LM Van Uses Controllable Smart Glass

Cool Tricks

Lexus somewhat shocked the world when they unveiled the LM, which is essentially an ultra-luxury van. Mainly because in a world of crossovers well, vans are kind of a dying breed. But the LM has a lot of tricks up its sleeve that are already appealing to high-end buyers in China and Southeast Asia, where the LM went on sale. And now, the LM, along with other select models, is going to feature a pretty cool new piece of glass inside the cabin, too. 

Photos: Lexus

Flip of a Switch

Nippon Sheet Glass Group (NSG) is providing Lexus with its revolutionary new UMU smart window, which is essentially a switchable light control glass that enables the user to change the visibility of the glass instantly with the flip of a switch. The Lexus LM will be the first mass-production vehicle in Japan to employ this type of technology.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about adding smart glass into vehicles right here in Club Lexus.

Normal Conditions

These smart windows are laminated, with a liquid crystal sheet placed in between two regular sheets of glass. NSG says that under normal conditions, the liquid crystal molecules of the sheet are randomly aligned to disperse light to create a "translucent" appearance. 

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about adding smart glass into vehicles right here in Club Lexus.

Instant Changes

When the user flips the switch, however, voltage is applied, which causes the liquid crystal molecules to align into a specific direction to permit light to pass through, at which point the glass becomes "transparent." In essence, this means the user is able to change the visibility of glass instantly with the flick of a switch.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about adding smart glass into vehicles right here in Club Lexus.

Impact Resistant

"Because the interlayer of the UMU smart window firmly glues together two sheets of glass with strong adhesive, it is resistant to impacts and even if it breaks, there is no danger of glass fragments to scatter," NSG said. "The UMU smart window (light control glass) is used for a partition inside the Lexus LM to help create an opulent and quiet space for the passenger privacy."

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about adding smart glass into vehicles right here in Club Lexus.

Future Applications

This incredibly innovative and exciting little piece of technology is also slated to land in other future Lexus models, but neither the automaker nor NSG has announced which ones just yet. Obviously, the benefits of this smart glass will make a nice complement to any vehicle it lands in, and we hope to see it in use here in the U.S. in the near future.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about adding smart glass into vehicles right here in Club Lexus.

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