ON Semiconductor’s CMOS image sensor platform addresses the performance requirements and image-quality concerns of automotive applications such as ADAS, mirror replacement, rear and surround view systems, and autonomous driving. Dubbed the Hayabusa platform, it features a 3-µm backside illuminated pixel design that delivers a charge capacity of 100,000 electrons, reportedly the highest in the industry. Other key automotive features include simultaneous on-chip high dynamic range (HDR) with LED flicker mitigation (LFM), plus real-time functional safety and automotive grade qualification.
The high charge capacity of this pixel design enables every device in the Hayabusa family to deliver Super-Exposure capability, which results in 120-decibel (dB) HDR images with LFM for high image fidelity in the most challenging scenes without sacrificing low-light sensitivity. The simultaneous HDR and LFM capability is important in enhancing safety as it ensures that all objects and potential hazards can be identified in both very dark and very bright areas of the scene. With the widespread use of LEDs for front and rear lighting as well as traffic signs, the LFM capability of the platform makes certain that pulsed light sources do not appear to flicker, which can lead to driver distraction or, in the case of front facing ADAS, the misinterpretation of a scene by machine vision algorithms.
Other features include real-time, ISO26262-compliant functional safety capabilities to alert the system processor if the sensor has any issues or potential errors. These features enable system designs rated up to ASIL-C. The real-time capability enables errors to be identified immediately rather than waiting for the full image to be transferred to the processor and then waiting for image analysis.
The first product in this family, the 2.6 megapixel (MP) AR0233 CMOS image sensor, is capable of running at 60 fps while simultaneously delivering ultra-high dynamic range and LED flicker mitigation along with all of the platform’s features. Samples are available now to early access customers. Contact ON Semiconductor, Phoenix, AZ. 800-282-9855