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.

In this presentation, Dr. Ridha Ben Mrad, Sheba Microsystems President, CTO, and co-founder, will discuss the technology in detail and the launch of their new Sharp-7, the world’s first autofocus automotive camera, demoing at AutoSens USA 2024 in Detroit May 21-23.