Through improvements in the quality and reliability of electronic components, safety-related imaging applications are becoming mainstream in today's vehicles, including lane departure detection and warning systems, blind spot detection/displays, rear view, 360°/panoramic view cameras, and night vision.
According to leading third-party market research firm Techno Systems Research (TSR), the percentage of integrated vehicle cameras using CMOS sensors is projected to increase from around 20 percent in 2008 to more than 70 percent in 2013.
OmniVision Technologies (OVT) is the leading provider of CMOS imaging solutions to the automotive industry with over 50 percent market share* and a proven track record in delivering innovative solutions specifically designed to serve the unique requirements of the automotive industry.
At the forefront of innovation and industry expertise, OmniVision's rich portfolio of AutoVision solutions provides today's automotive designers with the industry's broadest selection of sensors, evaluation kits, and development platforms, enabling faster time-to-market and substantially reduced system costs for both display based and machine vision applications.
Advantage of CMOS
AutoVision solutions deliver the inherent advantages of CMOS, including higher integration and a lower overall bill-of-material cost, while exceeding the performance of competing CCD solutions. With advanced image signal processing capabilities, AutoVision solutions deliver vivid image capture in the most challenging lighting conditions. According to industry analysts, CMOS sensors are projected to represent more than four times the unit sales of CCD units by 2012.
Commitment to Quality
OmniVision conducts over 50 different tests on each and every one of its sensors to ensure they meet the highest imaging quality standards. To ensure the highest standards of performance and reliability are met, all OmniVision automotive solutions are AEC-Q100 qualified.
The OVT automotive design team has placed a strong emphasis on package and test engineering. OVT automotive components are designed specifically to ensure reliable operation in harsh environments; resisting extreme temperatures, vibration and humidity.
World's Smallest Automotive Package
OVT now offers its latest automotive sensors in the AutoVision chip-scale package (aCSP™), placing OVT at the forefront of packaging technology, including the industry's smallest automotive package (6.67 mm x 7.12 mm x 0.71 mm) - up to 50 percent smaller than competing CMOS devices.
Machine Vision and Display Based Applications
Unique Approach to Distortion Correction
Realizing that electronic distortion correction has major disadvantages such as latency, loss of image resolution, and additional processing/heat source, OmniVision has worked closely with lens partners to develop a unique distortion corrected lens solution, resulting in optimized system performance, superior overall image quality, lowest possible system cost and faster time-to-market.
*Source: TSR, 2009 CCD/CMOS Area Image Sensor Market Analysis
Yes, OmniVision is committed to reducing carbon footprint by incorporating green technologies into every aspect of design and manufacturing; in compliance with the European Union (EU) directive that bans lead (Pb) and other specified materials in electrical and electronic equipment. All OmniVision products are available in 100 percent lead-free packaging.
Does the sensor package really matter?
Yes, particularly in automotive applications. Non AEC-Q100 qualified packages can crack and permanently fail as a result of temperature fluctuation and vibrations. OmniVision's AutoVision chip scale package (aCSP™) is a proprietary design that is incredibly rugged and durable. It is also the industry's smallest AEC-Q100 qualified package. As automakers require smaller and smaller cameras, package size is also a key design parameter. Smaller cameras demand the smallest image sensor possible. The AutoVision OV7960 and OV7962 provide the industry's smallest automotive-qualified package available at just 6.67 mm x 7.12 mm x 0.71 mm.
What does AEC-Q100 qualified mean?
AEC is an abbreviated term for Automotive Electronics Council (http://www.aecouncil.com/), a standards committee for electronic components. If a component passes certain tests and criteria, such as electrical functionality and package survivability, it is deemed reliable for the automotive industry.
Are OVT manufacturing partners qualified to serve the automotive industry?
Yes, because the automotive market is a highly specialized and price driven sector. OmniVision has partnered with the world's leading manufacturing partners who are all either TS16949 or QS9000 qualified.
How do OmniVision sensors compare in terms of quality?
OmniVision conducts over 50 different tests on each and every one of its sensors to ensure they meet the highest imaging quality standards. To ensure that the highest performance and reliability standards are met, all OmniVision digital still and digital video camera solutions are AEC-Q100 qualified. The OmniVision digital still and digital video camera design team has placed a strong emphasis on package and test engineering. OmniVision digital still and digital video camera components are designed specifically to ensure reliable operation in harsh environments; resisting extreme temperatures, vibration and humidity.
How do CMOS sensors compare to CCD components?
CMOS-based cameras consume significantly less power, while offering higher levels of integration and a lower overall system bill-of-materials as compared to CCD-based systems. The CMOS production process enables the integration of all camera functions on a single chip, significantly reducing component count, cost and board space. The relative simplicity of OmniVision's CMOS image sensors allows for quick and easy application designs, enabling faster time-to-market for systems manufacturers.
What is built-in overlay functionality?
OVT pioneered the built-in graphic overlay function featured in several of our automotive-grade sensors. This feature allows for both dynamic and static visual aid layers within the image. This is very valuable for reference frames and guidance systems such as back-up camera and parking assistance applications.
Does OVT offer color high dynamic range technology for automotive?
Yes, the OV10620 showcases our proprietary color HDR technology, which functions similarly to the human eye under quickly changing light conditions. The sensor has the ability to switch rapidly to HDR mode under extreme variations of bright and dark conditions within the same scene, and then automatically switch back to non-HDR mode when conditions return to normal. Color HDR functionality delivers important benefits across a multitude of applications including collision detection, lane departure, rain detection, traffic sign recognition, intelligent headlight dimming and guidance systems.
How do AutoVision sensors operate within such a wide temperature range?
All image sensors lose image quality in higher temperatures due to higher dark current. OmniVision applies a proprietary pixel design that we are proud to say provides the best image quality as compared to competing devices.
Do I need external processors with AutoVision image sensors?
AutoVision sensors provide a complete system on a chip (SoC), including image signal processing capabilities; the image therefore comes out of the sensor ready to display. The exception is the OV9715 where for system efficiency issues some of the processing must be managed in a back end processor.
What causes flare around light sources in dark scenes?
The problem has three components. First there is a lens issue known as optical blooming. Internal reflections caused by the surface optical elements cause optical blooming. The reflections basically bounce around inside the lens, which eventually get to the sensor. To minimize this effect we recommend a broad band anti-reflective coating on all optical elements in the camera. The other source of this problem is pixel to pixel cross talk. Basically when one pixel reaches maximum charge it spills over to its neighbors. Our OmniPixel3-HS™ pixel is designed to minimize this effect. In fact you will find that our sensors outperform competing devices in this regard. The third part of the problem is the display. Some displays will clip the data so even close to max value pixels will appear as saturated.
Where do I go for additional information and support?
No solution is complete without customer support. OmniVision customers are assured of rapid local support from dedicated automotive resources located around the globe. Visit our Sales team page to locate personnel in your area or send an e-mail to sales@ovt.com.
Green Packaging! OmniVision is committed to reducing carbon footprint by incorporating green technologies into every aspect of design and manufacturing; in compliance with the European Union (EU) directive that bans lead (Pb) and other specified materials in electrical and electronic equipment, all OmniVision products are available in 100 percent lead-free packaging.Unrivaled Customer Support No solution is complete without customer support. OmniVision customers are assured of rapid local support from dedicated resources located around the globe.
OmniVision conducts over 50 different tests on each and every one of its sensors to ensure they meet the highest imaging quality standards. To ensure the highest standards of performance and reliability are met, all OmniVision automotive solutions are AEC-Q100 qualified. 
Are OmniVision products environmentally friendly?
OmniVision is committed to reducing carbon footprint by incorporating green technologies into every aspect of design and manufacturing; in compliance with the European Union (EU) directive that bans lead (Pb) and other specified materials in electrical and electronic equipment, all OmniVision products are available in 100 percent lead-free packaging.Unrivaled Customer Support
No solution is complete without customer support. OmniVision customers are assured of rapid local support from dedicated resources located around the globe.