Zecotek Photonics Begins Development of a 3D Display System for European Auto Company

Zecotek Photonics Inc. has been approached by a major European automobile manufacturer to jointly integrate a 3D display system into a head-up display (HUD) and entertainment console, based on its patented 3D auto-stereoscopic display technology.

Zecotek’s 3D display system does not require eye tracking and provides a deeper field of view. It also allows both the driver and the passenger to see pictures with the same relative primary resolution.

“The key difference between Zecotek’s patented 3D display system and existing HUD systems are the significantly more views in our 3D system compared to the two views in HUD displays requiring eye tracking,” said Faouzi Zerrouk, chairman, president, CEO and founder of Zecotek Photonics. “Eye tracking increases complexity and requires additional systems which impacts reliability and drives up costs. Our 3D display system has over 90 views, which not only eliminates the need for eye tracking, it allows the driver and the passenger to have different displayed images without any compromise in the image resolution.”

The HUD projects relevant trip data and alerts onto a high-quality slide-out display panel positioned directly in the driver's field of vision. The driver of the vehicle can press a button and a transparent display rises from its position behind the dashboard into the driver's primary field of vision. Speed, traffic signs, the activity of the assistance systems and other functions can be displayed on the high-resolution surface. Meanwhile, the driver's eyes remain on the road, with the on-screen information appearing to be approximately two meters in front of the vehicle. The advantage of the position of the display is that projecting alerts into the driver's immediate field of vision reduces reaction time. In addition, the driver's eyes do not need to refocus so often from far-field to near-field vision.

Zecotek’s 3D scientific team is working with the European automobile company as it runs tests on the 3D display system. Early results show that the 3D display is well suited for the application in the automobile. Any news on a possible agreement will be released in early 2017.