SENSING launches Sony's car mounted 17MP front view camera
With the intelligent development of the automotive market and the continuous improvement of visual sensor technology, it will become the key to promoting advanced intelligent driving. SZ Sensing TECH CO.,LTD (hereinafter referred to as SENSING), in collaboration with Renxin Technology and Sony, launched the "17MP front view camera" and the "Intelligent Driving Super Vision 5V solution" based on this camera at the Renxin Technology booth of the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. The camera head uses Sony's 17 million pixel IMX735 in car image sensor, equipped with a horizontal 120 degree ultra wide angle lens and excellent ultra high speed transmission technology. It is a revolutionary and innovative product in the industry and has attracted attention at the auto show.
Sony 17 megapixel IMX735 image sensor
The IMX735 image sensor is a new CMOS image sensor launched by Sony, suitable for car cameras. It is currently the sensor chip with the highest effective pixel in the car field. The pixel level of this image sensor has achieved a breakthrough, reaching up to 17 million effective pixels, allowing for clear acquisition of target features at ultra long distances. Different from the traditional CMOS, the image sensor adopts the way of horizontal output signal column by column, which is easier to synchronize with the laser radar, and can improve the detection and recognition capability of the entire auto drive system.
Image source: Sony official website
In addition, the new sensor enhances the saturation illumination range through Sony's self-developed pixel structure and special exposure method. Even with the simultaneous use of high dynamic range (HDR) imaging and LED flicker suppression function, it can achieve a wide dynamic range of 106dB. This helps to suppress overexposure of highlights under backlight conditions, thereby achieving more accurate target capture in road environments with significant brightness differences such as tunnel entrances and exits.
(1) 17 million high pixels, supporting long-distance recognition
The effective pixels of the camera module using the IMX735 image sensor are up to 17 million pixels, which can capture objects in high definition and identify objects in a wider range, so as to better support the detection of road conditions, vehicles, pedestrians and other objects. It can detect distant objects as early as possible during the driving process, helping to improve the safety of the auto drive system.
Imaging Example Implemented by IMX735 Image Sensor - Image Source: Sony Official Website
Image source: Sony official website
(2) Horizontal pixel signal output makes it easier to synchronize with LiDAR
The camera module is equipped with an IMX735 image sensor, which makes it easier to fuse the output information with the information collected by the LiDAR. Since the IMX735 image sensor supports the horizontal column by column output readout mode, the camera module can better synchronize with the horizontal scanning laser radar and other sensors, which will improve the detection and recognition capability of the auto drive system as a whole.
Image source: Sony official website
(3) Simultaneously using HDR and LED flicker suppression functions can also achieve a wide dynamic range
Due to the use of Sony's self-developed pixel structure and special exposure method, the IMX735 image sensor enhances the saturation illumination range, while also utilizing HDR and LED flicker suppression functions, it can achieve a high and wide dynamic range. When using the dynamic range priority mode, the dynamic range can be achieved up to 140dB. This design helps the camera reduce motion artifacts generated when shooting moving objects, enabling precise detection and recognition of objects even in road environments with significant brightness differences such as tunnel entrances and exits.
SENSING 17 million pixel SG17 camera module
With its full stack technology capability in high-quality imaging and rich production experience, SENSING has successfully developed the industry's first camera module based on Sony's 17.42 million pixel in car image sensor IMX735- SG17 series, combining the company's industry advantages in intelligent driving and perception imaging.
▲ SENSING 17 Million High Pixel Camera Module SG17 Series
This product is based on the Sony IMX735 CMOS image sensor, with a 1/1.17 inch sensor area and a 2.1um pixel size, capable of achieving a dynamic range of up to 140dB and supporting 17 million ultra-high pixels. This also means that the camera can capture more high-definition and fine environmental details in a wider range, which can effectively solve the needs of the camera to obtain high-definition video streams in the auto drive system and effectively identify from a long distance, and can effectively improve the environment perception ability and driving safety of autonomous vehicles.
In terms of appearance, the overall size of the SENSING SG17 camera module is only 40mm * 40mm * 23mm, weighing about 100g. The appearance is lightweight and easy to install, and the product can reach the protection level of vehicle regulations. It is particularly suitable for autonomous driving and assisted driving scenarios such as car mounted and unmanned cars. In addition, in order to meet more customer needs, SENSING has launched a series of camera products that can adapt to various serial device solutions and interface protocols for selection. In the future, we will also simultaneously develop serial device solutions such as TI.
SG17 camera development kit based on NVIDIA
As a partner of NVIDIA, SENSING relies on software driven technology on DRIVE AGX Orin and Jetson AGX Orin to deeply integrate and successfully adapt this innovative 17 megapixel IMX735 car camera module with both DRIVE AGX Orin and Jetson AGX Orin platforms. This will enable more developers to develop various applications that suit them more efficiently, and conduct learning and research.
Based on the DRIVE AGX Orin development platform, SENSING will not only provide developers of autonomous vehicle with rich and mature 17MP IMX735 car camera module products, but also provide developers with camera drivers to support the construction of the test environment. In addition, there is a professional ISP team that can serve the ISP tuning of the NVIDIA platform, so that developers can use the development assessment kit more simply and efficiently.
Based on the Jetson AGX Orin development platform, SENSING will also launch a development kit for this camera module in the future, providing developers with complete environment building support. From independently developed camera modules, adapter board products, to driver installation and lighting technical support, full stack technical support and services will help customers quickly build a complete environment that can focus on IoT monitoring, industrial vision, and autonomous machine system algorithms.
epilogue
As a technology innovation company dedicated to providing high-quality images for intelligent driving and autonomous machines, SENSING has launched multiple competitive products around autonomous driving image technology and has cooperated with mainstream domestic autonomous driving companies, gaining widespread recognition from customers in the market.
The SG17 camera module and related development kits that SENSING will launch this time provide customers with a higher quality imaging solution. In the future, SENSING will also work with partners in the field of autonomous driving to launch more high-performance solutions, jointly promoting the continuous development of intelligent driving.
