Osaka/Tokyo - The large-screen HUD (Head-Up Display) developed by Automotive Company of Panasonic Corporation is installed in the Mitsubishi Outlander, a new crossover SUV produced by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, which was released in the U.S., Canadian, and Puerto Rican markets from April this year. This is the first time a Panasonic WS HUD has been used by Mitsubishi Motors, and the first time for them to use a WS (windshield) type HUD.
Photo: Panasonic
The HUD is a system which presents a variety of information such as vehicle speed, navigation instructions, and MI-PILOT ASSIST*1 driver assist information in the driver’s line of sight by projecting it on the windshield. Since the display is projected near the center of driver’s field of view, it reduces the burden on the driver by reducing eye movements and enhances the smooth interaction between driver and system.
*1 MI-PILOT ASSIST: Driver assistance technology for highway use in single-lane traffic developed by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
With its expertise in optical technologies acquired through development of digital cameras, Panasonic has applied the high precision free-form mirror and the high-intensity PGU (Picture Generation Unit) technologies to the HUD, successfully providing a large, bright, sharp screen with minimal distortion (field of view: 7 degrees × 3 degrees).
Overview of the developed technologies:
(1) High precision free-form mirror
Panasonic's HUD uses a high precision free-form mirror to which the company applied its lens design and molding technologies originally developed for digital cameras. This minimizes the HUD unit while allowing projection of a low-distortion image on the large screen in the limited space in the vehicle.
(2) High-intensity PGU
Panasonic's proprietary backlight design for the HUD, which was developed based on the lighting technology for LCDs, provides the drivers with a clear image even under conditions that might have made it difficult to see the display, such as under direct sunlight or while wearing sunglasses.
Panasonic strives to take a leading position in the field of HUDs, which are expected to see widespread use in the future. Leveraging the strength in the development and delivery of HUDs, Panasonic will contribute to the creation of safe, secure, and comfortable driving environments.
* The images are fit and composited for convenience, so they may not be exactly the same as actual ones.
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