US electronics specialist Gentex has developed a large-area version of its electronically dimmable window (EDW) that can be curved to follow an aircraft fuselage’s shape.
The window is the latest development of Gentex's third-generation EDW that was unveiled in 2017.
Boeing employs the technology's second generation for the 787, with Gentex being the equipment's sole supplier via a marketing agreement with PPG Aerospace.
The US airframer is Gentex's only aerospace customer today, as the supplier's main area of activity is the automotive sector.
However, aerospace sales and marketing director Mike Behm says manufacturers of both commercial and business aircraft are "very interested" in the latest EDW generation.
He says the technology enables the windows to change the degree of transparency much faster and to achieve a much higher degree of darkness than in the past.
Furthermore, the new technology represents a "significant improvement in reliability" and reduces maintenance costs versus earlier product versions.
The enhancements were achieved through better window coatings and improvements in the manufacturing process, Behm says.
Gentex’s technology employs two thin window panes, which have electrically conductive coatings and which are separated by a thin layer of gel.
The gel darkens when a small electrical voltage is applied, and returns to a transparent a state when the direct current is removed.
Behm says achieving the correct spacing between the window panes is a "very difficult" process.
He suggests Boeing is interested in adopting the third EDW generation for the 787, and says Gentex is "production-ready" to switch to the third generation.
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Source: Flight Daily News
