Head-Up Display (HUD)
A head-up display (HUD) projects driving information into the driver's forward field of view, usually as a virtual image that appears beyond the windshield. It reduces the need to look down at the instrument cluster, but it does not remove the need to watch the road.
What it shows
Common content includes speed, navigation instructions, speed limits, driver-assistance status, and warnings. A combiner HUD uses a small transparent panel, while a windshield HUD reflects light from a projector through specially designed windshield optics. Image size, apparent distance, brightness, color, viewing angle, and usable eye box vary.
Practical limits
The image may be harder to see with some polarized sunglasses, extreme seating positions, strong sunlight, or an incorrectly specified replacement windshield. Drivers should adjust height and brightness so information is visible without obscuring important road detail.
A conventional HUD places symbols in a stable display area. An augmented-reality HUD can align selected graphics more closely with apparent objects or locations outside the vehicle.
Learn more
See Head-up displays for HUD optics, packaging, content design, augmented reality, and ownership considerations.