Tessenderlo, Belgium, 15 September 2021 – Melexis has developed a new version of its time-of-flight 3D camera MLX75026 with a fully integrated infrared bandpass (IRBP) filter. By integrating the IRBP, it is no longer required to include a separate IR filter in the lens or sensor assembly. This solution is unique in the industry. It reduces design complexity and cost, while creating more design choice when sourcing a lens.
Melexis, a global microelectronics engineering company, has introduced the MLX75026 with IRBP, an AEC-Q100 qualified QVGA time-of-flight sensor that further expands the third generation of ToF sensors from Melexis. The integration of an infrared bandpass filter removes the need to add a separate bandpass filter, which simplifies design and manufacturing while also increasing the choice of suitable, IR-friendly lenses.
The MLX75026 targets automotive use cases like driver monitoring (DMS), in-cabin monitoring, gesture control, safety applications related to airbag deployment, head-up display (HUD) driver alignment and industrial applications like automated guided vehicles (AGVs), elevator entry and (collaborative) robotics.
“An IR filter is mandatory in every ToF application to reduce out-of-band infrared light in the operating environment, which could otherwise lower the dynamic range of the sensor,” explained Gualtiero Bagnuoli, Optical sensors marketing manager at Melexis. “A separate filter adds cost and complexity to a design, but by using the MLX75026 with IRBP filter, engineers can avoid both the cost and complexity, and explore the benefits of time-of-flight sensing more easily”.
The integration of the correct IR bandpass filter is not trivial: the passband must be adapted to the illumination and the filter shall accept light from a wide range of incidence at minimal spectral shift (optically hard filter). This facilitates the usage of ToF-lenses with high apertures (low f-number). Melexis is the only ToF sensor manufacturer currently offering this option, which is now available as a variant of the MLX75026. The MLX75026 offers software-compatibility with other Melexis gen 3 ToF sensors.
MLX75026 with IRBP filter has QVGA (320×240 pixels) resolution with a 1/4 inch optical format and supports 940 nm illumination. Configuration is implemented over an I2C interface and provides CSI-2 serial data output. The high integration, small size and low power consumption of the sensor, coupled with the integration of the IR bandpass filters, enables the design of compact and cost-effective ToF cameras for automotive, industrial and consumer applications.
Samples of the MLX75026 with IRBP filter are available now. A compact high-performance evaluation kit (EVK) will also be released.
Incorporating a Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ MPSoC, the EVK75026+ quadruples the data bandwidth and frame rate of the earlier EVK75026 evaluation kit, while taking up approximately half the mechanical size. It offers advanced pixel calibration and filtering functions, plus on-demand support for sophisticated features like ambiguous range extension, multi-path resolving and interference rejection. The programming interface (API), written in C language, includes wrappers that allow the kit to be used with both Matlab and Python.
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About Melexis
Combining a passion for technology with truly inspired engineering, Melexis designs, develops and delivers innovative micro-electronic solutions that enable designers to turn ideas into applications that support the best imaginable future. The company’s advanced mixed-signal semiconductor sensor and actuator components address the challenges of integrating sensing, driving and communication into next-generation products and systems that improve safety, raise efficiency, support sustainability and enhance comfort.
Melexis is a world leader in automotive semiconductor sensors. Today, on average, every new car produced worldwide contains 13 Melexis chips. Melexis has used its core experience to expand its portfolio of sensors and driver ICs. Now they also meet the needs of smart appliances, home automation, industrial and medical applications. Melexis sensing solutions include magnetic sensors, MEMS sensors (pressure, TPMS, infrared), sensor interface ICs, optoelectronic single point and linear array sensors and Time of Flight. The company’s driver IC portfolio incorporates advanced DC & BLDC motor controllers, LED drivers and FET pre-driver ICs, while Melexis has the know-how and expertise to build bridges between components, allowing them to communicate in a clear and fast way.
Melexis is headquartered in Belgium and employs over 1,500 people in 18 locations worldwide. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Brussels (MELE).
For more information, visit www.melexis.com
