Head-Up display as safe driving equipment

A head-up display (HUD) is safe driving equipment that projects key information such as driving speed, road lanes, and navigational information onto the windshield in front of the driver.

The information displayed on the HUD is projected as a virtual image several meters ahead of the driver’s point of view on the windshield. While driving, the driver can read the information displayed on the windshield without moving his/her line of sight to the dashboard. HUDs are gaining popularity as items that improve safety in driving situations where various decisions need to be made in an instant and contribute to reducing driver fatigue by reducing unnecessary eye movement.

HUD technologies are available in different variations. Recently augmented reality HUD (AR-HUD) is becoming more popular for its ability to project information on the driver’s actual field of vision more dimensionally. To project a clear image, the interlayer film for the laminated windscreen must be customized for the HUD type.

S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film

With a standard windshield, the problem occurs where the HUD image appears as a double image due to light refraction, which reduces visibility. To project images clearly, it is necessary to precisely control the refraction of light.

S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film has a wedge-shaped cross-section that controls the refraction of light with high precision, enabling a clear display of information and images. There are a wide variety of wedge angle designs depending on the shaping design of the windshield, which differs from model to model, such as the installation angle and bending of the glass. S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film has extensive experience in its customization.

Wedge angle design for various vehicle body types

The angle of the windshield differs depending on the body type of a car. In general, the higher the height of a vehicle is, the larger the installation angle of the glass becomes.

In recent years, the adoption of HUDs has spread to cars with various body types. The shape and design of the windshield, including the installation angle and bending (curve), are becoming more diverse, and it is becoming necessary to comply with the wedge angle design required for the wedge-shaped interlayer film.

S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film allows customization of the wedge angle according to the windshield design and installation angle, enabling clear projection of HUD images regardless of body type.

Compatibility with AR-HUD systems

The display area of the head-up display is expanding to enhance the amount of capability that can be displayed on the windscreen. Augmented Reality HUD (AR-HUD) has been attracting attention in recent years as a HUD system that improves situational awareness by displaying relevant information (such as the navigation) in line with the actual driving situation, and by superimposing it as intuitive information in the driver’s field of vision. Since the AR-HUD will display information in a wider display area, it is necessary to control the refraction of light accordingly.

S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film can accommodate a wide range of precise angle control, helping to display information even when the display area is widening.

Global supply

The HUD market has been expanding globally in recent years. SEKISUI S-LEC has supported the automotive glazing market by establishing a global production and supply system for S-LEC™ Wedge Shaped Film for laminated windshields by producing and supplying in Europe, North America, China, and Japan.

Along with the expansion of the HUD market, we are utilizing our unique multi-layer co-extrusion technology and fine particle dispersion technology to suppress the occurrence of double images in HUDs to globally supply wedge-shaped interlayer films with highly added value for safety and to add noise and heat reduction in one film as an option.

Solutions for Head-Up Displays

Please see our brochure for more detailed data and other applications.