Melexis introduces the industry's first auto-grade single-chip VGA ToF sensor

     Melexis announced the launch of the industry's first single-chip automotive-grade VGA time-of-flight (ToF) image sensor, the MLX75027, for applications such as automotive interior and exterior monitoring. The MLX75027 is a system-on-chip solution that provides image sensing and processing at VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution in a single BGA package.

     As the automotive industry moves toward semi-autonomous driving, advancements in ADAS technology have brought many benefits. At present, the in-vehicle monitoring system, as a user interaction interface and security device, is commonly used to monitor the status of drivers and other passengers. As the industry's first single-chip VGA ToF sensor, the MLX75027 solidifies Melexis' leading position in this application segment.

     The MLX75027 uses modulated light sources and optical time-of-flight sensing to create a three-dimensional image of the cabin, providing monitoring of people and items in the vehicle, as well as gesture detection. The sensor can also be integrated into collision warning and navigation applications, such as detecting outside Spaces and obstacles, as well as pedestrians. The MLX75027 operates from -40 to +105°C.

     "This is our new product for automotive applications with ToF technology and the most important product in our product range." Gualtiero Bagnuoli, Marketing Manager for optical sensors at Melexis, said: "It not only strengthens Melexis' leadership position in this field, but also provides Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers with reliable single-chip solutions that will help revolutionise the automotive industry."

     One of the key features of the MLX75027 is support for modulation frequencies up to 100MHz, enabling manufacturers to take full advantage of the performance of the VCSEL for greater range accuracy. In addition, the sensor supports frame rates of up to 135 FPS and can detect and track fast-moving objects. The MLX75027 has a low power consumption of only 230 mw at 30 FPS and a power supply solution with only 3 voltages (2.7V, 1.8V and 1.2V), simplifying system design and helping to reduce power unit costs.

     The MLX75027 uses SONY Semiconductor Solutions backlight technology (BSI) and includes advanced features such as programmable areas of interest, continuous or trigger operating modes, and image horizontal/vertical flip modes. System-level interfaces include CSI-2 serial data output, MIPI D-PHY, and I2C.

     The MLX75027 ToF sensor can be evaluated using the EVK75027 suite. The kit is a full-fledged ToF camera that connects directly to a PC to display and record depth image data, while also supporting direct access to many configurations of the MLX75027.

     The kit consists of four vertically stacked PCB boards, from top to bottom: lighting board, ToF sensor board, interface board, and processor board. It is also possible to separate the PCB board, connect the sensor to other processor boards, or use other lighting units. A Windows-based graphical user interface provides real-time visualization of depth images, as well as basic data logging, analysis, and configuration. We also provide MATLAB SDK and C API to facilitate software development for our customers. The evaluation suite is extremely flexible, allowing designers to quickly customize the necessary systems for specific applications.