Discover more about Head-up Displays

For many car manufacturers, dashboard dials are so passé. While the cynic may argue that marketing is responsible, it is fair to reason that drivers have to absorb far more information now than they did fifty years ago. Greater traffic density, additional road furniture and increased signage have seen to that. To help drivers absorb and prioritise as much information as possible, without taking their eyes off the road, engineers took Head-up Display (HUD) technology, which originated from 1940s fighter aircraft, and transplanted it into passenger cars.

While HUDs have been used for over fifteen years, over thirty car manufacturers offer the technology as standard equipment, today. The safety benefits of HUDs cannot be ignored, especially when they are integrated with other systems, such as satellite navigation and road sign recognition technology.

What HUD can I have?

HUDs require a projection surface, which, in HUD technology-speak, is called the 'Combiner.' A combiner is a surface that transmits light from outside the vehicle but reflects light from the HUD. Should the windshield fulfil the combiner role, such as with the Land Rover example pictured, the system is called a Windscreen HUD. When a separate pop-up plastic panel is fitted between the driver and the HUD's projector, the system is defined as a Combiner HUD.

HUDs - how they work

As is the case with modern cars, the HUD is networked with other components, meaning that the technology does not work in isolation. Even so, the system comprises a trio of main parts - the combiner (as discussed earlier), the optics module and the imaging unit.

The optics module is a precision device that directs the LED light it receives. As the unit must be very compact, so it can be positioned beneath the fascia, it employs multiple lenses and mirrors. These have to be manufactured precisely, otherwise, the projected information would be blurred and unclear.

The imaging unit contains a processor that receives the required information and interprets it into simple graphics. It also includes the Light Emitting Diode light source, the beams from which travel into the optics unit.

How are HUDs maintained?

As the Heads-up Display components are solid-state, they require virtually no maintenance. Most problems result from physical damage.

The main task is to keep the exposed parts clean. Consult your vehicle's handbook for more information on this. Should you not have one, or the literature provides no information, wipe the display and combiner carefully with a microfibre cloth. While some installations can tolerate a water-moistened cloth, never use cleaning chemicals, or glass cleaner.

Generally, HUDs are very reliable. Most damage is caused by physical interference. The most common problems stem from careless cleaning, or impact damage, due to property being placed on the dashboard top.

The future of HUD

HUD technology is here to stay. Today, 10% of cars possess HUDs. By 2030, this figure is predicted to approach 40%, with windscreen HUDs being the dominant type. Augmented Reality HUDs are expected to become more popular and will incorporate more information, as both driver assistance and autonomous technologies progress.

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