Ford Patent Filed For Vehicular Switchable Glass System

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a vehicular switchable glass system, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on November 16^th, 2020, published on May 19^th, 2022, and assigned serial number 0153096.

The Ford Authority Take

Earlier this month, Ford filed a patent for a heated side window system, but it seems as if the automaker’s innovation in that particular area isn’t finished just yet. This new Ford patent outlines an idea for a switchable glass system in a vehicle that is somewhat similar to what’s already in use on some high-end luxury vehicles and hypercars. In those applications, smart glass is able to turn from transparent to opaque at the flip of a switch or push of a button, which controls not only the amount of light entering the cabin, but also heat.

In these applications, a small electrical current is run through the glass, which causes microscopic particles to line up and create what is effectively a window shade. When the current is stopped, the particles return to their unaligned position, which creates a clear panel. To date, FoMoCo recently explored this idea with its Lincoln Star concept, which is equipped with a frunk lid made from electro-chromatic glass that can change from transparent to opaque.

This new Ford patent depicts an idea that works much the same way as what’s already available, as it utilizes a power source to switch glass from transparent to opaque at the push of a button, though in this case, the glass consists of multiple layers. It’s certainly a high-tech solution to an ages-old problem, far beyond simple physical shades. Given how this kind of feature is also becoming more popular on high-end vehicles, it wouldn’t be a surprise if it landed on Blue Oval models in the coming months and years, too.

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