Can you project an image or movie onto a car window?

Question

I would like to know if it is POSSIBLE and, if so, how I would go about projecting a video image onto a car window from the outside of the car so the occupants can see the image. I have a car wash and would like to be able to project promotions onto the dashboard while people are waiting.

I understand that the image will probably not be very crisp and that outside light might be a factor, but I want to know if it is possible and how I might be able to do it.

Thank you,

Josh

Thank you for all your answers. Some points to clarify:

1 - The display needs to happen ON the glass, not dashboard or any other surface. Basically a HUD projected from the outside.

2 - The car will not be moving when the image is projected onto the glass

3 - The car will (most likley but not always) be under an awning so direct sun shouldnt be a factor.

Answer 1

It is theoretically possible. If I were doing it, I would position the projector directly above the car and project down through the windshield onto the dashboard.

In practical terms, you're going to find that this is quite difficult to make work, for the following reasons:

(1) Dashboards are usually a dark color, which makes for a lousy projection screen. You'll need an extremely bright projector to make up for that. You'll also need extra brightness to make up for the (large!) amount of light lost due to reflection off the windshield itself, before the light even gets to the dashboard. Generally, the brighter the projector, the more expensive. Expect to pay in the five- or even six-figure range.
(2) Cars are different sizes, which means that the distance from the projection lens to the dashboard will be different in a Tahoe than in a Corolla. That means that you will need to figure out a system that can focus differently for different cars.
(3) Even knowing the throw distance to the dashboard, the dashboard is not flat. That means that parts of the image will not be in focus no matter what you do.

Answer 2

Yes, because there were, and probably still are, some cars that would project the dashboad data onto the lower part of the windshield, much like a fighter jet heads-up display. That is from inside the car though. As for doing it from outside, I think there would be too many issues in that the car is moving, so the image would have to be constantly refocusing, angles of windshields are different so you would have to make adjustments for that.
I think if you try it, it will be too difficult and costly to set up and maintain.

Answer 3

Projecting from outside the car sounds doubtful. Inside projection has been done by the makers of "heads-up" displays for pilots. (See ref.)
However you might be able to project through the driver's side window onto the headliner. Or another thought: Mist the outside of the windshield and project onto that. (But sooner or later you'd have to actually wash the windshield which would stop the show.)

Answer 4

Yeah... no. I think that this would be almost impossible, as (with what others said) It would need like a screen, be focused and refocused, the differing angles of windshields... etc.

However, you MIGHT be able to have a screen on the OUTSIDE of the car... just a thought.

or not

Answer 5

depends on the thckness of the glass, but most likely it will not be perfect and it will reflect back and cause glare etc etc, if this will be done outside I do not see this as being so feasable as the sun will have a big affect on the image as well being projects, light vs light. to my knowledge I do not think it will work properly

- http://www.theianternet.com

Answer 6

I doubt it.. You would have to make a curtin of somekind, Becuase the image will go right through the window and be played on the seats..

Good luck!