Hybrid HUD for Extended AR Display and Simplified Integration in a Vehicle

A projection unit for a head-up display for a vehicle, the projection unit comprising:

• a central HUD unit having an image generator for generating a light beam bundle having a central display content and a projection and/or imaging optical unit formed in a beam path of the light beam bundle such that the light beam bundle leaves the central HUD unit in a predetermined form and direction toward a reflection pane arranged in a field of view of a vehicle occupant, in order to overlay the central display content in the field of view via reflection on the reflection pane at a predetermined first virtual image distance;
• and
• one or more extension displays, display surfaces of which are each directly opposite to the reflection pane and are adjacent to the central HUD unit such that their display images extend the central display content to the left, right, top, and/or bottom seamlessly via reflection on the reflection pane and at a shorter second virtual image distance, to form a composite virtual image;
• wherein the projection unit is configured for a display of the composite virtual image that is oriented to real objects outside the vehicle.