Automotive Sensors have integrated night vision capability.August 24, 2007 -
Useful in driver assistance and safety applications, single-chip automotive CMOS image sensors can operate in dual mode. Spectral light sensitivity up to 1050 nm, equivalent to near infrared (NIR) sensitivity, ensures equal functionality during daytime and nighttime conditions. Able to perform object detection in complete darkness with support of one low-power LED, night vision capability lets automotive cameras see beyond and outside range of vehicle headlights.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
1341 Orleans Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA, 94089
USA
OmniVision Introduces Integrated Night Vision Capability in Automotive Sensor Products
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 14 -- OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OVTI), a leading independent supplier of CMOS CameraChip(TM) image sensors for high-volume applications, today unveiled near infrared (NIR) capability, an important proprietary enhancement, to its portfolio of single-chip automotive CMOS image sensors. With integrated NIR capability, OmniVision's automotive sensors can operate in dual mode, allowing them to function equally well in both day and night vision applications, and thus eliminate the need for two separate solutions. The NIR capability significantly improves functionality for automotive safety and security applications while allowing OEMs and automotive manufacturers to simplify system designs and reduce the overall system bills of material.
The new night vision capability is made possible by the development and successful implementation of a number of process-level enhancements that expand the sensor's spectral light sensitivity up to 1050 nanometers, the equivalent of NIR sensitivity. This enhanced sensitivity enables OmniVision sensors to perform object detection in complete darkness with the support of only a few very low-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) and allows automotive cameras to see both beyond and outside the range of a vehicle's headlights.
"We have significantly enhanced the versatility of our sensors by providing our customers with a product that can perform exceptionally well in both day and night vision applications," commented Inayat Khajasha, Senior Product Marketing Manager at OmniVision. "During daylight hours, our sensor provides a standard color image and then, as soon as natural light levels fall below a pre-determined Lux level, the sensor automatically switches to black and white night vision mode."
The dual mode night vision capability offered by OmniVision's sensors is especially useful in driver assistance and safety applications, such as pedestrian, object and sign detection, as well as rear view or backup camera applications. A growing number of automotive security applications are also using image sensors, one example being 'black box' anti-theft camera systems that record video when activated by motion detection around or inside the vehicle. These sensors provide excellent night vision using just a single, low-power LED, which has a negligible effect on vehicle battery life, so the system will remain active even when the vehicle is not operated for lengthy periods of time.
"The development of many automotive security applications that effectively utilize night vision capabilities is being driven in part by the automotive insurance industry," Khajasha added. "Vehicles with these monitoring and recording systems qualify for lower insurance premiums because they reduce the risk of theft, vandalism and other vehicle-related crimes."
OmniVision's automotive sensors incorporating NIR night vision capability are currently being sampled by multiple automotive customers. OmniVision plans to offer NIR capability as a standard feature across its entire line of automotive products.
About OmniVision
OmniVision Technologies designs and markets high-performance semiconductor image sensors. Its OmniPixel(R) and CameraChip(TM) products are highly integrated single-chip CMOS image sensors for mass-market consumer and commercial applications such as mobile phones, digital still cameras, security and surveillance systems, interactive video games, PCs and automotive imaging systems. Additional information is available at http://www.ovt.com/.
OmniVision(R), OmniVision logo and OmniPixel(R) are registered trademarks of OmniVision Technologies, Inc., CameraChip(TM) is a trademark of OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
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