3MDT Smart Dimming and OMTD Transparent Light-Effect Display: Astrace’s Dual-Core Technologies Reshape the Landscape of Smart Glass

On October 28, 2025, Shanghai Astrace New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Astrace”) jointly hosted the closed-door summit “Light Adapts to Intelligence, Scenery Reflects the Mind—Front-loading Applications of Next-Generation Immersive Smart Dimming + Aesthetics of Glass” with Lanshe Auto, a leading domestic platform for automotive technology exchange and industry collaboration. The event was successfully held in Qingpu, Shanghai. This industry gathering brought together representatives from global mainstream OEMs, automotive component suppliers, and technical R&D institutions, collectively witnessing significant breakthroughs in smart dimming and glass aesthetics technologies.

Amid the advancing wave of vehicle intelligence and transparency, the surface area of automotive glass continues to expand. The installation rate of panoramic sunroofs in new energy vehicles has exceeded 75%, with brands such as Tesla, Xiaomi, and XPeng almost universally equipping their models with full-size panoramic sunroofs. The role of glass is evolving from a mere “transparent boundary” to a core interactive medium within the intelligent cockpit.

01 3MDT Smart Dimming Film: Revolutionizing Dimming Industry Technology

Astrace initiated the R&D project for 3MDT intelligent dimming film in 2022, completing a four-year technical breakthrough that achieved full-chain innovation—from material formulation to application processes. This novel technology departs from traditional PDLC, EC, SPD, and DLC technical pathways, pioneering a fifth-generation dimming technology direction.

Astrace’s 3MDT intelligent dimming film delivers multi-dimensional industry breakthroughs:

Three-dimensional dimming capability: The 3MDT technology enables precise, simultaneous control over light intensity, light color, and light concealment, achieving the industry’s first-ever 3D dimming effect. Its response speed reaches the millisecond level (<20 ms); in the closed state, haze exceeds 95%, guaranteeing complete privacy protection, while in the open state, haze remains below 2%, ensuring high-definition clarity and transparency. This performance significantly surpasses conventional dimming technologies.

True black and customizable multi-color: Through proprietary liquid crystal and dye formulations, Astrace overcame the longstanding technical challenge of achieving true black with dimming films. Furthermore, the technology breaks the constraints of limited color options by enabling fully customizable colors; infinite gradation dimming allows the glass to smoothly transition in color depth at will, perfectly balancing privacy protection and visual aesthetics.

Dual application-mode innovation: The 3MDT dimming film supports both lamination into glass and post-application film installation. It meets the stringent front-loading requirements of OEMs while also catering to aftermarket upgrade demands. This flexibility dramatically expands the product’s application scenarios.

Reverse power-off transparent design: The power-off transparent (reverse) dimming film employs an innovative circuit logic design: in its default state (no power), it remains fully transparent (haze ≤ 3.5%), fully complying with driving safety regulations; when privacy is required, it switches to an absolute privacy state with haze ≥ 94%.

Intelligent zonal light control: Astrace has developed a 10-zone partitioned control system, enabling independent light-state control across different regions of a single glass panel—delivering more precise light management and richer scenario-based experiences.

02 OMTD Optoelectronic Film: An Aesthetic Revolution in Transparent Light-Effect Display

OMTD (Optoelectronic Mapping Transparent Display) is another core technological innovation from Astrace. This technology uses nanoscale laser photolithography to engrave patterns onto superconductive substrates, followed by injecting crystal materials into nanoscale apertures and completing the process through UV curing and melting-point lamination, ultimately forming a transparent display film.

When applied to automotive sunroofs, the OMTD optoelectronic film remains completely invisible in the off state, with haze as low as 2.5%–2.8%, exerting virtually no impact on natural lighting or visibility. Upon activation, it presents high-precision, brilliant dynamic displays with a 2.5D visual effect. Meanwhile, the technology offers a total solar energy rejection rate of 45% and blocks 99.99% of UV radiation, while incorporating an 11-mil anti-explosion safety thickness—enhancing aesthetic appeal without compromising passenger safety and comfort.

For side window applications, the OMTD optoelectronic film meets IP68 waterproofing standards, includes blue-light filtration functionality, and maintains haze at only 2.5%–2.8%, fully satisfying automotive-grade requirements without obstructing the driver’s view. This transforms side windows from simple transparent panels into canvases for brand identity display or personalized design.

Astrace has further developed a dual-color OMTD optoelectronic film solution, deploying dual-color crystal projection technology to enrich pattern effects and render dynamic modes more vibrant and eye-catching. This innovation provides automakers with expanded personalization options to meet diverse aesthetic demands across vehicle models.

In October 2025, Astrace’s OMTD optoelectronic film was awarded the Best Technical Practice Application Award at the Gasgoo Automotive Golden Record Awards—a clear industry endorsement of its technological innovation and mass-production readiness.

As of 2025, Astrace has established modern intelligent-film production bases in Shanghai and Changxing, Huzhou, Zhejiang, and is accelerating the construction of its Lu’an manufacturing base. By the end of 2025, Astrace is projected to hold over 100 patent certificates, solidifying a robust technological moat.

Concurrently, Astrace has achieved notable progress in industrial implementation. In 2022, its OMTD optoelectronic film entered mass production with GAC Trumpchi’s Yingbao model—an industry-first front-loading collaboration between a smart-film product and an automotive OEM. Subsequently, Astrace secured partnerships with BMW, Aito, BYD, and other OEMs, cementing its technological leadership in the automotive smart-film sector.

From August to September 2025, Astrace secured significant capital support, completing two successive funding rounds from Shangqi Capital and Changxing Chuangqiang Capital. These funds will be dedicated to core-technology R&D upgrades and capacity expansion, further accelerating product iteration and market penetration.

Over the next three years, Astrace aims to become a global leader in intelligent optoelectronic new materials, driving down smart-glass costs and broadening adoption—enabling more users to experience the transformative cockpit enhancements brought by intelligent glass.