trinamiX – will cars function like Smartwatches in the future?

A display featuring integrated vital signs measurement was unveiled for the first time at CES 2025, indicating the potential for vehicles to operate similarly to Smartwatches.

As all-in-one solutions gain popularity, automakers are competing to provide a multitude of applications, particularly within vehicle interiors. To achieve this, it is essential that the necessary hardware is seamlessly integrated into premium vehicle displays, while minimizing space requirements.

trinamiX, a subsidiary of BASF, has introduced advanced technology within the “Invisible Biometrics Sensing Display” developed by automotive supplier Continental.

This innovation was honored with a CES Innovation Award at the 2025 event. The display allows for the measurement of vital signs, including heart rate, reliable seatbelt detection, and airbag adjustment.

BASF board member Dirk Elvermann and Philipp von Hirschheydt, a member of Continental’s Executive Board, celebrated their ongoing collaboration at the CES 2025 electronics trade show in Las Vegas.

Having partnered for several years, the two companies have been jointly developing innovative solutions for the automotive market.

Their objective is to provide high-quality displays that maximize convenience while prioritizing safety-related aspects. In the future, trinamiX’s “Beam Profile Analysis” technology will facilitate contactless monitoring of passengers’ vital signs, such as heart rate, enabling timely detection of stressful situations or medical emergencies.

This allows vehicles to initiate appropriate safety functions to protect occupants and other road users.

This innovation is a key element of Continental’s awarded “Invisible Biometrics Sensing Display”. The technology is invisibly integrated behind Continental’s high-resolution OLED screen, which impressed the judges at the world’s leading tech event.

Alongside vital sign measurement, the display technology offers additional advantages, such as creating a 3D depth map for optimized airbag deployment and reliably detecting whether seat belts are fastened.

During their CES meeting, Elvermann and von Hirschheydt highlighted the strength of the partnership between trinamiX and Continental. “The collaboration between trinamiX and Continental is a perfect example of our aim to contribute to our customers’ success with innovative technologies.

Continental’s automotive experience, trinamiX’s technological expertise, and the pioneering spirit of the teams complement each other perfectly,” said Elvermann.

Von Hirschheydt added, “We stand for first-class user experiences in the automobile. In trinamiX, we have found a partner whose technologies perfectly align with our and our customers’ requirements for innovative display solutions.”

trinamiX is focused on developing body sensing technologies aimed at creating advanced human-machine interfaces. Based on its proprietary “Beam Profile Analysis,” the company has developed a secure Face Authentication solution that relies on the detection of living skin.

This approach involves a detailed analysis of the reflection of projected near-infrared laser dots. Building on this foundational technology, trinamiX is enhancing its capabilities to help automotive industry players introduce new car models that operate similarly to modern smartphones, making them intuitively easy to use and ensuring a great customer journey.