2/3/2025 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Grand Peninsula A

The challenge of moving to smaller pixels for autonomous vehicles

Author(s)

Robin Jenkin | NVIDIA

Abstract

 

The 8Mp 2.1um imaging sensor node has become popular for the current generation of autonomous vehicles. As the market further matures, there will likely be demand for increasing resolution in the luxury segment of the market and, concurrently, cost-down measures applied to the existing feature set. Additionally, there is a persistent and permanent desire to reduce the size of camera modules.

One potential solution to address these pressures is to reduce pixel size. With this reduction there is a decrease in pixel sensitivity and along with a need to open the aperture of lenses to support the resolution and provide increased image luminance to the sensor. The change in aperture reduces the depth of focus of the lenses used, and in-turn narrows manufacturing tolerances needed to maintain module performance.

This paper examines the relationship between key performance parameters, such as modulation transfer function (MTF), vibration, effective resolution, sensitivity, SNR 1, data-rates and lens placement with respect to pixel size. An envelope is calculated to maintain current camera module performance as compared to the current 8MP 2.1um node and assess the effect on manufacturing tolerances and the effective information capacity of camera systems.