OmniVision Technologies, a leader in advanced digital imaging solutions, and Nextchip, a specialist in automotive vision technology, have announced a collaborative solution designed to deliver superior image quality for automotive applications such as rearview cameras (RVCs), surround-view systems (SVS), and e-mirrors. This pre-tuned solution targets low- to mid-range vehicles, offering high performance without the added cost and complexity of traditional systems.
At the heart of the solution is OmniVision’s OX03C10, the only automotive image sensor in the world to combine a large 3.0-micron pixel, high dynamic range (HDR) of up to 140dB for minimized motion artifacts, and industry-leading LED flicker mitigation (LFM) performance. Complementing this is Nextchip’s NVP2650D image signal processor (ISP), which integrates dual ISP cores in a single package. The NVP2650D can simultaneously process inputs from two OX03C10 sensors, delivering dual and full LFM image outputs at 60 frames per second (fps) using a single ISP. It also provides a combined 10/12-bit compressed RAW output and 24-bit uncompressed HDR output, enhancing image quality in scenes with extreme lighting contrasts.
“We partnered with OmniVision for its unmatched HDR and LFM technologies, as well as the low power consumption of its automotive image sensors, which align perfectly with Nextchip’s high-performance, low-power ISPs,” said Young Jun Yoo, CMO of Nextchip. “This joint solution allows SVS camera designers to achieve exceptional image quality without the added cost, complexity, and power consumption of using two ISPs.”
Kavitha Ramane, automotive product marketing manager at OmniVision, added, “Nextchip’s expertise in image signal processing and its global ecosystem network made them an ideal partner. Our automotive tier-one and OEM customers requested this collaboration, and we’ve pre-tuned the NVP2650 family’s settings to work seamlessly with the OX03C10. This saves designers up to three months of tuning effort and accelerates their ability to create high-quality cameras for all lighting conditions, including challenging scenarios with flickering LEDs from headlights, road signs, and traffic signals.”
The OX03C10 sensor integrates OmniVision’s proprietary HALE (HDR and LFM engine) combination algorithm, offering simultaneous HDR and LFM performance. Its Deep Well™ dual conversion gain technology significantly reduces motion artifacts, while its split-pixel LFM technology ensures top-tier performance across the entire automotive temperature range.
The OX03C10 is also the first viewing image sensor with HDR and LFM to deliver 1920x1280p resolution at 60 fps, enabling greater design flexibility and faster camera-view switching for drivers. With the lowest power consumption of any 2.5MP LFM image sensor—25% lower than its closest competitor—and the industry’s smallest package size, the OX03C10 is ideal for compact spaces and continuous 60 fps operation.
OmniVision’s PureCel® Plus-S stacked architecture further enhances the OX03C10’s performance, offering a 20% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio over the previous generation of 2.5MP automotive viewing sensors.
This joint solution sets a new standard for low-power automotive viewing cameras, delivering 120dB HDR and full 2.5MP resolution at 60 fps. Nextchip’s ownership of the ISP core ensures tailored image quality for each customer, leveraging its deep expertise in image processing. The NVP2650D ISP also supports 4-lane, 2-channel MIPI output at 1 Gbps per lane, along with virtual channel support.
The OX03C10 image sensor is currently available for sampling, while the NVP2650D ISP is in mass production. Both devices are certified for advanced ASIL functional safety and AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive standards.
For more information, contact OmniVision at www.ovt.com/contact-sales or Nextchip at www.nextchip.com/eng/nextchip/network.asp.
Hordon Kim
International Editor, hordon@powerelectronics.kr
