Sheba Microsystems Launches Sharp-7: The World's First Autofocus Automotive Camera
May 16 2024 - 2:59PM
Business Wire
Powered by Sheba’s revolutionary electrostatic micro-actuators,
the Sharp-7 utilizes an 8 megapixel (MP) automotive grade image
sensor to produce unprecedented consistent, high-quality imaging
across automotive temperature range. Proprietary MEMS technology
uniquely solves long-known camera industry thermal expansion
challenges and unleashes the potential for ultra-high resolution
image sensors in Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) cameras.
Enables new functionalities critical for vehicle safety and
autonomous driving such as ultra-precise object detection, digital
zooming, and more.
Sheba Microsystems Inc., a leader in MEMS technologies, today
announced the launch of Sharp-7, the world’s first autofocus
automotive camera. It is the first time Sheba is offering an
automotive-specific solution, incorporating an automotive grade
large 8 megapixel (MP) sensor with a fully integrated MEMS
driver.
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Sharp-7 will be available to demo in-person for the first time
at the 2024 AutoSens USA conference in Detroit, Michigan, May
21-23, 2024.
Powered by Sheba’s patented MEMS actuators, Sharp-7 produces
unprecedented consistent, high-quality imaging across automotive
temperature range and showcases the potential for even higher
resolution image sensor adoption in Advanced driver-assistance
systems (ADAS) cameras.
Automotive cameras often face challenges in maintaining image
quality and focus stability during temperature fluctuations as the
optics and camera parts undergo thermal expansion. As the
automotive sensor market continues to trend towards higher
resolution sensors, this problem becomes increasingly pronounced
due to the sensors’ smaller pixel size. Smaller pixels require more
precise alignment of the optics to ensure that light is accurately
focused on each pixel, and any misalignment due to thermal
expansion or contraction can lead to blurring or distortion –
problematic for any camera and especially for automotive due to the
extended temperature range.
Sheba’s proprietary technology compensates for this thermal
expansion by moving the lightweight sensor along the optical axis,
instead of moving the lenses. The weight of the image sensor
represents only 2-3 % of the optical lens weight, which makes it
easier to handle, thus enabling ultra-fast and precise autofocus
performance even when temperatures fluctuate. This novel approach
unlocks the powerful advantages that high-resolution sensors can
bring to automotive cameras, such as ultra-precise object detection
(pedestrians, animals, and road signs) and digital zooming.
“Over the past two decades we all have seen how high-resolution
sensors have dramatically improved cameras on our phones. A key
enabler for such high-resolution imaging was the adoption of
autofocus actuators,” said Dr. Faez Ba-Tis, PhD, CEO and co-founder
of Sheba. “But the absence of reliable autofocus actuator
technology that can operate in the automotive environment, coupled
with the problem of thermal expansion, has been a decades-long
blocker and has limited the adoption of high-resolution sensors in
automotive cameras. With the Sharp-7 camera we wanted to
demonstrate not only how Sheba MEMS technology solves for thermal
expansion and produces consistent high-quality imaging from
existing 8 MP sensors, but also how our technology paves the road
towards the adoption of even higher resolution image sensors, which
will ultimately keep everyone on the road safer, especially with
today’s advancements in autonomous vehicle technology. Our mobile
phones should not have better cameras than our cars.”
Sheba’s electrostatic actuators are uniquely suited to solve the
thermal expansion issue, as they are thermally stable and maintain
consistent performance regardless of temperature changes from -40
to 150 degrees Celsius. They are also fast, precise, low power, and
small in size. Sheba’s MEMS technology has passed reliability
tests, including drop, thermal shock, thermal cycling, vibration,
mechanical shock, tumble, and microdrop tests. It is also highly
rugged, which helps maintain image focus during shocks in
automotive environments.
Sharp-7 evaluation kits are exclusively available for OEMs and
Tier 1 customers. To learn more about Sheba Microsystems, visit
www.shebamicrosystems.com.
About Sheba Microsystems Inc.
Sheba Microsystems is a leading fabless semiconductor company
that develops high-end MEMS actuators for optical solutions,
including autofocus (AF), Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and
super-resolution (SR) for cameras. With their high speed and high
repeatability, low power consumption, and small size, the Sheba
MEMS actuators are revolutionizing the quality and capability of
digital photography for everyday devices. Visit us at
www.shebamicrosystems.com.
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PRESS Angela Bourne Head of
Sales and Marketing Angela.Bourne@shebamicrosystems.com