Three research projects from Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America cover rear-window warnings, a windscreen that shows content on demand and a software-controlled 800-volt converter.
Mercedes-Benz has detailed three technologies in development, announced from Atlanta: LED display elements laminated into vehicle glass, a holographic windscreen display, and a Power Converter that gives up to 800 volts and currently up to 3 kW. The company says none is a series-production announcement.
Mercedes-Benz has opened up three research projects that could change how a car talks to the people around it and how an electric car manages its battery. The company, speaking from Atlanta, says all three are still in development and none is a promise of a production feature.
LED elements hidden in the glass
The first project puts LED display elements inside the laminated glass of the windows. Switched off, they stay almost invisible, so the car keeps its normal look. The company sees possible uses such as warning symbols or traffic information shown in the rear window to drivers behind.
Two types of LED are being explored. Mini LEDs suit larger areas, and Mercedes-Benz names the rear window, where they could show brake lights, warnings or traffic information. Micro LEDs give higher resolution, which makes them better for detailed images and animations on smaller panels. In both cases the idea is the same: content appears only when it is needed.
A windscreen that becomes a screen
The second project is a holographic display. A projector in the instrument panel throws an image onto the windscreen, where a transparent film laminated into the glass uses holographic optical elements to reflect only the projector's wavelengths of light. Mercedes-Benz says this keeps the picture readable in direct sunlight.
The image can also be seen only from certain angles. The driver cannot see what is shown on the passenger side, and the passenger cannot see the driver's content. That opens the door to points of interest, driving information, video calls, navigation or even films, shown when required and invisible the rest of the time.
A power converter that works cell by cell
The third project is aimed at electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The Mercedes-Benz Power Converter uses programmable micro-converters to control the energy flow of individual battery cells, and it delivers a constant high-voltage output of up to 800 volts whatever the cells' charge level or age. The current generation handles up to 3 kW and works with both AC and DC.
Because software-controlled electronics create the high voltage, the output no longer depends on how many cells are wired in series. Several converters can run in parallel to add up to a stable DC output, so the power can be scaled to suit different vehicles. Mercedes-Benz says this could give designers more freedom over battery and power electronics layout, improve efficiency and support bidirectional charging. It also suggests a single unit might one day take over functions that now sit in separate pieces of hardware.
Where it stands
Ida Wolf, Vice President Development Innovations, Operations and Digitalization at Mercedes-Benz AG, said the company's aim is innovation with clear everyday benefits for customers. The company adds that the technologies are not customer-facing features, and that they show potential future approaches to vehicle communication, information display and high-voltage system design. The work comes during the brand's 140-year anniversary celebrations.
