Microvision Ships Prototype Head-Up Display to Ford

BOTHELL, Wash., Oct. 12 -- Microvision Inc. has shipped a laser-scanning projection display to Ford Research Laboratory after a four-month development effort. The unit will be evaluated as a driver's head-up (HUD) display similar to those used in military and commercial aircraft. The HUD projection system creates a high-brightness monochromatic image designed to appear only when a driver looks in a particular location.

The palm-sized projection display contains proprietary technology that creates an image by precisely scanning a single beam of laser light at very high speed. The beam is projected through a rectangular lens that causes the image to appear in space when the viewer focuses on the selected location.

"Our technology is a perfect fit for the automobile industry," said Tom Sanko, Microvision's vice president of marketing.

"Automotive displays need to deliver very bright images in small affordable packages, have a long lifetime and not generate heat. Current projection technologies aren't able to achieve most of these requirements. Compared to the expensive lamps in existing projection systems, Microvision's use of laser light sources makes a key difference. Our light sources are very small, very bright and very power efficient."