SENSING Launches ultra small size 3MP Automotive Surround-View Camera

Today, the development of automotive intelligence is rapidly advancing towards autonomous driving. Imaging and vision, as one of the key technologies, are crucial for achieving safe, reliable, and efficient autonomous driving.

SENSING has recently launched an ultra-Small automotive surround-view camera module based on the Onsemi 3MP AR0341AT image sensor. This product helps improve driving safety standards, meets the demands of high-speed autonomous driving for excellent HDR performance and image quality, and reduces system development costs.

ONSEMI Ultra Small AR0341AT Image Sensor

The AR0341AT is one of the first products in Onsemi’s new Hyperlux image sensor series. It is equipped with second-generation super exposure pixel technology, offering an industry-leading 150 dB high dynamic range (HDR) and LED flicker mitigation (LFM) functionality. This pixel technology significantly reduces latency in critical automotive systems that depend on scene-specific automatic exposure control operations, enabling faster and safer data collection and decision-making.

With no compromise on performance, the AR0341AT image sensor, featuring a 2.1 µm pixel size and 3MP resolution, achieves the industry's smallest automotive camera with its Small optical size and industry-leading low power consumption. Additionally, the AR0341AT image sensor is designed following ASIL-C design processes and surpasses ASIL-B hardware standards with its complex real-time safety mechanisms and fault detection features.

Image source: ONSEMI official website

The camera module using the OX08D10 image sensor, with OMNIVISION's advanced TheiaCel technology, provides advantages in low light sensitivity, dynamic range (HDR), and LED flicker suppression (LFM), which are particularly suitable for automotive camera applications, especially in the fields of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD).

① Excellent HDR performance

The high dynamic range (HDR) of the AR0341AT image sensor is 150 dB, which can capture high-quality images under the most extreme lighting conditions without sacrificing low light sensitivity. As one of the first products to adopt Hyperlux technology, AR0341AT boasts excellent HDR performance. Hyperlux can provide vivid, sharp, and detailed images. Due to its extremely stable and unaffected by temperature or lighting conditions, it lays the foundation for higher safety designs.

As shown in the figure below, the Hyperlux sensor performs well in the most demanding environments and extreme conditions.

lmage source: ONSEMI official website

② Leading ultra-low power consumption and small size

As more image sensors are added to vehicles, their size and power consumption have become design considerations for the automotive industry. The AR0341AT image sensor features industry-leading ultra-low power consumption and Small size. Compared to other image sensors, the AR0341AT reduces power consumption by up to 30% and footprint by up to 28%, enabling a high-efficiency design with lower system material costs.

③ Excellent LED Flicker Mitigation (LFM) Performance

The AR0341AT image sensor prevents machine vision issues caused by LED flickering. With Hyperlux technology, the sensor's LFM capabilities ensure that pulsed light sources do not flicker, avoiding machine vision problems caused by flicker and significantly improving driving safety standards to support high-speed autonomous driving.

④ Real time functional security mechanism

The AR0341AT image sensor, adopting Hyperlux technology, meets the strict safety requirements of ASIL D-rated automotive safety integrity systems. The integrated security features provide maximum protection against cybersecurity threats. Hyperlux series sensors also offer dual output streams at different resolutions, allowing simultaneous perception and other functions. Designers benefit from its flexible architecture, enabling multiple functions with a single camera, reducing design time, risk, and cost.

SENSING ultra small size 3MP Car surround-view camera

Leveraging its comprehensive technical capabilities in high-quality imaging and extensive mass production experience, along with its industry advantages in smart driving and perception imaging, SENSING has successfully developed a camera module product based on the Onsemi 3MP AR0341AT sensor: the SG3-AR0341C-G2F-H190X.

This camera module, based on the AR0341AT image sensor, features a 1/3.6-inch sensor area and 2.1 µm pixel size, achieving a 150 dB high dynamic range and supporting a resolution of 1920H*1536V with 3MP. This means the camera can capture high-quality images with vibrant colors and rich details. It performs excellently in low-light environments, total signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), and HDR, effectively meeting the need for stable and high-quality images in the most demanding environments and extreme conditions.

The SENSING SG3-AR0341C-G2F-H190X camera module offers a wide horizontal field of view of 190°, making it suitable for autonomous parking scenarios requiring ultra-wide-angle surround-view functions. It provides a precise image perception solution for intelligent parking space recognition and path planning.

In terms of design, this camera module has an overall size of just 24mm24mm16.5mm and weighs about 50g. Its ultra-Small appearance makes it easy to install and meets automotive-grade protection levels. It is especially suitable for automotive vision, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), vision fusion, high dynamic range applications, autonomous driving, and robotics.

This ultra-small and high-performance camera module enables customers to achieve high-efficiency design with lower system material costs and a more flexible architecture. In addition, to meet more customer needs, SENSING has launched a series of camera products that can be adapted to various serializer solutions and interface protocols, including upcoming solutions from TI/Rsemi/NorelSys.

AR0341AT Camera Development Kit Based on Mainstream Platforms

The SENSING 3MP AR0341AT automotive surround-view camera module also supports compatibility with mainstream platforms such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and TI, providing customers with camera solutions based on official kits and professional ISP tuning services.

As a partner of NVIDIA, SENSING has deeply integrated and successfully adapted this innovative 3MP AR0341AT automotive surround-view camera module with the DRIVE AGX Orin and Jetson AGX Orin platforms through software-driven technology. This allows more developers to efficiently develop various applications suited to their needs and to learn and conduct research.

Based on the DRIVE AGX Orin development platform, SENSING will not only provide developers of autonomous vehicles with a rich and mature 3MP AR0341AT surround-view automotive camera module product but also offer camera drivers to support the construction of test environments. Additionally, a team is available for ISP tuning on the NVIDIA platform, allowing developers to use the development evaluation kit more simply and efficiently.

On the Jetson AGX Orin development platform, SENSING has also launched a development kit for this camera module, providing comprehensive environment setup support. From self-developed camera modules and adapter board products to driver installation and activation, full-stack technical support and services help customers quickly build a complete environment.

Conclusion

As a technology innovation company committed to providing high-quality images for smart driving and autonomous machines, SENSING has launched several competitively advantageous products around autonomous driving imaging technology and has been widely recognized by customers in the market in cooperation with leading autonomous driving companies in China.