country, assignee, patent category, application, and material type.

Content

Chapter One: Introduction
- Study Goals and Objectives
- Reasons for Doing This Study
- Intended Audience
- Scope of Report
- Methodology and Information Sources
- Related BCC Research Studies
- Analyst Credentials
- BCC Online Services
- Disclaimer
Chapter Two: Executive Summary
Chapter Three: Overview
- Chromogenic Materials and Smart Glass
  - Chromogenic Materials
  - Smart Glass
- History of Smart Glass
  - Electrochromic Materials
  - Suspended Particle Devices
  - Liquid Crystals
  - from The 1970s to The Present
- Smart Glass Types, Materials, and Production Technologies
  - Liquid Crystal Devices
    - Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Devices
    - Encapsulation
    - Phase Separation
  - Suspended Particle Devices
  - Electrochromic Devices
    - Electrochromic Materials
    - Tungsten Oxide-Based Electrochromic Devices
    - Features of Electrochromic Devices
  - Reflective Hydrides Devices
  - Electrical Power
- Current and Emerging Applications of Smart Glass
  - Construction
  - Transportation
  - Aerospace
  - Electronics
  - Energy
  - Consumer Products
  - Others
Chapter Four: Global Market
- Analysis Outline
- Global Market Summary
  - The Market for Smart Glass
  - Introduction
  - Current Technical Issues
    - Cost
    - Unit Price
    - Installation and Operational Costs
    - Benefits Versus Cost
    - Dimming Capability
    - Installation Complexity
    - Slow Response Rate
    - Durability
  - Latest Technological Developments, 2003 to Present
    - Switchable Mirrors Based on Transition Metal Compounds
    - Smart Glass That Blocks Infrared Light
    - A New Family of Electrochromic Polymers
    - Advanced Electrochromic Films for Thin Film Displays
    - Tungsten Oxide Nanowires for Electrochromic Devices
    - Nanotube-Type Conducting Polymers for Electrochromic Devices
    - Autodimming Rearview Mirror with Backup Camera
    - Methods for Laminating Spd Films
  - Current Market Status
    - Current Market Summary
    - Revenues by Smart Glass Type
    - Revenues by Application
    - Revenues by Region
  - Market Growth Trends
    - The Flat Glass Industry
    - Flat Glass Revenues by Sector
    - Flat Glass Revenues by Region
    - Technological and Environmental Trends in The Construction Sector
    - Building Design
    - Energy Prices and Environmental Protection
    - Technological Trends in Transportation
    - Aerospace
    - Electronics
    - Energy
    - Consumer Products
    - Price Reduction
    - Regional Trends
  - Projected Market for Smart Glass
    - Key Observations
    - Market Forecast for Smart Glass
    - Revenues by Application
    - Revenues by Smart Glass Type
    - Revenues by Region
Chapter Five: Global Industry Structure
- Global Industry Structure
- Manufacturers of Smart Glass Products
- Other Players in The Smart Glass Industry
  - Smart Glass Production by Region
- Smart Glass Consumption by Region
- Company Profiles
  - Armor USA
  - Aveso
  - Dmdisplay
  - E-Control Glas
  - Ficosa International
  - Gentex
  - Iglass Projects
  - Licon Technologies
  - Magna International
  - Murakami
  - Nippon Sheet Glass
  - Ntera
  - Polytronix
  - Ppg Aerospace
  - Pro Display
  - Pulp Studio
  - Research Frontiers
  - Sage Electrochromics
  - Saint-Gobain
  - Tokai Rika
- Top Players Market Share
Chapter Six: Industry Competitiveness
- Smart Glass Development Activities
  - United States
    - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    - University of Florida at Gainesville
  - Europe
    - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institutes, Germany
    - Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Germany
    - Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany
    - Uppsala University, Sweden
    - Vrije University, The Netherlands
  - Asia Pacific
    - National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan
    - Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  - Rest of The World
    - Istanbul Technical University
List of Summaries
- Summary of Global R&d Activities in Smart Glass Technology
- Other Considerations
- Cost Factor
- Quality Factor
- Technology Factor
- Manufacturing Capability
- Key Growth Markets
- Market Growth Factors
- Driving Forces
- Impact of Market Growth Factors
Chapter Seven: U S. Patent Analysis
- Introduction
- Summary of Patents Awarded during The Period 2006 through 2008
- General Trends
- Trends by Country and Region
- Trends by Assignee
  - Trends by Patent Category
- Trends by Application
- Trends by Smart Glass Type
List of Summaries
- Summary Table Global Market for Smart Glass Products, through 2013 ($ Millions)
- Summary Figure Global Market for Smart Glass Products, 2006-2013 ($ Millions)
List of Tables
- Table 1 Smart Glass - Technological Milestones
- Table 2 Differences among Various Smart Glass Technologies
- Table 3 Applications of Smart Glass by Device Type
- Table 4 Applications of Smart Glass by Industry
- Table 5 Global Market for Smart Glass Products, through 2013 ($ Millions)
- Table 6 Smart Glass Unit Prices, 2007-2008 ($/Ft 2 )
- Table 7 Smart Glass Typical Response Time
- Table 8 Smart Glass Products: Global Revenues by Type, 2008 ($ Millions/%)
- Table 9 Smart Glass Products: Global Revenues by Application, 2008 ($ Millions/%)
- Table 10 Smart Glass Products: Revenues by Region, through 2008 ($ Millions)
- Table 11 Forecast - Flat Glass: Global Revenues by Sector, through 2013 ($ Billions)
- Table 12 Forecast - Flat Glass: Global Revenues by Region, through 2013 ($ Billions)
- Table 13 Forecast - Advanced Displays: Global Revenues, through 2013 ($ Billions)
- Table 14 Forecast - Lithium Batteries and Thin-Film Batteries: Global Revenues, through 2013 ($ Millions)55
- Table 15 Forecast - Consumer Products: Global Revenues by Type, through 2012 ($ Billions)
- Table 16 Factors Affecting Sales of Smart Glass, through 2013
- Table 17 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Global Revenues by Application, through 2013 ($ Millions)
- Table 18 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Global Revenues by Type, through 2013 ($ Millions)
- Table 19 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Revenues by Region, through 2013 ($ Millions)
- Table 20 Manufacturers of Smart Glass Products
- Table 21 Manufacturers of Smart Glass Products, by Type
- Table 22 Notable Industry Changes since 2000
- Table 23 Other Relevant Players in The Smart Glass Industry
- Table 24 Smart Glass Products: Manufacturing by Region, 2006-2013 (Percent of Sales)
- Table 25 Smart Glass Products: Consumption by Region, 2006-2013 (Percent of Sales)
- Table 26 Research Frontier's Major Licensees
- Table 27 Smart Glass Products: Market Share of Top Five Manufacturers, 2007 and 2008
- Table 28 Research Organizations Involved in Smart Glass, Worldwide
- Table 29 Lbnl Research
- Table 30 Nrel Research
- Table 31 University of Florida Research
- Table 32 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institutes Research
- Table 33 Inm Research
- Table 34 Mpi Research
- Table 35 Uppsala University Research
- Table 36 Vrije University Research
- Table 37 Aist Research
- Table 38 Ntu Research
- Table 39 Itu Research
- Table 40 Global Growth Forecast for Current and Potential Smart Glass Applications, through 2013
- Table 41 Percentage Impact of Major Competitive Factors on The Growth of The Smart Glass Market, 2008-2013
- Table 42 Smart Glass - U S. Patents, 2008
- Table 43 Smart Glass: U S. Patents, 2007
- Table 44 Smart Glass: U S. Patents, 2006
- Table 45 Smart Glass: U S. Patent Trends, 2006-2008
- Table 46 Assignees of U S. Patents Related to Smart Glass, 2006-2008
List of Figures
- Figure 1 Smart Glass - Worldwide Patent Applications and Patents Issued since 1960
- Figure 2 Global Market for Smart Glass Products, 2006- 2013 ($ Millions)
- Figure 3 Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Segment, 2008-2013 (%)
- Figure 4 Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Type, 2008 (%)
- Figure 5 Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Application, 2008 (%)
- Figure 6 Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Region, 2008 (%)
- Figure 7 Forecast - Flat Glass: Market Share by Sector, 2008 and 2013 (%)
- Figure 8 Forecast - Flat Glass: Market Share by Region, 2008 and 2013 (%)
- Figure 9 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Application, 2013 (%)
- Figure 10 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Type, 2013 (%)
- Figure 11 Forecast - Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Region, 2013 (%)
- Figure 12 Manufacturers of Smart Glass Products: Distribution by Size, 2008 (Number of Companies)
- Figure 13 Historical Growth of Manufacturers of Smart Glass Products, 1995-2008 (Number of Companies)71
- Figure 14 Smart Glass Products: Market Share by Company, 2007 (%)
- Figure 15 Current Global Research and Development by Technology (%)
- Figure 16 Current Global Research and Development by Subject (%)
- Figure 17 Smart Glass: U S. Patent Trends, 2006-2008 (Number of Patents)
- Figure 18 Shares of U S. Patents Related to Smart Glass by Region, 2006-2008 (%)
- Figure 19 Smart Glass: Patents by Country, 2006-2008 (%)
- Figure 20 Smart Glass: Shares of U S. Patents by Organization Type, 2006-2008 (%)
- Figure 21 Smart Glass: Shares of U S. Patents by Category, 2006-2008 (%)
- Figure 22 Smart Glass: Shares of U S. Patents by Application, 2006-2008 (%)
- Figure 23 Smart Glass: Shares of U S. Patents by Material Type, 2006-2008 (%)