A new automotive sensor combines global shutter technology with high dynamic range imaging, promising sharper driver and occupant detection, improved low-light performance, and simplified cabin camera design.
OMNIVISION has unveiled what it claims is the automotive world’s first 5 megapixel back-side illuminated global shutter HDR sensor tailored for in-cabin driver and occupant monitoring systems (DMS/OMS). Dubbed OX05C, the sensor promises sharper cabin imaging, better algorithm performance, and streamlined design deployment.
It combines global shutter capabilities with high dynamic range (HDR) imaging, meaning it can freeze motion and handle extreme lighting contrasts without the motion artifacts or washed-out faces typical of rolling shutters. It also includes on-chip Red, Green, Blue-Infrared (RGB-IR) separation to offload processing burdens from the Internet Service Provider (ISP), and boasts good near-infrared sensitivity via the company’s Nyxel Near-Infrared technology (NIR), enhancing performance even in low light.
The key features are:
- Sensor package: 6.61 × 5.34 mm
- ~30% smaller than previous generation
- Greater flexibility for in-cabin camera placement
- Compatible with existing lens systems, lowering redesign costs
Because the sensor features integrated cybersecurity and supports monitoring both driver and occupants via a single camera, it also promises system simplification and cost savings. And unlike many existing designs, its global shutter avoids interference from other IR light sources inside the car—helping maintain RGB image quality in real-world conditions.
The sensor shows how in-cabin sensing continues to mature. Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and Occupant Monitoring System (OMS) systems are becoming essential safety and experience features (think attention detection, gesture control, occupant awareness), and as lighting conditions vary wildly inside a moving vehicle, sensors must handle both glare and darkness seamlessly.
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