▲Infineon 111REAL3_IRS2877A sensor chip (Photo courtesy of Infineon)


Core in-vehicle monitoring system
A major role in intelligent airbag systems

Infineon's 3D image sensors enable reliable and secure facial authentication for all types of services that require authentication, such as payments, battery charging, and access to personal data.

Infineon Technologies AG (hereafter Infineon), a 3D ToF system specialist, announced on the 21st that it has developed the second-generation REAL3™ automotive image sensor, a high-resolution 3D image sensor that meets the ISO26262 standard, in cooperation with pmdtechnologies.

3D depth sensors play a key role in in-vehicle monitoring systems, including the cockpit, seamless connectivity with new services, and improved passive safety. They are also essential for meeting NCAP ratings and regulations and implementing autonomous driving.

Infineon's new 3D image sensor comes in a 9 mm x 9 mm plastic BGA package and offers a VGA system resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with an extremely small image circle of 4 mm.

Now, the same lens sizes used in smartphones can be used in automotive applications.

The high resolution of the REAL3 sensor makes it suitable for camera applications that require a wide field of view, such as monitoring the entire front row of passengers in a vehicle.

The 3D body model generated from this can be used to accurately determine height and weight, and to accurately identify passengers and their seat positions.

This type of information is also expected to play a major role in intelligent airbag systems.

Infineon said that this single-chip solution is also significant in that it is the first 3D image sensor to be AEC-Q100 Grade 2 certified and developed in accordance with the ISO26262 (ASIL-B) standard.

“Infineon has built up its expertise in 3D sensors for consumer applications and is now offering the automotive industry high resolution with a very small image circle,” said Christian Herzum, Vice President and General Manager of Infineon’s 3D Sensing division. “Now, capabilities used in the consumer sector can be transferred to the automotive market.”