Automotive image sensors offer LED flicker mitigation and 140dB high dynamic range
Automotive cameras have be able to equally capture dark and very bright areas alike such as it is the case when exiting a tunnel with the sun low on the horizon. For such situations, the sensors need to cover a very high dynamic range (HDR). In addition, LEDs are becoming omnipresent on the road, including illumination, traffic lights, road signs and bus displays. Having a sensor with an LFM solution is therefore a must for automotive applications to extract all the necessary information in front of a vehicle.
With two new digital imaging sensors, the OX08A and OX08B, OmniVision Technologies, is hitting the market of automotive vision systems for ADAS and level3+ automated driving systems. The OX08A features the automotive industry’s best HDR, while the pinout-compatible OX08B claims to add a new benchmark in LED flicker mitigation (LFM) performance, enabled by the sensor’s on-chip HALE (HDR and LFM engine) combination algorithm.
The image sensors utilize OmniVision’s dual conversion gain (DCG) technology to achieve 82dB dynamic range on the first exposure, whereas competitors’ image sensors only provide a dynamic range of 60dB or less. Unlike DCG, the competing method, known as staggered HDR, relies on additional passes that introduce motion artifacts and diminish range, especially in low light. Additionally, the vendor’s 3D stacking technology allowed them to integrate their HALE algorithm into the OX08B. As a result, the sensor platform provides 140dB HDR.
With its 4-cell technology, OmniVision claims to offer the industry’s best LFM with high low-light performance in a 1/1.8” optical format that has a 2.1 micron pixel pitch. Furthermore, OmniVision’s PureCel Plus-S stacked architecture enables each pixel to perform optimally via higher full-well capacity for improved HDR.
The platform also enables sensor fusion, where the same camera signal is used for ADAS and autonomous machine vision while simultaneously feeding into “dash cam” front-view recording and display systems. To ensure the safety of images being used for machine vision applications, ultra low power cybersecurity is also integrated using industry-standard encryption techniques and consuming less than 10% of the sensor’s total power budget.
Both sensor typess in this platform offer 4-capture, 3840 x 2160 resolution at 36fps and a 16:9 display aspect ratio. They will be available in different color-filter patterns to match the leading machine vision applications in the industry. For instance, an RCCB color filter will be offered to allow in more light and further improve performance in dark environments. Omnivision plans to have both sensors certified for AEC.Q100 Grade 2.
More information: www.ovt.com/contact-sales.
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