ToF sensor supports functional safety in automotive and industrial design
Introducing a functional safety option, Melexis has added the MLX75027RTI to its time of flight (ToF) sensor portfolio. It allows the functional safety requirements of automotive and industrial customers to be met, said Melexis.
The MLX75027RTI VGA resolution ToF sensor is ASIL-capable and aimed at inclusion in safety critical systems where ASIL or SIL certification is required. It has physical 307kpixel spatial resolution.
Key use cases are dynamic airbag suppression, driver attention monitoring and close-range exterior lidar. It can also be employed to provide safety perimeters for industrial cameras, for supporting the control of robots’ movements and for enabling more advanced machine vision in industrial enviroments.
A rear or back side illuminated (BSI) imaging technology is used and combined with Sony’s proprietary DepthSense ToF pixel. The MLX75027RTI delivers 135 depth frames per second.
This sensor package is significantly smaller, with a 50 per cent reduction in size compared with Melexis’ current generation device. Optimisation of the chief ray angle of the integrated micro lens array (MLA) simplifies the overall optical system, claimed the company.
The MLX75027 is available in both automotive and industrial variants. The MLX75027RTI is designed for automotive usage and features a -40 to +105 degrees C temperature range, while the MLX75027STI is for industrial applications with a -20 to +85 degrees C temperature range. The MLX75027 family is also proven to be robust in sunlight and the signal quality is not affected by the external environment.
To help engineers with designing and implementing ASIL/SIL systems, Melexis provides dedicated safety integration guidelines.
Melexis designs, develops and delivers micro-electronic solutions which enable designers to turn ideas into applications that support the best imaginable future. The company’s mixed signal semiconductor sensors and actuators integrate sensing, driving and communication into next-generation products and systems. They improve safety, raise efficiency, support sustainability and enhance comfort.
Today, on average, every new car produced worldwide contains 18 Melexis chips. In addition to the automotive market, Melexis customers are in alternative mobility, smart appliances, smart buildings, robotics, energy management and digital health.
Melexis is headquartered in Belgium and has 18 locations worldwide.
