ams OSRAM VCSEL illuminator brings benefits of integrated eye safety to Melexis automotive in-cabin monitoring solution

News Facts:

  • Demonstrates complete automotive iToF 3D sensing apparatus for in-cabin monitoring and gesture sensing
  • The illumination board features an ams OSRAM infrared VCSEL flood illuminator which offers on-chip eye safety protection
  • Integrated eye safety feature provides higher reliability, faster detection of fault conditions, and saves space compared to laser modules which require an external photodiode

Premstaetten, Austria (11 May, 2022) – ams OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a global leader in optical solutions, announces that it is supplying a high-performance infrared laser flood illuminator for the latest automotive indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) demonstrator from Melexis.

The ams OSRAM vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) flood illuminator from the TARA2000-AUT family has been chosen for the new, improved version of the EVK75027 iToF sensing kit because it features an integrated eye safety interlock. This provides for a more compact, more reliable and faster system implementation than other VCSEL flood illuminators that require an external photodiode and processing circuitry.

The Melexis evaluation kit demonstrates the combined capabilities of the new ams OSRAM 940nm VCSEL flood illuminator in combination with an interface board and a processor board and the MLX75027 iToF sensor. The evaluation kit provides a complete hardware implementation of iToF depth sensing on which automotive OEMs can run software for cabin monitoring functions such as occupant detection and gesture sensing.

More reliable operation, faster detection of eye safety risks

The new ams OSRAM VCSEL with integrated eye safety interlock is implemented directly on the micro-lens array of the VCSEL module, and detects any cracks or apertures that can cause an eye safety risk. Earlier automotive implementations of iToF sensing have used VCSEL illuminators that require an external photodiode, a fault-prone, indirect method of providing the eye safety interlock function.

The read-out circuit requires no additional components other than an AND gate or a MOSFET. This produces almost instant (<1µs) reactions to fault conditions. A lower component count also reduces the bill-of-materials cost compared to photodiode-based systems. By eliminating the use of an external photodiode, the eye safety interlock eliminates the false signals created by objects such as a passenger’s hand obscuring the camera module.

“Automotive OEMs are continually looking for ways to simplify system designs and reduce component count. By integrating an eye safety interlock into the VCSEL illuminator module, ams OSRAM has found a new way to bring value to automotive customers. Not only will it reduce component count, but also increase reliability while offering the very highest levels of optical performance,” said Firat Sarialtun, Global Segment Manager for In-Cabin Sensing at ams OSRAM.

“With the EVK75027, Melexis has gone beyond the provision of a stand-alone iToF sensor to offer automotive customers a high-performance platform for 3D in-cabin sensing. We are pleased to be able to improve the value of the EVK75027 by now offering the option of a more integrated VCSEL flood illuminator on the kit’s illuminator board,” said Gualtiero Bagnuoli, Marketing manager Optical Sensors.

The EVK75027 evaluation kit with ams OSRAM illumination board can be ordered from authorized distributors of Melexis products (https://www.melexis.com/en/product/EVK75027/Evaluation-Kit-VGA-ToF-Sensor).

There is also a white paper on the new illumination board for the EVK75027, describing the benefits of implementing an iToF system with a VCSEL flood illuminator that includes an eye safety interlock. The white paper can be downloaded here: https://www.melexis.com/Eye-safe-IR-illumination-for-3D-TOF

 

For further information

Hilary McGuinness
Tel.: +49 151 27670184
E-Mail: Press@ams-osram.com
 

 

About ams OSRAM

The ams OSRAM Group (SIX: AMS) is a global leader in optical solutions. By adding intelligence to light and passion to innovation, we enrich people’s lives. This is what we mean by Sensing is Life.

 

With over 110 years of combined history, our core is defined by imagination, deep engineering expertise and the ability to provide global industrial capacity in sensor and light technologies. We create exciting innovations that enable our customers in the consumer, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors maintain their competitive edge and drive innovation that meaningfully improves the quality of life in terms of health, safety and convenience, while reducing impact on the environment.

 

Our around 24,000 employees worldwide focus on innovation across sensing, illumination and visualization to make journeys safer, medical diagnosis more accurate and daily moments in communication a richer experience. Our work creates technology for breakthrough applications, which is reflected in over 15,000 patents granted and applied. Headquartered in Premstaetten/Graz (Austria) with a co-headquarters in Munich (Germany), the group achieved over EUR 5 billion revenues in 2021 and is listed as ams-OSRAM AG on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ISIN: AT0000A18XM4).

Find out more about us on https://ams-osram.com

 

ams is a registered trademark of ams-OSRAM AG. In addition many of our products and services are registered or filed trademarks of ams OSRAM Group. All other company or product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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