CSEM Demos Miniature Vision Sensor System for Real Time Analysis and Response at SAE World Congress.

Low-Cost ViSe Impervious to Rapidly Changing Light Conditions, Enabling Broad Application Base

DETROIT -- The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), a leading electronics R&D center, today announced it will demonstrate a miniature vision sensor system for multiple automotive applications at the SAE World Congress (Booth #848). The company will offer a test drive in Detroit to qualified customers.

The cost-effective system, called ViSe, enables monitoring and recognition of video data in real time, in changing light conditions. It allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop application-specific image recognition and response systems for lane departure warning systems (LDWS), rear view monitoring, object detection, parking assistance and seat occupancy. The ViSe LDWS application has been tested on Michigan roads in adverse conditions with outstanding results for a wide range of roads. The system can be customized to fit any existing car security requirements.

Faster Processing for Real-Time Analysis

The conventional approach to processing image information involves acquiring an image with a CCD or CMOS camera, converting the intensity distribution to a digital representation, and processing it by means of a digital processing device. This approach poses considerable problems in automotive markets where vision tasks must be executed in real-time and at a low system cost, in environments with uncontrolled levels of lighting.

The ViSe camera is composed of a vision sensor and a digital signal processing chip (DSP) that can run identification algorithms. The system speeds throughput of visual data by enabling the vision sensor chip itself to extract key contrast features needed for interpretation -- prior to sending it for to the DSP for recognition processing.

"The automotive market requires fast, reliable and affordable vision technology that can be applied for multiple driver safety uses," said Dr. Christian Enz, vice president of the Microelectronics Group at CSEM. "With its real time operation, its ability to deal with changing light conditions, and its cost effective components, this technology can easily be deployed beyond just the luxury car market to make all vehicles safer."

Insensitivity to light conditions

Whereas other vision sensing systems can be susceptible to rapidly changing light conditions - for example, when a car emerges from a tunnel into glaring light - the ViSe contrast extraction approach eliminates sensitivity to this light environment change, ensuring greater safety and security.

Availability and pricing

A ViSe evaluation kit is available now and the technology can be licensed for transfer. The system is aimed at OEMs who will adapt it for specific applications. CSEM will add specific algorithms for dedicated applications upon request. Technology licensing fees depend on application-specific criteria. For more information and for sales inquiries, please visit www.csem-devise.com or contact Jacques Wynn at [e-mail].

About CSEM

CSEM SA, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, is a privately held company carrying out applied research work, product development, and prototyping and low-volume production. The company focuses primarily on the fields of micro/nanotechnology, microelectronics, systems engineering, and information and communication technologies. More information is available at www.csem.ch.