GEO Semiconductor Inc. and OMNIVISION presented a new demonstration for CES 2023 attendees in Las Vegas. The demo featured a 5MP RGB-IR automotive image sensor with a camera processor that provides simultaneous driver and cabin monitoring streams. At the heart of the CES demonstration was a combination of OMNIVISION’s OX05B1S 5MP RGB-IR image sensor and GEO Semiconductor’s GW6 Intelligent Camera Video Processor, which provides industry-leading image processing for the RGB-IR sensor.
“We partnered with OMNIVISION due to its leading pixel technologies and strong track record in working with automotive Tier-1s around the globe,” said John Casey, Vice President of Marketing and General Manager of Automotive at GEO Semiconductor. “GEO’s engineering team has utilized its experience on previous in-cabin programs and developed a market-defining RGB-IR solution.”
Integrated In-Cabin Solution
According to a press release from the companies, the GW6 supports the full 5-MP RGB-IR 4×4 pattern of the OX05B1S running at 60FPS. It provides two high-quality video streams for both computer vision and viewing applications. As described by the companies, this results in an integrated in-cabin solution for the driver monitoring (DMS) and occupant monitoring (OMS) algorithms while utilizing only one high-resolution RGB-IR image sensor.
“The GW6 Intelligent Camera Video Processor provides superior low-light performance, color reproduction, and high contrast in the challenging vehicle interior environment,” Casey continued. “Additionally, utilization of the GW6 Neural Network Accelerator to run the DMS and OMS algorithms can provide a complete hardware platform for interior cabin monitoring systems.”
“GEO brings image processing capabilities, as well as in-depth knowledge of customer pain points,” said Naresh Shetty, Staff Product Marketing Manager, Automotive at OMNIVISION. “Following the recent success of our OX05B1S image sensor, we saw the need to jointly develop this solution and make it easier for designers to create high-value cabin monitoring systems for mainstream vehicles.”
Specifications & Availability
The OX05B1S image sensor is built on OMNIVISION’s 2.2-micron PureCel Plus‑S and Nyxel pixel technologies. Nyxel delivers NIR quantum efficiency at 36 percent, a significant boost from the prior generation (12 percent). The GW6 camera video processor is developed on the TSMC 16nm automotive process and will be offered in a 7 x 7mm fcCSP package (video processing only) or a 17 x 17mm fcCSP package (neural network version).
The OX05B1S image sensor is offered in a small package for the automotive in-cabin market segment – a 7.9 x 6.3mm automotive CSP. The OX05B1S will be available in mass production in Q1 2023, with GW6 availability starting in 2023.
