Redefining The Future Of In-Car Infotainment, Audi’s Latest Creation The Holographic Windscreen

Innovations of grander, akin to science fiction films where images can be projected onto a glass surface, Audi’s latest creation can turn the windscreen of a car into a cinema.

Audi AG explained, "A display surface of a self-luminous screen element is divided into first and second display regions by a bend region. A selective shielding unit transmits light from the screen element along a preferred direction and blocks light along a blocking direction and/or deflects light from the blocking direction. When installed in a motor vehicle, the display device faces a surface region at a distance from the screen element on which a reflection of the display content displayed on the second display region is visible from a predetermined viewing point. In this case, the preferred direction of the selective shielding unit in the second display region is oriented toward the surface region, and the blocking direction in the second display region is oriented toward the predetermined viewing point."

To simplify, it basically means that the system when installed in a car could project an image onto the windscreen via a light bar.

It acts as a transmitter of light towards the screen to view images and as a barrier to unwanted light from behind the ‘holographic image’ that could distort it.

Besides implying that the screen could be visible even in daylight, it could also be used for entertainment functions and operating information of the motor vehicle.

Plus, it indicates further that its polarization filter could prevent the effect of so-called double images and the system would be able to project various versions of the same image.

Meaning, whatever that is being projected, a clear image could be seen regardless of the angle from which the screen is viewed.

This self-luminous screen is bent or folded at an angle of fewer than 180 degrees for one viewing angle and over that number for another.

Thus, with its shielding unit that can block light, the driver can have a more advanced version of the typical head-up display while the passenger could watch a film or other media on a full screen. 

Notably, the viewer’s position in the car would determine what that person sees, so neither the driver nor the passenger is distracted by what the other individual is watching. 

As such, this could make journeys much more enjoyable for passengers and much more informative for drivers.

Interestingly, when autonomous vehicles arrive, as foreshadowed by the likes of Audi's Grandsphere concept, all occupants could take advantage of in-car entertainment on a previously unseen scale.

In short, if this invention is pursued, it will likely only arrive in at least a decade, so don't expect to see it on the upcoming Audi models.

*This article is based on 'Audi Invents Windscreen That Can Transform Into A Giant TV' reported by carbuzz.com.