UniMax Introduces World’s First MAVE AR HUD for Automotive

UniMax Introduces World’s First MAVE AR HUD for Automotive
UniMax, the automotive electronics design and manufacturing company owned by ASUS Group, today announced the world’s first augmented-reality head-up display (AR HUD) with mirror-array vision extender (MAVE) technology. The UniMax AR HUD provides a revolutionary new method of displaying real-time information on automobile windshields that is smaller, cheaper and more energy efficient than competitor products.
 

Compact and practical: Volume reduced by at least 30% for easy automotive integration

Traditional HUDs present automobile manufacturers with numerous significant technical and practical problems. For starters, the HUD unit must be embedded into the dashboard, projecting through the top shelf. Then, to create a broad field of view (FOV) for AR HUD applications, a large panel must be used — meaning integration into smaller cars is not always practical or even possible.
The MAVE technology that drives the new UniMax AR HUD is different and aims to disrupt the market by making existing AR HUD solutions seem large and costly by comparison. The key to its flatter design is an array of small, strip-like mirrors that work in tandem with angled and concave mirrors to direct images from the PGU up to the windshield. Compared to competing AR HUD products, this arrangement reduces the overall volume of the UniMax AR HUD by at least 30% — making it considerably more practical to integrate into smaller vehicles.
 

Ready for any windshield: Ghost-free image delivery removes need for wedge glass

The new UniMax AR HUD technology solves another problem for automobile manufacturers, by eliminating the need to use expensive wedge glass in the windshield.
The optical properties of traditional HUD designs mean that if the image is projected onto a standard windshield then ‘ghosting’ will occur, where a second, fainter image appears in the driver’s eye line – slightly offset from the central image. This ghost image is caused by the projection reflecting from the windshield’s second, outer glass layer.
To combat this problem, so-called wedge glass must be employed to create a slight-but-vital angle between the inner and outer layers of the windshield. Standard windshields employ a single, uniform polyvinyl butyral (PVB) bonding layer between the inner and outer glass layers. However, to prevent AR HUD ghosting, a wedge-shaped PVB layer must be created to form a precise angle between the two glass panels. This process adds significantly to manufacturing costs.
The optical technology behind the UniMax AR HUD is able to work with standard windshields, making it feasible to fit in lower-cost automobiles. This empowers vehicle manufacturers the freedom to extend the benefits of virtualized driver information to previously unreached market segments.
 

Reduced power and heat: Low-power picture-generation unit keeps things cooler

The UniMax AR HUD also delivers multiple ancillary benefits. It offers excellent power-to-light efficiency for both the interior and exterior light path, reducing power consumption, operating temperature and heat generation. The need to dissipate less heat also reduces the space needed for installation, as well as engineering complexity.
Compared to other AR HUD technologies, where waveguide efficiency can be as little as 1%, the UniMax product is able to realize significant savings in power consumption at the same brightness level. Specifically, the all-new MAVE technology that empowers the UniMax AR HUD is able to deliver waveguide efficiencies of up to 30% — a huge leap over competitor products.