High-Resolution ToF 3D Image Sensor Brings Accurate and Robust Depth Sensing Capabilities to Automotive Applications

Published  June 10, 2022   0
L Lakshita
Author
ToF 3D Image Sensor

Infineon Technologies AG has developed the second generation of the REAL3 automotive image sensor IRS2877A, an ISO26262-compliant high-resolution 3D image sensor that comes in a 9 x 9 mm² plastic BGA package and offers a VGA system resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with a tiny image circle of 4 mm. The high resolution of this sensor makes it suitable for camera applications with a wide field of view, such as complete front-row occupant monitoring systems.

REAL3 3D in-cabin sensing cameras capture and process the data needed to ensure a high standard of passive safety through use cases like driver monitoring, occupant detection, and smart airbag systems. The 3D depth data supports the best anti-spoofing capabilities for secure face authentication in order to enable in-car payment or access to private data and cloud services or even to open the car by face-ID. Moreover, ToF cameras also support exterior sensing functions such as secure navigation and collision avoidance. 

Key Features

  • Time-of-Flight single-chip including illumination control and digital data output

  • Patented Suppression of Background Illumination (SBI) circuitry in every pixel for best sunlight robustness

  • Spread Spectrum Clock (SSC) to avoid interference with other ToF systems

  • Up to 100 MHz VCSEL modulation frequency

  • Fast global shutter readout with CSI-2 data interface (2x 1 Gbit)

  • Flexible imager operation after each frame: adaptation of frame rate, exposure time or modulation frequency
  • Optical PG-LFBGA-65 package, 9 x 9 mm

Development samples of the new 3D image sensor chip IRS2877A are now available and the ISO26262 compliant variant IRS2877AS will be available for series production by the end of 2022.