Aptina Introduces Breakthrough Automotive-Grade Imaging SOC

The SOC features the industry’s smallest automotive-grade (AEC-Q100) package, excellent low-light sensitivity, on-chip lens distortion correction, perspective correction and a dynamic graphic overlay capability. Aptina’s announcement of the MT9V126 coincides with the 2008 Convergence automotive electronics show administered by SAE International™ October 20-22. Aptina will be exhibiting in booth #100.

Automotive Image Sensor Expertise
The MT9V126 was designed with forward-thinking manufacturers in mind. Key features for the new SOC provide integrators with high-end performance at a lower system level cost. Aptina’s breakthrough CMOS image sensor technology equals and surpasses CCD’s low-light performance with low-light sensitivity of .5 Lux. The advanced pixel design eliminates structured noise and row noise resulting in clearer details and better overall picture quality. The one-chip SOC lowers system cost by eliminating the need for a DSP/FPGA and a distortion correction lens. Aptina’s SOC operates at temperatures between -40º C to 105 º C meeting automotive-grade (AEC-Q100) requirements. Additionally, engineering development is simplified as the tuning is done by sophisticated Host System Commands and no longer requires direct register writes. Finally, Aptina’s new SOC design promotes faster time to market with a royalty-free form factor automotive reference design.

“The MT9V126 is truly a best-in-class SOC camera solution that provides a unique combination of low light sensitivity and advanced integrated features,” notes Curtis Stith, Automotive Segment Director at Aptina. “Extended capabilities like the SOC’s dynamic graphic overlay engine, lens distortion and perspective correction bring high end features to the mainstream.”

Market Trends
Automotive market trends point toward the next generation of viewing functionality that support additional features such as surround view, backseat viewing camera and advanced backup cameras. To support these trends, image sensors must provide greater functionality while meeting stringent industry specifications and lower costs. Aptina’s new SOC incorporates features that will drive trends specific to next generation scene viewing applications.
The MT9V126 will be sampling in December of 2008 and will be in mass production the end of Q2 2009.This latest device extends Aptina’s portfolio of scene viewing and scene processing automotive imaging that includes the MT9V022, MT9V111, and MT9V125. -Micron