Polarized sunglasses and HUD problem.

[Viktorv1961]

It can be hard these days to find decent sunglasses that aren’t polarized. FWIW, Ray-Ban is another of the few makers of nice optics that still offers a decent number of non-polarized options with good quality. I bought a couple pairs and just leave them in my vehicles.

Serengeti TELLARO Drivers Gradient Non-Polarized Photochromic fits the bill. Ray-Ban Gradient Aviator is a good choice too.

 

[kmershly]

Side question, anyone know how to clean the HUD projector?

Mine has a lot of dust collecting on it, with my BMW, I asked at the dealership and the detailer I use and both said not to touch it.

In fact the detailer said dust drives him crazy and he understands my desire to clean it, but in his experience, the projector scratches very easily.

 

[Blue Bear]

There wouldn’t be a setting for this. It is how the light is filtered at the screen or projector setup, whichever method Toyota used to implement a hud. Polarizers restrict light to a certain orientation, which is why rotating a lens with polarization changes the behavior. There have been newer HUDs now that don’t rely on a polarizing filter and therefor don’t really interfere with people wearing glasses with polarization, but it is not the one used in our vehicles. And even then, not all polarized glasses would be affected, just depends on how it is set up in those glasses and the orientation of the light to them.

Rough idea behind it all.

Toyota likely doesn't use a polarizer at all. The nature of reflected light is that it becomes polarized.

 

[Blue Bear]

Side question, anyone know how to clean the HUD projector?

Mine has a lot of dust collecting on it, with my BMW, I asked at the dealership and the detailer I use and both said not to touch it.

In fact the detailer said dust drives him crazy and he understands my desire to clean it, but in his experience, the projector scratches very easily.

When I clean the interior of my windshield, I put something over the HUD projector screen to keep it dry. I typically only clean the actual projector about twice a year and use a very light touch with a slightly dampened microfiber towel (a light spray of Invisible Glass on a Dry Me a River towel works nicely.)

 

[RazorJ]

$5 sunglasses at the local gas station. Money saved, problem fixed. You can get your cataracts removed later.

 

[Markarian421]

Toyota likely doesn't use a polarizer at all. The nature of reflected light is that it becomes polarized.

I didn't realize this before the earlier discussion, but this isn't quite true. The projectors used for most of these systems also polarizes the light. They just align it with the direction the reflection off the glass is going to polarize it anyway so it doesn't matter. Someone shared an article about a company moving to a projector that didn't polarize the light as a way of trying to (probably only slightly) improve the visibility of the HUD through polarized glasses.

On the windshield side of things, the angle of reflection determines how polarized the reflection is. If the windshield was completely vertical and they put the projector on top of your head, there would be very little polarization! (It would have to be super bright though because that would also be near the angle of least reflection.) For some reason no manufacturer has chosen that solution...

 

[Viktorv1961]

$5 sunglasses at the local gas station. Money saved, problem fixed. You can get your cataracts removed later.

What it has to do with the cataract, eye doctor from Arkansas? Looking for more clientele to rip off?
Anyways, keep your $5 sunglasses for the next Halloween party...

 

[ferrari1898]

I got my LC Premium with HUD last month and discovered that my polarized sunglasses make HUD almost disappear even at full brightness. I have high quality shades (2 Maui Jims and one Serengeti). Sunny weather is coming and I had to order gradient non-polarized photochromic Serengeti. They will be coming in couple of weeks. I wonder how other members handle this HUD issue.

I am a fan of Costa's and most (if not all are polarized). My current set got scratched up pretty good a few weeks after getting the Toyota (left them on the roof somehow). I found www.revantoptics.com who you can get replacement lenses and I opted for non-polarized.

This as another person mentioned is not really a Toyota issue, rather just a limitation of the HUD for most brands. Thankfully this was a not a feature that was driving my decision to buy a Land Cruiser.

 

[Blue Bear]

I didn't realize this before the earlier discussion, but this isn't quite true. The projectors used for most of these systems also polarizes the light. They just align it with the direction the reflection off the glass is going to polarize it anyway so it doesn't matter. Someone shared an article about a company moving to a projector that didn't polarize the light as a way of trying to (probably only slightly) improve the visibility of the HUD through polarized glasses.

On the windshield side of things, the angle of reflection determines how polarized the reflection is. If the windshield was completely vertical and they put the projector on top of your head, there would be very little polarization! (It would have to be super bright though because that would also be near the angle of least reflection.) For some reason no manufacturer has chosen that solution...

The point I was trying to make is that it doesn't matter whether the projector is polarizing the light or not because the nature of reflected light is that it becomes at least partially polarized depending on the angle. Having said that, you're pretty much right on target.

Another interesting point - the light from an LCD screen is polarized. So, if the projector is an LCD screen, then the light from the projector will be polarized. I hadn't thought about the projector being an LCD, but this would further your point about a projector polarizing the light. at the time I wrote the post, I was only thinking about having a separate polarizing filter on the projector, not the projector itself.

 

[ultane]

Miss Daisy has window film on her windshield, and it does nothing to interfere with the image. And even with the polarized RayBan Wayfarer’s I can easily see the HUD. If I couldn’t, I would just wear a non polarized pair of the same. Only on the BRIGHTEST days do I even need sunglasses now, with every surface having window tint.

 

[Mtn40]

Miss Daisy has window film on her windshield, and it does nothing to interfere with the image. And even with the polarized RayBan Wayfarer’s I can easily see the HUD. If I couldn’t, I would just wear a non polarized pair of the same. Only on the BRIGHTEST days do I even need sunglasses now, with every surface having window tint.

Maybe windshield film is the key. A darker surface to project onto? Anyone else with windshield tint want to weigh in?

I'd rather never see the HUD again than drive on a sunny day without polarized sunglasses.

 

[ultane]

I'd rather never see the HUD again than drive on a sunny day without polarized sunglasses.

The ceramic window tint greatly decreases the need for sunglasses, except when a bright sun is low in the sky.

 

[Tim Young]

I got my LC Premium with HUD last month and discovered that my polarized sunglasses make HUD almost disappear even at full brightness. I have high quality shades (2 Maui Jims and one Serengeti). Sunny weather is coming and I had to order gradient non-polarized photochromic Serengeti. They will be coming in couple of weeks. I wonder how other members handle this HUD issue.

I ordered a new set of non-polarized lenses for my driving glasses and HUD is now visible with plenty of brightness.

 

[MoneyMan]

I got my LC Premium with HUD last month and discovered that my polarized sunglasses make HUD almost disappear even at full brightness. I have high quality shades (2 Maui Jims and one Serengeti). Sunny weather is coming and I had to order gradient non-polarized photochromic Serengeti. They will be coming in couple of weeks. I wonder how other members handle this HUD issue.

Same here- really like HUD but need prescription sunglasses for distance- live in HI- kinda sunny everyday over here

 

[Markarian421]

Now you've all talked me into getting prescription sunglasses.

 

[bkral]

First this is not an “issue”. You choose to block the HUD yourself.

Your post reads like somebody tint their window too dark, and them complaint he can barely see anything at night. You complaint the same self-inflicted compromise you did to yourself, whether you are aware of it has no relevance.

and second, why complaint about this when the solution is dead obvious? You just wear one that is not polarized, or not wearing a sunglasses at all. I was pointing out this is simple physics because you seem to think your polarized sunglasses shouldn’t block the HUD. There is no workaround whatsoever.

Third, do you really think the fact that you paid for a feature that you don’t know the right use or constraint is somebody else’s problem? Should we all feel bad for somebody who drive the stock tire in icy winter and run out of control because he or she “is not familiar” with winter driving?

Like what you said, this is so minor and very basic science so let’s stop talking about it. It really has nothing to do with LC IMHO.

Holy smokes you get riled up.

 

[spamrisk]

Polarized glasses for fishing (In side box) non-polarized Nike's from Ashworth (less than $30) in 2 different lens colors for driving in the LC. Good to point out that it doesn't work (noticed it right away) but simple workaround!

 

[bluebullet]

I got my LC Premium with HUD last month and discovered that my polarized sunglasses make HUD almost disappear even at full brightness. I have high quality shades (2 Maui Jims and one Serengeti). Sunny weather is coming and I had to order gradient non-polarized photochromic Serengeti. They will be coming in couple of weeks. I wonder how other members handle this HUD issue.

No problem with my Serengetis. I can see the laminate ripples as I look up at the driver's side window. You know you can raise/lower the HUD on the dash? That may help seeing the display.

 

[Viktorv1961]

No problem with my Serengetis. I can see the laminate ripples as I look up at the driver's side window. You know you can raise/lower the HUD on the dash? That may help seeing the display.

Some Serengetis are not polarized, not sure about yours. Yes, I moved HUD up and down and tried tilt too without any improvement. My new Serengetis are coming from Europe and should be here within week or two.

 

[Jack_]

I am surprised this is new to anybody. I knew this at least 10 years ago. This is just physics.

Physics again dammit. It never takes a day off.