Uncrewed Systems Technology 049 - April/May 2023

46 Focus | Image sensors evaluate the algorithm and verify their implementations. RAW28 pixel encoding supports the high dynamic range automotive image sensors for ADAS and autonomous vehicle designs. SerDes The MIPI CSI-2 protocol can also be implemented over the MIPI A-PHY long- reach SerDes interface (up to 15 m) for use in applications such as automotive ADAS, but there are other options for this longer reach. The Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) gave the first public demonstration of its Motion Link (ASAML) SerDes technology in November 2022. The technology was part of a proof of concept developed by BMWthat connected several cameras and displays via an Ethernet backbone, while using either the ASAML technology or IEEE 802.3chmulti-gigabit Ethernet for the asymmetric high-speed comms. The first version of the ASA protocol runs at up to 16 Gbit/s, while the next version is aiming at 42 Gbit/s to transfer the raw camera data rather than having the processing done in the sensor. Integrating multiple standardised high-speed technologies into a single Ethernet network for applications, rather than using proprietary point-to-point connectivity, allows the development of true zonal architectures for driverless cars with the reuse of sensor data in multiple computing units with the latest high-performance ML NPUs. Conclusion Image sensors are a complex combination of pixel technologies, on-chip processing and interconnections that is constantly evolving. Adding event-driven sensing to traditional CMOS image sensor arrays can reduce power consumption and latency to boost the performance of sensors for vehicles and UAVs. At the same time, the evolving SerDes standards are allowing the sensors to be connected in new ways and linked to high-performance NPUs to implement the ML algorithms. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Geoff Bellows at onsemi and Andreas Suess at Omnivision for their help with researching this article. April/May 2023 | Uncrewed Systems Technology AUSTRIA AMS +43 3136 500 0 www.ams.com BELGIUM Imec +32 16 28 12 11 www.imec-int.com CHINA SmartSens +86 21 6485 3570 www.smartsenstech.com FINLAND Specim +358 10 424 4400 www.specim.com FRANCE Prophesee – www.prophesee.ai GERMANY AIMMicro Systems +49 36 482 14400 www.aim-micro-systems.de Framos +49 89 710 6670 www.framos.com HAIP +49 51 137 352860 www.haip-solutions.com IGI +49 27 325 5250 www.igi-systems.com Mountain Photonics +49 81 919 851990 www.mountainphotonics.de JAPAN Sony Semiconductor +86 755 8258 1661 www.sony-semicon.co.jp SPAIN Qurv Technologies – www.qurv.tech UK Teledyne e2v +44 1245 493493 www.teledyne-e2v.com USA ASC +1 805 966 3331 www.asc3d.com Headwall Photonics +1 978 353 4100 www.headwallphotonics.com Omnivision Technologies +1 408 567 3000 www.ovt.com ON Semiconductor +1 602 244 6600 www.onsemi.com Some examples of image sensor suppliers