Valens, Sony team for A-PHY integrated camera sensor

The Sony camera sensor will be compatible with the Valens VA7000 deserializer chip to create the first sensor in the automotive industry with integrated high-speed connectivity. This will drive a significantly less expensive, smaller form factor, lower power consumption camera for enhanced advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) applications says Valens.

MIPI A-PHY is the first standard in the automotive industry for in-vehicle high-speed connectivity, and the only technology that is optimized to support sensor integration. Since its release in 2020, it has attracted a growing ecosystem of companies designing products based on the technology. Several automotive OEMs and Tier 1s are evaluating VA7000 MIPI A-PHY-compliant chipsets for integration into their next-generation systems.

The two companies successfully completed Interoperability Testing (IOT) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing, passing Bulk Current Injection (BCI), RF Ingress and Transients On Line (ToL) testing, including on a 15m/40ft cable that had been aged to simulate the entire lifecycle of the vehicle. This validates the ability of the devices to operate without interference in a real-world automotive environment, essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of electronic systems in vehicles for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving applications.

Deepening the collaboration, Valens and Sony are developing an 8 Megapixel A-PHY camera module for ADAS systems that will be prepared in the coming months.

“We are rapidly moving towards bringing to market the first-ever sensor with integrated high-speed connectivity, and these IOT and EMC tests are testament to the maturity of the A-PHY standard and our camera solution,” said Kenji Onishi, Deputy Senior General Manager of the Automotive business Division in Sony Semiconductor Solutions.

“We believe that A-PHY is uniquely positioned to meet automotive OEM requirements for enhanced ADAS systems. The standard offers a unique combination of unprecedented performance alongside sensor integration, which enables us to lead the market with a cutting-edge camera with a simplified design.”

“One of the key benefits of MIPI A-PHY technology is its optimization of the transmitter, which is small, inexpensive, and simple. This allows for direct integration of the connectivity inside the sensor – a benefit that no competing solution can provide,” said Eyran Lida, Chief Technology Officer at Valens Semiconductor. “The EMC testing proves, once again, the superior performance of A-PHY technology and the ability to build a truly interoperable ecosystem.”

“From the beginning, MIPI A-PHY was designed to reduce complexity on the sensor side while delivering exceptional EMC performance throughout the lifecycle of the vehicle,” said Sanjiv Desai, MIPI Alliance chair. “This collaboration demonstrates both these goals, and we commend Valens and Sony for achieving this milestone. We’re pleased to see the continued growth and development of the A-PHY ecosystem.”