What is a HUD?
HUD stands for “head-up display,” which is a transparent screen that puts critical information in front of the user so they keep their head “up” instead of looking down or sideways to view it.
We’ve all seen HUDs in the movies. Tony Stark views flight information through a HUD in his Iron Man suit. The Terminator consulted data through a HUD in his artificial eyeball. Even RoboCop decided whether to arrest a suspect or let them go by considering HUD information in his helmet.
For years, HUDs were mostly the stuff of fiction. They existed in military jet aircraft, but the projection-based systems and classical refractive optics behind them were too bulky to fit anywhere else.
DigiLens changed that by delivering a compact and light-weight optical system that can fit in many common places, such as an automobile, commercial airplane or motorcycle helmet.
This breakthrough stirred the imagination of automakers, aviators, gamers, sporting companies and a host of manufacturers who are exploring ways to use our technology in novel of ways.
The automotive industry could be one of the first big adopters. Indeed, global revenue from sales of automotive HUDs alone will reach $18.6 billion annually, according to the IHS Automotive Display Market Tracker and Components Forecasts and Analysis. This means could see new automotive models emerging with HUD safety features before too long.
Safety Benefits of HUDs
Head-up displays aren’t just a novel way of viewing your speed or direction. When paired with cameras and adaptive cruise control features, they can become a powerful safety feature for motorists and pilots alike.
For example, imagine cruising down the road on a foggy night. It’s often nearly impossible to make out road lines and signs. But if you were to pair an infrared camera and HUD system, you could detect and superimpose those important road markings on the windshield as if the fog weren’t even present. This is just one of many safety scenarios that HUDs can address. As this technology evolves, motorists and pilots won’t have to risk driving or flying blind. They’ll have powerful technology helping them stay safe and away from potential hazards.
Enabling the future of HUDs with DigiLens
So, what makes our technology different and better than what’s already in market?
DigiLens is developing the most cost effective and lightweight HUD solution. Based on our optical platform and nanomaterials, we’re licensing our reference designs and manufacturing processes for a wide range of applications.
What’s more, DigiLens’ diffractive waveguide optics technology is well-positioned to serve as a technical base for an emerging breed of AR and VR displays and sensors in enterprise and consumer devices. DigiLens delivers some of the crispest images available for a HUD along with an unbelievably wide field-of-view and best-in-class efficiency.