Thread: Project NiteVision - NiteMax + HUD + carputer

Originally Posted by jammy_basturd

Hey, just thought I'd add my ideas rather than start a very similar thread. I've been following this for a about a week and read through it several times.

I was wondering whether anyone has looked into making a system very similar to the ones above but using the ideas behind a DIY projector, like these?

I was thinking you could use ultrabright white LEDs as the light source, shone through a small (2.5-52) active matrix LCD screen, then pass this through the relevant filters and lenses. I was also planning with mine to use a very thin plastic screen on top of the dash to project onto, rather than projecting onto the windscreen. This solves the problems of placing tints onto the windscreen (which in the UK could be a legality issue), and I can also motorise this so it can be withdrawn into the dash when not needed?

Another advantage of this is that you can have greater control over the brightness of the screen. I was thinking of using an LDR to regulate the brightness of the white LEDs, so if there is a car coming towards you with headlights on, or real bright daylight, or going through tunnels, etc, the LEDs would adjust the brightness accordingly.

The one last advantage I thought this would give is with the control it gives you over the reflection/refraction angles and ghost images. Because you would essentially only be projecting the image through one enlarging lense and onto the viewing surface you can set up the viewing angle of the screen precisely and you don't need to worry about the curvature of the windscreen?

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Its a bit of a rough idea so far, haven't had time to sit down and work anything out on paper yet.

hehe, been there. I was going to make it raise by a small system of drawstrings from laying on the dash. Its a good idea, except since its projecting onto a film form the opposite side, the whole world knows you have something on in your car, and is illegal in my area 9since it looks like light is being emitted from the dash as well). I was thinking a roof top projector, and then came the point "how?" Well, my car is small. If it was an SUV or mini van, i'd hit this completely differently, but i like my economical compact sports cars.

I haven't had the curvature of my windsheilf be a problem, just the inverting of the pictures isnce it does produce a mirror image.

Also, i had a company, da-screen or something, do the calculations for me. You only need about 350-450 nits to appropriately illuminate the screen (thier holoscreen), if i remember correctly. It won't take too much do iluminate the screen in the day time at that distance, esp if you use an LCD. Filters that you'd need...i don't know....the resident optics guys will lead you better in that respect.