SmartSens Announces 2.3MP Automotive-Grade Global Shutter CMOS Image Sensor with Built-In ISP for In-Cabin Monitoring Applications

Shanghai, China, February 9, 2023 SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (SSE STAR MARKET: 688213), a technologically-advanced CMOS image sensor supplier, recently announced SC233AT, a 2.3-MegaPixel (MP) automotive-grade CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) of SmartSens Automotive Sensor (AT) Series. Utilizing SmartSens’ proprietary technologies including LightBox IR™, SmartGS^®-2, SFCPixel^®, and single-frame knee point HDR, the BSI global shutter image sensor with built-in ISP, SC233AT, delivers high-quality, precise image outputs with clear details under low-light or complex lighting conditions. Compliant with AEC-Q100 Grade 2 and ISO 26262 ASIL B, SC233AT serves as a high-performance and reliable imaging solution for in-cabin monitoring applications such as Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and Occupant Monitoring System (OMS).

SmartSens AT Series now features ten automotive-grade CISs with resolution from 1MP to 8MP, providing high-quality imaging solutions for automotive viewing applications, automotive sensing applications, and automotive in-cabin monitoring applications.

Low light imaging performance

As SmartSens’ first automotive-grade CIS to adopt LightBox IR™ technology, SC233AT features improved Near-Infrared (NIR) sensitivity, which is a key parameter for the imaging sensitivity and clarity of DMS/OMS. The upgraded Deep Trench Isolation (DTI) between pixels reduces pixel crosstalk, enabling SC233AT’s clear image capture of the driver and the entire cabin in low-light environments, thereby ensuring the accuracy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) training and recognition.

Employing SmartGS^®-2 and SFCPixel^® technologies, SC233AT achieves high-precision, latency-free imaging with a sensitivity of up to 9650mV/lux*s, allowing for real-time image capture of driver/occupants’ heads and eyes, which significantly improves the detection effectiveness of DMS/OMS.

Thanks to SmartSens’ proprietary ultra-low noise readout circuit, the read noise and Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) of SC233AT are reduced to 2.85e- and 0.66% respectively, enabling the sensor’s clearer image outputs.

Enhanced image quality

The built-in ISP on SC233AT brings about higher image quality and enhanced image details of the image output. Algorithms of the built-in ISP including Automatic Gain Control (AGC), Automatic Exposure Control (AEC), noise reduction, and edge enhancement can remove image noise and highlight important image details, leading to enhanced image quality, which satisfies the need of high-precision images for DMS/OMS. To resolve issues caused by challenging lighting conditions, e.g., overexposure under frontlighting, and underexposure under backlighting, algorithms of the built-in ISP brighten image shadows and mitigate image highlights, resulting in the sensor’s clear image outputs under variable lighting conditions, hence improving the performance of in-cabin monitoring systems towards complex traffic scenes.

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

CMOS image sensors with HDR have been brought to great attention since the image quality of in-cabin DMS/OMS cameras can be affected by light from outside the vehicle. SC233AT utilizes single-frame knee point HDR in producing HDR images. Unlike conventional HDR imaging, the single-frame knee point HDR approach expands the dynamic range of the sensor via the control of pixel imaging sequence, and hence non-linear optical response is achieved. Consequently, the global shutter SC233AT image sensor provides artifact-free image outputs at a high dynamic range of up to 91.5dB. Under complex lighting conditions, SC233AT’s image outputs with rich highlight and shadow details support DMS/OMS in all-day image capture of driver/occupants’ faces, eyes, and motions, thus promoting more advanced autonomous driving functions.

“The intelligent automobile industry is at a critical stage of stepping into higher levels of autonomous driving, with the rapid growth in the installation rate of DMS/OMS on vehicles,” said Mr. Kevin Shao, Vice President of Automotive Division at SmartSens Technology. “SmartSens’ new 2.3MP automotive-grade CIS with built-in ISP, SC233AT, features high dynamic range, NIR imaging, and BSI global shutter technology, bringing high-quality images to automotive in-cabin camera applications. In addition, SC233AT is compliant with AEC-Q100 Grade 2 and ISO 26262 ASIL B, which makes it a safe and reliable solution for in-cabin monitoring applications including DMS/OMS, thereby promoting the development of autonomous driving towards higher levels of autonomy.”

SC233AT has both monochrome and RGB-IR versions. SC233AT is sampling now and will be mass-produced in Q2 2023. For more information or to request a sample, please contact SmartSens Sales Representatives: cs@smartsenstech.com.

About SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

SmartSens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (SSE STAR MARKET: 688213) is a high-performance CMOS image sensor (CIS) chip design company. It is headquartered in Shanghai and has research centers in many cities around the world. SmartSens has been dedicated to pushing forward the frontier of imaging technology and growing in popularity among customers since it was established. SmartSens’ CMOS image sensors provide advanced imaging solutions for a broad range of areas such as surveillance, machine vision, automotive and cellphone cameras. SmartSens is committed to continuous innovation of products and fueling growth in numerous industries by delivering a more comprehensive portfolio of image sensors. Learn more at SmartSensTech.com.