Integrated reference design for automotive camera systems

Renesas Electronics and OmniVision Technologies, a developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, have introduced an integrated reference design for a High Definition automotive camera system.

The design features Renesas’ Automotive HD Link (AHL) technology that transmits high-definition video over low-cost cables and connectors. The AHL components in the design pair with OmniVision’s OX01F10 1.3MP SoC, which provides imaging capabilities across a wide range of challenging lighting conditions in a compact form factor with low power consumption.

HD video is becoming more important in car safety systems for object recognition. The RAA279971 AHL encoder and RAA279972 decoder use a modulated analogue signal to transmit the video, enabling transmission rates 10 times less than required to transmit HD signals digitally. The lower transmission rate means that unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables and standard low-cost connectors can be used, as can existing traditional analogue video cables and connectors.

OmniVision’s OX01F10 SoC integrates a high performance 3.0 micron image sensor and an advanced image signal processor (ISP) with its PureCel Plus technology, delivering low noise and solving the automotive rear view camera (RVC) and surround view system (SVS) challenges of achieving a small form factor with impressive low-light performance, ultra-low power and reduced cost while maintaining reliability by enabling single printed circuit board (PCB) designs.

“The 1.3MP OX01F10 provides automotive designers with the industry’s best imaging performance across a wide range of challenging lighting conditions, supporting HDR up to 120dB and high performance ISP. The sensor features ASIL-B, which targets cost-effective solutions, along with the most compact form factor and lowest power consumption,” said Michael Wu, Senior VP of Global Sales and Marketing at OmniVision.