Melexis introduces automotive CMOS camera ICs
October 26, 2004 - Ieper, Belgium
-
Melexis introduces MLX75006 (CIF) and MLX75007 (PVGA) automotive grade CMOS camera ICs sensitive for visible and near infra-red light. Their unique package with integrated lens options, fail-safe features and wide temperature range make them the ideal fit for automotive safety and driver assistance systems.
Their unique overmolded plastic package with optional integrated glass lens stack simplifies customers? assembly and protects the IC and bond wires against scratches and light. MLX75006 and MLX75007 are the first and only image sensors on the market with an extended temperature range from -40 to 105 °C.
Many real-time and in-field integrity checks are built in to comply with the stringent and fail-safe requirements for safety related applications. The programmable pixel response with linear, multiple slopes or logarithmic behavior can be used to reach the required level of dynamic range for the automotive industry.
Furthermore the camera IC offers the ability to monitor its communication lines (uplink and downlink) as well as the on-chip analog and digital circuitry. This monitoring feature, as well as the integrity checks, are unique and make the sensor suitable for safety applications. The flexible pixel can be fully controlled by the user and operates as a global shutter (no rolling effect).
Vehicle manufacturers are developing many new features for vehicles that will increase both safety and driver assistance. CMOS imaging will play a key role in those two fields. Safety applications include lane tracking for departure warning, collision avoidance, occupancy detection for smart airbags, driver vigilance monitoring and blind spot detection. Driver assistance will include night vision, park assist, road signs recognition and automatic headlamp control.
Since 1999 Melexis has gained considerable experience in automotive optical product development, packaging, testing and manufacturing with its 128 x 1 pixel linear optical array (1D). The MLX90255 and its derived ASICs measure torque and angle position in steering systems (Electronic Stability Program, Electric Power Steering). The logical next step was the development of two-dimensional arrays for general automotive imaging. These 2D sensors can easily be combined and synchronized as a pair to create a 3D vision system.
This solution is planned for mass production in 2005 with the MLX75006 CIF (352x288) and MLX75007 PVGA (750x400) resolutions. Both are available in a choice of black & white or color versions. Engineering samples of each are currently available.
In the field of vision, Melexis is a technology leader in the automotive IR-spectrum imaging (thermal imaging) field with single zone, dual-zone or multi-zone (up to 10x10 pixels) IR thermopiles. These sensors can be used in air conditioning systems and some vision applications. Melexis? future developments in optical sensing include Time-of-Flight, a 3D distance measurement method based on the propagation delay of light.
| Part Number |
|
|
| Description |
|
|
|
|
MLX75OO6
|
CMOS Imager Sensor for Interior Vision
|
|
|
|
For Further Information
Please Contact:
Tanguy Scorpati
Marketing Communications Europe
+32 13 67 07 95
tas@melexis.com
|