This article takes a look at how ZEISS Microoptics is pushing automotive display technology forward by developing holographic optical elements (HOEs) that are built right into vehicle glass. These transparent holographic layers let windscreens and side windows show information only where the driver or passenger needs it, but stay nearly invisible the rest of the time.
The technology marks a real shift in how cars deliver information inside the cabin. It’s a blend of optical precision, energy smarts, and manufacturability that’s honestly pretty impressive.
Holographic Optical Elements Embedded in Glass
ZEISS Microoptics’ core innovation is simple but clever: they put complex optical functions straight into transparent glass. Unlike the usual display setups that need bulky optics or moving parts, HOEs use diffraction to steer light exactly where it’s wanted.
How HOEs Shape and Control Light
The holographic layer bends light from LED or laser projectors into a tightly defined eyebox. This way, only someone in a specific spot sees the display, which is great for privacy and clarity.
Even with all this optical trickery, the glass stays highly transparent. ZEISS claims ambient light transmittance tops 92%, so the holographic layer basically disappears during normal driving.
Design Freedom and Packaging Advantages
Space inside cars is always at a premium. Display systems have to squeeze in alongside safety features, sensors, and all the comfort tech—compactness really matters.
Curvature-Independent Optical Performance
Because HOEs use diffraction, not refraction, their performance doesn’t depend on how curved the glass is. That means designers can put projectors wherever makes sense, freeing up space and making integration into modern vehicles much easier.
Unlike augmented reality head-up displays (AR-HUDs), HOE-based setups break the link between system size and field-of-view or eyebox size. So you get large fields of view without needing to scale up the hardware or add complexity.
Energy Efficiency and Optical Stability
Energy use is a big deal in today’s cars, especially electric ones where every watt counts. Here, ZEISS points out that holographic displays have a real efficiency edge.
Lower Power, Higher Optical Consistency
HOE systems need about one-tenth the power of LCD-based panoramic HUDs to hit similar brightness. For instance, a holographic P-HUD might use around 3 × 6 W for 2,500 nits, while an LCD version could eat up 3 × 30 W.
Since the holographic P-HUD creates a real image right on the glass, it dodges the distortion issues that virtual-image AR-HUDs often struggle with. The result? Stable, binocular viewing across the whole eyebox.
Why ZEISS Chooses Analogue Holography
Not all holography is the same. ZEISS prefers analogue holography over digital options for use in cars.
Continuous Microstructures for Superior Quality
Analogue holography makes continuous, non-pixelated microstructures. This sidesteps the resolution limits and light loss you get with hogel-based digital holograms, so you end up with better efficiency and image quality.
The analogue process starts with a precision master made in cleanroom conditions. Then, they use replication techniques tuned for high-volume production. The materials are engineered to survive all the harsh stuff cars go through, like temperature swings and lamination.
Industrial Readiness and Scalable Production
It’s not just about the optics. ZEISS also puts a lot of focus on building a full industrial ecosystem around these displays.
From Mastering to Series Production
ZEISS has built a partner network covering:
This approach lets teams scale up and repeat series production for global automotive programs. HOE-based transparent displays now stand out as a mature, efficient, and flexible alternative to existing HUD tech.
They’re ready for next-generation vehicles, and honestly, it’s about time we saw something fresh on the road.
Here is the source article for this story: ZEISS: Futuristics vehicle displays with holographic optics, today