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WORLD FIRST: CONTINENTAL INTEGRATES FACE AUTHENTICATION INVISIBLY BEHIND DRIVER DISPLAY CONSOLE

> Face authentication camera integrated invisibly behind driver display for secure start and digital payment function

> Additional sensors embedded in the B-pillar for biometric authentication unlock the vehicle as soon as an authorized user is detected

> New level of interaction: display seamlessly integrated into vehicle exterior and only visible when in use

Babenhausen, Germany - Continental presents the "Face Authentication Display," a two-stage access control system based on biometric user recognition that uses special camera systems mounted externally on the vehicle’s B-pillar and invisibly behind the driver display console. Thanks to biometric face authentication, the vehicle opens and starts up as soon as it detects a registered user. The system reliably detects attempted deception thanks to unique liveness detection from trinamiX, a leading provider of biometric solutions and a subsidiary of BASF SE.

Perfect combination of user experience and design

In order not to spoil the design of the vehicle interior, Continental has positioned the necessary camera technology behind the driver display console for the first time, which enables a frameless screen surface. The design of the screen area is an evolution of the technology, which won an Innovation Award at CES in 2023. A camera with biometric authentication in the interior checks whether the person in the driver’s seat is authorized to start the vehicle. Other digital services, such as a payment function, also have this feature. The high-contrast and bright OLED display has been specially adapted so that the optical components can detect people through the pixels of the activated display. In addition, the sensors integrated into the system include the functionality of reliable attention and fatigue detection.

"For us, user experience is defined not only by functional and technical aspects, but also by aesthetic appeal. Sophisticated convenience and safety functions – which are not visually noticeable when in use – are a complete success for us in this respect," said Dr. Boris Mergell, head of the User Experience (UX) business area in Continental Automotive.

Continental’s "Face Authentication Display" makes it possible to unlock the vehicle safely and conveniently using biometric facial recognition. A display seamlessly integrated into the B-pillar provides additional information.

Keyless entry to the vehicle: facial identification

Advanced facial authentication technology, which Continental also integrates into the vehicle’s B-pillar, makes it possible to open the driver’s door without a key or other means of access. Thanks to this system from trinamiX, ​​a leading provider of biometric solutions, the vehicle is unlocked solely by secure authentication of the driver.

A special camera integrated into the B-pillar not only checks the visual match with a known user, but also allows for the recognition of real skin. The double authentication in the exterior and interior not only represents a further level of security to protect against theft, but rather it also makes it possible, for example, to grant all family members access to the car at any time, while preventing children from starting the engine.

Innovative concept: integration of a display in the exterior that is only visible when in use

An additional display integrated into the B-pillar allows the user to interact with the vehicle. In addition to unlocking the doors, the charging progress of an electric car can also be displayed intuitively and in a visually impressive manner on the exterior as you approach the vehicle. When not in use, the display, which is seamlessly integrated into the B-pillar, is not visible and can therefore be fully integrated into any design concept. This means that the "In2Visible" technology developed by Continental is also being used in vehicle exteriors for the first time.

"Transferring our technologies from the interior to the exterior is a logical next step if this allows us to incorporate additional safety aspects and convenience functions. By extending our UX portfolio to the exterior, vehicle manufacturers and end users will benefit in equal measure from intuitive new interaction options," explained Mergell.

Highly secure biometric facial recognition from trinamiX

Face authentication is based on innovative technology developed by trinamiX that meets the highest biometric security requirements. The technology is able to distinguish real skin from other materials. This additional layer of security prevents the vehicle from being unlocked using a realistically reproduced mask, AI-generated images or similar. "trinamiX Face Authentication ensures the highest security standards in both the exterior and interior. Together with Continental, we are improving existing driver monitoring systems and thus ensuring better interaction between the driver and the vehicle. The installation behind the OLED panel also enables exclusive display designs," says Wilfried Hermes, director of Consumer Electronics, North America and Europe at trinamiX.

CONTINENTAL DEBUTS WORLD’S FIRST AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAY EMBEDDED IN TRANSPARENT SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL

>> World premiere at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas: Continental and Swarovski Mobility present innovative display for premium vehicles

>> Crystal Center Display with unique construction: Floating appearance of the screen content in a precision-cut crystal body

>> Advanced microLED technology ensures superior brightness and contrast

>> Honored for outstanding product design with CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree

Las Vegas - Technology company Continental is showcasing its Crystal Center Display for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show 2024. In a world-first, the premium automotive display is fully embedded in a stylish crystal housing – opening up completely new possibilities to integrate minimalist luxury into car interiors with its frameless and semi-transparent look. The 10-inch display is based on the latest microLED technology that enables unprecedented levels of brightness and contrast. The image-generating microLED panel is suspended in an artfully composed crystal body, creating the illusion that the content displayed is floating. The unique combination of the automotive display and real crystal was developed in collaboration with Swarovski Mobility. For this solution, the technology company Continental was honored with a CES Innovation Award Honoree for outstanding product design.

"With the Crystal Center Display as a key component, we want to turn the world of interior design on its head and create an innovative focal point for premium vehicles of the future – one that grabs attention and stirs emotions. We are moving away from the straightforward display of information and elevating it to a highly personalized user experience," said Dr. Boris Mergell, head of the User Experience (UX) business area in Continental.

Focal point of the vehicle interior: exquisite design meets state-of-the-art display technology

The three-dimensional crystal form turns heads with its unique facet cut developed in-house by Swarovski Mobility and underlines the elegant appearance of the Crystal Center Display. The eye-catching arrangement of the central information display gives automotive designers exciting new ways to interpret the minimalist aesthetic in luxury car interiors.

The Crystal Center Display, as the key control element, is at the heart of the operating concept and information playback. Its innovative design blurs the boundaries between technology and intuitive interaction, as the semi-transparent and floating display brings in-car virtual assistance systems to life in a way that has never been seen before. This puts interaction between human and vehicle (the so-called human-machine interface) at the heart of an emotionalized brand experience.

The display is embedded seamlessly into the premium crystal housing, creating the illusion that the content being displayed is floating in the crystal itself.

Technology and design in symbiosis: collaboration with Swarovski Mobility

To bring this unique combination of technology and aesthetics to life, Continental has entered a collaboration with Swarovski Mobility. This will allow the two companies to pool their resources and leverage their expertise into a product that breaks new ground in terms of both design and technology. Particular focus was placed on the volumetric crystal panel, which features distinctive faceting created using special grinding techniques. The experts at the traditional Austrian company succeeded in conceiving a delicate yet extremely durable crystal housing that meets the optical and technical challenges of in-vehicle use. The tinted crystal element, striking and transparent, allows the driver and passengers to see right through to the center console behind it. The elegant overall look underscores the unique character and design.

"The Crystal Center Display is the result of a combination of production and process technologies which together with Continental we implemented into an innovative new design element – one that is as impressive visually as it is technically," explained Peter Widmann, Senior Vice President B2B and Managing Director at Swarovski Mobility. He continued: "In this way, our crystal becomes much more than just an interior design element – users experience it as a key interaction interface in the vehicle."

Cutting-edge microLED display technology for remarkable visual performance

A particular challenge faced by the engineers at Continental was to project the display into the tinted crystal panel and merge everything into a seamless unit. This creates the illusion that the content being displayed is floating freely in the crystal. To achieve this, the Crystal Center Display employs advanced microLED technology. MicroLED displays feature self-illuminating pixels and offer much greater brightness and superior contrast than comparable technologies. With the next-generation screen technology built into the Crystal Center Display, Continental is paving the way for exciting new luxury interior concepts that could define cars of the future.

CES 2024 Innovation Award honoree for the Crystal Center Display

The symbiosis of premium crystal and leading-edge display technology was a big hit when the Crystal Center Display debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas. The world-first from technology company Continental was short-listed as a CES 2024 Innovation Award honoree in the category of "vehicle tech & advanced mobility". The jury was impressed by the innovative and minimalist design combined with the technical features of the display.

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