Ford Reveals Patent for a Head-Up Display Integrated Into a Sun Visor

Ford has filed a patent for a head-up display built into a sun visor, aiming to address glare and visibility issues found in traditional windshield-based HUD systems.

Ford has proposed an unconventional take on head-up display technology by patenting a system that moves the HUD from the windshield to the vehicle’s sun visor. Instead of projecting information onto the glass, the concept relies on a dedicated display positioned directly in the driver’s line of sight.

According to the patent filing submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in early January 2026, the system is designed as a portable device that attaches to a standard sun visor using a clip. This allows the display to be transferred between vehicles, a feature rarely associated with existing head-up display systems.

In the patent documentation, Ford highlights several drawbacks of conventional HUD setups. Windshield-projected displays can become difficult to read when the glass is dirty or when strong glare is present, and such systems are typically complex, fixed installations tied to a specific vehicle. By relocating the display to the visor, Ford aims to bypass these limitations and simplify the overall design.

The filing also outlines a broad range of potential functions. Beyond basic information display, the visor HUD may incorporate a motion sensor, Bluetooth connectivity, a microphone, a digital camera, and a UV sensor capable of automatically darkening the visor when ultraviolet light levels increase. This would effectively turn the sun visor into a multifunctional driver interface.

At the same time, Ford makes it clear that the patent primarily serves to protect intellectual property. There is no guarantee that the visor-based HUD will reach production, as many patented ideas never move beyond the conceptual stage or are later implemented in a different form.

Even so, the patent underscores the industry’s continued search for alternatives to traditional head-up displays. Should a visor-mounted HUD ever be realized, it could challenge long-standing assumptions about where critical driving information belongs inside the vehicle.