3-D Dash Opening Industry’s Eyes

BEAVERTON, Ore.--Planar Systems Inc. is issuing the automotive industry a heads-up over its “3-D” instrument cluster display, developed in conjunction with Sagem and Johnson Controls.

The dual-plane display was first unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in October, as part of Johnson Controls’ Kion concept vehicle. The semi-circular transparent electroluminescent (EL) display provides speedometer, gear selection, and fuel level information and appears to “float,” allowing the viewing of additional information on displays behind it.

According to the developers, the transparent display solves the challenge of safely presenting more information in the crowded cluster area by overlaying the displayed data--solving an increasing problem as the amount of needed driver detail increases with new telematics applications.

“Our industrial designers came up with an approach that could only be realized with a display not readily available in the market,” said Rusty Lhamon, business development manager of electronics at Johnson Controls. “Sagem and Planar were able to quickly deliver a bright, easily readable transparent display. Customer interest has been very high in our Kion platform, and especially with the instrument section.”

“The prospect of adding a ‘depth dimension’ to the already crowded instrument cluster really appeals to the transportation industry,” said Erick Petersen, director of marketing and business development for Planar’s Transportation Business Unit. “Johnson Controls, Sagem, and Planar put together an impressive concept solution in a short timeframe. We are investigating a number of other applications for this innovative transparent EL technology.

“Today we have a concept that is drawing significant customer interest,” added Petersen. “We see this as a very typical example of how we will apply innovation to bring fresh ideas to the automotive industry.”

Separately, Sagem and Johnson Controls have reached a “peer partnering agreement that entails “a commitment to co-develop advanced electronics for integration into automotive vehicle interiors, supported by a group of strategic relationships.”

For more information, contact www.planar.com, www.sagem.com and www.jci.com.