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Asahi Glass Company Acquires License for Research Frontiers' SPD-Smart Glass Technology for Use in Sunroofs and Other Automotive Glass Products.


TOKYO & WOODBURY, N.Y. -- Research Frontiers Incorporated (Nasdaq: REFR REFR Rare and Exotic Feline Registry ) announced today that the Asahi Glass Company, Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Tokyo Stock Exchange

Main stock market of Japan, located in Tokyo. It opened in 1878 to provide a market for the trading of government bonds newly issued to former samurai.
: 5201: JP) has acquired a worldwide non-exclusive license to use Research Frontiers' patented SPD-Smart light-control technology for various automotive glass products, including sunroofs and other roof glass systems, as well as use in automotive windows. In December 2003, under sublicense sub·li·cense  
n.
A license giving rights of production or marketing of products or services to a person or company that is not the primary holder of such rights.

tr.v.
 from their subsidiary AGC AGC Automatic Gain Control
AGC Automotive Glass Cartridge (fuse)
AGC Associated General Contractors
AGC Associated General Contractors of America
AGC Atypical Glandular Cells
AGC Attorney-General's Chambers
 Automotive Americas, Asahi began to evaluate and test the production of SPD-Smart sunroof and other automotive glass products, and has now become directly licensed by Research Frontiers to produce such products for its customers. The minimum annual royalties and other license terms were not disclosed. E[acute accent acute accent
n.
A mark (´) indicating:
a. that a vowel is close or tense, as é in French été.

b. that a vowel or syllable has a high or rising pitch, as in Chinese or Ancient Greek.

c.
]Users of SPD-Smart products can manually or automatically "tune" the amount of light, glare and heat that passes through glass or plastic. SPD-Smart products offer functional and aesthetic benefits such as savings on heating and cooling expenses, reduced fading of interior fabrics and other materials, noise-attenuation and impact-resistance, as well as the ability to control light and glare without losing prized views. E[acute accent]The markets for automotive glass are large and growing as glass becomes a higher percentage of vehicle content. More vehicles are equipped with sunroofs, and auto makers are introducing larger sunroofs, glass roof panels, and all-glass roof systems in their vehicles. Worldwide automotive sunroof sales are expected to reach almost 15 million units in 2006, and grow to over 110 million square feet by 2010. Asahi Glass is the world's largest producer of flat glass for both architectural and automotive applications.

E[acute accent]About Asahi Glass Company, Ltd.

E[acute accent]Asahi Glass Company, Ltd. was established in 1907 and was Japan's first commercial manufacturer of flat glass. Since then, the company has expanded its operations to include chemicals, as well as glass for construction materials, automobiles and display glass for cathode ray tubes See CRT.

(hardware) cathode ray tube - (CRT) An electrical device for displaying images by exciting phosphor dots with a scanned electron beam. CRTs are found in computer VDUs and monitors, televisions and oscilloscopes.
, liquid crystal displays liquid crystal display (LCD)

Optoelectronic device used in displays for watches, calculators, notebook computers, and other electronic devices. Current passed through specific portions of the liquid crystal solution causes the crystals to align, blocking the passage of light.
, plasma display panels See plasma display.  and other applications. Capitalizing on its glass materials and processing technologies, the Company also diversified into the electronics field. Today, Asahi Glass is a multinational corporation multinational corporation, business enterprise with manufacturing, sales, or service subsidiaries in one or more foreign countries, also known as a transnational or international corporation. These corporations originated early in the 20th cent.  with operations centering on glass, electronics and displays, and chemicals, and has a global network of 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan and 24 other countries. For its fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, Asahi Glass Company had sales of JY 1,572 billion ($13.3 billion) and employed 56,900 people worldwide. The Asahi group of companies is the largest flat glass manufacturer in the world. Asahi Glass is the parent corporation of AGC Automotive Americas and Glaverbel, SA, both of which are also existing licensees of Research Frontiers.

E[acute accent]About SPD (Serial Presence Detect) The method used by DIMM memory modules to communicate their capacity and features to the computer. Data such as manufacturer, size, speed, voltage and row and column addresses are stored in an EEPROM chip on the module.  Technology and Research Frontiers Incorporated

E[acute accent]Research Frontiers Incorporated (Nasdaq: REFR) develops and licenses suspended particle device (SPD) technology used in VaryFast(TM) SPD-Smart(TM) light-control glass and plastic products. SPD technology, made possible by a flexible light-control film invented by Research Frontiers, allows the user to instantly and precisely control the shading of glass/plastic manually or automatically. SPD technology has numerous product applications, including: SPD-Smart windows, sunshades, skylights and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sunvisors, sunshades, and rear-view mirrors; aircraft and marine windows and window shades; eyewear products; and flat panel displays A thin display screen for computer and TV usage. The first flat panels appeared on laptop computers in the mid-1980s, and the LCD technology became the standard. Stand-alone LCD screens became available for desktop computers in the mid-1990s and exceeded sales of CRTs for the first time  for electronic products. SPD-Smart film technology was awarded a "Best of What's New Award" from Popular Science magazine for home technology and was also recognized as one of the top new technologies by the Society of Automotive Engineers' Aerospace Engineering magazine. SPD technology is covered by over 450 patents and patent applications held by RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) High-frequency electromagnetic waves that emanate from electronic devices such as chips.

RFI - Radio Frequency Interference
 worldwide. Currently 35 companies are licensed to use Research Frontiers' patented SPD light-control technology in emulsions, film, or end-products. Information about Research Frontiers and its licensees can be found at www.SmartGlass.com. E[acute accent]Note: From time to time Research Frontiers may issue forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could differ and are not guaranteed. Any forward-looking statements should be considered accordingly. SPD-Smart(TM), VaryFast(TM), SPD-SmartGlass(TM), Powered by SPD(TM), The View of the Future - Everywhere You Look(TM) and Visit SmartGlass.com - to change your view of the world(TM) are trademarks of Research Frontiers Incorporated.
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Comment:Asahi Glass Company Acquires License for Research Frontiers' SPD-Smart Glass Technology for Use in Sunroofs and Other Automotive Glass Products.
Publication:Business Wire
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:May 15, 2006
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