Automotive chipsets – Applications
Texas Instruments DLP® technology is qualified for automotive applications to provide automotive designers superior color, brightness and contrast for both interior and exterior automotive display and light applications. The driving force behind the award-winning DLP technology is a sea of tiny micromirrors that switch on and off 1000’s of times per second, projecting and mixing colors into amazing imagery and light.
Dynamic ground projection
Vehicles are now able to communicate with road users in ways that have never before been possible. Small exterior lights designed with DLP® technology can be used to project vehicle information and intent, pedestrian alerts and various branding and styling features with full color video and images. These small exterior lights can be incorporated all around vehicle to enable 360° communication around the car to help other road users understand the intent of the vehicle and enable unique customization features.
Advantages of dynamic ground projection include:
- Enable multiple functions from a single compact, low-cost module including styling and communication
- Improve vehicle visibility by extending turn signal and reverse warnings
- Programmable content can adapt over time enabling use cases that have not been determined
DLP technology's advantages in dynamic ground projection
High efficiency
- Reflective mirrors enable high efficency optics
- Minimal electronics to maximize LED brightness
Ultimate design flexibility
- Design modules with total volume under 32cm3
- Content generation schemes with GPU-free solution
Automotive-qualified solutions
- DLP technology is on the road today with many OEMs
- DLP technology has 20+ years of shipping history
Resources to help you get started with dynamic ground projection
Dynamic Ground Projection using DLP® Technology for Automotive Exterior Lighting
Learn how dynamic ground projection helps to re-invent perceptions on external lighting by providing new, innovative lighting capabilities.
Dynamic Ground Projection Application Requirements
Learn how to correctly estimate the brightness requirements for your dynamic ground projection module.
DLP3021-Q1 Dynamic Ground Projection System Design
Learn how the dynamic ground projection system architecture is different than some of the traditinoal projection systems.
Featured tools for dynamic ground projection
DLP3021-Q1 Light Engine Evaluation Module
This light engine EVM aids evaluation of the DLP3021-Q1 DMD for dynamic ground projection modules, provides an out-of-box ready system for evaluation of the DLP3021-Q1 chipset and enables a fast demo and prototype module.
Select tool if: You want to build/access a dynamic ground projection module.
DLP third party search tool
This third-party search tool helps you to find the optical modules, hardware design, specialty software and other production services to help you meet your design needs.
Select tool if: You want to find third-party provider or optical module that meets your needs.
Dynamic ground projection brightness estimation calculator
This Excel calculator provides a starting point for estimating the brightness required of a DGP system to display animation, logos or vehicle alerts under different ambient conditions.
Select tool if: You want to correctly estimate and compare the brightness of dynamic ground projection image.
Head-up display
Head-up displays (HUDs) project critical driving information directly into the driver’s field of view improving driver reaction times and situational awareness. Vehicle information such as speed, speed limit, navigation cues and advanced safety features such as lane departure and collision warnings can be displayed.
Augmented reality HUDs (AR-HUDs) can project information out into the driver’s field of view, labeling real word objects at distances of 20 feet or more in front of the vehicle. By marking and tracking real-world objects, threats can be quickly identified allowing the driver to take the appropriate actions as well as indicating navigation cues directly onto the real-world driving scene.
Superior image quality
- 125% NTSC color-gamut
- High brightness, supports > 15K cd/m2
- Consistent image quality over temperature
True augmented reality
- Wide field of view (12 x 5° and greater)
- Supports long virtual image distances (up to 20m)
- Supports waveguides and holographic HUD designs
Polarized sunglasses
- Does not require a polarized light source
- Display visible even when wearing sunglasses
Picture generation unit (PGU)
The picture generation unit (PGU) projects the image onto an intermediate image plane called the diffuser screen. The HUD optics then magnify the image and project it onto the windshield where it reflects into the driver’s eye box, presenting the driver with an image appearing 2 to 20m out over the road. The optical prescriptions of the HUD and PGU must be carefully matched to the windshield which typically requires custom mirror and lens designs.
True augmented reality HUD (AR-HUDs)
“True augmented reality” requires a wide field of view of at least 10° coupled with a long virtual image of at least 7.5 meters. The idea behind AR is to overlay digital information on top of the real world, enhancing driver situational awareness and improving the driving experience. The “real world” is defined by how wide an field of view (FOV) and long a virtual image distance you can support. To meaningfully interact with driver's field of view, the larger the FOV and longer the virtual image, the better. DLP’s unique architecture is able to withstand the thermal loads caused by the magnification of the sun’s light within the HUD.
Resources to help you get started with head-up display
DLP® Technology: Enabling the Next Generation of Automotive Head-Up Display Syst (Rev. A)
The uniqueness of DLP technology makes it possible to solve common design challenges of head-up display systems such as managing environmental extremes and sunlight thermal loading, delivering high brightness and high resolution and implementing dynamic dimming capabilities.
DLP Technology: Solving design challenges in next generation of automotive head (Rev. A)
DLP technology is well suited to meet the needs of advanced HUD systems wide field of view and long virtual image distances. Learn about AR HUD display optics, source selections for a HUD using DLP technology (DLP HUD) designs and the high dynamic range LED control system in this white paper.
Featured tools for head-up display
DLP3030-Q1 electronics evaluation module
The DLP3030-Q1 electronics evaluation module is based on the DLP3030-Q1 chipset and is intended to support the development of automotive grade picture generation units (PGU) or projection modules.
Select tool if: You want to build a PGU or projection module.
DLP3030-Q1 picture generation unit evaluation module
This automotive designed picture generation unit (PGU) can be used to support head-up display (HUD) development or can be attached to existing HUD designs for DLP performance evaluation.
Select tool if: You want to build a HUD, benchmark DLP3030-Q1 performance or develop HUD software.
DLP5530-Q1 picture generation unit (PGU) projector evaluation module
This EVM is an automotive projector designed to support high performance augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) picture generation units (PGU).
Select tool if: You want to build/access a picture generation units module.
AR HUD lumen budget estimation calculator
Input HUD parameters to produce an estimated total lumen requirement of a standard design of an AR HUD system.
Select tool if: You want to correctly estimate total lumen requirements for AR HUD system design.
AR HUD volume estimation calculator
Input standard HUD parameters to produce an estimated total volume of a standard, 1-mirror design of an AR HUD system.
Select tool if: You want to correctly estimate total volume for AR HUD system design.
DLP third party search tool
This third-party search tool helps you to find the optical modules, hardware design, specialty software and other production services to help you meet your design needs.
Select tool if: You want to find third-party provider or optical module that meets your needs.
High resolution headlights
Automobile headlights have been constantly evolving. They started as a simple light source for drivers but quickly evolved to becoming smart headlights supporting functions such as adaptive driving beams, which is used to maximize light output while minimizing glare to other drivers. Latest headlights use projection technology based on individually controllable pixels to project different communication features, such as symbols and shapes, to the road to help drivers better manage critical driving situations.
In order to achieve a meaningful display of symbols, warnings or other messages, such projection requires a high resolution. TI's DLP® technology automotive solution is the only technology on the road that is both fully programmable and offers the highest resolution available with more than one million addressable pixels per headlight.
Advantages of high resolution highlight include:
- Able to deliver excellent user experience
- Allows new functions such as sophisticated welcome scenarios, branding or personalization of vehicles to be added at any time
- Offers intelligent, programmable solutions
DLP technology's advantages in high resolution headlight
ABD and meaningful communication
- Precise road projection of communication features
- Maximize driver visibility while minimize glare
- Programmable and dimmable pixel by pixel
- Supports any light source including LED and laser
Strong support
- Supporting various system architectures
- Reference designs, demonstrators and EVMs
- Third-paty network, design experience and services
Automotive qualified solutions
- Trusted by OEMs and Tier 1 for projection
- DLP DMDs developed and qualified for automotive
Resources to help you get started with high resolution highlights
Watch the video to learn more about the advantages of having one million addressable pixels for use in adaptive driving beam headlight technology.
Watch the video to learn about how DLP automotive solutions can improve visibility and enhance personalization.
Improving Visibility with DLP® Headlights
Learn how the DLP® automotive technology for headlights can improve visibility and provide support for your applications.
Featured tools for high resolution highlight
DLP55531-Q1 light engine evaluation module
This light engine EVM aids evaluation of the DLP5531-Q1 chipset for prototype development of adaptive driving beams, glare-free beam steering, reflective traffic sign dimming, pedetrian dimming, symbol projection and OEM branding.
Select tool if: You want to build a high-resolution headlight.
DLP third party search tool
This third-party search tool helps you to find the optical modules, hardware design, specialty software and other production services to help you meet your design needs.
Select tool if: You want to find third-party provider or optical module that meets your needs.
Featured reference designs for high resolution highlight
Transparent window display
New transparent display films when combined with DLP® technology are enabling car manufacturers and ride hailing companies to turn virtually any window into a bright colorful display. Front, side and back windows as well as panoramic sunroofs can now be turned into interior or exterior facing displays.
Target applications for transparent window display include windscreen cluster displays, location-based advertisement, vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to pedestrian (V2P) communication and driver greeting side window displays.
Advantages of transparent window displays include:
- Turn any vehicle window into a bright, colorful display
- On-demand displays that disappear when not in use supporting cleaner cockpit design aesthetics
- Multiple transparent window film technologies supporting different optical characteristics and end applications
DLP technology's advantage for transparent window display
Scalable solutions
- Resolution and brightness scale with DMD size
- LED, laser and 405nm illumination options
- Functional safety chipset options
Bright, coloful displays
- High color gamut display (up to 172% NTSC)
- Support up to 1000 lumen projector designs
- Up to 2304 x 1152 display resolution
Automotive qualified solutions
- -40 to 105C operation
- Constant performance over temperature
- PPAP documents available upon request
Resources to help you get started with transparent window display
Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of using DLP chipsets for transparent displays in automotive applications.
In-plane Holographic Transparent Windscreen Displays
Learn how an in-plane (IP) holographic display can be used to project on the front windshield to display cluster, infotainment and navigational information directly in the line of sight of the driver.
Featured tools for transparent window display
DLP5530-Q1 interior projector evaluation module
This EVM is designed to support interior automotive display applications, and provides a high performance projector solution with optics, LED light sources, and adjustable throw distance.
Select tool if: You want to build/access a transparent window display module.
DLP5530-Q1 interior projector evaluation module with true green LED
This EVM is an automotive projector designed to support interior automotive display applications that require narrow bandwidth LEDs such as holographic optical elements (HOE) based displays.
Select tool if: You want to build a transparent window display module with narrow bandwidth LED requirements.