STMicroelectronics announced a CMOS camera specifically tailored for the vision-based driver-assistance segment of the automotive market. The CMOS sensor complements the dedicated vision-processor family developed by the company via its collaboration with Mobileye. The VL5510 sensor feeds the decision-making vision processor that activates functions such as active braking and lane-departure warning. These are features that are already being rolled out on passenger vehicles and is planned to be mandatory in Europe for heavy vehicles from 2013, as part of the European Commission's drive to reduce road fatalities. This sensor has a 1024x512-pixel format, making it suitable for wide-angle products, which are common in the automotive environment.

The VL5510 also combines a very high level of performance with the flexibility and reliability expected for this market. Specifications include: 5.6 x 5.6-micron pixel size and sensitivity of 7.14V/lux. Additionally features: fully programmable output image size and frame rate (up to 34 fps); video delivered via 12-bit parallel interface or serial interface (RAW 8/10/12 format). Anti dark sun and defect pixel correction algorithms are also integrated, together with an image histogram is embedded in the delivered image. The high dynamic response of the sensor is fully programmable: 10 knee points are available to tune pixel response.

The device is currently sampling to lead customers and will be in mass production in automotive applications in early 2009. Pricing is expected to be in the range of $20 for bare-die quantities of 10,000 pieces.