This Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a revolutionary miniature projector engine for automotive full windshield display (FWD). The invention allows high quality images with rich graphics to be displayed directly on automobile windshields. The mini-projector engine can be integrated with a rearview mirror. It can be interfaced to the on-board electronics or other communication devices using standard protocols. Based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) fabricated micromirror devices, the proposed display engine provides 4X faster display speed than state-of-the-art vector display devices. Its size is less than 1 in3 and consumes less than 1W of energy. It can be mass produced at low cost and is the most suitable for automotive applications.
If successful the outcome of this project will provide the most effective method to convey information to driver without causing distraction. Unlike traditional HUD, it can display information on the entire windshield. As augmented information display, it can effectively reduce road accidents and save thousands of lives every year! When implemented, even a small 10% of deployment, the market size for this display engine will be 6 millions of units annually in the 60 millions global vehicles market. It will generate hundreds of millions dollars of tax and hundreds of jobs for the United St
