onsemi and Valens Semiconductor have entered into a collaboration to develop a cost-optimized integrated sensor using the MIPI A-PHY connectivity standard, targeting high-volume 3-megapixel automotive camera applications.
Under the agreement, Valens will work with onsemi on an A-PHY connectivity offering that can be integrated directly into onsemi image sensors, giving automakers and Tier 1 suppliers a potentially faster route to deploying standardized high-speed camera connectivity.
The companies are targeting the 3-megapixel segment because much of the automotive image sensor market currently falls within the 1-megapixel to 3-megapixel range.
As automakers move toward higher-resolution cameras, the companies believe a 3-megapixel integrated solution could serve both existing high-volume vehicle programs and customers upgrading their sensing architectures.
Modern vehicles increasingly rely on cameras for advanced driver-assistance systems, surround-view monitoring, driver monitoring and other safety and automation functions.
Those cameras need high-speed links capable of transmitting large quantities of sensor data reliably through electrically noisy automotive environments.
MIPI A-PHY was created as an industry standard for high-speed sensor connectivity in vehicles.
Valens said it was the first company to introduce chipsets compliant with the standard and has already secured design wins with multiple automakers.
The collaboration with onsemi could broaden adoption by more tightly integrating connectivity with image-sensing hardware.
Traditionally, camera modules can require separate image sensors, connectivity chips and supporting components.
Integrating A-PHY functionality more directly into the sensor architecture could reduce component count, simplify module design and potentially lower cost and power consumption.
That becomes particularly important as the number of cameras installed in vehicles increases.
Advanced vehicles can contain multiple sensors feeding data into centralized or zonal computing systems, making connectivity architecture a larger portion of overall system complexity.
onsemi and Valens are positioning the collaboration around simplifying that design without sacrificing the performance needed for advanced vision systems.
The partnership also expands the ecosystem surrounding MIPI A-PHY.
Industry standards become more valuable when automakers can source interoperable components from multiple semiconductor suppliers rather than relying on a proprietary single-vendor architecture.
Valens said working with onsemi gives automakers additional supplier choice while strengthening A-PHY as an industry-wide connectivity standard.
The development follows other ecosystem-building efforts around A-PHY.
Valens has previously worked with semiconductor and automotive technology companies to expand interoperability and bring the standard into production-ready camera systems.
The new onsemi relationship adds another major automotive sensing supplier to that ecosystem.
The collaboration is also closely tied to the broader transition toward software-defined vehicles, ADAS and autonomous driving.
As vehicles incorporate more cameras and higher-resolution sensors, the amount of data moving from sensors to centralized processors continues to increase.
A standardized high-bandwidth connection can help automakers scale those systems while reducing the need to redesign connectivity for each new sensor configuration.
For onsemi, integrating A-PHY into its sensing portfolio could make its image sensors easier for automakers to deploy as part of complete camera architectures.
For Valens, the partnership expands the potential market for its A-PHY technology into a higher-volume segment of automotive sensing.
KEY QUOTES:
“This is a major milestone for Valens, MIPI A-PHY and for the automotive ecosystem as a whole. The integrated, cost-optimized 3MP offering complements Valens’ existing solutions, bringing A-PHY to a much broader range of use cases.”
Yoram Salinger, CEO of Valens Semiconductor
“The level of interest we’re seeing from OEM customers and partners makes clear that MIPI A-PHY represents a significant business opportunity. Through our collaboration with Valens, we’re helping enable a more streamlined camera architecture that reduces component count, supports industry standards, and ultimately makes advanced vision systems easier to deploy.”
Ahmed Salem, Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligent Sensing Group at onsemi
