"Smart Glass"

Any know enough about this stuff to know if it would be incorporated into a flashlight?

Used on a thrower it would make the “perfect” light. Good throw and diffused light when you want it and not bulky like those Surefire type flip diffusers and not something that you have to carry around like a cap.
This would be for those who don’t care for the flood to throw look.
It would just be one more mode.

I consulted for a place that used that for their all glass walled conference room. I think they spent about $40k, just on that glass. Pretty impressive (the effect that is...the money was a pittance to them).

I wish they'd do it for car windows, but not frosted...tinted - so that I can black out my truck but never get a ticket

I figured the catch was probably expense. Oh well :slight_smile:

yeah - I bet the expense is due to patents and limited supply...

they had a LOT of glass though. The room was roughly 25'x20', one wall was exterior windows so that wasn't done (already mirrored outside, and 37th? floor).

size could be an issue - ie fitting the controls in a flashlight. I never got a look at the components, just the controls.

For something like my 9" reflector halogen, it would be very useful. I need to find a clear-ish popcorn bowl for that thing lol

There are several different types I believe. You would think something thin and small (flashlight size) would be not too expensive but maybe still too expensive to justify in a flashlight.
Another (less elegant) solution would be a translucent iris (not that I’ve seen such a thing). This would be a translucent version of the iris used for f stops in a camera lens.
Thirds option :slight_smile: would be a sliding diffuser like in the Petzl headlamps however rather than rigid plastic it could be tough film to take up less space in the head.

here's what I've been thinking of using

(after adding a UCL w/ ldf...)


http://www.theconsumerlink.com/butlercreek/detail/TCL+BC12+01/11

http://www.theconsumerlink.com/butlercreek/detail/TCL+BC13+1/11

http://www.gunaccessories.com/ButCreekScopeCovers/butler_size_chart.asp

obviously more cumbersome than what you've suggested...at least in throw mode...

I experimented with something like that. It was a Fenix flip-up diffuser.

and what did you think? I would guess only suitable for something you holster head up (or for very small lights).

The Fenix flip-up that I had was very cheap (flimsy) and was meant for a headlamp as I recall. I didn’t like that particular one.
If you had it on a flashlight and put it in your pocket the whole diffuser would probably come off. It also didn’t “seal” around the edges of the light so there was glare.
The Surefire ones probably stay on a seal well but they look like they add a lot of bulk to the head of the light.
I think if I was going to take that approach I would rather just have a snug fitting cap that I keep in my pocket to put on as needed. That’s not ideal however.

yes, i think such a contraption is best suited to lights that are already "too big"...

the problem w/ every removeable diffuser, when take my jacket off or change my pants i forget its in the pocket...

Another solution would be a slot on the top of the bezel where you could slide a piece of diffusive plastic in and then a flexible plastic sleeve on the top surface of the head to hold the diffuser when it’s not being used.
The diffuser could have a hole with a loop of string attaching it to the head just long enough to let it go from the holder to the slot.
This wouldn’t be bad is designed correctly. When the diffuser was being used it would be unobtrusive. When it was being stored whether it was obtrusive or not would depend entirely on the design of the holder.
I’d like something like this for a C10 sixed thrower. If it was a smaller light and it was either a twisty or had a side switch you could just have a holder on the back of the tail (no string required). If the light is that small however you probably don’t need a diffuser :slight_smile: