Please tell us about the semiconductor
products of Micron for the automotive industry. The automotive industry
requires tough, resilient memory and imaging products. That’s why
Micron has become an established automotive products supplier and continues
to develop new memory and image sensor products specifically designed
to meet the unique needs of vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers.
Micron Technology manufactures a comprehensive line of semiconductor
products including CMOS image sensors, i NAND Flash and Cellular Ram™
(PSRAM). These parts are the electronic eyes and ears behind revolutionary
advancements in safety, communication, entertainment systems and navigation.
Micron has the right products built in the right places to make semiconductor
standard fixtures in new vehicle designs. We have developed three extended
temperature, multifunction image sensors specifically for scene processing
and scene viewing in automotive applications We have an extensive line
of high-quality, industrial temperature DRAM and PSRAM products (-40°C
to +85°C) Our extensive line of flash memory devices is ideal for
in-cabin applications We have manufacturing facilities, design centres
and technical and sales support in the world’s major automotive
centres Our long-term product design and support strategies specifically
address issues unique to the automotive industry.
Your website says that Micron’s
image sensors and memory devices are driving new possibilities in the
automotive space. Pleaset).elaborate on this statement. Semiconductor
technology can provide features that enhance safety, convenience and
economy. Designed to survive extreme weather conditions,Micron’s
image sensors and memory devices are driving new possibilities in the
automotive space. In-dash global positioning, rear-view imaging, occupant
positioning are all features that yesterday’s luxury cars couldn’t
begin to deliver, but are soon to be standard, thanks to ingenious advances
in imaging and memory technology.
Kicking up dust clouds, ripping over
washboards, a well-designed car has to take a beating without flinching.
And so do the memory devices and image sensors designed into that car.
They have to handle the glaring sun and the darkest night. They need
to function regardless of the jarring of the tires over rocks and potholes.
They have to operate in scalding engine compartments or on frostbitten
side-view mirrors. And for all the extreme conditions they must endure,
these intricate digital devices need to work precisely. Micron builds
and designs its semiconductor products with this rare aggregate of quality
and durability to be responsive in a race car, a commuter car or an
18-wheeler. Please throw light on the different features of new memory
and image sensor products that are specifically designed to meet the
unique needs of vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. Images that
capture the scenes outside the car require good image quality and high
colour fidelity with low noise. They need to be accurate and clear,
even in sub-lux lighting.
Micron offers two sensors that support
these applications: the MT9V125 and the MT9V111. Both are VGA-format,
1/4-inch, single-chip camera and CMOS active pixel digital image sensors.The
MT9V125 and the MT9V111 perform sophisticated processing functions including
colour recovery, colour correction, auto black reference camping, auto
exposure, automatic 50/60Hz flicker avoidance, lens shading correction,
auto white balance (AWB) and on-the-fly detect identification and correction.
Requiring less light than the amount produced by a single candle, these
imagers output crisp images for automotive display applications that
are just as effective on the darkest nights as on the brightest days.
The MT9V125 and the MT9V111 provide superior low-light performance,
achieving CCD-quality sensitivity levels. They also detect a spectral
range from deep blue (DB) to near infrared (NIR) for imaging with no
visible light.
With accurate scene capture and a broad
operating temperature, (-40°C to +105°C) the MT9V125 delivers
outstanding VGA resolution image quality in the cabin of a vehicle.
Equipped with Micron’s progressive, low-noise DigitalClarity®
technology, the high-performance MT9V125 delivers brilliant colour images
even under some of the poorest lighting conditions. It also has NTSC
and PAL engines integrated on chip to reduce component counts thus reducing
system cost and size while increasing system reliability.
To process scenes from a vehicle moving
at high speeds, the imager needs a high frame rate and a global shutter
with accurate freeze-frame capabilities. It also needs a high dynamic
range to cope with sudden shifts of light the darkness of a tunnel to
the radiance of unfiltered sunlight. Micron’s MT9V022 1/3-inch,
wide VGA (725H x 480V pixels) CMOS digital image sensor is specifically
designed for scene understanding and smart imaging applications. The
MT9V022’s global shutter, high frame rate, near-infrared sensitivity
and ability to synchronise cameras in stereovision systems are an ideal
fit for the demanding automotive environment as are its ability to perform
superbly under low-light conditions and in extremely low to very high
temperatures.
The imager package is also critical.Micron’s
CMOS Imagers are incorporated into a proprietary iBGA 9 x 9 mm package
that is the smallest automotive imager package available. This allows
for smaller camera designs. Sophisticated cars require rugged, reliable
solutions for recording and securing considerable amounts of information.
With its compact cell structure and turbocharged write speed,Micron’s
NAND Flash memory is ideal for storing navigation information, recording
the moments before an accident, capturing a song or talk show from a
satellite radio station and more. Micron’s broad line of industrial
temperature (IT) DRAM provides superior performance at temperatures
extending from - 40°C to +85°C. Available in a range of densities,
configurations and packages, our IT SDR, DDR and DDR2 SDRAM memory devices
offer the ultimate flexibility for automotive designs.
Speed means more to the automotive
industry than just miles per hour. It can be life saving, like when
a car’s navigation system directs occupants to the hospital in
time. Or it can be entertaining, like when a driver replays her favourite
song instantly.Micron’s Cellular
....CONTD
