Texas Instruments DLP chips for luxury cars in India by 2016

New Delhi, November 2013: Semi-conductor company Texas Instruments is expanding its presence in India with its DLP technology that is based on an optical semiconductor – the DLP chip. One of the segments that it is targeting in India is automotive for which it is focusing on Tata Motors and its luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover initially.

Kent Novak, senior vice-president and general manager DLP Products, Texas Instruments Inc (TI), said the company is in discussions with Tier 1 suppliers for supplying DLP chips to them for use in various vehicle applications, for instance in luxury cars, by 2016. By 2017-18, the company will look at leveraging the mass car segment for DLP chips.

DLP technology can be used for console and dashboard displays with the speed and accuracy of the technology combined with infra-red cameras and other TI components enabling multipoint touch screen interactivity across the entire surface of the console and scalability to any size and shape. These new-generation systems from TI that will be the solutions for future in-car infotainment will mark DLP’s official entry into the automotive industry.

This technology represents a shift towards higher resolution and brightness, expanded field of view, tactile feedback, distraction-reduced functionality and interior design flexibility that breaks the design barriers of existing technologies.

With DLP technology, TI has been able to develop a compact HUD system with higher brightness and clarity amid driving conditions and increased colour reproduction over other display types.

Software-based augmented reality elements such as navigational indicators, real-time landmark details and safety warnings can be shown in relation to real world objects in order to keep the driver focused on the road ahead.

With more than 2 million cars sold in India and many Indian customers demanding globally available features, the HUD market is expected to make inroads into the mid- to high-end car segment.

SHOBHA MATHUR