Siemens VDO's Color Head-Up Display Nears First Application

    FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 12 At the 59th Frankfurt Motor
Show, Siemens VDO Automotive AG is demonstrating the first ready-for-
production freely programmable color display that projects vehicle
instrumentation and driver information onto the windshield.  This next
generation head-up display signifies an important advantage in improved
driving conditions and reduced distractions, as the driver no longer needs to
divert attention from the road to view conventional gauges or displays.

    Considering the constant increase in information available in the car, it
is becoming much more important to manage the frequency of distractions
available to the driver.  For this reason, Siemens VDO Automotive has
developed a color head-up display (HUD) enabling important information to be
super-imposed on the windshield.  The average driver requires approximately
one second to read information from the instrument cluster -- the time it
takes to cover 14 meters at a speed of 50 km/h.

    The HUD cuts this time in half for operators with eyes adjusting slower to
distance changes.  Drivers are allowed to concentrate more on traffic and the
potential breaking distance gained is even more noticeable.

    The Siemens VDO Automotive system utilizes a newly developed illumination
unit that serves as a white light source which transmits a brightness of up to
500,000 candela per square meter.  The light is diverted by a reflector to a
powerful thin film transistor (TFT) display, upon which the color images are
composed of 65,000 pixels.  The rays of light travel to the windshield across
several mirrors that compensate for the windshield's curve.  One of these
mirrors can be turned, allowing the super-imposed image on the windshield to
be adjusted to the driver's seating position.

    The HUD unit is located in the cockpit behind the instrument cluster where
the image is produced and reflected onto the windshield.  The driver does not
see the image on the surface of the windshield, but it appears to float freely
over the hood at a distance of approximately two meters in front of the
driver.

    The adjustment time for the human eye to clearly see objects at different
distances is significantly reduced.

    The combination of a powerful illumination unit and a TFT makes the
presentation possibilities of Siemens VDO Automotive's head-up display far
superior to the conventional monochrome systems -- even in strong sunlight.
At night, a sensor constantly measures the brightness of the surrounding area
to prevent blinding the driver.  The luminance is automatically adapted and
can be dimmed to a thousandth of the maximum value without a color change.

    The type of information to be projected on the windshield will be
determined by the car manufacturer receiving the freely programmable interface
from Siemens VDO Automotive.  OEM customers can choose to superimpose the
speed, rpm, breaking distance, navigation arrows and oil warnings and tire
pressure and much more onto the TFT.  The size and scope of information
displayed can be freely selected with the aid of a driver interface.
The introduction of the color head-up display by Siemens VDO Automotive ushers
in a new dimension of automotive ergonomics.

    This system is from one of the worldwide leaders in the field of driver
information systems.  In the future, it will be possible for applications to
project images generated by night vision systems onto the windshield with the
head-up display.

    Siemens VDO Automotive is one of the world's leading suppliers of
electronics, electrical and mechatronic technologies to the automotive
industry.  As a development partner in the automotive industry, the company
manufactures products for powertrain, engine control electronics and fuel
injection technology which improve engine performance and reduce emissions.
The company is a market leader in information and car communication systems
with instrumentation, audio and navigation systems, telematics and multimedia
applications, through to complete cockpits.  Siemens VDO Automotive products
for chassis and carbody contribute to greater vehicle safety and security.
These products include ABS and fuel tank systems and access control systems.
A separate Trading/After Market division markets products for retrofitting in
cars and commercial vehicles.  The company was created in April 2001 as a
result of the merger between Siemens Automotive and Mannesmann VDO.

    The company's parent organization, Siemens AG, is headquartered in Berlin
and Munich and is a leading global electronics and engineering company,
employing over 447,000 people in 193 countries, with worldwide sales in excess
of $74 billion in fiscal 2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00).  The United States is
Siemens' largest market, where it employs over 73,000 and recorded sales of
more than $17 billion in fiscal 2000.