Merck rolls out invisible privacy windows

By Baek Byung-yeul

Merck has rolled out a new product called “eyrise i350” or windows that can be switched from clear to opaque on demand, the company said Thursday.

The eyrise i350 invisible privacy glazing window is powered by Merck's “licrivision” liquid crystal technology.

“The liquid crystal solution is placed between two glass sheets coated with a transparent conductive film. When prompted by a low voltage, the direction of the liquid crystals shifts and moves from a random position to a well-organized orientation in a second. By scattering the light, the glass switches from a transparent to an opaque state to provide complete and instant privacy on demand,” the company said.

Merck said its products can help customers create specialized areas that require privacy. “Glass partitioning offers multiple functions for open plan spaces ― from private meeting rooms in offices and consultation areas in hospitals, to VIP zones in retail stores. The glass can also be used to divide spaces in conference centers and airports and can be transformed into on-demand screens for sharing information or presentations,” it said.

Since its establishment in 2017, Merck's Liquid Crystal Windows business has supplied the eyrise line of products to architectural projects for customers such as Kirow Ardelt, FC Group, Corning, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the company said.

“Envisioning the workplace of the future is more relevant today than ever before, especially for a company like ours that believes in the power of science and technology to advance human progress,” Michael Heckmeier, head of the Display Solutions business unit of Merck, said.

“The way we live and work today calls for smart solutions that promote flexibility, collaboration and connectivity. Our latest eyrise innovation is an exciting example of how our electronics business sector is creating the backbone of modern society,” Heckmeier added.