Transparent glass is essential to vehicle safety, and emerging smart glass technologies are transforming these surfaces into multifunctional systems for visibility, comfort, energy, and interaction. As designs grow more complex, manufacturers face strict quality requirements and increasing challenges detecting subtle defects across layered glass and displayed images. This webinar explores smart glass technologies and applications through a real-world case study, highlighting common defects and the inspection approaches needed to ensure automotive-grade quality.
Overview
Transparent glass surfaces throughout a vehicle are critical for driver and passenger visibility and safe operation. With the emergence of electrified “smart glass” technologies, automakers are looking to use these surfaces for a wide array of new functions and applications.
There are multiple types of smart glass technology including both passive and active methods to provide various functional capabilities. Different glass types are being tried for a range of applications including sun protection, enhanced driver visibility, in-vehicle climate control, solar energy collection, lighting, and touch screens.
This comes with strict quality parameters that smart glass manufacturers must follow to ensure the integrity of embedded glass panels. As automotive glass designs become more complex, powerful visual inspection equipment is needed to detect fine details and defects in glass layers and displayed images.
This webinar features a case study of etched patterns in a smart glass edge-lit sunroof, the manufacturer’s quality challenges, and the approach used to implement an effective inspection solution.
Key Takeaways
- Learn about the functional characteristics of smart glass technologies including passive (photochromic, thermochromic) and active (electrochromic, polymer dispersed (PDLC), and suspended particle device (SPD).
- Review different smart glass applications and how they are being implemented in current and next-generation vehicle.
- Identify common defects introduced in the production of smart glass components and how to detect and measure them.
- Discuss essential characteristics of inspection equipment for automotive glass and displays, featuring a customer case study and measurement.
Speaker
Danton Bennett has just under five years of experience in display and lighting measurement solutions. He began his career as an Applications Engineer, where he partnered closely with customers to support proof-of-concept projects, deliver technical training, and develop customized inspection solutions. In his current role on the sales team, Bennett leverages his strong technical background to help customers identify the right imaging and measurement technologies to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.