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HUD and Polarized Sunglasses

Discussion in 'Prime Audio, Electronics, and Infotainment' started by mr88cet, Jan 18, 2017.

  1. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    One thing that polarized sunglasses do is reduce light reflected off the top of the dashboard onto the inside of the windshield. So, does the HUD work with polarized sunglasses?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wish i had tried that on my test drive, but never thought of it.
     
  3. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    Depends on the glasses. When I had my eyes dilated for a test I put my sunglasses on I could still see the HUD. I was a bit dimmer but still visible.
     
  4. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Were those sunglasses polarized?
     
  5. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    yes
     
  6. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

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    Short answer is no. Long answer is during the daytime, you'll see nothing. During the nighttime (why the hell should I wear sunglasses at night? Hell, just for testing purposes), the HUD is visible to some extent.
     
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  7. Db17

    Db17 Member

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    In my car the HUD is 95% wiped out when I'm wearing sunglasses. It can also be wiped out if you pull up to a car in front of you at a stop and your headlights reflect back into it. Likewise reflections from a car driving in front of you can do it too.

    The easy test is to turn your sunglasses 90° and see it come and go.
     
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  8. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Thanks for the reply.

    Does it matter whether they are polarized sunglasses vs. unpolarized?
     
  9. Db17

    Db17 Member

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    Polarized glasses will kill it. Non polarized glasses will just darken it according to how dark the glasses are. Again, if you turn polarized glasses sideways then you will be able to see the HUD.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    So you basically have to drive with your head tilted to one side? o_O
     
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  11. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    I take it's some LCD projector or some other technology, instead of the VFD in the 3rd gen Prius? That's disappointing because the latter works fine for me with polarizing sunglasses - I may need to turn it up to max brightness but I can never not see it.
     
  12. alexgrigori

    alexgrigori Active Member

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    RTFM, according to manual - non compatible. Practically - barely visible.
     
  13. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    So much for the HUD it would appear... Well, it will work, and help sometimes. Thanks for the info!
     
  14. Db17

    Db17 Member

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    Yep, it's a reflection and that what polarized glasses do ... they remove reflections.
     
  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I can vouch for this, barely visible with polarized lenses for me (MFD screen, no HUD).
     
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  16. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Actually, I spoke a little too generally there. Still potentially usable at night, or fairly-early mornings and fairly late evenings, or on cloudy days, I'd bet.

    Actually, I've only comparatively recently again started using sunglasses, so, it's probably usable. I'm sure other P.Prime Advanced drivers will find uses for the HUD.