Sunglasses and the HUD

MtBiker19

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Jul 12, 2024
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16
Oakton Virginia
Vehicles
2024 Land Cruiser - LC Trim/Premium
I've noticed that my Costa's are doing an excellent job at making the HUD fade away- I can only assume its the polarization.
Anyone have experience with sunglasses that dont impact the viewability of the HUD?
 
Worse yet, possibly difficult to locate non-polarized. At our Costco they do not even offer non-polarized, a disappointment.
 
HUD manufacturers need to offer either a projection system that works with polarized lenses or a way to change the angle of projection while maintaining correct orientation.

You'll notice that when you tilt your head the image fades in and out.
 
All I have worn are Ray Ban sunglasses. You can order them with or without polarized lenses.

I switched from polarized to regular glass for the HUD issue and other screens which polarized make disappear.
 
The LC owners manual states that polarized glasses may not work with the HUD. My current driving glasses are polarized and since I love the HUD my next set won't be.

-Kurt
 
HUD manufacturers need to offer either a projection system that works with polarized lenses or a way to change the angle of projection while maintaining correct orientation.

You'll notice that when you tilt your head the image fades in and out.
Lol. Denied by physics. A HUD works because of the partial reflection of light on the windshield. The intensity of the image is reduced because polarized sunglasses cut down on the amount of reflected light transmitted to our eyes. That's the whole point of polarized sunglasses...to cut down on the reflected light. You might also notice that using polarized sunglasses helps you see better on a hazy day because the reason haze is hazy is because light is reflecting off the particles that are suspended in the air. Cool stuff, really.
 
I took a discovery flight in a Cessna 172 with a glass cockpit- could hardly see the instruments with polarized sunglasses. These seem to be a hit with the aviation community. Flying Eyes Optics
 
I took a discovery flight in a Cessna 172 with a glass cockpit- could hardly see the instruments with polarized sunglasses. These seem to be a hit with the aviation community. Flying Eyes Optics
Outstanding. The Cessna 172 is the go-to workhorse plane for training as well as owning. It sounds like you are entertaining getting your private pilot's license. I am in the final steps as well.
I am going with a Cessna 182 once I am licensed. You can buy them, operate them, and trade-in/sell for what you pay for them in a couple of years. Outstanding airplanes and very sharp and safe. All built a State away from me in Wichita, KS--which makes fly-in servicing quick and easy as well.
 
I took a discovery flight in a Cessna 172 with a glass cockpit- could hardly see the instruments with polarized sunglasses. These seem to be a hit with the aviation community. Flying Eyes Optics
Oh yeah, and Randolph Engineering is also a choice of sunglasses for pilots.
 
Outstanding. The Cessna 172 is the go-to workhorse plane for training as well as owning. It sounds like you are entertaining getting your private pilot's license. I am in the final steps as well.
I am going with a Cessna 182 once I am licensed. You can buy them, operate them, and trade-in/sell for what you pay for them in a couple of years. Outstanding airplanes and very sharp and safe. All built a State away from me in Wichita, KS--which makes fly-in servicing quick and easy as well.
Yup- briefly went down the PPL path but got very furstrated with the available training options in the Northern Virginia area, as we are inside the DC SFRA. On top of that- the local GA airports have a 3-5yr waitlist for T-hangers... and they are bloody expensive. ...then theres the avilable time from work and the FAA siliness and 60-yr old certified, air-cooled "technology". I can go on and on and sound like a grumpy old guy shaking his fist at the clouds! LOL ...but yes- it was a ton of fun being in the air and I hope to have free time available some day to make it happen. ...and yup- I was born in Wichita- the birthplace to a lot of aircraft!
 
I got my LC in late July and wore sunglasses (polarized) every time I drove it for the first couple of months, so I didn’t realize there was a HUD.

Now that The Great Darkness has settled in upon the PNW, I’m not wearing the sunglasses much. And I rarely even notice the HUD because I’m conditioned to not seeing it 🤪
 
I have only worn polarized sunglasses for about two decades. I was saddened to read on this forum that polarized sunglasses made the HUD not visible, while waiting for Miss Daisy’s arrival.

Imagine my surprise when I picked up miss Daisy from the Dealership, and the HUD was definitely visible. Albeit at a less bright level. That was easily fixed by tuning up the brightness with the little knob on the dash to the left of the steering column.

Now, Miss Daisy’s HUD is plainly visible even with my polarized RayBan wayfarer’s on.
 
All I have worn are Ray Ban sunglasses. You can order them with or without polarized lenses.

I switched from polarized to regular glass for the HUD issue and other screens which polarized make disappear.
This. I have the same $99 Oakleys (ok, maybe $200 now because of inflation) in 3 different lens types. I have all of them in the garage, so I take what I need for my journey.
 
Here is a nice explanation of the science at play. This company claims to have developed a way around it, of which I’m not familiar. Their way around it is a manufacturing change car companies would have to make.

 
Here is a nice explanation of the science at play. This company claims to have developed a way around it, of which I’m not familiar. Their way around it is a manufacturing change car companies would have to make.


I'm a little confused by that -- they mention that both the projector and the windshield cause polarization, but they've only addressed the projector end of things? You's still have to come up with a way to keep the reflected image from being polarized.
 
I may be an outlier once again, however, I don't really get a lot of benefit from Polarized sunglasses.....even when flying.

I will say when fly fishing, the glare off the stream/lake is reduced a bit and I feel like I can see more clearly into the water.

However, for every day driving and being outside, I am definitely okay with non-polarized.
 
I'm a little confused by that -- they mention that both the projector and the windshield cause polarization, but they've only addressed the projector end of things? You's still have to come up with a way to keep the reflected image from being polarized.
Yeah, I’m not clear how the windshield would either. It’s just a reflective surface.
 
I've noticed that my Costa's are doing an excellent job at making the HUD fade away- I can only assume its the polarization.
Anyone have experience with sunglasses that dont impact the viewability of the HUD?
Yeah, polarized glasses I guess do it. My Maui Jims are doing it.
I should say, was doing it. I just got my windshield tinted 35% and now I can read it clearly.
 
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