Research Frontiers Inc., the developer and licensor of fast-responding SPD light-control technology, and AP Technoglass, sunroof glass producer and a subsidiary of Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. of Japan, announced Feb. 20 that AP Technoglass has acquired from Research Frontiers a worldwide non-exclusive license to manufacture and sell suspended particle device (SPD) sunroof glass for use in variable light transmission sunroofs produced by licensees of Research Frontiers. In an SPD "smart" sunroof, you can instantly and precisely control how dark the sunroof glass is and adjust its light transmission by either turning a knob or having the sunroof automatically adjust itself. This is made possible by a thin film inside the sunroof glass that uses SPD light-control technology invented by Research Frontiers. SPD technology is licensed to a growing number of companies in various industries, and is covered by more than 350 patents and patent applications held by Research Frontiers worldwide. "Car and truck manufacturers and designers desire to use more glass in their roof systems. SPD technology offers the most effective solution for the need to control glare and solar gain within the vehicle as the percentage of glass incorporated into the roof of a car or truck increases," said Douglas D. Nouse, AP Technoglass' vice president of business planning. "It will also enhance the comfort of occupants in these vehicles and will also add value each step of the way. As North America's leading sunroof glass supplier, we supply automotive glass to the world's leading auto and sunroof manufacturers and offer our customers the latest in product innovations and quality. We look forward to working with Research Frontiers and its licensees to develop and market SPD variable light transmission sunroof glass to our customers in the automotive industry," Nouse said. "In 2000 there were an estimated 6.2 million sunroofs manufactured globally, or 11.6 percent of the estimated 53.8 million cars and SUVs produced annually," said John Tobias, director of automotive marketing for Research Frontiers. "Sunroof penetration rates have been growing steadily, and some industry leaders expect the percentage of vehicles with sunroofs to grow to 50 percent over the course of the current decade. SPD 'smart' sunroofs can help fuel this explosive growth by making sunroofs more functional than they currently are and will also enable more efficient and sophisticated vehicle designs." Research Frontiers' suspended particle device (SPD) technology for controlling light has numerous applications in automotive vehicles, including "smart" windows, sunroofs, sunvisors, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels and navigation systems. A smart window using SPD film enables users to instantly and precisely control the amount of light passing through the window, providing relief from glare or heat without blocking view, while also enabling privacy whenever desired, protection from UV damage, promotion of energy conservation, and other benefits. SPD products can be controlled either automatically (by means of a photocell or other sensing or control device) or adjusted manually by the user by turning a knob. SPD eyewear products -- sunglasses, sport goggles such as ski goggles, and visors -- will continuously and instantly control glare to the degree needed. About AP Technoglass Company AP Technoglass is one of America's fastest growing automotive glass suppliers, the country's first automotive glass company to receive the ISO 14001 certification, and is also ISO9000 and QS9001 certified. AP Technoglass bills itself as the leading automotive glass and sunroof glass supplier in North America. AP Technoglass' products include laminated windshields, tempered sunroofs, and tempered windows for automotive vehicles. AP Technoglass is also the primary supplier of glass products to the world's leading automotive manufacturers including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, NUMMI, Saturn, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota. AP Technoglass also supplies the world's leading sunroof manufacturers. Headquartered in Florence, Ky., AP Technoglass has facilities in Bellefontaine, Ohio and Elizabethtown, Ky., as well as in Mexico, and is a subsidiary of Asahi Glass Company, Ltd., of Japan, the world's largest automotive glass supplier. Additional information about AP Technoglass can be found at www.aptechnoglass.com. About Research Frontiers Incorporated Research Frontiers the develops and licenses suspended particle devices (SPDs) -- electrically operated light-control devices using proprietary particle suspensions and films. SPD technology permits light transmission to be electrically controlled instantly, either automatically (by means of a photocell or other sensing or control device) or adjusted manually by the user. Research Frontiers' proprietary SPD technology enables users to control the amount of light passing through windows, skylights, eyewear (including prescription and non-prescription sunglasses and sports goggles), automotive sunroofs, sunvisors and rear-view mirrors, as well as enabling brighter, easier-to-read flat panel information displays for use in computers, television, telephones and other electronic instruments and products. Additional information about Research Frontiers can be found at www.refr-spd.com.