Eastman, Covestro and Ceres team up for holographic transparent displays

German polymer materials manufacturer Covestro, U.S. specialty materials company Eastman and Scotland-based Ceres Holographics, a supplier of holographic optical components for displays, have joined forces to redefine such displays.

The partners have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore commercial production of cutting-edge holographic planar transparent displays (HIPTD). This is a laminated hologram solution that enables multiple head-up displays to be mounted on a single windshield.

These new displays overcome the performance, size and geometry limitations of traditional HUD systems, making it practical and scalable to implement multiple displays on one windshield and elsewhere on side-lit glass.

This achievement is the result of Covestro’s expertise in photopolymer films, Ceres’ digital mastering and HoloFlekt roll-to-roll replication system (which can produce finished films up to 1400 mm in width), and Eastman’s solutions for encapsulating functional films into automotive-grade laminates.

“Our Bayfol HX enables the next generation of truly transparent windshield projection displays while meeting the high safety requirements of automobiles,” said Günther Walze, Head of Holographic Light Guides at Covestro. “With Ceres’ required hologram mastering and scalable mass production replication equipment, combined with Eastman’s windshield lamination technology, this innovation is ready for deployment to end customers.”

"We have been working closely with global OEMs for many years and are now at an inflection point in the adoption and expansion of this display technology. This is driven by the demand for safer and more intuitive information displays, pressure from safety regulators to reduce driver distraction, and the increasing pace of innovation and the associated need for differentiation from next-generation automakers," said Andy Travers, CEO of Ceres Holographics.

“This agreement solidifies our collaboration and brings us closer to providing a full-stack solution for innovative display implementations,” said Hemant Dandekar, Global Business Director, Automotive Advanced Materials and Interlayers, Eastman. “With the foundation and relationships in place, we are excited to define a viable path to holographic transparent displays on a global scale.”